Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League Round 6 Review

Over at ELS Hall Park the Grand Final replay between NWS Koalas and Macarthur Rams proved to be a hard fought affair. Whilst both sides had their opportunities neither could find the back of the net. The Koalas certainly managed to keep Macarthur?s attacking weapons under wraps. However, they weren?t quite able to unlock The Rams defence either. A draw was probably a fitting result with both sides deserving to take something out of the game.
The Koalas now face a tough match next week with Sydney University whilst The Rams host Sutherland Sharks at Lynwood Park.
NWS Koalas         0
Macarthur Rams 0
At Marconi Stadium The Stallions took the lead over Sydney University in the 30^th minute through a goal by Sam Muscat. University replied soon after with Wilson equalising for the visitors in the 37^th minute.
The teams remained level into the half time break. The second half saw both sides pressing hard for a winner. Just as the game looked destined for a draw Sydney University found a winner from Seer in the 88^th minute to take all the points. As this match proved to be my only successful ?tip? of the round I?d like to thank the Sydney University side for finding a way to win!
The win moves Sydney University into fifth place with two games in hand. The season seems to be coming together well for the team.   
Marconi continue to struggle with only Sutherland Sharks and Penrith Nepean United behind them on the competition table.
Marconi Stallions  1 (S.Muscat 30m)
Sydney University 2 (E.Wilson 37m, B.Seer 88m)
Down at J.J.Kelly Park the Illawarra Stingrays celebrated their return to their home ground with a decisive 3-1 win over Manly United FC.
Michelle Carney opened the scoring for The Stingrays with a 34^th minute goal. The shell shocked visitors conceded again within two minutes with Hailey Kerrigan doubling Illawarra?s lead. The Stingrays held this advantage into half time.
Manly United were thrown a lifeline in the 57^th minute when Heidi Van Weeren scored. This set the scene for an exciting finish to the game but Illawarra?s Ash Connor bobbed up in the 85^th minute to score the clincher.
This was a quality battle between two of the league?s most exciting teams. The two combatants now sit one/two on the ladder with Illawarra having a game in hand. I get the impression that these two sides may yet size up against each other come finals time.
Illawarra Stingrays 3 (M.Carney 34m, H.Kerrigan 36m, A.Connor 85m)
Manly United FC    1 (H.Van Weeren 57m)
The final match for review saw the two teams at the bottom end of the table, Sutherland Sharks and Penrith Nepean United, fight out an exciting encounter at Harrie Dening Centre. Both sides went into the match with injury concerns; Penrith in particular, being without the influential Taryn Rockall.
The Sharks suffered a mid week annihilation at the hands of the Illawarra Stingrays. Going on that result the shire girls showed guts to even front up for today?s match. When Anissa Tann opened the scoring for Penrith in the 12^th minute it looked like Sutherland were in for another long day. To The Sharks credit they replied quickly with Freya Hickey scoring in the 15^th minute.
The teams remained deadlocked into half time. In the 55^th minute Anissa Tann completed her brace, pushing Penrith to a 2-1 lead. The Penrith side?s joy was short lived however as Sutherland equalised almost immediately through Nadia Hamson.  Both sides put plenty of effort into their work but it was Sutherland who scored next in the 62^nd minute via the boot of Kylie Stabb.
One may have thought that there were a few goals still left in the game at this point but Sutherland held firm to grab their first win of the season. The final score of 3-2 saw plenty of delight on the faces of the Sutherland players and their relived coach, Michael Michaels.
Penrith now find themselves alone at the bottom of the competition ladder; a surprise considering their gutsy draw with NWS Koalas the previous weekend.
Sutherland Sharks          3 (F.Hickey 15m, N.Hamson 55m, K.Stabb 62m)
Penrith Nepean United 2 (A.Tann 12m/55m)
I trust that all the mothers in Arrive Alive Women?s Premier League land enjoyed their day. The football today appears to have offered plenty to keep Mum on the edge of her seat. Congratulations to all the winners but the losing sides should console themselves with the thought that there?s another game next weekend. One look at the competition table will show you that this is shaping up to be a closely contested season.
-By Ross Anderson