Round 11 – National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s
It looks like a battle of four for the Premiership in the NSW NPL Women’s competition but the Football NSW Institute, Blacktown Spartans and Northern Tigers won’t give up chase.
NWS Koalas v Blacktown Spartans
Two teams desperate to keep in touch with finals places do battle on Sunday at Christie Park at the North West Sydney Koalas host the Blacktown Spartans.
Two straight defeats have kicked Jamie Gomez’s Koalas in he teeth and put their finals hopes in doubt.
They can take nothing else but three points in this one if they’re to have any hope of challenging in the second half of the season.
Blacktown’s coaching change has shaken the girls in orange into form, not losing since Stephen Peters has taken the helm.
He’ll hope his side continues to ride the wave as they look to catch the teams above them.
Sutherland Shire v Emerging Jets
Sutherland Shire and the Emerging Jets will both be looking for their first W of the season on Sunday at Harrie Denning Centre.
Sutherland can’t catch a break, losing all 10 games so far this season. They’ll see this as a perfect opportunity to turn things around.
Despite not winning a game yet, the Jets have lined up four draws so far this campaign.
The young side will be confident they can take all three points on Sunday.
Illawarra Stingrays v Northern Tigers
Illawarra Stingrays will host Northern Tigers at JJ Kelly Park on Sunday afternoon.
Three straight wins, zero goals conceded 15 packed away in the opposition net, confidence is high down the south coast.
A win against the Tigers will put a massive 10 point difference between the two sides.
The Northern Tigers have improved and were on a five-match unbeaten run before their loss to Manly last week.
Contrary to the Stingrays, a loss could spell the end of the Tigers finals hopes as soon as the half way mark of the season.
Sydney University v Manly United
It’s one v two at Sydney University Football Ground as Sydney Uni take on Manly United.
Two games without a win cost Alex Epakis’s side first place on the ladder as their opponents took that with open arms.
They bounced back last week with convincing win against North Shore, getting themselves back on track at the perfect time.
Who will stop Manly? Five straight wins has seen them emerge as the league leaders and are looking fine since the departure of star forward Remy Siemsen.
They face two massive games in a row, two games that could see Chris Williams’ side put one hand on the Premiership.
Football NSW Institute v Bankstown City
At Valentine Sports Park, Football NSW Institute hosts Bankstown City.
Only one loss in their last seven has seen the Institute move into fifth place, just outside the finals.
They’ve been in fine form, scoring at will and finally keeping their first clean sheet of the season last Sunday.
Bankstown has struggled at the higher level but have players that can hurt the opposition.
To hurt the opposition they’ll need to score though, something they haven’t done in the last four straight games.
Macarthur Rams v North Shore Mariners
The Macarthur Rams and North Shore Mariners lock horns at Lynwood Park on Sunday night.
Macarthur is only a win away from first place but will need to keep up the pace to stay with the leaders.
Another convincing win last week ended a two-game winless run for the home side.
North Shore is unable to recapture their early season form.
It has seen them drop down the ladder to ninth place, without a win as far back as round four.
-By Nikola Pozder
