Will the Champions stop the APIA Leichhardt in round four of NPL NSW Women’s action this week?

Sydney University v APIA Leichhardt

All eyes will be on Arlington Oval on Sunday afternoon as the Champions host the new girls in the match of the round.

Uni are undefeated so far this campaign, dropping a couple points only against Sydney Olympic.

They haven’t been as effective in front of goal this season and Julie Anne Russell has had to take the goal scoring burden upon herself after the departure of Cortnee Vine.

Finding the back of the net for APIA? No problems! 13 goals in only three games has the newly promoted side flying.

They’re looking to make a statement in their inaugural season in the top flight and what a way to make it should they knock off the Champions.

 

Blacktown Spartans v Manly United

At Blacktown Football Park, Manly United travel west to face off against the Blacktown Spartans.

The Spartans are still probably thinking how they got absolutely nothing from their clash against the Rams on Sunday.

They’ll need to put that behind them and pick up all three points in what’s already becoming a must win game.

Manly dropped points for the first time in 2020 on Sunday, held to a scoreless draw.

A tough away trip is expected for them but they’ll be gunning for all three points as they look to cement a top four position.

 

Bankstown City v Sydney Olympic

Bankstown City welcome Sydney Olympic on Sunday to Jensen Park.

Not the season Bankstown had in mind but they’ll need to improve, in particular in the second 45 where it seems they have fallen in all three games so far.

Olympic almost threw away three points on Sunday but managed to save the victory with a late goal.

A quality team across the park, they’ll fancy their chances come Sunday.

 

Emerging Jets v Northern Tigers – POSTPONED

The Northern Tigers travel north to take on the Emerging Jets at lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility.

It’s been an improved three rounds for the Jets and they’ve showed they won’t be easy pushovers for anyone this season.

Only one win in three isn’t what Jason Eagar was expecting from his side.

They’ll need a response on Sunday or they could start falling behind in this sprint.

 

FNSW Institute v Illawarra Stingrays

At VSP on Sunday, the FNSW Institute face off against the Illawarra Stingrays.

The Institute recorded their first win of the campaign last week and will come into this week full of confidence.

It’s definitely a must win for the Stingrays on Sunday.

They’ve been somewhat unlucky in all three of their matches but cannot afford to not take all three points home back down the coast on Sunday.

 

NWS Koalas v Macarthur Rams

Macarthur Rams travel to Christie Park on Sunday to take on the NWS Koalas.

The Koalas couldn’t back up their big round two win on Sunday going down against the Institute.

A victory could see them leapfrog the Rams on the ladder and keep them within touching distance of the four.

It’s been a good start for the Rams so far and a point here away from home would be massive.

Just outside the four, any points here would keep them right in the finals mix.

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By – Nikola Pozder, NPL NSW Women’s Writer

After a wet weekend, we’re ready for round three of the NPL NSW Women’s competition.

After a couple rounds of action, only two teams remain undefeated displaying how open this 2020 campaign is.

 

Macarthur Rams v Blacktown Spartans

At Lynwood Park on Sunday at 3pm, the Macarthur Rams open the weekend’s action against the Blacktown Spartans.

Many had written the Rams off at the start of the campaign after they lost a plethora of stars and not making the finals last year.

However they pushed the champs to the end in round one and completely dismantled Bankstown City last Sunday.

This will be a big task for Troy Spink’s team and would show they are contenders should they be able to take all three points.

A big point away from home against the Stingrays and an opening round win will have Stephen Peters content with the start his side has made.

A victory against the Rams would definitely put the Spartans in a position to be challenging for the Premiership whereas any dropped points could force them to drop them considerably off the pace in this sprint finish.

 

Sydney Olympic v Illawarra Stingrays

Sydney Olympic host the Illawarra Stingrays at Peter Moore Field on Sunday.

Undefeated after two games, Olympic will feel they should’ve taken more against the Champions.

After a tight first win, they’ll need Cortnee Vine firing on Sunday once again as well as the experience of Teresa Polias.

The Stingrays showed vast improvements from their round one loss last week and probably could’ve taken more from the game.

They will continue to improve as their fitness levels grow but can’t afford to drop too many more points.

 

Sydney University SFC v Emerging Jets

Sydney University welcome the Emerging Jets to Sydney Uni Football ground on Sunday.

