We have a Premiership race on our hands ahead of Round 17 action in the National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s competition.
Football NSW Institute v Manly United
The action kicks off on Sunday at Valentine Sports Park as the Football NSW Institute host Manly United.
For the Institute, it is somewhat different, not having played over the last month due to players on international duty.
The Institute will feel very fortunate coming away from last week’s game against Sydney Olympic with all three points, keeping their finals hopes alive.
The return of Sienna Saveska will most definitely give them a boost.
It took 12 rounds, but Tom Hopley’s side finally managed to record a victory on Sunday, defeating the Gladesville Ravens in the ‘Gilbane derby’.
They did it the hard way too with Emily Minett receiving her marching orders, but it was Daisy Arrowsmith’s show as she scored a brace to secure the points.
The striker’s signing should help propel Manly forward as they look for that finishing touch in the front third.
Manly defeated the Institute 2-0 back in early April.
Blacktown Spartans v Macarthur Rams
At Blacktown Football Park on Sunday evening, the Blacktown Spartans host the Macarthur Rams.
Three straight defeats, no goals scored and nine conceded has left the Spartans in 13th place on the competition ladder.
Fortunately for the Spartans their reserve grade and 18’s teams have been performing well, easing the load on the first team in terms of the club championship and relegation battle.
This could be the perfect scene for young guns Kitwarla Mkali, Charlotte Owen and Chantelle Maniti (to name a few), to really make a statement.
Stephen Peters wants to stay under the radar but when you win six straight and lose only one game (against APIA Leichhardt) in your last 13 starts, there is no hiding.
In this run of six straight wins, they have managed to score 21 goals and conceded only three!
This fine run of form has also seen them close the gap to runaway leaders APIA Leichhardt to only four points now.
The Khamis sisters Leena and Sham are due to link up with the squad also adding to what is a very well recruited outfit.
Special mention must go to youngsters Tegan Bertolissio, Indi Breier, Amalia Plummer and Maya Lobo who have been superb.
Bankstown City Lions v Illawarra Stingrays
A very interesting game takes place at Jensen Park on Sunday evening as the Bankstown City Lions take on the Illawarra Stingrays.
This one has much more than finals football riding on the line but also the relegation battle.
For the Lions, it’s the opportunity to create some distance between them and the Stingrays, for the South Coast side, it’s about staying close and closing the gap.
Confidence is high at Jensen Park as Matt Costantini’s girls did what no one else could this season and beat the league leaders APIA Leichhardt.
It was some performance for Bankstown as Alexia Karrys-Stahl and team top scorer Susan Phonsongkham shun and will be expected to do so again this week.
Special shout out must go to Stephanie Grimbilos who made some vital saves at the end but will be missing for the Lions in this must win fixture.
If confidence is high with Bankstown, the same can be said for the Stingrays after a more than convincing win over the Emerging Jets.
Sarina Bolden was in sparkling form, demonstrating how important she will be to the Stingrays in the second half of season with four first half goals in the 8-1 thrashing.
They are undefeated in four games and are finding form at the right time in the season.
Bankstown is involved, so you guessed it, the points were shared when they met earlier in the campaign.
Sydney University v Emerging Jets
At Sydney Uni Football Ground, Sydney University welcome the Emerging Jets.
Uni’s finals hopes diminished on Sunday when they succumbed to their eighth loss of the campaign against Bulls FC Academy.
It’s about rebuilding for Emily Husband’s team now with a number of young players getting a taste of first grade football in 2023.
For the Jets, it was a tough trip home after the Illawarra Stingrays took them apart and put eight passed them.
Positive for the Jets was that Brinley Gentle once more got on the scoresheet and added to her impressive season tally.
Gladesville Ravens v Bulls FC Academy
The Gladesville Ravens welcome Bulls FC Academy to Christie Park on Sunday evening.
Gladesville has hit a slight dip in form over the last month or so, only securing one victory in their last five games.
Subsequently, they have dropped down to eighth on the table, albeit with a game in hand.
With the Bulls in fifth, this game becomes a must win for the Ravens or they will drop further away from a finals berth.
A gritty win by Jaime Gomez’s team on Sunday against Sydney University places them in a good position to continue their hunt for finals football.
Expectations are that their side will become stronger and continue to improve as the season progresses and perhaps be strongest come crunch time.
Aideen Keane fired home her first of the season and will be expected to continue that form, while the experienced Trudy Simmons was once more instrumental in securing another victory.
The Ravens stole victory by the odd goal the last time these two met.
Northern Tigers v Sydney Olympic
Another of those big games in the round, this time at North Turramurra Rec Area as the Northern Tigers host Sydney Olympic.
The Tigers were severely depleted last week at Lynwood Park as they were defeated by the Macarthur Rams.
Jake Stephenson will be hoping he can count on a number of stars this week, including Mona Walker, Shay Evans and Ash Brodigan who were amongst the seven absentees from last week’s game.
A win pushes the Tigers above Olympic on the ladder and potentially into the top four.
It just was not Olympic’s night last Sunday against the Football NSW Institute as they were defeated 2-1.
George Beltsos’ team created a plethora of chances but only managed to find the back of the net once.
It was Kiara De Domizio again who has been in fine form in recent weeks and will be one that Beltsos looks toward to make a difference against the Tigers.
These two clashed less than a month ago and it was Olympic that came away with the spoils via a late Sarah Yatim goal.
APIA Leichhardt v NWS Spirit – Match of the Round
For the match of the round we travel to Sydney’s Inner West as APIA Leichhardt host NWS Spirit at Lambert Park.
Spencer Prior’s team tasted defeat for the first time this season on Sunday at the hands of Bankstown City Lions, a defeat that took 16 rounds to come.
The APIA coach will expect an immediate reaction from his side, now going two games without a win and letting the likes of the Macarthur Rams and Spirit to close the gap between them.
Captain Rhianna Pollicina started on the bench and her leadership was obviously missing as the team conceded three quick first half goals they could not eventually recover from.
They will need a better start here and will be expecting Holly McNamara to get herself on the scoresheet.
Spirit showed how to bounce back following defeat with a convincing 2-0 victory over the Blacktown Spartans.
They sit only six points behind APIA and it could be as little as three on Sunday night if they take the points.
Sarah Morgan and Morgan Roberts continue to find the back of the net for Tiana Gauci’s team and they will be key on Sunday along with star striker Rola Badawiya.
Defensively, Erin Pridmore will need to keep it tight at the back to curb APIA’s attacking danger.
It was a tight clash when they faced off in round four, Sophie Hoban’s goal enough for the victory on that occasion.
By – Nikola Pozder