Round 5 Preview – NPL Women’s NSW

Heading into round five of the National Premier League Women’s NSW competition, we have a new league leader after APIA Leichhardt suffered their first defeat of the campaign.

Bulls FC Academy v Sydney University @Northbridge Oval, Sunday, 2:40pm

The first game of round five takes place at 2:40pm as the Bulls FC Academy host Sydney University at Northbridge Oval.

Four games in and only a point to show for their work at the Bulls.

They will be very disappointed with their start to the season and despite it still being early on, a change of fortunes will be required to not find themselves in a relegation dogfight.

Their opponents are in a similar position, also with a point but from three games, last week’s game washed out.

Points are imperative for Oz Rowley’s young side and he will need the team’s top scorer Ruby Egan-Brown firing.

Manly United v Northern Tigers @Cromer Park, Sunday 3pm

It’s derby day at Cromer Park on Sunday afternoon as Manly United take on the Northern Tigers at 3pm.

Top of the tree after four games and Tom Hopley could not have wished for a better start for his team.

They showed great resolve and character last week, coming from behind twice before stealing it late with an Anita Zordan screamer.

Dropping points only once so far this season, they will look to remain undefeated at the end of the 90 here.

Another team yet to taste defeat this season is the Northern Tigers, currently sitting in fifth with two draws and two wins.

They scored a 2-1 win over Bulls FC Academy last weekend and looked in control for the majority of that game.

One issue that Chris Wood will need to improve is at the back, the Tigers yet to keep a clean sheet this season.

Illawarra Stingrays v Sydney Olympic @Macedonia Park, Sunday 5pm

At Macedonia Park on Sunday afternoon, the Illawarra Stingrays welcome Sydney Olympic down the south coast.

The Stingrays are another of the four teams in the competition yet to lose a game this campaign and are currently in third place.

They had to settle for a draw against NWS Spirit and will take that with Kiara Rochaix in goals having an excellent performance, not for the first time this season.

At home they will expect to win and add another three points to the board.

Winless in their first three games, this one doesn’t get any easier with one of the toughest away trips on the calendar.

Olympic have shown that they are solid team and have the quality to mix it with the best, the week off may have helped them as well.

UNSW v Mt Druitt Town Rangers @The Village Green, Sunday 5pm

The Mt Druitt Town Rangers travel to the Village Green on Sunday at 5pm to take on UNSW.

UNSW bounced back from their heartbreaking defeat to APIA two weeks ago in style, coming away with a 3-0 win over the Champions Macarthur Rams.

Chloe Smith has started the season on fire, scoring five goals in four starts, half of the total of the best attacking team in the competition.

Coming to the village is a team full of confidence after their win over APIA Leichhardt.

But Ben Gough will be reiterating to his team that “you’re only as good as your last performance” and to really nail down their expectations for 2025, they need to come away with the points in this one.

APIA Leichhardt v Western Sydney Wanderers @Lambert Park, Sunday 5pm

APIA Leichhardt are back at Lambert Park as they take on the Western Sydney Wanderers at 5pm.

Their first away trip of the season did not go to plan, suffering their first defeat of the season after three opening wins for APIA.

Brad Attard’s team perhaps had their best performance on the weekend and could have even come away with the win but it was not to be against Mt Druitt.

They will need to bounce back this week and hope that Ash Crofts can get back amongst the goals, not scoring since her brace in round one.

The Wanderers scored their second win of the season to push them up to seventh on Sunday.

Consistency will be key for this team but difficult to manoeuvre with the number of Ninja A-League Women’s players coming, or not coming down.

Nevertheless, if they are capable of fielding a team like the one they did on Sunday, APIA will have a tough time of it.

Macarthur Rams v Newcastle Jets @Lynwood Park, Sunday 5pm

At Lynwood park on Sunday night at 5pm, the Macarthur Rams take on the Newcastle Jets.

Yes, you read correctly, Lynwood Park. Finally, the Rams will be able to host their first home game of the season as the new synthetic turf is ready to go.

Vic Guzman will be pleased to get the opportunity to coach from the Lynwood dugout and keen to get her side to bounce back from last week’s heavy defeat to UNSW.

The Jets come into this one still wondering how they let two leads slip and in the end left Lake Macquarie empty handed.

They come up against another young squad in the Rams and will be confident they may be able to pinch something here.

Gladesville Ravens v NWS Spirit @Christie Park, Sunday 5:10pm – MOTR

On Sunday evening the final game of the round takes us to Christie Park, as the Gladesville Ravens host NWS Spirit in not only the local derby but also the match of the round.

It’s been a start to forget for Lauren Phelps’ team, currently sitting bottom of the league with one point and three straight losses.

A team with a lot of quality and potential has yet to hit the ground running in 2025 and will need to do so quickly.

Lexie Moreno’s came off the bench for her first appearance of the season last week, scoring a late consolation goal, but her return to the squad could be key for the Ravens moving forward.

The likes of Moreno, Claudia Cholakian, Isabella Edwards (Habuda) and Patty Charalambous have only scored two goals between them in the opening four rounds, a major problem for the Ravens.

Spirit once again are coming together slowly but surely and are already starting to look menacing.

Tony Candy looks to be on the right path once more, blooding new superstars into the first team now and allowing the likes of Sky Halmarick to light up the league.

They will feel they should have got more than a point against the Stingrays last weekend but have the chance to make it right on Sunday.

Putting chances away has been an issue for them in the opening rounds, if they can be more prolific, the Ravens could be in trouble.

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-By Nikola Pozder