Two difficult games to start the campaign but the Champs remain undefeated with a win and a draw.

Alex Epakis’ team will look for a routine win on Sunday against a plucky opponent.

The Jets were unlucky against Olympic, collapsing late and almost could’ve grabbed something against Manly.

They’re a talented bunch who will cause problems for all teams this year.

 

Football NSW Institute v NWS Koalas 

At Valentine Sports Park, the Football NSW Institute host the NWS Koalas.

The young Institute side have been doing their best in mixing it with the seniors and continue to develop as a squad week to week.

They have a lot of players who can hurt you and could cause damage to the Koalas on Sunday.

The Koalas put on some display on Sunday, putting last year’s Grand Finalists to the sword with a routine performance.

Nat Tobin and Amy Sayer were enormous in midfield for the girls in yellow but rumour has it that the latter could’ve played her last game in a Koalas jersey.

The silky Sayer will be a major miss and coach Adam Keramea will need to find someone to step in and fill the void.

 

Northern Tigers v Manly United

North Turramurra will be the venue for one of the derbies of the round as the Northern Tigers take on Manly United.

It was a somewhat shock loss on Sunday for the Tigers after a massive win in round one.

Jason Eagar would not have been happy with his team’s display and will expect an immediate reaction this weekend against one of the competition heavy weights.

They were good pre-COVID-19, they’re good post-COVID-19. Manly are the real deal.

Everywhere you look on that field you face a daunting opponent and with the W-League Golden Boot winner leading the striking line in Remy Siemsen, defences will need to be at their best to keep them out.

Eight goals in two games shows that it won’t be easy to do for anyone.

 

APIA Leichhardt Tigers v Bankstown City 

We’re back at Lambert Park on Sunday as APIA Leichhardt host Bankstown City.

What a start to the season for the Tigers in their history-making inaugural campaign in top flight football.

Currently sitting in equal first, they’ll definitely fancy their chances against Bankstown.

Whatever APIA has done, the Lions have done the opposite.

Zero points and 15 goals conceded from two games is definitely not what Danny Abboud would’ve expected from his side.

What better way to shut down the critics than by putting on a show come Sunday.

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By – Nikola Pozder, NPL NSW Women’s Writer

 

PHOTO CREDIT: Ann Odong

Round two, now that sounds good!

NPL NSW Women’s top tier football continues this week as we take a look at the six juicy fixtures taking place this Sunday.

 

Manly United v Emerging Jets

At Cromer Park on Sunday, Manly United host the Emerging Jets.

Manly continued where they left off pre-COVID, scoring goals and winning matches. They’ll look to continue that with Remy Siemsen leading the line.

The Jets almost pulled off the surprise of the round but capitulated late against the favoured Sydney Olympic. They’ll take heart from that match and result though moving into the United fixture.

 

Illawarra Stingrays v Blacktown Spartans

Down the coast, the Illawarra Stingrays welcome the Blacktown Spartans to JJ Kelly Park.

It looked as though the Stingrays were on their way to a round one win but fitness levels dropped in the second half as APIA over ran them. They’ll be better for 90 minutes this week and will look to improve.

A perfect start for the Spartans at home in round one but should they pick up all three points on Saturday, they will really be proving a point.

 

Bankstown City v Macarthur Rams

Two teams coming off losses meet at Jensen Park on Sunday as Bankstown City and Macarthur Rams do battle.

A heavy defeat round one was far from what Bankstown expected and they will need to improve quickly in this sprint finish.

The Rams pushed the champion’s but didn’t have the strength to roll them over and will be confident they can bounce back on Sunday.

 

Sydney Olympic v Sydney University

Valentine Sports Park hosts Sydney Olympic and Sydney University on one of the Matches of the Round this Sunday at 5pm.

They pushed hard and were finally rewarded late last week but if Olympic wants a win on Sunday, they’ll need to take their chances as Cortnee Vine takes on her old team.

A tough game first up but Alex Epakis’ team showed why they are the champions, coming away with a tight win. Everyone wants their scalp and this week will be no different.

 

FNSW Institute v APIA Leichhardt

FNSW Institute welcome APIA Leichhardt Tigers to VSP on Sunday.

