Round 6 Preview – NPL NSW Women’s
A new leader after Round 5 in the #NPLWNSW competition, but it’s as tight as ever and with the season preview ringing in our ears, this season is anyone’s for the taking.
Emerging Jets v Manly United
Manly United travel north (something they rarely do) to take on the Emerging Jets at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility.
The Jets gave a better account of themselves despite the result last weekend. Their structure looked better defensively and for the majority of the match defended well.
Keeping possession will be key for them, something they need to desperately improve on if they are to register their first points of the season soon.
Manly would be very disappointed following last week’s result against Spirit FC. In control, with a two-goal advantage, United let it slip and had to settle for a draw.
Kahli Johnson may be missing for Manly, travelling to a Young Matildas camp. Her importance to the team has been immense and the likes Yuka Honda will need to step it up.
Sydney University v Bankstown City
At Sydney University Football Ground, Sydney University will host Bankstown City on Sunday afternoon.
With only one loss in their first four matches of the season, Uni are currently sitting in fourth place with one game in hand on their weekend rivals.
With captain Taren King leading from the defence, Uni did quite the job on one of the competition favourites and easily put their name in the mix for honours with their performance. Keeping the likes of Shea Connors and Princess Ibini quiet is not an easy feat.
Bankstown will try to break down Uni’s tough defence through Daisy Arrowsmith, Olivia Price and so on. They weren’t able to break Blacktown down despite pushing hard and will hope to go one step further come the weekend.
It has been a solid start to the season, they are most definitely competitive and viewed by many as the 2022 season dark horse. Having played their full quota of games, dropping more points could see them slip further behind their rivals.
Macarthur Rams v Sydney Olympic
What a match we have in store for us at Lynwood Park on Sunday afternoon as the Macarthur Rams take on Sydney Olympic.
Coming off their first defeat of the season, Stephen Peters will be expecting a reaction from his side in this one. After three straight wins to start the season, they could not keep it going despite being right in the game and perhaps dominant in some passages.
With so much attacking arsenal such as Miku Sunaga, Leena Khamis, Kylie Ledbrook, Laura Murtagh…(the list goes on) will need to be at the top of their game against Olympic.
Olympic after three games has a win, a draw and a loss. They have been improving and they are looking dangerous. George Beltsos and his team will feel they should have taken all three points against APIA and were dominant on Sunday.
Cortnee Vine has been the most dangerous player in blue and white so far this season but with Mackenzie Hawkesby now returning to the squad, things are looking gloomy for whoever comes up against them.
One not to miss from 5:00pm with fireworks and fantastic football expected.
NWS Spirit v Illawarra Stingrays
Two teams desperate for points face off at Christie Park on Sunday night as the NWS Spirit host the Illawarra Stingrays.
Spirit registered their first points of the season in dramatic fashion on Sunday after an emphatic and confidence boosting come back. It was the perfect remedy for Adam Keramea’s team who will go into this week’s game with their tails up.
Bianca Radman was the super sub, coming on and scoring two, the question remains, did she do enough to earn a starting spot?
Like their opponents, the Stingrays managed to secure their first point of 2022 over the weekend also, taking a point from the Football NSW Institute.
It was the veteran Michelle Carney who helped them get there and she’ll be required to step up again and lead this team from the front.
APIA Leichhardt v Football NSW Institute POSTPONED
Northern Tigers v Blacktown Spartans POSTPONED till the 24th of May
Round six finishes up in style on Thursday, 19 May, as the Northern Tigers host Blacktown Spartans at North Turramurra.
A battle between two sides yet to taste defeat in 2022.
The Tigers are currently the league leaders and are looking strong at the moment, knocking off the Macarthur Rams in the process who were the in-form team before Sunday.
Aideen Keane’s injury status could be key here for the Tigers as she has been in phenomenal form along with the attacking prowess of Shay Evans.
Sitting on equal points and yet to concede a goal this season, are the Spartans. Brad Attard’s team has started the season well but managing a plethora of Young Matildas won’t be easy. An incredible 10(!) players have been called up to the Young Matildas training camp, thus the delay in kick off for this one.
With quality all over the park, should the returning Spartans return in good condition, this promises to be a special match.
-By NPL NSW Women’s Chief Writer and Commentator Nikola Pozder
