Round 8 Preview – Futsal Premier League 2 Open Women’s
Headed into the weekend, the Futsal Premier League 2 Open Womens competition still remains tight and compact in the chase for the top four places. Round 8 brings us four wonderful clashes to play out across Saturday and help continue to shape the destination of the competition.
Match of the Round: Raiders Futsal Club vs West City Crusaders, Saturday 9 November, 5:40pm, Thomas Hassell Anglican College
The struggling Raiders Futsal Club take on fellow strugglers West City Crusaders in this weekend’s Match of the Round to play out at Thomas Hassell Anglican College Saturday evening.
Both sides come into the contest off losses – Raiders Futsal Club were on the wrong side of an eight-goal thriller against Phoenix Futsal Club. Crusaders were beaten by top four contenders South Coast Taipans 3-1.
Crusaders kicked off their season with a surprise 6-2 win against Raiders Futsal Club but haven’t built on that momentum since. They sit a single win outside of the top four and if the Crusaders can complete the season double against last year’s Grand Finalists, they can do that.
Finals are still within reach for Raiders Futsal Club. They have been unable to build on their success of last season but in recent weeks Amanda Radmillo has brought a spark to the side and could help lift them to a third win this season.
SD Raiders Futsal vs Sydney City Eagles, Saturday 9 November, 3:20pm, Fairfield Youth & Leisure Centre
Seventh takes on eighth in an intriguing fixture between SD Raiders Futsal and Sydney City Eagles both searching for a result at Fairfield Youth & Leisure Centre Saturday.
These two sides combined for a 15-goal fiesta last time they met in Round 1. SD Raiders Futsal triumphed on that night but neither side has reached great heights, both lost their last league fixtures on the weekend.
Saturday afternoon is set up to be a big clash for both teams. A win for SD Raiders Futsal will put them just outside the top four and remain in the hunt in the final weeks. For the Eagles, the win would get them off the mark for the season and uplift them.
Dural Warriors vs South Coast Taipans, Saturday 9 November, 3:50pm, The Centre – Dural
There is a top four clash to take place at The Centre – Dural between the undefeated Dural Warriors who welcome South Coast Taipans on Saturday afternoon.
Both these competition heavyweights come off last start victories. Dural Warriors were comfortable in their five-star performance against Sydney City Eagles and South Coast Taipans eased to a 3-1 win against West City Crusaders.
Taipans have been the only side thus far to blank the unbeaten leaders. The sides played out a 0-0 draw at UOW Sports Hub where both goalkeepers were standouts. Confidence has grown each week for the Taipans and if they keep their structure solid, they can become the first side to beat the Warriors.
It will be a mighty task to do so against this Warriors outfit. They have goal scorers across the court highlighted by the recent form of Abbey Lemon and Rachel Perrins, both near the top of the scoring charts and need to be shut down to blunt the Warriors Saturday night.
Phoenix Futsal Club vs Sydney Futsal Club, Saturday 9 November, 6:15pm, PCYC Hornsby
High flying Sydney Futsal Club take a trip to fourth place Phoenix Futsal Club in an exciting fixture to play out at PCYC Hornsby on Saturday evening.
Sydney Futsal Club made it four straight on the bounce after their 8-nil thumping of SD Raiders Futsal whilst Phoenix Futsal Club held off Raiders Futsal Club 5-3 to hold on their spot in the top four headed into the weekend.
Phoenix Futsal Club have started to find some consistency in their form with only one loss in their last four contests. Central to that is the goalscoring of Isabel Gomez and the work alongside her from Annika Hansen and Naomi Majok will make them a hard nut for the free-scoring Sydney to crack.
The visitors have been free-scoring in recent weeks with 28 goals scored in the four wins. If Sydney Futsal Club continue their run of form it will be a marked improvement from 2018. Key to the improvement has been the form of Zoe Yeats and Morgan Maxwell is central to that.
By Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)