The Institute fought a hard fight against Manly last weekend but couldn’t come away with the points and it will only get harder as former graduate Princess Ibini and APIA come to town.

APIA looked good last week, in particular the strike duo of Ibini – Yeoman-Dale backed up by the tireless Jenn Bisset. They’ll be tought to beat this season and will look to continue where they finished on Sunday.

 

NWS Koalas v Northern Tigers

The final game of the round takes place at Christie Park as the NWS Koalas host the Northern Tigers.

Not the start the Koalas and new head coach Adam Keramea had in mind on Sunday and he’ll be looking for an immediate response from his side.

As for Jason Eager and the Tigers, whoah! They couldn’t have wished for a better start and will need to build on that against a plucky Koalas outfit in the local derby.

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By – Nikola Pozder, Chief Women’s NPL NSW writer

 

Some teams hadn’t even kicked off their 2020 campaigns before they came to a premature halt.

Take two and we’re finally ready to go, after months of waiting, kicking toilet paper rolls inside their houses, it’s time to put the boots back on and go kick some goals.

In between this pandemic, whose name we will not mention, Australia and New Zealand won the right to host the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, a momentous moment for the world game in our country and female sport holistically.

Back on our local pitches, an 11-week sprint to the finals lies ahead for 12 teams, vying to finish 2020 in the best possible way after what’s been a season to forget.

The Blacktown Spartans who recruited well for the 2020 season with the highest of ambitions will host the NWS Koalas at Blacktown Football Park on Sunday at 3pm.

Stephen Peters will have expectations from his Spartans to go all the way and take all silverware on offer for 2020.

At Cromer Park also at 3pm, Manly United play host to the FNSW Institute.

Manly had a flying start to 2020 before the competition interruption and will look to quickly restart where they were and in the form they were in.

Sydney Olympic restarts their campaign up the coast at the the Emerging Jets.

Olympic are another of the contenders, also recruiting well and will definitely expect to be challenging for top honours for this season.

Two powerhouses of women’s football open their new 2020 campaigns at Sydney University Football Ground as Sydney University host the Macarthur Rams.

The Rams didn’t have the best of 2019’s and will use 2020 as an opportunity to build toward 2021, while Alex Epakis’ team, last year’s Champions, will expect to retain their crown this year.

Northern Tigers return to North Turramurra as they host Bankstown City.

The surprise packets of 2019 will look to go a step further in 2020 and under the watchful eye of Jason Eager, anything is possible for the talented squad.

Bankstown have some work to do following 2019 and the way they began 2020 but if anyone could’ve used the break to reassess and prepare, it would be Danny Abboud who definitely has a few aces up his sleeve.

Round one finishes up at Lambert Park as the new girls on the block APIA Leichhardt get to kick their first ball in the NPL 1 competition as they face off with the Illawarra Stingrays.

The match of the round promises fireworks with experienced and talented footballers all over the park.

By – Nikola Pozder

Two out of the six matches have been announced to take place in NSW’s top tier Women’s competition this Sunday.

 

Manly United v Macarthur Rams

Only two of four teams who played over the weekend and both recorded victories.

Manly United welcomes the Macarthur Rams to Cromer Park on Sunday.

The Northern Beaches side showed some strength and signalled their intent for the 2020 campaign with a resounding victory.

Japanese import Naoko Wada looks a fine pickup by Chris Williams’ side, complementing the young side very well.

It wasn’t routine for the Rams on Sunday but they came away with the three points which is most important.

They’ll be up against a different machine this weekend and will need to improve.

 

Northern Tigers v Sydney University

It’s the grand final rematch at Lake Turramurra Rec Area on Sunday as the Northern Tigers host Sydney Uni.

Neither side played in week one of the competition and fittingly open each other’s seasons.

Jason Eagar’s girls will have a target on their back this year and there will be no flying under the radar. Revenge will be on the cards for the Tigers after last season’s grand final defeat.

Uni will look to get their going where it ended last year, victory over the Tigers.

A few minimal changes to Alex Epakis’ team, still the same, dangerous outfit at hand.

 

NWS Koalas v Illawarra Stingrays Postponed

Blacktown Spartans v Bankstown City Postponed

Emerging Jets v APIA Leichhardt Postponed

Sydney Olympic v FNSW Institute Postponed