After a Easter Weekend full of goals, we enter Round 6 of the National Premier Leagues Women’s NSW competition expecting more.
NWS Spirit v Sydney Olympic
3pm, Saturday 6 April, Christie Park
An intriguing clash is set to take place on Saturday afternoon at Christie Park as NWS Spirit host Sydney Olympic.
This young Spirit side is living up to the club name, showing that they are developing and mixing it with the best.
Yet to taste victory this season, Tony Candy’s side has only lost once, recording four draws in their opening five games.
Amongst those draws was the weekend one, becoming the first team this year to keep a clean sheet against last year’s Champions, as well as pinching a point off them.
Olympic will come into this one understanding their opponents are full of confidence and desperate to get that first win of the campaign.
Aside from that APIA Leichhardt defeat, which now looks like just a bad day at the office, Geoff Abrahams’ team have won their other four, scoring 21 goals along the way.
Off-season recruit Demi Koulizakis has found her feet already and one to watch, leading the league scoring charts with eight goals to her name so far.
Manly United v Football NSW Institute
3pm Sunday 7 April, Cromer Park
The Football NSW Institute travel north on Sunday afternoon to take on Manly United.
Manly will be cursing their dropped points this campaign and Tom Hopley will feel his side should have more to their name five games in.
They bounced back with a convincing win last time out, Daisy Arrowsmith and Emily Minett both continuing their good form in front of goal and they will once more be the ones that the team look toward for goals.
Coming up the M2 will be the talented Institute team. They have shown they possess quality and make it difficult for their more experienced opponents.
Adelaide Wyrzynski looked very lively against APIA and Tiana Fuller found the back of the net in consecutive games, they will be the answer in the front third.
APIA Leichhardt v Northern Tigers
4pm, Sunday 7 April, Leichhardt Oval
APIA Leichhardt return to Leichhardt Oval on Sunday afternoon to take on the Northern Tigers.
Over the years this one has become a top of the table clash, this season so far, not so much.
After two opening defeats, APIA has gone three games without defeat, recording two wins and a draw in that time.
After Ash Crofts scored a brace on the weekend, Brad Attard will be hoping his attacking weapon continues in that form moving forward.
It took a while but the Northern Tigers finally opened their account for the year with a convincing win over the Emerging Jets.
Once more, Ameera Makunja scored alongside Lily McMahon who had a brace, both showing they are their team’s most dangerous attacking threats.
The Tigers will need to clean up defensively though, yet to keep a clean sheet this season.
Bulls FC Academy v Gladesville Ravens
4:40pm, Sunday 7 April, Northbridge Oval
At Northbridge Oval on Sunday, Bulls FC Academy host the Gladesville Ravens.
A somewhat inconsistent but tough start to the season for the Bulls, and losing Jess Seaman has not made the task any easier.
They are winless now in their last three games, coinciding with the loss of their experienced centre back.
Amber Luchtmeijer has looked red hot early, already on six goals for the campaign.
It’s been an almost perfect start for Gullermo Rubio’s Ravens this season, only dropping points once all season, in a game they deserved more in.
They started hot on Sunday and there was no stopping them after an incredible first 45 minutes, scoring four but they could have got almost double that with the chances created.
There is no doubt that Lexie Moreno is in some of her greatest form and they will need her to continue like that to keep this form rolling.
Blacktown Spartans v Sydney University – Match of the Round
5pm, Sunday 7 April, Blacktown Football Park
The match of the round takes us to Blacktown Football Park as the Blacktown Spartans host Sydney University on Sunday afternoon.
Two teams that haven’t had the best of starts to their 2024 campaigns with identical records for the moment, a win, a draw and three losses.
The Spartans only win of the season came away at the Jets a couple weeks ago but were quickly brought down to earth with a 5-1 thumping by the Illawarra Stingrays.
They are a very young side and the likes of Allyssa Ng Saad and Charlotte Maniti will be important in them getting something from this game.
Similarly to the Spartans, this Uni side is very young and inexperienced but brimming with talented footballers.
Yet to keep a clean sheet this season, Uni have conceded too many goals and it is definitely a department that needs tightening.
They’ve got some serious fire power in Anna Hunt, Ava Pritchard and Talia Kapetanellis who the Spartans will need to be prepared for.
Emerging Jets v Macarthur Rams
5pm, Sunday 7 April, Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility
The Macarthur Rams travel north to face off against the Emerging Jets.
A point from their first five games and 23 goals conceded does not make for good reading for the Emerging Jets.
At the other end will be a ready to fire, league leading Macarthur Rams.
Dropping their first points of the season last round, the Rams will be eager to bounce back to winning ways immediately.
Miku Sunaga has been fantastic in the last few weeks but has just been unable to slot the ball home, is this the game where everything goes right for her?
Illawarra Stingrays v UNSW
5pm, Sunday 7 April, Macedonia Park
The final match of the round takes us to Macedonia Park as the Illawarra Stingrays host UNSW,
For the Illawarra Stingrays, it has been a great start to the season and if they are able to win their catch-up game mid-week, they will move into second place.
Their only loss came against the Macarthur Rams in a tight one and have been free scoring so far, Siobhan Edwards scoring five in five.
In their first season in the top flight, it has been a comfortable start for UNSW.
A slow start cost them dearly last weekend and, in all fairness, the scoreline could have been much worse had it not been for the woodwork.
They responded in that one in the second period, Allira Toby leading the charge but seeing red late on, meaning Uni will need to do it without their influential leader this week.
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By – Nikola Pozder