Who will stop APIA Leichhardt with the National Premier League NSW Women’s competition league leaders extending their advantage at the top after nine rounds?
There are some intriguing games to come in Round 10 which also plays homage to a special Sunday honouring Mother’s Day, so let’s get to this week’s hotly contested fixtures.
NWS Spirit v Manly United
The action kicks off with some derby football on Saturday as NWS Spirit hosts Manly United at Christie Park.
Tiana Gauci’s team survived a scare last weekend to come back and record a win over the Emerging Jets.
That win extended their unbeaten run to five games and saw them push into seventh place on the ladder.
Strengthened by the arrival of their big off season signing and 2022 NPL NSW Women’s Player of the Year Rola Badawiya, the Spirit faithful will be expecting big things from the goal poacher this season.
For the second consecutive week, Manly were left wondering in final minutes how they didn’t take all three points.
They conceded a late equaliser against Sydney University a couple weeks back and missed a penalty in the dying embers of the match against Bulls FC Academy on Sunday.
Tom Hopley will see some reinforcements arrive in the coming days with Melbourne Victory’s Gemma Simon already in Manly’s royal blue.
Bulls FC Academy v Football NSW Institute
Bulls FC Academy host the Football NSW Institute at the very picturesque Northbridge Oval on Sunday.
The Bulls didn’t take the three points on Sunday but made it five games on the bounce without defeat.
Charlotte Lancaster was phenomenal on Sunday and her lethal left foot could cause the Institute some trouble.
They kept their fourth clean sheet of the season also with the central defensive pairing of Jessica Seaman and Gemma Ferris doing a fine job, backed up by last week’s penalty saving hero Trudy Simmons.
It’s been a long time between wins for the Football NSW Institute, five games in total since they beat the Emerging Jets.
Finding the back of the net has been an issue for Lisa Warrener’s team but with the addition of Sienna Saveska to the squad, expect that to change as the Australian youth international looks set to raise her team’s attacking stocks on Sunday.
Sydney Olympic v Macarthur Rams
Two teams coming off defeats clash at Peter Moore Field on Sunday as Sydney Olympic host the Macarthur Rams.
Still not at full strength but with the addition of Angelique Hristodoulou, Olympic were unable to keep the Gladesville Ravens at bay.
The last minute dagger sunk Olympic to back to back defeats and George Beltsos will expect a reaction.
Stephen Peters’ team was caught napping by the sheer class and pace of APIA Leichhardt in the first half on Sunday.
They responded in the second half, showed fine character to get themselves back in the game but were unable to steal a point.
The Rams will need to be focused from the first whistle on Sunday as they look to get back to winning ways.
Sydney University v Gladesville Ravens
Sydney University are back at home after a couple away trips and welcome the Gladesville Ravens to Sydney Uni Football Ground.
Emily Husband’s girls love a late show and for the second consecutive week, secured a point in the final moments of the match.
Substitute Tara Baudana scored one of the goals of the season, displaying perfect technique and composure to secure a 1-1 draw against Bankstown City Lions.
The team is improving every week as players start to return from injury and new recruits arrive.
Well this Ravens side just aren’t given enough credit.
They continue to impress week in and week out, putting up excellent results like that against one of the competition heavy weights Sydney Olympic on Sunday.
They’ve been strengthened already by the likes of Izzy Foletta and Lexie Moreno with a few more names rumoured to be joining the side.
Competition dark horses no doubt and a positive result here will go further to cementing that claim.
Blacktown Spartans v Northern Tigers – MOTR
At Blacktown Football Park on Sunday in the Match of the Round, the Blacktown Spartans host the Northern Tigers.
After going two games without defeat, the Spartans are now on a three-match losing run, going down to the Illawarra Stingrays on Sunday 2-0.
The additions of Abbey Lemon and Naomi Chinnama will undoubtedly help and improve the squad, along with a few incoming arrivals.
Jake Stephenson’s team comes into this one without a win since April 16, after dropping points only once in their first five games.
Goalscoring has become a problem in recent weeks for the Tigers with only one goal scored in their last three matches.
Expect their big-name Liberty A-League players to make their return this week and potentially change their fortunes of late.
APIA Leichhardt v Illawarra Stingrays
League leading APIA Leichhardt take on the Illawarra Stingrays on Sunday night at Lambert Park.
Much has been spoken about Spencer Prior’s team and are definitely a delight to watch at the moment.
The arrival of captain Rhianna Pollicina, Holly McNamara, Claudia Cicco and Morgan Acquino have added to an already strong squad.
They will need to be careful coming up against an opponent who in the past has been able to create them problems, a bogey team of sorts.
And the Stingrays come into this one full of confidence after their victory over the Blacktown Spartans, their second consecutive win.
Michelle Carney continues to show that age is just a number, leading this team from the front with another brace on Sunday.
They would love to ruffle the feathers again and what better way than against APIA.
Bankstown City Lions v Emerging Jets
Jensen Park will play see the Bankstown City Lions host the Emerging Jets.
Six draws in eight games, yes you read correctly, Matt Costantini’s team have drawn 75% of their matches this season.
They’ve rescued five last gasp draws this season but felt what their opponents felt on Sunday when Tara Baudana’s last minute equaliser flew into the top corner of Brianna Edwards’ goal.
This run of seven games without a win is not how the potential title challengers expected their season to pan out so far.
They need the points here and have no excuse not to do so.
They’ll have to back up after a tough mid-week clash away at Sydney Olympic also.
The Jets looked set to record their first win of the season but collapsed as NWS Spirit ran away with the points.
Brinley Gentle continued her goalscoring form and remains atop of the golden boot race.
She will be key if the Jets are to come away from Jensen Park with something.
By – Nikola Pozder