Launceston United vs South Hobart
Date: Saturday July 17
Venue: WMPS Park
Kick-off: 12:00 PM
2021 record Launceston United: 5-0-7 (third in WSL) South Hobart: 3-1-7 (sixth in WSL)
Top scorers Launceston United: Danielle Gunton (6) South Hobart: Pishon Choi (4)
Preview:
Launceston United finally broke their losing streak in their last game, and they will now need to hold off a South Hobart side that is looking to do the same. United are coming off a bye last round, and they would have enjoyed their week off a little more after recording a 2-0 win over Taroona in round 12. That ended a run of five consecutive losses, and while their position in the top three is still precarious they now have that monkey off their back. What was perhaps the most promising factor in that win was that neither Jess Robinson or Danielle Gunton hit the scoreboard-- those two players account for almost half of Launceston's goals. They remain one of the better defensive teams in the league, with the least goals conceded outside of the top two despite playing the most games. That may be enough for them to grind out a result against a South Hobart side that has struggled in attack all season. It would be easy to say that Launceston's home ground advantage is a big factor as well, but South Hobart have already beaten them once at WMPS Park this season. That was all the way back in round three, but South should still take some confidence as they pull into the ground for this clash. Their last meeting was at Darcy Street and was another South Hobart win-- it's quite remarkable that South have just three wins this season and two of them have come against a side sitting ahead of them on the table. For that reason, it's hard to read too much into their form ahead of this matchup. With back-to-back games against the top two teams now behind them, South will be looking to springboard into the tail end of the season with another win against their bogey side here.Key player: Pishon Choi, South Hobart
Much like her team as a whole, Choi has enjoyed plenty of success against United this year. She bagged a brace in their round three matchup, before scoring the only goal in their 1-0 win in round nine. Choi needs to start scoring goals regularly if South want to climb the table late in the season, and this is the perfect opportunity for her to regain some form.Kingborough Lions vs Taroona FC
Date: Sunday July 18
Venue: Lightwood Park
Kick-off: 2:15 PM
2021 record Kingborough Lions: 3-3-4 (fifth in WSL) Taroona FC: 1-2-7 (seventh in WSL)
Top scorers Kingborough Lions: Laura Davis (7) Taroona FC: Eli Cropp (3)
Preview:
After a pair of impressive performances but only one point to show for it, Kingborough would be itching to get back on the winners list against an improving Taroona side. The Lions dealt a blow in the WSL title race last round by holding second-placed Olympia to a draw. That came one week after they were seconds away from the same result against the ladder-leading Zebras. The Lions well and truly took it up to the best sides in the league, and with a win here they could climb as high as third on the ladder after spending the bulk of the season stuck in the bottom half. This will be their third meeting with Taroona this season, and while they drew in their last contest that was at the notoriously tricky Kelvedon Park. In their first matchup at Lightwood Park, the Lions enjoyed a comfortable 8-1 win thanks to a Laura Davis hat-trick. Taroona have improved considerably since then, but so have the Lions, and they still might have a little more talent on paper. Taroona travelled north to Devonport last round and battled hard, but they ultimately fell 4-2 to the Strikers. They're now winless in their last five games, but that span includes close losses on the road to Devonport and Launceston and draws with Olympia and Kingborough. It feels like a statement win is just around the corner, but they will need to produce a full 90-minute performance if they want that breakthrough here. That starts with their senior players, most of whom have been building into some good form; Eli Cropp has two goals in her past three games, and goalkeeper Isolina Ottavi made a handful of outstanding saves to keep them in the contest last week.Key player: Emma Carbon, Taroona FC
That four-week run of promising results coincides with Carbon's return to the lineup, and she has scored two goals in that time while playing a crucial role. If Taroona want to break through the ceiling above them and climb off the bottom of the table, she will need to continue that form.Clarence Zebras vs Olympia Warriors
Date: Sunday July 18
Venue: Wentworth Park
Kick-off: 2:15 PM
2021 record Clarence Zebras: 10-1-1 (first in WSL) Olympia Warriors: 6-3-2 (second in WSL)
Top scorers Clarence Zebras: Allie Berry (12) Olympia Warriors: Mia Cane (8)
Preview:
The marquee clash of the round, a rivalry game and a potential title decider-- this game has the makings of one of the best of the season. The Zebras could take a near-unassailable lead at the top of the table with a win, while the Warriors need all three points to keep their season alive. It has been almost impossible to fault the Zebras since their season-opening loss to Launceston City. Since that day they have racked up ten wins and one draw, with an average margin of more than three goals in that time. They have the top two scorers in the league at one end, and the second-best defence in the league at the other end. What more is there to really say? In terms of this matchup with Olympia, they enjoyed a thumping 6-1 win in enemy territory last time they met. Allie Berry netted her third hat-trick in as many weeks in that game, and with so much big-game experience there's no reason to think that she won't have a huge impact again here. The same could be said for Zoe Nichols, who has scored eight goals in her last four games and is playing as well as she ever has. The Warriors come into this game looking a little more shaky, with a draw against Kingborough last week causing them to slip further behind the Zebras. They are still playing well for long stretches, but facing a ten point deficit on the table they will need to be perfect from here on out to defend their title. That starts with the ultimate test against the Zebras, and it's one that they are certainly capable of passing. The top-level talent is still in their lineup, with Innocent Michael, Madi Chambers, Mia Cane and Kate Ollerhead all among the best of the best in their roles. Their defence has been strong and has allowed a league-low 16 goals this season, but six of those came in their last matchup with Clarence. Can they clamp down on the likes of Nichols and Berry the same way they have against the rest of the league's forwards?Key player: Issy Cane, Olympia Warriors
The older Cane sister might get the plaudits as Olympia's leading scorer, but Issy Cane said herself in Friday's pre-game press conference that she does all of the hard work to set up those highlight plays. In all seriousness, the midfield battle will be crucial in this game and Cane has established herself as a reliable and versatile contributor in the middle of the park. She and her fellow midfielders will need to choke off the supply to Clarence's all-star attack and, yes, do plenty of work to play in their own forwards.