Round 25 Preview – League One Women’s

We have reached the penultimate round in the Football NSW League One Women’s competition and there are finals and the title still up for grabs. Round 25 has seven games to enjoy across Sunday including the Match of the Round between Nepean FC and Hills United FC. Let’s get onto the preview.

Match of the Round: Nepean FC vs Hills United FC, Sunday 27 August, 3pm, Cook Park

Our Match of the Round sees Nepean FC host Hills United FC at Cook Park for their game on Sunday afternoon.

Nepean FC were dealt a blow when they were beaten by a rampant UNSW FC 4-0 in their travels to The Village Green last weekend.

They are now out of the finals running but the young side hope to use the last fortnight as a springboard into 2024.

One thing in their favour is their positive record against Hills United FC. Nepean FC earnt a draw in their Round 12 meeting and were streak enders in 2022.

Hills United FC helped kick off Round 24 with their 2-1 win over SD Raiders on Saturday night down at Landen Stadium.

Isabella Sciberras starred for Hills United FC in the win. The striker has found her groove again after a rough patch in the middle of the season.

The visitors might be secure in the finals but need to ward off St George FC trying to scrape past them into third position.

This game will be streamed live on NPL.TV on Sunday afternoon. Join Megan Grew who will be behind the microphone for this clash.

Mt Druitt Town Rangers vs South Coast Flame FC, Sunday 27 August, 3pm, Popondetta Park

Mt Druitt Town Rangers host South Coast Flame FC in their game at Popondetta Park on Sunday afternoon.

The Town Rangers made it three wins on the bounce after their 4-0 win against Sutherland Shire FA last weekend.

Neil Ross has the side firing on all cylinders in the last month and has them in line for a high finish to their sophomore season.

Both Hitomi Maeda and Anicka Castaneda have been superb for Mt Druitt and look to cause an upset on their home turf.

South Coast Flame FC triumphed 2-0 against Blacktown City FC at Sir Ian McLennan Oval last Saturday night.

This is a big week for South Coast Flame FC. They won their midweek catch up against Marconi Stallions 3-1 to move within five points of St George FC.

They put those hopes on the line again on Sunday afternoon and look to Emily Kostovski and Lulu Lozano to help keep them alive.

Sutherland Shire FA vs Central Coast Mariners, Sunday 27 August, 3pm, Harrie Denning Centre

Sutherland Shire FA face off against title chasing Central Coast Mariners at Harrie Denning Centre on Sunday afternoon.

The hosts were beaten 4-0 by Mt Druitt Town Rangers in their game down at Popondetta Park last weekend.

The Sutherland Shire FA side can play spoiler against the Mariners and end their campaign on a high with three points.

They will look towards young talents Violet Keelan and Tahli Fowler up front to help them find the back of the net in this contest.

Central Coast Mariners thumped South East Phoenix FC in the distance derby 8-0 at Pluim Park last weekend.

Chloe Smith has 24 goals for the campaign and remains a chance to snatch the Golden Boot with another solid performance on Sunday.

The Mariners have their catch-up game against SD Raiders FC on Tuesday night so Dan Barrett might rotate some of the squad across the pair of games.

St George FC vs Camden Tigers, Sunday 27 August, 3pm, Ilinden Sports Centre

Fourth place St George FC hosts fifteenth place Camden Tigers down at Ilinden Sports Centre on Sunday afternoon.

The Saints ran rampant in the Match of the Round beating Inter Lions 8-0 at Ilinden Sports Centre last weekend.

Winger Kate Dale put in a massive shift in the win with a goal and assist and look to replicate that performance against the Tigers.

Three points would lock in a finals spot for St George FC so coaches Mark Greenfield and Jay Nataly will have the squad ready to go from the opening whistle.

Camden Tigers dug out a 0-0 draw against Marconi Stallions in their stalemate played at Marconi Stadium last weekend.

The Tigers had their custodian Zarli Lakeman to thank for the point and she has been solid between the sticks for the south-west side.

Coming in mid-season, coach Peter Tsembelis has done an admirable job with the Tigers team hoping for bright days next year.

Marconi Stallions vs UNSW FC, Sunday 27 August, 3pm, Marconi Stadium

Marconi Stallions take on leaders UNSW FC at their home ground Marconi Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The Stallions huffed and puffed in their 0-0 draw against Camden Tigers back at Marconi Stadium last weekend.

They will look to turn those chances into goals and upset the apple cart in the League One Women’s title race.

At the back, Yoshimi Miki has been a rock for Marconi Stallions. The custodian will be vital to keeping out the potent UNSW FC attack.

UNSW FC maintained their position at the top of League One Women’s with their 4-0 win over Nepean FC at The Village Green.

The students hold a one-point lead over Central Coast Mariners and hope to pick up three points to maintain their lead into the final weekend.

Leading the line, Marcella Santos fired home a hat-trick and the sharpshooter will want to add to her tally further against the Stallions.

South East Phoenix FC vs SD Raiders FC, Sunday 27 August, 3:15pm, South Nowra Football Complex

South East Phoenix FC takes on SD Raiders FC down at South Nowra Football Complex on Sunday afternoon.

The South East Phoenix side were beaten 8-0 by Central Coast Mariners in their travels to Pluim Park last weekend.

It has been a rough trot for the Phoenix but they hope to make their final home game one to remember and pick up three points.

They will be without Beth Tomlinson after her red card which adds strain to a Phoenix side already down on troops in recent weeks.

SD Raiders FC battled hard in their 2-1 defeat to Hills United FC down at Landen Stadium on Saturday night.

The visitors will look to maintain a top half finish in the League One Women’s competition by taking three points back up the highway.

SD Raiders FC hope to avenge their 2-0 defeat against South East Phoenix back in Round 12 led by captain Elin Rosenberg Cemazar.

Blacktown City FC vs Inter Lions, Sunday 27 August, 4pm, Landen Stadium

Blacktown City FC welcome Inter Lions to Landen Stadium for their game to be played on Sunday afternoon.

The hosts were beaten 2-0 by South Coast Flame FC in their game on Saturday night down at Sir Ian McLennan Oval.

It has been a frustrating season for Blacktown City FC who will look to end their second season in League One Women’s with two more wins.

They will look to their forwards in Alyse-May McCutcheon and Jenny Hughes to reverse their earlier loss to Inter Lions.

Inter Lions featured in the Match of the Round and were beaten 8-0 by St George FC at Ilinden Sports Centre last weekend.

Ella Rochester came off the bench and was a bright spark for Inter Lions on the wing and will look to replicate that performance on Sunday afternoon.

Adrian Contarino has returned to the club to help guide their turnaround in both the last fortnight and into the 2024 campaign.

By Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)