Round 1 Preview – NPL 2 NSW Women’s
Football is back and it comes with a festival of football to kick-off the rearranged 2020 season. Five matches will light up the fields as the competition comes back to life. Enjoy if you do head out and stay safe everyone please don’t forget to follow the COVID-19 social distancing guidelines.
Southern Branch FC vs Sutherland Shire FA, Sunday 19 July, 3pm, South Nowra Football Complex
Sutherland Shire FA travel to scenic Nowra to take on Southern Branch FC at South Nowra Football Complex in the first of five contests to kick-off the rebooted competition.
The visitors are always well-drilled and will get to their work quickly. Jordan Baker is their main outlet and the striker scored a wonderful free-kick before the competition went into recess. Now, they look to start on the right foot again.
Southern Branch FC endured their best campaign in 2019, now after the break, will hope to spring a few surprises against sides in the shortened season. They will be full of energy to get back on the park and back into action.
Gladesville Ravens vs St George FC, Sunday 19 July, 3pm, Christie Park
Reigning champions Gladesville Ravens start the new campaign at fortress Christie Park as they welcome the spirited St George FC on Sunday afternoon.
Gladesville Ravens were strong in both their games and will look to replicate this against a dogged St George FC side. Christie Park has been a hard place to find a result and the high-flying Ravens will lean on that to kick-off in style.
For St George FC, it is a tough first task but they showed in their two defeats before covid-19 intervened that there is a fight in this side. The Saints will match up with the Ravens and might spring a surprise or two in this new format.
Central Coast Mariners vs Nepean FC, Sunday 19 July, 3pm, Pluim Park
Two of the heavyweight sides in National Premier Leagues 2 NSW Womens do battle as Nepean FC make the trip up the highway to Pluim Park to take on Central Coast Mariners.
This contest shapes up as one of the tougher to pick of the restart. Central Coast Mariners were free-scoring before the virus intervened and Dan Barrett’s side are a tough out for any side. Barrett will want to measure up against the consistent form of Nepean FC.
Nepean FC travel to the Central Coast looking to clip the wings of the Mariners. The Western Sydney side are a younger side this season, and that energy will spark them coming off the break and might see them catch some of their rivals cold in the first few weeks.
UNSW FC vs Inter Lions, Sunday 19 July, 3pm, Seymour Shaw
Coming out of the break and doing just fine, UNSW FC host Inter Lions down at Seymour Shaw at 3pm on Sunday afternoon, as both sides look to start quickly.
UNSW FC were one of the stories of the pre-covid season as they won both their contests against Gladesville and Nepean FC. Coach Steve Greenwood has made an instant impact and the Students could be a dark horse for the shortened competition.
For Inter Lions, coming off a less than stellar 2019 and opening to 2020, they will be looking for an improved performance to lift themselves off the bottom. Inter Lions could be a banana skin for teams trying to fight for top positions.
North Shore Mariners vs SD Raiders, Sunday 19 July, 3pm, Northbridge Oval
The Mariners were flying before the enforced break, now they restart the competition with a home game against the consistent SD Raiders FC on Sunday afternoon.
North Shore Mariners recruited well and got off to a hot start so they will be wanting a repeat of that dose to kick-off this new competition. The Mariners a star-studded outfit and will prove a stern test for the SD Raiders.
SD Raiders FC have been consistent since their promotion to NPLNSW2 Womens a few seasons ago. Coach Terry Gray will have his SD Raiders side compact to limit the impact of the Mariners attackers and try to hit them on the counter to cause the upset.
Marconi Stallions have the bye
By Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)
