The National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s competition front runners APIA Leichhardt are back on track, while their closest rival Macarthur Rams continue their pursuit ahead of another intriguing round.
NWS Spirit FC v Sydney University
The action kicks off on Saturday afternoon at Christie Park as NWS Spirit hosts Sydney University.
Tiana Gauci’s side didn’t put up their best performance of the season last week against APIA Leichhardt and were comfortably beaten in the end.
A response will be required and this Spirit side, with an abundance of quality and character, should be able to do what is required.
Rola Badawiya was given the tough treatment by the APIA centre backs last week and will face a similar task this week when she comes up against former teammate Taren King.
Influential midfielders Sarah Morgan (also coming up against former employers) and Mary Stanic-Floody will need to step up and take control of the centre of the park.
Uni recorded their biggest win of the season with a 6-1 thumping of the Emerging Jets, registering their first win after nine games without a victory.
Ava Pritchard was the star with a hat-trick in that one, while Uni stalwarts Taren King and Bianca Galic got on the scoresheet.
It’s only a matter of time before Uni goes on a run and last week’s victory could be the starting point for that.
Spirit came away 4-2 victors the last time they met after a first half blitz got the job done.
Bulls FC Academy v Sydney Olympic
Sunday’s first game will be a special one as Bulls FC Academy host Sydney Olympic with so much on the line.
It’s 4th against 5th and finals football the potential prize in this one.
Jaime Gomez’s team has extended their run to four games unbeaten but will be disappointed they didn’t come away with all three points last weekend.
The tightness of the competition can be seen in the amount of draws in the season and Bulls recorded their sixth on Sunday.
A win here will propel them above Olympic on the ladder and into that desired fourth place.
Jessika Nash, Bryleeh Henry and Gemma Ferris all got some minutes under their belt last weekend and will be key in the final rounds of competition.
Olympic made the tough away trip to North Turramurra last week but came back to Belmore singing after a convincing victory.
They are away from home again this week in their second of a three-match road trip.
Kiara De Domizio is one of the form players of the competition and managed to score again on Sunday making it four goals in three games.
The Bulls won the first match between the two back in round 5 courtesy of an early Anneke Corry goal.
Illawarra Stingrays v Gladesville Ravens
At Macedonia Park on Sunday, the Illawarra Stingrays welcome the Gladesville Ravens to town.
Five wins without defeat for the Illawarra Stingrays and they’ve made obvious and significant improvements.
They are three wins off finals football and must take the points here if they are to have any chance of sneaking into the top four.
The Ravens have had a dip in form of late and haven’t won in over a month but still are just off the top four.
Chilean shot stopper Romina Parraguirre has been fantastic in goals for the Ravens and will be important in keeping another clean sheet come Sunday.
The Ravens won this one 2-0 in round five but they were up against a very different Stingrays team on that occasion.
Manly United v APIA Leichhardt
Manly United host the league leaders APIA Leichhardt on Sunday at Cromer Park.
Two straight wins, three clean sheets and Manly United look as though they are back in form with perhaps one last chance to sneak in the finals football conversation.
With three goals in two games, Daisy Arrowsmith looks to be a good pick and discovering her goal scoring touch at the right time.
The league leaders needed to response and some response it was from Spencer Prior’s team against a direct rival for the Premiership.
Holly McNamara got herself on the score sheet after a few games without a goal, while Mini Pollicina helped steer the ship.
There is still a long way to go until they can secure the Premiership but APIA is definitely on the way.
APIA was the first team to defeat Manly this season after a convincing 3-0 win at Lambert Park.
Macarthur Rams v Bankstown City Lions – MATCH OF THE ROUND
We travel to Lynwood Park on Sunday for the match of the round between the Macarthur Rams and Bankstown City Lions.
This match promises so much with a battle not only on the pitch but in the dug out too as Stephen Peters takes on Matt Costantini.
Macarthur made it seven straight wins after their pummelling of the Blacktown Spartans last weekend.
Their attack is free flowing with the best offense in the competition having scored 48 goals in this campaign, scoring 27 over this current winning streak.
Kelli Brown added another two to her season tally on Sunday and is most definitely catching the eye.
The Rams are playing well but the Lions are on a run of their own, eight matches without defeat and Matt Costantini’s team is just outside the four.
After their mid-week victory over the Football NSW Institute, confidence is high within the Bankstown camp.
The goals continue to flow for Susan Phonsongkham and he’ll be important in the front third for Bankstown, while Lauren Keir comes up against her former employers.
In a five-goal thriller, the Rams came away with an excellent win back in round five.
Emerging Jets v Northern Tigers – Postponed
Blacktown Spartans v Football NSW Institute – Postponed