Round 14 Preview – League One Women’s

Round 14 is the penultimate round of the first half of the League One Womens competition and has served up some fantastic fixtures.

Headed towards halfway teams will start revving up for the final stretch and jostling for positions.

Match of the Round: St George FC vs Sutherland Shire FA, Sunday 22 May, 3pm, Fraser Park

Highlighting the round is a derby match between St George FC and Sutherland Shire FA at Fraser Park on Sunday afternoon.

This match is set up to be a classic between two sides in fabulous form recently. St George FC won 5-0 against Mt Druitt Town Rangers also at Fraser Park. Sutherland Shire FA had their game against Hills United FC washed out.

St George FC look much more like the side which has dominated the League One Womens competition in recent years. Also, striker Jordan Baker comes into the contest off a hat-trick and will be primed to face her old team.

Sutherland Shire FA have worked their way into the season and will be confident facing up against the Saints in a mouthwatering contest. Coach Jon Long has the side playing some good football and could push St George FC all the way.

Nepean FC vs UNSW FC, Sunday 22 May, 3pm Cook Park

Nepean FC head home to face off against UNSW FC in an important fixture on Sunday afternoon played at Cook Park.

The hosts will dust themselves off after their 3-1 loss to SD Raiders FC in the Match of the Round last weekend. UNSW FC were up 2-0 before they conceded twice in a 2-2 draw against Marconi Stallions in a good contest.

The Nepean FC squad showed in their game against SD Raiders FC they can compete against the top half of the competition. Goalkeeper Kaydi Christie pulled off some magnificent saves and might have a busy afternoon against UNSW FC.

For the students, they sit in the logjam in the middle of the League One Womens competition and if they can string together some results, they can shoot up the ladder. Having a one-two punch of Hannah Charak and Eve Hess will be handy to complete that.

Blacktown City FC vs Central Coast Mariners, Sunday 22 May, 3pm, Blacktown City Sports Centre

Young side Blacktown City FC welcome Central Coast Mariners to Blacktown City Sports Centre on Sunday afternoon.

Both sides head into this contest off big wins in their latest fixtures. Blacktown City FC were 1-0 victors against Camden Tigers. Central Coast Mariners won 4-1 at Pluim Park against South East Phoenix FC in an early kick-off.

Blacktown City FC have savoured the wins they have got thus far in their debut season in the League One Womens competition. The young side have started to find their feet and part of that is their defensive pairing of Bronte Tilsed and Rachel Chalhoub to help restrict the opposition attacks.

Central Coast Mariners are in sixth spot and can mount a challenge to the top sides if they can continue to build on their results. Captain Kaitlin Murphy has been in sparkling form recently and is ready to add further to her goal tally.

South East Phoenix FC vs Mt Druitt Town Rangers, Sunday 22 May, 3:15pm, South Nowra Football Complex

South East Phoenix FC host Mt Druitt Town Rangers at South Nowra Football Complex on Sunday afternoon.

Both sides will be looking at this fixture to pick up some valuable points after they had losses last weekend in similar fashions. South East Phoenix FC were beaten 4-1 by Central Coast Mariners while Mt Druitt lost 5-0 to St George FC.

South East Phoenix FC might not have gotten results lately but might circle this one for three points giving them a boost headed into the halfway mark. Madison Cater has been the highlight for them with her goal scoring prowess.

Confidence isn’t a problem for Mt Druitt Town Rangers. The new side haven’t had the results a lot of their fellow debutants have experienced but it hasn’t dulled their ambition. Coach Neill Ross is confident they will find some results headed towards the end of the year.

Northbridge Bulls FC vs Marconi Stallions, Sunday 22 May, 3:40pm, Northbridge Oval

Looking to bounce back Northbridge Bulls FC host a stampeding Marconi Stallions at Northbridge Oval on Sunday afternoon.

Sunday represents a chance for redemption for Northbridge Bulls FC after their 3-2 loss to Inter Lions FC in an upset. Marconi Stallions roared back to gain a point in their 2-2 draw against UNSW FC at Wanderers Football Park on Sunday afternoon.

Northbridge Bulls FC have been inconsistent in their recent results and look to start putting together a streak to be able to defend their Championship. The Bulls have the strike power to unlock a stoic Stallions defence.

The Stallions on their day can defeat anyone in the League One Womens competition but the thing for coach Dino Severin is getting them to do that on a regular basis. If he can, Marconi will feature late in the season and appear in another Grand Final.

Hills United FC vs Inter Lions, Sunday 22 May, 3:45pm, Bella Vista Public School

Hills United FC look to continue their strong run with the visit of Inter Lions to Bella Vista Public School on Sunday afternoon.

The rampant leaders Hills United FC were given some respite after their fixture against Sutherland Shire FA was washed out due to the deluge of rain. Inter Lions pulled off the result of the season in their 3-2 win against Northbridge Bulls FC at home.

Having a weekend off might’ve been a blessing for Hills United FC. The undefeated leaders have played twelve straight games and needed to rest up some niggling injuries. Hills United FC defence will be a tough nut to crack for anyone.

Inter Lions sent a message to the competition with their upset last week. They have found their shooting boots to help Jess Wootton up top. If they bring the same effort as last week, it will be a closer contest than most expect.

SD Raiders FC vs South Coast Flame FC, Sunday 22 May, 4:10pm, Ernie Smith Reserve

SD Raiders FC look to defend Fortress Ernie Smith Reserve again when they host South Coast Flame FC on Sunday afternoon.

The hosts rebounded well from their mid-week loss with a 3-1 win against Nepean FC in last week’s Match of the Round. South Coast Flame FC went down in by the odd goal, 3-2 against Gladesville Ravens on Saturday afternoon.

SD Raiders FC are comfortable in the top four and look set for a challenge to the finals and possibly even further. Alongside their strike duo of Trudy Camilleri and Rojin Polat, they have Milica Aleksic finding the back of the net regularly which makes them a tough out for any team.

South Coast Flame FC sit in tenth spot and have had some good moments in their first season in the League One Womens competition. Caley Tallon-Henniker and Alexis Malizis have been solid performers in recent weeks and will need to be monitored by the SD Raiders FC defence.

Gladesville Ravens vs Camden Tigers, Sunday 22 May, 5:40pm, Christie Park

Rounding off the weekend is an interesting clash between Gladesville Ravens and Camden Tigers at Christie Park on Sunday afternoon.

It was a six-point week for Gladesville Ravens after their pair of wins last week which included their 3-2 win against South Coast Flame FC on Saturday. Camden Tigers were in a tense contest but fell to a 1-0 loss to Blacktown City FC.

The Ravens are soaring, flying and there is no point total they can’t reach headed into the midpoint of the season. Gemma Woolley obviously has been the standout, but the composure of Keiko Tanaka has been vital for the side in their recent run.

Camden Tigers battled hard and will give a decent shift against the rampant Ravens. The visitors started off the season hard and the Tigers will hope to rediscover that magic in the second half of the competition.

By Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)