Round 25 Preview – League One Women’s
Round 25 in the Football NSW League One Women’s competition is the penultimate weekend of the season, with six sides still vying for four spots in the top four.
There are six games across the weekend that will help decide the make-up of the finals places, with plenty still to play for and the Match of the Round seeing Blacktown Spartans FC welcome reigning Premiers SD Raiders FC.
Let’s get onto the preview!
Match of the Round: Blacktown Spartans FC vs SD Raiders FC
Sunday 16 August, 5pm – Blacktown Football Park
Blacktown Spartans FC welcome Premiers SD Raiders FC to Blacktown Football Park on Sunday night in a crucial fixture for the home side’s finals hopes.
The Spartans’ finals hopes took a significant blow with their 2-0 loss to Sutherland Strikers FC on their home turf last weekend.
They now sit five points outside the top four and will need to win both of their remaining games while also relying on results elsewhere to snatch a finals spot.
Kitwarla Mkali has been a consistent presence for Blacktown Spartans throughout the season and has already shown this campaign that she can deliver in the Match of the Round.
They will need another strong performance from Mkali and the rest of the squad if they are to keep their finals hopes alive.
SD Raiders FC, meanwhile, were crowned League One Women’s Premiers following their 2-0 victory over Central Coast Mariners FC at home.
Who else but Taiana Almeida got the celebrations started with her goal, and the Golden Boot contender will be looking to add to her impressive tally in this clash.
Sophia Furia has returned to the starting side in recent weeks, with her combination alongside Abigail Boag proving vital to the Raiders’ success throughout the season.
This game will be streamed LIVE on the Football NSW YouTube channel, with Chrisos Mavromoustakos behind the microphone.
St George FC vs South Coast Flame FC
Sunday 16 August, 4:30pm – Barton Park
St George FC take on South Coast Flame FC at Barton Park on Sunday afternoon.
The Saints have recorded back-to-back wins, following their 2-0 victory over Nepean FC at the same venue last weekend.
Jaslyn Moore made a successful return to the field after not playing since Round 4 and marked the occasion by scoring the second goal off the bench.
She will be keen to build on that performance and fire again as the Saints look to finish the season strongly.
While finals football is out of reach, St George have started to find some form, and coach Mark Greenfield will want his side to continue that momentum through the final two rounds.
South Coast Flame FC, meanwhile, suffered a disappointing 1-0 loss to Bankstown City Lions FC at Sir Ian McLennan Park last Saturday night.
They will need to shake off that defeat quickly and return to winning ways to hold off the surging Sutherland Strikers FC.
If the Flame are to get back into the winner’s circle, they will be looking to Abigail Jordan to lead them around the park.
Bankstown City Lions FC vs Blacktown City FC
Sunday 16 August, 5pm – Jensen Park
Bankstown City Lions FC face Blacktown City FC at Jensen Park on Sunday afternoon.
The Lions produced an upset 1-0 victory over South Coast Flame FC at Sir Ian McLennan Park last weekend, securing a valuable three points.
Striker Krystallia Kallidakis scored the decisive goal and has led the line well for Bankstown City during the second half of the season.
Her partnership alongside the club’s top scorer for the season, Karen Bennett, will be vital if the Lions are to make it back-to-back wins.
Blacktown City FC were involved in a nine-goal thriller last weekend, going down 6-3 to Inter Lions FC at Landen Stadium.
It was a memorable moment for Sarah Lievano and Hannah Reynolds, who both came off the bench to score their first goals of the season.
Briana Tinney also made her first start of the 2026 campaign in the defeat, a reward for her work throughout the season.
Blacktown will be looking to finish the season strongly and produce a response at Jensen Park.
Central Coast Mariners FC vs Inter Lions FC
Sunday 16 August, 5pm – Pluim Park
Central Coast Mariners FC take on Inter Lions FC at Pluim Park on Sunday afternoon.
The Mariners were competitive in their 2-0 loss to Premiers SD Raiders FC at Ernie Smith Reserve last Saturday.
Peyton Scollay was a constant threat up front for the Mariners in the defeat and will be ready to find the back of the net when she returns home.
At the back, Teagan Jones and Ruth Hosie both put in solid shifts for the yellow-and-navy and will be looking to back those performances up on home soil.
Inter Lions FC, meanwhile, produced one of their best performances of the season in a pulsating 6-3 victory over Blacktown City FC at Landen Stadium last weekend.
Cate Gyzen took the headlines with a hat-trick and has been a big addition to an Inter Lions side that has enjoyed an improved season.
Mid-season signing Ambre Canado also got her maiden goal for the club and will be keen to repeat the dose on Sunday.
Camden Tigers FC vs Marconi Stallions FC
Sunday 16 August, 5pm – Ron Dine Reserve
Camden Tigers FC face Marconi Stallions FC at Ron Dine Reserve on Sunday afternoon.
The Tigers battled to a 2-1 defeat against Newcastle Jets FC in their travels up the Hunter last Sunday afternoon.
Tiana Mobbs made her first start since Round 2 for the Tigers and will be keen to earn further opportunities as the club looks to finish the season strongly.
The Tigers have enjoyed several bright spots throughout the campaign, including the emergence of young talent, with Trinity Gibson another standout.
Marconi Stallions FC are keen to return to action after having the bye in Round 24 of the League One Women’s competition.
Despite their previous defeat, there was a major positive when Tania Baban made her return off the bench after more than a year on the sidelines.
Energetic winger Erinn Cleghorn always puts in a shift for the Stallions and will be key if they are to get back into the winner’s circle.
Sutherland Strikers FC vs Nepean FC
Sunday 16 August, 5pm – Harrie Dening Centre
Sutherland Strikers FC take on Nepean FC at Harrie Dening Centre on Sunday afternoon in a crucial finals race fixture.
The Strikers produced one of the biggest results of the weekend last week, defeating Blacktown Spartans FC 2-0 in their finals eliminator at Blacktown Football Park.
Ebony Freeman opened the scoring for Sutherland and gives them another attacking option as they prepare to face a stubborn Nepean FC defence.
The Strikers sit just two points outside the top four after winning four of their last five matches and know they need to keep collecting victories to force their way into the finals.
Nepean FC were beaten 2-0 by St George FC at Jamison Park last Sunday afternoon.
Facing a side in excellent form, Nepean will lean on the experience of Hannah Plaatjes as they look to cause an upset.
Nepean are a team that can be difficult to break down, with much of that defensive resilience coming from goalkeeper Laura Tredinnick, who has produced some superb saves throughout the season.
She will be called upon again on Sunday as Nepean look to frustrate the Strikers and end their finals push.
Newcastle Jets FC have the bye.
By Justin Davies
