Round 2 Preview – NPL 2 NSW Women’s
Now all the rust has been shaken from the teams, we move onto round two of the National Premier League 2 NSW Women’s competition. Those who were successful aim to keep their run going, while the defeated aim to rebound and collect their first points of the season. This weekend’s Match of the Round sees Nepean FC taking on Marconi Stallions.
Match of the Round: Nepean FC vs Marconi Stallions, Sunday 17 March, 3pm, Cook Park
This week’s Match of the Round heads West as we venture to Cook Park where Nepean FC will aim to continue their perfect start to the season, hosting a chastened Marconi Stallions this weekend.
It will be back-to-back home games for Nepean FC, they triumphed in the first leg of their home stand against St George FC, 3-1. While it was an afternoon to forget for Marconi, after their 7-1 deficit by relegated Sutherland Shire FA.
Nepean FC were shrewd in their signings for the new season, both Dimitie Whiteman and Lauren Gaul are good compliments to the quality strikers they have in Stefanie Trovato and Britney Pelle. Coach Alan Tasses hope the combinations gel further and they can tame the Stallions.
The Stallions know they are better than their opening week thrashing. Jessica Beale and newly signing Jasmin Courtenay can find the net with regularity, it might make a busy afternoon for Nepean keeper Narmin Malas, as the Stallions chase down three points.
Sutherland Shire FA vs APIA Leichhardt Tigers, Sunday 17 March, 3pm, Harrie Denning Centre
Round 1’s biggest winners welcome APIA Leichhardt Tigers to Harrie Denning Centre as two of the competition heavyweights’ clashes on Sunday afternoon.
Sutherland Shire FA ran riot as they piled on five second half goals in their 7-1 rout of Marconi Stallions whilst in absorbing conditions, APIA fell 2-1 to a tenacious Gladesville Ravens side.
Jordan Baker picked up where she left off with a four-goal haul in south-west Sydney. The Shire FA side have kept together their core group with a few signings sprinkled in as they aim to make it two-for-two to start the season.
APIA were stung by a rare home defeat, having only lost once at home in 2018. Matt Constantini will have his charges primed to be playing their best football. In her debut, Georgia Bridges was bright in her combination with Cass Chidgey and Logan Garard – if they get their timing right, could make for a goal fest down in the shire this weekend.
Western NSW Mariners vs UNSW FC, Sunday 17 March, 3pm, Marjorie Jackson Field
Home, sweet home awaits Western NSW Mariners as they host their first home game of the season, in Lithgow against UNSW FC.
Marjorie Jackson Field will set the scene on Sunday afternoon, UNSW make the trek to their opposition.
The Mariners suffered a bitter derby defeat in their opening contest, 3-nil, to a gritty Central Coast performance while UNSW FC braved the steamy conditions at Valentine Sports Park, to triumph 2-nil against Inter Lions.
UNSW FC coach Alex Nolan praised their efforts in the trying conditions, as captain Hayley Marshall and Alexandra O’Rourke showed that the students are eager to make their move up the ladder this season, starting with their trip to Lithgow.
For the Mariners – home comfort will be their salvation this season. They have eleven confirmed home games where they took the scalp of APIA, SD Raiders and Gladesville last season. They also defeated UNSW FC last year, and if they can repeat the dose, can get themselves off the duck egg for the season.
Southern Branch FC vs Gladesville Ravens, Sunday 17 March, 3pm, South Nowra Football Complex
Fresh from their first-up victory, Gladesville Ravens take the convey down to the picturesque South Coast as they head to South Nowra Football Complex, taking on Southern Branch FC.
Gladesville will be buoyed by their 2-1 success against APIA, head down the highway taking on a Southern Branch FC side, coming off a 4-nil defeat against SD Raiders FC.
The Ravens added a few key elements in the off-season. Midfielder Yume Kashima showed some deft touches when she came on as a substitute, while former Olympic FC defender Eloise Taylor was a defensive rock at the back. Those additions plus the goalscoring of Emily Diaz should see them up near the summit this season.
Southern Branch in patches last season, showed they can compete against teams. If they can click across the weekend, they can take the first big scalp of the weekend in clipping the Ravens wings. Central to that, is the form of Matilda-Lee Potter, as they look to make South Nowra Football Complex into a fortress.
SD Raiders FC vs Inter Lions, Sunday 17 March, 5pm, Ernie Smith Reserve
SD Raiders aim to make it two from two, hosting Inter Lions at Ernie Smith Reserve in the first of two twilight fixtures playing out this weekend.
There is contrasted form headed into this contest, as SD Raiders FC defeated Southern Branch FC, 4-nil, in a second half onslaught whilst Inter Lions fell 2-nil to UNSW FC at Valentine Sports Park in hot conditions.
The home side will be in the business of misery, as SD Raiders aim to pile another loss on the Lions. They also have a few former Lions in their line-up in Sarah Mandile and Kate Mateffy, which adds some extra spice to the contest.
Inter Lion outlined early that they would be underdogs in the competition, and their loss at the weekend underlined it further. Sunday might be a busy day for Olivia Femia in goal, but if they can catch SD Raiders on the break, could make it a tough contest.
St George FC vs Central Coast Mariners, Sunday 17 March, 5pm, St George Stadium
Down where the city meets the sea, St George FC have their home opener against fellow coastal side, Central Coast Mariners, in one of the two 5pm kick-offs this weekend.
Last year’s beaten Grand Finalists got their season off to the perfect start with a 3-nil derby success against Western NSW Mariners whilst St George FC, battled hard fell 3-1 to Nepean FC out in the west.
The Mariners were without some big guns for the opener, but they unearthed a promising talent in Indianna Auddino, the youngster scored a hat-trick. The ranks are well stocked for goal scorers in Gosford and Dan Barrett hopes they can repeat the dose at St George.
St George went down fighting against Nepean, so with a second top five side coming to the historic St George stadium, they’ll want to make a better account of themselves. In Yadira Renfigo and Amy Bennett, they have weapons to punish Mariners if they aren’t stout, so we’re set up for an intriguing contest Sunday.
By Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)
