Women’s Super League Round 8 Preview
The weather might be cold and overcast on Sunday afternoon but that doesn?t mean the quality of the league will drop at all. With some massive fixtures in Round 8 to keep us entertained, there is one thing for sure; all teams have one eye on the happenings of Ison Park as the two top sides in the competition do battle.
MATCH OF THE ROUND: Southern Branch v Eastern UNSW Lions
Ison Park, 3pm kick off
Ison Park is the place to be this Sunday afternoon with a top of the table clash between Southern Branch and UNSW Lions set to be a match to remember. This could well be fixture which decides who will finish top of the table come season?s end.
Southern Branch have a squad full of talented players who are both mentally and physically strong. Having score more goals than any other side so far this season, Branch are far from shy in the final third of the pitch. After securing a 2-1 win over Western NSW Mariners, the team?s fifth win of the season, Branch is full of confidence and have set first place on the ladder as their priority. To do that, they will have to find a way to sneak past one of the best defences in the league, UNSW.
UNSW are enjoying life at the top, however the team knows that the only way from there is down. Sally Paterson?s squad however has fantastic depth, outstanding quality and brilliant communication skills ? all essential to a winning team. With more goals next to her name than some Super League sides have scored all season, Ayse Adalis is quite simply in the best form she has been in years. With a killer strike and perfect ball control, it is hard to see Adalis not getting on the scoresheet in Nowra. On their day UNSW can be unbeatable, the squad just need to make sure that this Sunday is one of those days.
Sydney Olympic v Northern Tigers
Blick Oval, 3pm kick off
Olympic achieved just their second win of the competition last weekend against an out of form Southern Districts. Nonetheless, the squad are building in confidence and are starting to work better together with each game. Against Northern Tigers, Olympic are going to have to rely on a counter attacking brand of football and maintain their strong communication in the defence which has let the fewest amount of goals slip into the back of the net all season.
A loss against St. George was not something the squad from Northern Tigers thought was possible however last weekend the impossible became possible. This week the girls have focused on getting back to basics and creating a positive attitude at training. When the Tigers play with a smile on their face, they have the ability to win the competition, the girls just need to refocus and start enjoying their football if they don?t want to slip up again this weekend.
Southern Districts v Western NSW Mariners
Ernie Smith Reserve, 3pm kick off
The Emeralds have been slipping down the ladder in recent weeks, completely the wrong direction for the fantastic squad, which is at the disposal of the coaching staff. With Julie Gasovac starting to hit some form, it will be up to her and her striking partner to secure the points against a very young Mariners squad. In front of a home crowd, you?d expect Districts to claim maximum points, however with football being such an unusual game, anything is possible at Ernie Smith Reserve.
19 is the average age of Western NSW Mariners? squad. With youth comes passion and unpredictability. These are two elements which we have seen the side from Bathurst display in recent weeks, most notably their wins against APIA Leichhardt Tigers and Sydney Olympic. Again, the key player to keep an eye on is Kelsey Tuttle. The pacey Mariners striker come winger has been in brilliant form all season and is sure to terrorise the District?s defence which has seen 30 goals hit the back of the net.
Parramatta Lady Hawks v APIA Leichhardt Tigers
Melita Stadium, 3pm kick off
Third placed Lady Hawks take on bottom of the table APIA Tigers at their fortress on Sunday afternoon. Travelling sides always dislike heading to Melita Stadium, which has seen plenty of dominating displays of football this season alongside many goals. Having narrowly missed out on getting a point against Nepean FC in Round 7, the Lady Hawks are out for all three points this weekend with anything less considered a failure.
It has been a rough season for APIA Tigers with nine players ruled out for the best part of the season due to injuries. There could however be a silver lining with three former Premier League stars expected to sign for the club in the coming days. There is no one more disappointed with the season so far than head coach, Tarek Madani who is praying that a result against the Lady Hawks will be the much needed kick start to the season. A championship might be out of the question at this stage but if APIA fight for the rest of the season, a spot in the top four is a possibility.
St. George FC v Nepean FC
St. George Stadium, 3pm kick off
The home side haven?t lost a game since the 22nd April, a feat which the club and the players are all very happy with. After a dominating display, St. George did the unthinkable and claimed all three points against Northern Tigers at Mills Park. This result will help maintain the upbeat mood around training this week as well as leading up to this fixture on Sunday. Jess Carosi will be the target to most of St. George?s attack again this weekend, a tactic which has worked perfectly in recent weeks as the coaching staff look to move further up the table with a solid performance against Nepean at home.
Nepean has suffered a lot this season. Not just on the field but off it too. After losing two managers and coaches as well as numerous key players, it easy to see why the travelling side have struggled to get a string of decent performances together in 2012. This weekend however it could all change. The girls are starting to play football with a smile on their face and are passing better with every passing minute on the field. This positive energy could just be the difference in at St. George Stadium on Sunday. There is one thing for sure though, this game will be won or lost in the midfield.
-By Peter Nowakowski
