Round 4 Preview – NPL Women’s NSW
It’s time for Round Four in the NPL Women’s NSW competition as we have an outright leader at the head of the competition ladder.
That of course is because the Gladesville Ravens and Illawarra Stingrays clash was washed out last round, meaning the Macarthur Rams are the only team three from three.
NWS Spirit v Manly United – Match of the Round
The action kicks off on Saturday at Christie Park as NWS Sprit host Manly United in the match of the round.
It hasn’t been the start Tony Candy would’ve wanted his team to get off to in 2024, Spirit winless in their first three games of the season.
In saying that, they suffered defeat for the first time over the weekend after two opening draws.
Morgan Roberts and Clare Holder are Spirit’s most dangerous attacking threats and will need to be firing if Spirit are to record win number one of the year.
They will need to tighten things defensively as well, yet to keep a clean sheet and conceding seven goals so far.
Manly are looking a little hot and cold to start the season.
After that fantastic win over APIA Leichhardt in the opening round, they then lost at home to the Stingrays before accounting for the Northern Tigers, also away from home.
It would seem they are a threatening away side from what we’ve seen so far and Spirit will need to be aware of that.
Manly’s attacking threats all found the back of the net on Sunday for the first time this season as Emily Minnet, Daisy Arrowsmith and Gemma Wooley all scored in encouraging signs for Tom Hopley.
Football NSW Institute v Northern Tigers
In the first game on Sunday afternoon, Football NSW Institute take on the Northern Tigers at Valentine Sports Park.
Only one points for Lisa Warrener’s young Institute outfit so far this campaign.
They pushed the Champions Macarthur Rams all the way on Sunday but fell to a late goal.
Another team experiencing a tough start to the season are the Northern Tigers, also on a point after three games.
Scoring hasn’t been a problem for the Tigers but they haven’t been able to keep the opposition out at the other end which is a bigger issue at the moment.
Nine goals in three games is too much, the task will be to shut the opposition out this week and build from there.
Emerging Jets v Sydney University
Sydney University make the long trip north to take on the Emerging Jets on Sunday afternoon.
The Jets suffered their third straight defeat and heaviest with a 6-0 loss to the Blacktown Spartans, conceding 15 in three games.
Sydney Uni registered their first win of the season in style over the weekend, defeating NWS Spirit 3-1 away from home.
Ava Pritchard was in fine form, opening her account for 2024 with a brace against Spirit and will look for more goals here.
Macarthur Rams v Gladesville Ravens
Two teams with 100% records meet at Lynwood Park on Sunday as the Macarthur Rams host the Gladesville Ravens.
The Champions have started the season perfectly, two tough away wins and a convincing home win to kick the campaign off.
Miku Sunaga didn’t have the best time in front of goal last weekend and will be keen to set the record straight, while Bronte Trew is looking like she is starting to find her feet with her new teammates.
A win here will see the Rams already start making a considerable gap on the chasing pack and with their Liberty A-League players due to start arriving within a month, the Premiership race could be over before it begins.
Guillermo Rubio has enjoyed an excellent start to life as head coach of the Gladesville Ravens.
Two from two so far and a team firing in the front third, scoring eight goals in their first two games, their third washed out against the Illawarra Stingrays over the weekend.
It’s been a long time coming but it seems as though Lexie Moreno is living up to the billing, performing well at the moment, supported by newcomers Patty Charalambous and Bella Habuda.
Illawarra Stingrays v Blacktown Spartans
Down the South Coast the Illawarra Stingrays will take on the Blacktown Spartans at Macedonia Park.
The Stingrays have had a mixed start to the campaign, a first up loss and then an impressive away win against Manly United.
Their game last week was washed out but they’ll hope that Siobhan Edwards continues her goalscoring start to the season.
It has been a decent start to the season for the Spartans, a win, a loss and a draw to open up the season.
They dismantled the Emerging Jets 6-0 last week, meaning they come into this one full of confidence, which is important for this young team.
UNSW v Sydney Olympic
At The Village Green on Sunday afternoon, UNSW welcome Sydney Olympic.
An impressive and undefeated start to life in the top tier for UNSW, supported by their draw against one of the competition favourites last weekend, Bulls FC.
Without doubt, former Olympic player Alira Toby is UNSW’s form player, scoring in each of their opening three fixtures this season, she will be keen to get one over her ex employers.
Geoff Abrahams’ team suffered defeat for the first time last weekend against APIA Leichhardt.
It will be interesting to see how the squad responds to that defeat but with fine leaders like Gabrielle Peak and Demi Koulizakis, you expect them to bounce straight back.
Bulls FC Academy v APIA Leichhardt
Some way to finish off the round as Bulls FC Academy host APIA Leichhardt at Northbridge Oval.
Jaime Gomez’s team dropped their first points of the campaign on Sunday as they were held to a draw by UNSW.
They sit in second place currently on the ladder and will look to continue their unbeaten start to the season.
Their task will be made tougher though with super star Jess Seaman ruled out with a hamstring injury.
Isabella Coco-Di Sipio will find it strange lining up against APIA having spent a number of years there.
It took three games but APIA Leichhardt recorded their first win of 2024 against Sydney Olympic.
This would be a massive statement by APIA that their season is back on track should they be able to record all three points.
Charlotte Lancaster showed all her quality last weekend and is another this weekend who will tackle her former club.
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By – Nikola Pozder
