After a round full of spectacular goals, thrilling comebacks and excitement, the same awaits us in round 16 action this week in the National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s competition.
NWS Spirit v Blacktown Spartans
The action kicks off on Saturday afternoon at Christie Park as the NWS Spirit host the Blacktown Spartans.
Both teams come into this match from losses and are desperate for victories for different reasons.
It was the first defeat in 10 games for Spirit on Sunday where they went down to the Macarthur Rams.
Despite the result, Spirit looked good value for large parts of the game and were perhaps hard done by with the final result.
Sarah Morgan scored a spectacular free kick and Tiana Gauci will be looking for her to replicate that again, while Rola Badawiya was not able to get on the scoresheet despite creating some good opportunities, something she will look to rectify on Saturday.
Consecutive defeats have hurt the Spartans and have kept them in the bottom two of the competition ladder.
Most worryingly for the Spartans, they’ll need to start getting points as the relegation battle is heating up.
This match will be a very tough test for the Spartans coming up against one of the best performing sides in the competition, will they be able to spring a surprise is the question?
The first match between the two was a tight affair, Spirit coming away with an odd-goal victory.
Bulls FC Academy v Sydney University
Bulls FC Academy return to Northbridge Oval on Sunday as they host Sydney University.
It was some game last week between the Bulls and APIA Leichhardt, an entertaining 2-2 draw where Jaime Gomez’s team lead 2-0 at the break.
The Bulls should see some returning players as well this week to compliment their squad in a very important game in terms of finals football.
Liz Grey was outstanding last weekend and the team looks to be coming together finally at the important part of the season.
After a phenomenal result against APIA Leichhardt the week prior, Uni succumbed to another defeat which has put them 14 points behind fourth place.
It has been two months since their last victory which came in late April against the Illawarra Stingrays.
Taren King’s arrival has been welcome, her experience and quality will most definitely help Emily Husband’s young side.
The points were shared first time round in a 2-2 draw.
Sydney Olympic v Football NSW Institute
Football NSW Institute travel to Peter Moore Field on Sunday when they take on Sydney Olympic.
George Beltsos’ team was getting desperate for a victory after two straight defeats against the Illawarra Stingrays and NWS Spirit.
They bounced back in style with a resounding 4-0 win over the Blacktown Spartans on Sunday.
Kiara De Domizio has really shone for Olympic this season and the fantastic goal she scored on Sunday will only give her further confidence as the season progresses.
Angelique Hristodoulou and Sarah Yatim were also on the score sheet to continue their good form also.
Having not played for a couple weeks, the Institute were a bit rusty on Sunday against the Emerging Jets and had to settle for a point.
With so many players away on international duty and being rested after representing the national team, Lisa Warrener was stretched with her squad selection.
She will also be expecting certain stars to return this week and they could surprise Olympic here.
Sarah Yatim scored the winner the first time they met, in a game where the Institute definitely deserved more.
Illawarra Stingrays v Emerging Jets
In our very own ‘distance derby’, the Emerging Jets travel south to take on the Illawarra Stingrays at Macedonia Park.
Undefeated in June, the Stingrays are trying to make a push for finals football and sneak their way into the top four.
The team looks stronger than they were in the first half of the season and are 10 points outside the four, a tough task in what remains.
Sakura Nojima and Sarina Bolden have been solid signings and will be important moving forward.
Encouragingly, the Emerging Jets picked up their second point of the season on Sunday against Football NSW Institute.
Brinley Gentle was back amongst the goals again and scored a brace last weekend, not enough for all three points however.
She will be called upon once more to lead the team from the front in what will be a tough away trip.
The Stingrays won 3-1 last time they met but the Jets will feel they were hard done by the result.
Manly United v Gladesville Ravens
It’s the ‘Gilbane Derby’ at Cromer Park on Sunday as Manly United host the Gladesville Ravens.
Having played each other less than two weeks ago in the Sapphire Cup, the same teams do battle again at the same venue.
It was the Ravens that came away with the victory to progress in the Cup, while the points were shared in round three.
Manly’s search for the elusive first win since round four continues as they were held to a scoreless draw against the Illawarra Stingrays.
With the additions of Daisy Arrowsmith, Laura Hughes and Gema Simon, things should start looking on the up for United.
The Ravens had to settle for a draw last weekend against a tough Bankstown City Lions outfit.
In terms of finals football, the top four is only two points away and the Ravens would be very pleased with how life has progressed in the top flight.
A win here is imperative to keep close to those above them and the Ravens can’t afford to drop any further points.
Macarthur Rams v Northern Tigers (Match of the Round)
The match of the round takes us to Lynwood Park in a repeat of the 2022 NPL NSW Women’s Grand Final as the Macarthur Rams host the Northern Tigers.
Stephen Peters’ team just keeps getting better and they don’t look like slowing down any time soon.
Kelli Brown is one of the finds of the season, scoring at will along with the rest of the team who have scored 20 goals in their last five games and that’s without Leena Khamis who is still to return!
Five straight victories have them as the closest team to runaway leaders APIA Leichhardt who they now have in their sights.
After a slight dip in form, the Northern Tigers are finding their feet again and are pushing themselves up the ladder.
A victory against Sydney University last week, they are now just one point outside the four.
Ash Brodigan is yet to really kick off and this could be the stage for her, we know her capabilities and she could be the difference between the two teams.
It was a one-sided affair when the two met earlier in the season, the Tigers coming away with a 3-0 victory.
APIA Leichhardt v Bankstown City Lions
At 5pm at Lambert Park another cracking match takes place as APIA Leichhardt host Bankstown City Lions.
Two games without a win and APIA have allowed the Macarthur Rams to close the gap to just seven points.
It doesn’t get any easier for Spencer Prior’s team when they come up against the draw masters this weekend.
Still, APIA remain the only undefeated team in the competition and they showed real character to come from two-goals down to take a point against the Bulls FC Academy on Sunday evening.
Holly McNamara is lightning the league up and will cause headaches for the Bankstown defence, she hasn’t scored in consecutive weeks now for the first time this season so expect a response from this star player.
If there is a bogey team for someone in this competition, then it’s Bankstown for APIA.
Matt Costantini’s team always shows up against his former employers and he’ll be hoping they do so again here.
As McNamara has been dominant for APIA, Susan Phonsongkham has been the star of the show for Bankstown and she will be important here again.
A 1-1 draw was the tale of the tape back in round three.