We’re at the half way point in this incredible race for the NPL NSW Women’s Premiership with Sydney University sitting at the top of the ladder by a solitary point over Sydney Olympic, Northern Tigers and Illawarra Stingrays.
Blacktown Spartans v North Shore Mariners
Match of the round takes us to Blacktown Football Park as the Blacktown Spartans host the North Shore Mariners.
Who will bring the Spartans run to an end?
How long can they keep it going for?
One draw and six wins in their last seven have them two points from top spot.
No fouls around the box otherwise gun set-piece specialist Alix Roberts will be all over that, so the Mariners need to be careful.
Still on just the one win this campaign and it definitely won’t be any easier this week.
They do have the power to threaten the Spartans through their former player Gab Marzano.
Illawarra Stingrays v Sydney University
It’ll be a blockbuster at JJ Kelly Park as the Illawarra Stingrays take on first placed Sydney University.
A win for the Stingrays will see them leapfrog Uni and potentially move them to the top of the competition table.
Two wins and two draws in the last four for Scott Chipperfield’s team have them in a good place at the moment.
It wasn’t easy for Uni last week but they managed to scrape a victory in a very tight contest.
It means Alex Epakis’ side on top of the mountain and they’ll need three points to stay there.
Emerging Jets v Manly United
Manly United travel to Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility to take on the Emerging Jets.
Don’t rule out the Jets that easy.
They can cause shocks and have been very unlucky so far this campaign.
Manly looked on course to end their barren run last week.
Instead, they lost their third straight game 2-1.
They need points here to keep any hopes of finals football alive.
Football NSW Institute v Macarthur Rams
At Valentine Sports Park, Football NSW Institute and the Macarthur Rams lock horns.
Five straight losses has seen the Institute plummet down the table and head coach Leah Blayney will be a little worried.
Another team that needs points in order to stay close to finals football places.
For the Rams, they got away with one last week and a similar showing might not be so forgiving from the young Institute side.
Sitting just outside the five, a win could see the Rams move into finals places.
Northern Tigers v Bankstown City
At North Turramurra Rec Area, Northern Tigers face off with Bankstown City.
The Tigers recorded a massive victory last week and continued their find first half of the season form.
When it seemed that defeat two weeks ago could rock the team, they regrouped and knocked off the table toppers.
Bankstown finally picked up a win last week that was coming over the past few rounds.
They need to build on this and with Amy Dahdah picking up a brace, they’ll hope it gives the striker a confidence boost.
NWS Koalas v Sydney Olympic
Two teams coming off defeats clash at Christie Park on Sunday as the North West Sydney Koalas host Sydney Olympic.
The Koalas were somewhat disappointing last week at Jaime Gomez will look for an immediate reaction from his girls.
To stay hot on the heals of the Spartans and teams above them, they need three points here.
Olympic were the creators of their own demise last week.
Two goals given away along with a completely unnecessary red card to Sarah Yatim saw them fall to the Tigers.
A win could put them back on top of the table but it won’t be easy against one of the toughest defences in the competition.
By – Nikola Pozder, NPL NSw Women’s Writer