After a weekend of shock results and eye brow raising scores, expect the same in the NPL Women’s NSW competition in round 15 action.
NWS Spirit v Blacktown Spartans
3pm, Saturday 8 June, Christie Park
The action kicks off on Saturday afternoon at Christie Park.
Two teams that come into this game on very different ends of the scale, NWS Spirit on the rise, the Spartans going in the opposite direction.
Spirit picked up a massive three points on Sunday and sent warning signs across the competition with their win over the Northern Tigers.
Tony Candy’s team is free flowing, moving the ball with pace and minimal touches, improving and growing every week.
The Spartans have suffered six straight defeats, including a harrowing 7-0 defeat against Bulls FC Academy last weekend.
The relegation battle is real, every point will be of great importance and they can’t look back anymore, but rather trying to turn things around as soon as possible.
Northern Tigers v Sydney Olympic
4pm, Sunday 9 June, North Turramurra Rec Area
Sunday’s football starts at 4pm as the Northern Tigers welcome Sydney Olympic to North Turramurra Rec Area.
Both teams come into this one suffering defeats in their previous round after putting in a number of good performances over the last period.
It was nine games since the Tigers had last lost a game, April 1st to be exact and it wasn’t a pleasant feeling last weekend.
The defeat dropped them to seventh on the ladder and they will want to get straight back in the top four with a win here.
After an excellent victory over the Macarthur Rams mid-week, Olympic were brought right back down with a shock defeat to the Emerging Jets.
They lost their strangle hold on first place and will need points here to get back up there.
APIA Leichhardt v Gladesville Ravens – MOTR
4:30pm, Sunday 9 June, Lambert Park
The match of the round takes us to the refurbished Lambert Park for APIA Leichhardt and the Gladesville Ravens.
APIA are finally home this weekend and they arrive at Lambert Park where they left it, in first place.
The last time APIA tasted defeat was all the way back in round two, against, you guessed it, the Gladesville Ravens.
APIA let slip a two-goal lead last time against their opponents and revenge will definitely be on the cards for Brad Attard’s team.
After five games without defeat, the Ravens were somewhat surprisingly defeated on Sunday by Sydney University, having lead that game 1-0.
The round two victory was sweet for the Ravens, they will take confidence from that and try to repeat that feat at Lambert Park.
Football NSW Institute v Bulls FC Academy
4:45pm, Sunday 9 June, Valentine Sports Park
At 4:45pm on Sunday afternoon, the Football NSW Institute host Bulls FC Academy at Valentine Sports Park.
After a lengthy break, the Institute have returned reinvigorated and climbing up the competition ladder.
They showed excellent character to come back from two goals down on Friday night against UNSW to win 3-2 and close the gap on those in front of them.
Another side rapidly improving and picking up points is Bulls FC Academy and they’ll come into this one brimming with confidence.
Undefeated in five and coming off a 7-0 win against the Blacktown Spartans, the Bulls have managed to keep two clean sheets in that period, coinciding with a fit Jess Seaman and Liz Grey.
Emerging Jets v UNSW
5pm, Sunday 9 June, Lake Macquarie
UNSW will make the trip up the highway as they travel to Lake Macquarie to face the Emerging Jets.
It took some time but the Jets did it, finally winning on the weekend against no less than the league leaders, Sydney Olympic.
They will come into this one without Milan Hammond who was sent off last weekend.
UNSW were playing well over the last month, in control and 2-0 up against the Football NSW Institute on Friday, but lost 3-2.
They will need to bounce back and gain some confidence ahead of the incoming relegation battle.
Sydney University v Macarthur Rams
5pm, Sunday 9 June, Sydney Uni Football Ground
The final game on Sunday takes us to Sydney Uni Football Ground as the Champions Macarthur Rams take on Sydney University.
Five games undefeated for Uni but only one win in that period as they have become the newest draw specialists of the league.
An excellent victory on Sunday against the Gladesville Ravens and even importantly, star Talia Kapetanellis getting on the scoresheet again.
The Rams are struggling, only one win in their last eight games and they have rapidly fallen down the competition ladder into 6th place.
After a phenomenal start to the campaign, something has gone wrong and it’s up to Stephen Peters to find and amend the issue and get back up into the Premiership fight,
Illawarra Stingrays v Manly United
7pm, Sunday 10 June, Macedonia Park
The last game of the round takes place on Monday down the south coast at Macedonia Park as the Illawarra Stingrays host Manly Untied.
The Stingrays kept their first clean sheet after four games on Sunday and took a well earnt three points home against the Macarthur Rams.
Sakura Nojima scored one of the best goals seen this season and the Stingrays will need her firing to keep their finals hopes alive.
Arriving between the sticks is Brianna Edwards also, adding to the stability at the back with some fantastic saves in recent weeks.
Another team struggling with some form at the moment is Manly United, five straight matches without a win, their last victory coming on the 5th of May.
Alexia Karrys-Stahl has been a good signing, already finding the back of the net with some regularity but it’s the likes of Emily Minett and Daisy Arrowsmith that need to offer support in the goalscoring department.
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By – Nikola Pozder
