Finals Series Round 1 Preview – PS4 NPL 2 NSW Women’s
The PlayStation4 National Premier Leagues 2 NSW Women’s finals series starts off this weekend with two cracking contests that could go swing either way in the race for grand final positions.
Elimination Semi Final – Saturday 19th August – Bankstown City Lions vs Nepean FC, Valentine Sports Park #3, 3:45pm
Eighteen rounds of hard work comes down to ninety minutes on Saturday afternoon as Bankstown City Lions and Nepean FC meet to see who gets to advance to next week’s grand final qualifier.
Both sides were fixtures in the top four across the season and due to their form Bankstown qualified in advance of the final round and cruised to a 2-nil win over Southern Branch while Nepean FC had to claw out a point against Central Coast to lock up fourth position.
When the two sides came up against each other this season – they split the season results with a win each. Bankstown City Lions spectacularly scoring in the 93rd minute through Alicia Lee in Round 10 which was the first time coach Troy Spink had got one over Nepean FC so it was one to savour.
Spink admitted it will be a “tough contest against a defensive structure like Nepean FC. I am looking for my midfield to take ownership of the contest particularly Liana Babic – who has been a star throughout the season – to control and organise the middle of the park.”
Lions are flush with attacking options despite their absences as Joanna Martino and Tania Baban have been consistent options up front although they have had keeper Renee Krstanovska to thank for some classic saves across the season.
Nepean FC will be missing Jessica Elliot – their joint top-scorer this season with Brittany Pelle but coach Alan Tasses should be confident in his defensive structure. FC conceded only 16 goals throughout the regular season and against an attack as prolific as Bankstown City Lions, Danielle Bartels and her backline will need to be on guard.
Major Semi-Final – Sunday 20th August – Sydney Olympic FC vs Sutherland Shire FA, Fraser Park, 3:45pm
These two sides battled across the season for supremacy, including facing off last weekend. Now both sides head to Fraser Park on Sunday afternoon, aiming to be the first team into the Grand Final.
It was Sutherland Shire FA who were the early trendsetters in the league as they shot to the top of the league while Olympic started slow but rocketed up the ladder with a double-digit winning streak to claim the PS4 NPL 2 NSW Women’s premiership.
Sunday promises to be a mouth-watering battle between two attacking sides, as three of the top five goal-scorers for the league will feature – including the golden boot of the regular season, Madelaine Costanzo so both goalkeepers will need to on their toes.
Olympic FC got the better of both regular season encounters with a 1-nil victory at Harrie Denning Centre then in the final round, triumphed 3-2 at home – it might give George Beltsos’ ladies the mental edge going into the game.
Going into this weekend, Olympic FC have ridden a massive wave of momentum with their victories regularly coming back two or three goals so they will be confident in their line-up headlined by Courtney Holmwood and Danielle Calvi to take them into the Grand Final and a weekend off.
Being the underdog won’t phase Sutherland Shire FA – in recent weeks they have needed to claw back deficits to gain points. Jordan Baker is the talisman of the Shire FA attacking with 15 goals and the Shire girls look a much slicker side with her on the pitch.
The Sutherland Shire coach is excited for the challenge especially after a tough finish to the season, Shire FA has their whole side fit, healthy and raring to go. He added that if they can “execute their plans there might be an upset on the cards come Sunday.”
