Round 8 Preview – Futsal Premier League Open Women’s
With two top four clashes, round eight of the Open Women’s Futsal Premier League looks the most exciting yet as we enter the second half of the season.
And you really can’t go wrong wherever you look, so let’s preview the weekends action.
Campbelltown City Quake Futsal Club v Enfield Allstars; Saturday 29 October, 4:30pm, Minto Indoor Sports Centre
A rejuvenated Campbelltown City Quake host Enfield Allstars as they look for back-to-back wins kicking off their second half of the season.
Victorious against Mountain Majik last weekend, it’s pretty safe to say the main emotion following it was relief for the Quake. Key to that victory were the experienced duo of Linda Dudek and Claire Gilligan who guided the young side around the pitch after they took the lead. With the monkey off their back, they will be looking to start a run heading into the second half of the season.
Having come into the season with a youthful open women’s squad, a few results like last weekend were expected at Enfield Allstars. However, this is a long-term process and having had a week to reflect on their defeat to the Vipers, you can expect a reaction from this side as they look to develop the squad for future season.
A first meeting between the two sides in 2022, who will come out on top as we enter the business end of the season?
UTS Northside Futsal Club v Dural Warriors; Saturday 29 October, 4:30pm, PCYC Dee Why
The Leagues most prolific goal scorer meets one of the league’s best shot stoppers when UTS Northside host Dural Warriors this weekend in a top three meeting.
Let’s start with the hosts shall we as we featured them last weekend. Against Eastern Suburbs Hakoah, the performance was there for long periods, but they didn’t capitalize with goals. Daisy Arrowsmith continues to be their main threat with eight goals this season as she continued her scoring run. While the two Emily’s (Oates and Bastow) also put in good performances as well.
Four wins in a row, Dural Warriors deservedly find themselves on top of the table at the turn of the season. Conceding on average a goal a game, they have definitely got something right defensively which gives the team confidence going forward evidenced by last weekends performance. Scoring a season high six goals, Rachel Perrins, and Samantha Nagy both came away with braces.
It’s one of two big games coming this weekend, get set for an afternoon of entertainment at PCYC Dee Why.
Previous Meeting: Dural Warriors 2-2 UTS Northside
Eastern Suburbs Hakoah Futsal Club v Mascot Vipers; Saturday 29 October, 5:50pm, Morris Iemma Indoor SC
I mentioned two big games this weekend, here is the other! Fourth placed Eastern Suburbs Hakoah host second placed Mascot Vipers at Morris Iemma Indoor sports centre this Saturday evening.
Eastern Suburbs Hakoah come into this one after securing their best win of the season (according to ladder position) so far. Withstanding some early pressure from their visitors, they played their way into the contest before scoring twice in the middle third of the match. Alexia Karrys-Stahl and Doris Osman scored the goals while keeper Keira Schwereb made several crucial saves.
Not to be outdone, Mascot Vipers are improving in attack every week. Sending out a statement to the competition last weekend with a 11-goal victory over Enfield Allstars, they have scored 22 goals in the last month while only conceding 4. And there’s so much to like about this side with both Tess Quilligan and Trudy Camelleri scoring hat tricks last weekend.
Having not met this season, it’s not hard to see them face each other three times over the next eight weeks, who takes the first bragging rights here?
Mountain Majik Futsal Club v Inner West Futsal Club; Saturday 29 October, 6:20, Valentine Sports Park
Concluding our set of round eight fixtures, two desperate sides will be looking for their first win as Mountain Majik host Inner West.
Another side who came into the season looking at building a project more than anything. Mountain Majik will be eyeing this as a chance for victory. Last weekend they came close in their fixture with Campbelltown City Quake going down 4-2. Singled out in that match were Chelsea Barton and Savannah Murray who both impressed as the whole side fought to bring the game back.
It’s been a tough run of fixtures for their opposition this weekend Inner West. Facing each of the top four in as many weeks, they ran into a clinical Dural Warriors side last weekend, and they were five goals down before they knew it. With a bit of clear air before they meet a top side again, it’s important that they string some victories together starting here.
Previous Meeting: Inner West 4-4 Mountain Majik
R4 Catch up fixture: Eastern Suburbs Hakoah Futsal Club v Enfield Allstars will also be played 5:50pm at Valentine Sports Park this Sunday.
By Justin Smith
