Round 2 Preview – NPL NSW Women’s

The NPL NSW Women’s competition got off to a bang and round two looks to promise much of the same.

Blacktown Spartans v Sydney University

The match of the round takes us to Blacktown Football Park on Sunday afternoon as the Blacktown Spartans face off with Sydney University.

These two come into this one at opposite ends of the spectrum.

For the Spartans, It was a disappointing away loss against the newly promoted Sydney Olympic FC.

David Saliba is going to need to ensure the defence is tightened up ahead of Uni’s visit who are already in red hot goal scoring form.

Alex Epakis’ team is firing on all fronts.

Five different goalscorers in a dominant round one performance against Bankstown City had them comfortable 5-0 victors.

NWS Koalas v Illawarra Stingrays

North West Sydney Koalas take on the Illawarra Stingrays at Christie Park.

Fitness and experience saw the Koalas outlast their younger Emerging Jets opponents last week with four late goals.

They won’t be afforded those luxuries this week with a dangerous Stingrays team coming to town.

The Stingrays played their round one fixture Wednesday night as Scott Chipperfield took charge of his first competitive game of the Rays.

As reported last week, local superstar and current Matilda Michelle Heyman has put pen to paper for the Stingrays in another massive boost for the club.

North Shore Mariners v Manly United

It’s the North Sydney derby in the cities West as the North Shore Mariners and Manly United do battle at Cook Park.

Another side who played Wednesday night.

They’re an unknown going into this season and if they can pick up points in their first two games, they will really send a message to the rest of the competition. They missed the chance against the Rays, can they do it against Manly?

Chris Williams’ team lost their round one clash against last season’s champions but that won’t dishearten the young team.

That result could’ve went either way and they’ll look to get win number one of the season on Sunday.

Emerging Jets v Bankstown City

Bankstown City will make the long trip to Lake Macquarie Football Facility as they take on the Emerging Jets.

There are two sides to every tale and that was the case last Sunday.

Despite losing 5-0, the young side held out well until the last 10 minutes where they capitulated.

Bankstown was another side on the back of a 5-0 beating.

They will feel they can pull something from this game but will need to pick up their performance from last week.

Sydney Olympic v Football NSW Institute

Peter Moore Field will play host to the Sydney Olympic and Football NSW Institute clash.

What a start to the season for the newly promoted Sydney Olympic side!

Five goals and a dominant performance were just what the doctor ordered ahead of what will definitely be a tougher task on Sunday.

Leah Blayney’s team was missing some key players on Sunday but her young side showed real resolve to come away with all three points.

The addition of their Young Matildas to this week’s squad will only make for an even better performance.

Macarthur Rams v Northern Tigers

The Champions Macarthur Rams welcome the Northern Tigers to Lynwood Park.

They started where they finished the season off, with a win.

It wasn’t easy but they showed they’ll still be a force post-Teresa Polias with a tough away win against Manly United.

The Tigers will feel they deserved more from last week’s game but went home without any points.

It will be just as tough this week when they come up against the Rams and Servet Uzunlar will need to lead her side.

REMAINING ROUND 1 MATCH

Illawarra Stingrays v North Shore Mariners

It was the perfect start to 2019 for Scott Chipperfield’s team, coming away with all three points against the North Shore Mariners at Seymour Shaw on Wednesday 13th of March.

The Stingrays started the match in the best possible way after some early dominance, capitalising and hitting the front through Blaize Kendis.

The second half started much the same way as Eden Stoddard scored a well placed goal to double the Stingrays lead.

It was the Mariners who’d score next though, halving the deficit through debutant Camilla Arentoft following a corner.

Katelyn Leadbeatter should’ve restored the two-goal buffer but she blasted her second straight effort well over the bar.

But the points were settled when Erica Halloway followed up on Leadbeatter’s shot which smacked against the bar to make it 3-1.

-By NPL NSW Women’s writer Nikola Pozder