Round 3 Preview – NPL 2 NSW Women’s

National Premier Leagues 1st - NPL 2 NSW Women's 2018 Round 2 fixture between Nepean FC and Marconi Stallions FC on Sunday 18 March 2018 at Cook Park, St Mary’s

Photo: Ali Erhan

Hopefully the weather has calmed down, now we can get back to a full round of football filled with exciting fixtures, as teams search for either their first win, consistency or form – in saying that, rain has been forecast for the rest of the week throwing a few matches up in the air so please check your competition fixtures for any updates.

Match of the Round: APIA Leichhardt Tigers vs SD Raiders, Sunday 25th March 2018, 7pm, Lambert Park

Rounding off the third week of National Premier Leagues 2 Womens is two old foes that do battle once again under the lights at Lambert Park.

These two sides have contested the last two State League Womens Grand Finals with SD Raiders running out 4-2 and 1-nil victors, while APIA consoled themselves with two Premierships.

Speaking of goals, SD Raiders got their season off to a rollicking start. Playing their catch-up game on Tuesday night, they fired five past St George FC with a hat-trick to Cassidy Chidgey alongside goals for Yasemin Genc and Logan Garard.

APIA Leichhardt Tigers came into NPL2 Womens with high expectations and hopes; after their first week demolition of Southern Branch, their first home game offers the opportunity for Matteo Maiorana’s ladies to stamp their mark on the competition.

Between two sides that like to play football – the energy and motor of Lucy Gilfedder for APIA will be key stopping the Raiders attackers while the Tigers aren’t a blunt instrument themselves making for a mouth-watering Match of the Round.

Central Coast Mariners vs Southern Branch FC, Sunday 25th March 2018, 3pm, Club Mingara Oval

Central Coast Mariners get back on the pitch, hosting Southern Branch FC on Sunday afternoon at Club Mingara Oval.

Both sides were given an unscheduled break due to the heatwave that scorched through the state last weekend. The Mariners were first-up winners while Southern Branch lost 4-nil to APIA Leichhardt Tigers.

This weekend is the first road trip for Southern Branch FC. Last season, they picked up four of their 15 points on the road so they can get mostly within that target if they are target Sunday against a strong Mariners team.

The home side won’t be an easy task. Central Coast did the double over the Nowra based side last season and have talent throughout their squad headlined by Katie Oliveira and sharpshooter Candice Phelan.

UNSWFC vs Nepean FC, Sunday 25th March 2018, 3pm, David Phillips Field

Nepean FC make their move down the highway as they travel into Sydney to take on UNSW FC in an exciting contest this weekend.

Picking up four points in their first two home games was close to ideal for Nepean FC. They hope some of the hospitality they showed Marconi Stallions in their 2-2 draw might be replicated at David Phillips Field.

Stefanie Trovato has started the season on fire with three goals in two, and her combination with speedster Britney Pelle allows Nepean coach Alan Tasses to implement his preferred tactics of finding them with directional balls.

For Renato Jelen and his students, they passed their first exam in fellow promoted side Western NSW Mariners, they take on semi-finalists from last season, Nepean FC. Jelen will lean on the experience of Alice Kriesler and Christine Tanaka Lucantonio up top to move into a credit for the opening month.

Gladesville Ravens vs Sydney Olympic FC, Sunday 25th March 2018, 3pm, ELS Hall Park

Starting the season with a pair of victories has the Ravens soaring high, now they host reigning premiers, Sydney Olympic Sunday afternoon at ELS Hall Park.

Heading out to Lithgow isn’t the easiest trip, but the Ravens continued their unbeaten start to the season with a 2-1 win as Annalise Shiraldi found the net for the second week running.

Now, they face the prospect of a refreshed Sydney Olympic, following the enforced break due to the heat, with a potent strike force in Danielle Calvi, Madelaine Costanzo and Siahn Bozanic ready to build on their rout of Marconi in the first week.

Marconi Stallions vs Inter Lions SC, Sunday 25th March 2018, 3pm, Marconi Stadium No.2

Fresh from their first point of the season, Stallions host Inter Lions SC as both teams look to kickstart their season this weekend.

One is the loneliest number, so Marconi led by coach Matt Turvey, hopes that point is joined by three more after their encouraging comeback against Nepean FC. Demelza Howard showed her class and why she is one of the league’s most lethal players with an impressive strike while the interplay between her and Jessica Beale continued to blossom.

It has been an interrupted start for Inter Lions, after a trip out west then a called off contest against Southern Branch down in Nowra, so the Lions want to roar against the Stallions and get themselves off the bottom of the ladder.

St George FC vs Western NSW Mariners, Sunday 25th March 2018, 3pm, St George Stadium

Nobody likes being on the duck egg, so St George FC do battle against Western NSW Mariners at St George Stadium looking for their first points.

Western NSW Mariners were one of the lucky ones that got through 90 minutes on Sunday, in a 2-1 loss against early pace-setters Gladesville Ravens. St George eventually played on Tuesday going down 5-1 to SD Raiders.

The Mariners felt unlucky not to claim a point against the Ravens, as the team continues to gel but the experience threaded through the squad means they won’t be winless for too long.

St George FC possess some attacking prowess in their ranks so Western NSW’s Jessica Daymond might have a busy afternoon.

It has been a tough first two weeks for the Saints, conceded eight and only scored two. Yadira Renfigo has been a bright spot with two goals in two weeks, so much like the Mariners they have enough talent to make Sunday a good afternoon for either side.

-By Justin Davies, NPL2 Womens reporter