Round 14 – NPL NSW Women’s Preview

Can anyone challenge the top five? Can the premiership race hot up anymore? Answers we hope to be answered in round 14 of the NPL NSW Women’s competition.

Blacktown Spartans v Football NSW Institute

Blacktown Football Park will see the Blacktown Spartans host Football NSW Institute.

The Spartans come into this one on the back of a win in their last outing at home as they look to hunt down a finals place.

A loss though for the Spartans could spell the end of any post regular season hopes.

Football NSW Institute was on fire last week, dismantling the Stingrays 5-1.

Courtney Nevin’s lethal left foot has been a problem for many this year and it won’t be any different this week.

NWS Koalas v North Shore Mariners

At Christie Park, it’s derby day as the North West Sydney Koalas take on the North Shore Mariners.

Inconsistency has been a major problem for the Koalas this season and that’s why they sit outside the finals places.

They’re another side that could see their finals hopes come to an end if they don’t register all three points.

There was relief all over Northbridge Oval last Sunday as the Mariners picked up their first win since round four.

Finals could have already slipped away from the Mariners.

Manly United v Bankstown City

Manly United returns to Cromer Park to welcome Bankstown City on Sunday afternoon.

They were staring down the barrel last week but regrouped to take all three points against bottom placed Sutherland.

They’ll be looking to let a repeat of that happen this week and take the game from kick off.

But Bankstown could see an opportunity in Sutherlands brave performance last week.

After snapping a five-game losing streak two weeks ago, the Lions went down again last week, without scoring a goal.

Sutherland Shire v Sydney University

It’s bottom verse first at Harrie Denning Centre as the Sutherland Shire host Sydney University.

Sutherland was on their way to a famous win last week against Manly but they ran out of puff in the second period.

Regardless, the game will give them belief moving into this week’s clash.

Uni will be aware of what happened the week before and should make them alert for the rejuvenated Sutherland side.

A win will keep them at the top of the league table.

Illawarra Stingrays v Emerging Jets

At JJ Kelly Park the Illawarra Stingrays host Emerging Jets.

It was a case of what could have been for the Stingrays last week.

A plethora of missed chances in the first half had them stung in the second, as the Institute side steam rolled their more experienced opponents.

They need to get back on track to stay in contention for the Premiership trophy.

The Jets have registered two disappointing results in a row and will see this week as an opportunity to change that.

It’ll won’t be an easy fixture for them and they’ll need to be at the top of their game.

Northern Tigers v Macarthur Rams

The Northern Tigers will host the Macarthur Rams on Sunday at North Turramurra Recreational Area.

It’s been poor form from the Tigers, four straight losses and a drop down the ladder.

At one stage they were the in form team but their run came to an abrupt end and they haven’t recovered since.

Two straight draws for Macarthur have seen them drop two fifth place.

They’re still only four points from first place and cannot afford to drop anymore points in the battle for first place.

-By Nikola Pozder