The top three clubs APIA Leichhardt, NWS Spirit FC and the Macarthur Rams are beginning to separate themselves from the rest of the competition – with that last finals spot being fought over between no less than six teams at the moment in the National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s competition as the league continues to heat up.
Sydney Olympic v Blacktown Spartans
The first game of round 15 kicks off at Peter Moore Field as Sydney Olympic host the Blacktown Spartans.
Consecutive defeats for George Beltsos’ team has seen them drop from second to fourth on the table with the chasing them down, inching closer.
After having one of the tightest defences in the competition, Olympic have shipped six goals in two games which is very uncharacteristic for goalkeeper Courtney Newbon who isn’t used to picking the ball out of her net that often.
The Blues need more going forward and have relied heavily on Angelique Hristodoulou (5 goals), Kiara De Domizio and Sarah Yatim (4) in the front third.
After a massive come from behind win against Manly United the week before, the Spartans could not repeat those heroics against Bankstown City last round.
It was a massive blow to the Spartans in their relegation battle, losing against a direct rival in that fight.
There is a number of quality players across the squad and they will be quietly confident against a somewhat out of form Olympic team.
Sally James will be massive for the Spartans in the second half of the season and coach Milan Jovanovic will look upon her leadership qualities to propel the squad.
Olympic took the points with an odd-goal victory when they met earlier in the season.
Bulls FC Academy v APIA Leichhardt – MOTR
This will be some game at Sydney United Sports Centre on Sunday evening as Bulls FC Academy host APIA Leichhardt.
It’s been an inconsistent month or so at Bulls HQ with results not going their way as Jaime Gomez would have hoped.
Two wins and three losses from their last five games sees them in sixth place on the ladder, only a point out of finals football, a testament to how tight this competition is.
The Bulls should be just about full strength when the league leaders come to town with Peta Trimis marking her return from international duty with a brace against the Emerging Jets, while it was a pleasant scene seeing Aideen Keane returning to the football pitch after a lengthy time out with injury.
Gomez’s team could be further strengthened this week with a number of high profile signings edging closer to the squad list.
Spencer Prior’s team were stopped for the first time in almost three months on Sunday when Sydney University stole a point from them late on.
Such has been the dominance of APIA this year that they will be disappointed they didn’t take the victory against last season’s Premiers.
It will be a big test to see how APIA bounces back from Sunday’s result, even though a draw away to Uni shouldn’t be looked down on, these are games where Champion teams are made of and characters are tested.
Ash Crofts can’t stop scoring and will be key here for APIA alongside Holly McNamara and the midfield magician Rhianna Pollicina.
The sides couldn’t be separated in round two, settling for a 0-0 draw at Lambert Park.
Emerging Jets v Football NSW Institute
The two youngest teams in the competition meet on Sunday as the Emerging Jets host Football NSW Institute.
Still winless after 14 games this season, the Jets are still chasing win number one of the 2023 season.
The same problem remains for the Jets who play good football, and it has to do with protecting their goal.
55 goals conceded in 14 games is not a good stat and they need to improve there as soon as possible.
For the Football NSW Institute, after a few weeks off due to having a number of players away on international duty, they will be keen to get back on the park.
They are well in the battle for finals football and a win here will go along way in keeping them in the hunt.
The Institute won their first meeting of the season with an incredible late turn around, 3-2 in a five-goal thriller.
Manly United v Illawarra Stingrays
Cromer Park will host an interesting battle on Sunday evening as Manly United host the Illawarra Stingrays.
Manly’s search for a victory continues, extending to ten games following Sunday’s 5-1 defeat at home against the Macarthur Rams.
Disappointingly for United, it was a late collapse that cost them after taking a first half lead.
They’ll need new signing Daisy Arrowsmith to be firing from the get go as United look to turn things around against the Stingrays.
The South Coast based Illawarra Stingrays have no doubt seen a positive shift in their fortunes over the last four games.
Only one defeat, but they took points off NWS Spirit, the Northern Tigers and beat Sydney Olympic.
The addition of Sakura Nojima to the side has no doubt lifted their quality along with the likes of Chloe Middleton and Danika Matos.
Manly won comfortably 3-0 the last time these two met, but this could be a very different game on Sunday.
Macarthur Rams v NWS Spirit
Two teams in fine form meet at Lynwood Park on Sunday as the Macarthur Rams host NWS Spirit.
The Rams have won four on the bounce and Stephen Peters’ team has been at the top of their game at both ends of the park.
Sixteen goals for the Rams in that period with only two conceded has them hot on the heels of NWS Spirit.
Kelli Brown has been in impeccable form, scoring eight times in the last four games and has really found her feet in the competition.
She will be the go-to for the Rams and one that the Spirit defence will need to be well aware of.
Similarly, Spirit has been free scoring and defending just as well with Morgan Roberts finding the back of the net at will.
Added to that, Rola Badawiya is finding form, while at the other end, Erin Pridmore has been performing very well.
Spirit haven’t lost since round four against APIA Leichhardt, while the Rams have only been defeated once since round three.
The Rams went down by the odd goal when they met earlier, Spirit going home with a 2-1 win.
Gladesville Ravens v Bankstown City Lions
Another one of those ‘eye-catching’ fixtures, this one at Christie Park Sunday as Gladesville Ravens host Bankstown City Lions.
This one will be that little bit spicier with a couple ex-Lions plays lining up in the black and white in Lexie Moreno and Siobhan Edwards.
Last weekend the Ravens had a week off as their match was postponed against the Football NSW Institute.
The Ravens sit in 7th position on the ladder, two points ahead of the Lions and a win would create quite the buffer.
Matt Costantini’s team have improved their form dramatically of late, winning three of their last four matches and slowly moving up the ladder.
Susan Phonsongkham has been in remarkable form since arriving at Jensen Park, scoring at will and helping the side into a much better league position.
For Bankstown, three points would mean they are right back where they were expected to be in pre-season and their fortunes are turning.
Bankstown secured a dramatic last ditch draw last time the two played, Edwards scoring the equaliser on that occasion.
Northern Tigers v Sydney University
In the final match of the round, the Northern Tigers host Sydney University at North Turramurra.
It was expected that the fortunes of the Northern Tigers would start to change as their squad strengthened and players returned from injury.
They secured a tight 2-1 victory a couple weeks and but had to settle for a draw against the Illawarra Stingrays last week.
Victory would potentially put them back in the top four but against an improving and difficult Uni, it won’t be an easy game for Jake Stephenson’s team.
After Sunday’s game against APIA Leichhardt, Emily Husband would have been ecstatic with her side’s character.
Taren King’s return to the squad should help propel them up the ladder and that hope of finals football to live on.
Along with King, Cushla Rue will also add further quality to the team and they may be on the way to make a real run for it in the second half of the season.
Points were split last time they met, Stephanie Augoustis and Gemma Woolley scoring a brace each on the day.
By – Nikola Pozder