Photos: Solstice Digital
Previews: Dan Thurley
Clarence Zebras vs Launceston United
Date: Saturday August 21
Venue: Wentworth Park
Kick-off: 12:00 PM
2021 Record Clarence Zebras: 14-1-1 (first in WSL) Launceston United: 7-0-8 (fifth in WSL)
Top Scorers Clarence Zebras: Zoe Nichols (21) Launceston United: Danielle Gunton (9)
Preview:
The Clarence Zebras are 2021 Women’s Super League champions, and their three-game victory lap begins this weekend with a home game against Launceston United. The Zebras were made to earn the 2-1 victory over the Devonport Strikers last week, but it is that kind of performance that has seen them crowned unofficial champions of the WSL. There is only pride on the line for the Zebras this week, but pride is all it takes to light a fire under a team of this calibre. Very few teams have been able to match it with the Zebras this season as they have found the net 71 times for an incredible 4.4 goals per game, however one team did eclipse them way back in the opening round, and that was Launceston United. The second meeting between the two was a narrow 3-2 Zebras win, but perhaps United have figured out a way to test the Zebras that the rest of the league are yet to discover? Launceston’s three-game winning streak was ended at the hands of the Kingborough Lions last week when their defensive resolve finally gave way. Their three previous results were 1-0, 1-0 and 2-0 victories but when the Lions broke down the stubborn defence, United could not find the required avenue to goal. That could be troublesome ahead of a meeting with the Zebras this weekend. There is not a defence in the league that has held the Zebras goalless to this point, so United will need to rediscover the goal scoring form that earned them that shock 5-1 win in the reverse fixture back in round one. They are yet to reproduce the form that saw them score five goals via five different goal scorers way back then, but with the race for second place really heating up, there is no time like the present.Key Player: Jessica Robinson, Launceston United
The English midfielder is a true leader for Launceston United and in the big games, leaders must stand up and be counted. Second place is still available, and a good performance from Robinson could be enough to give her side a fighting chance, not just this weekend, but in the remaining games also.South Hobart vs Devonport Strikers
Date: Saturday August 21
Venue: Darcy Street
Kick-off: 2:15 PM
2021 Record South Hobart: 3-2-10 (sixth in WSL) Devonport Strikers: 7-1-6 (fourth in WSL)
Top Scorers South Hobart: Pishon Choi (6) Devonport Strikers: Jazmin White (15)
Preview:
South Hobart may not be directly involved in the battle for second place, but they have a huge opportunity to impact the outcome with their remaining fixtures, beginning with the Devonport Strikers this weekend. South Hobart have had their problems this season, but they possess the makings of a strong team when they piece everything together. That begins with a spine anchored at each end by Eleni Moustatsos and Pishon Choi. The Strikers are not an easy opponent, but South Hobart should be high on confidence following an impressive display at Warrior Park last week. They have made the most of a tough season by continuing to develop some breakout players, including Ruby Batchelor who had a standout game against the Warriors while earning herself an assist. She will get plenty of opportunities to contribute yet again against a side who tend to concede their share of chances, but it will be down to Moustatsos, Bridie Cooling and the South Hobart defence to keep them out at the other end. The Strikers would have to be the favourites to finish the season in second place, as they currently sit two points away with a game in hand over the Olympia Warriors. They first have to find a way past a tricky fixture against South Hobart at Darcy Street, where they scraped by with a 2-1 win back in round one. Jazmin White scored a hat-trick last week which could be a sign that she is gearing up for a big end to the season, and she will be eyeing up another handful of goals against a South Hobart side that have conceded 11 in their last two games.Key Player: Sophie Westwood, South Hobart
Only three players have scored more than one goal for South Hobart this year; Pishon Choi, the injured Niki Moustatsos and Sophie Westwood. She scored an important goal last week that had her side on the cusp of a draw at Warrior Park, and she will continue to play a key role as the season nears its conclusion.Taroona vs Olympia Warriors
Date: Sunday August 22
Venue: Kelvedon Park
Kick-off: 4:30 PM
2021 Record: Taroona: 1-3-10 (seventh in WSL) Olympia Warriors: 7-3-5 (second in WSL)
Top Scorers: Taroona: Emma Carbon (4) Olympia Warriors: Madison Chambers (8)
Preview:
Another key fixture in the battle for the top two pits the hopeful Olympia Warriors against a Taroona side desperate for a second win of the season. Taroona play all four remaining fixtures at Kelvedon Park, so somewhere in that streak of consecutive home games they will be hoping for their second win of the season. A bye last week may be exactly what they needed in order to regroup after a string of promising results were brought to an end by the 5-1 loss to Devonport Strikers in round 17. Emma Carbon scored her fourth goal of the campaign in that fixture and after averaging a goal every second appearance, she has been a big addition to the team since her first game in round nine. She helped to earn a draw at Warrior Park one week later, and Taroona will now be hoping Carbon’s growing relationship with her teammates will help them earn all three points this weekend. This time last year, hosting the Olympia Warriors was a daunting prospect but it is hard to deny that the Warriors are in a form slump right now. They have still managed to hold onto second place, and a win over Taroona this weekend will be a significant step in the right direction. Since the Statewide Cup win earlier this year, the Warriors have suffered through a number of tough league fixtures, including a 2-2 draw in this weekend’s reverse fixture back in round 10. The Warriors’ defence have been shaky in previous weeks which continued against South Hobart, and with Innocent Michael moving further up the field to help out in the attacking third, they may find themselves under fire yet again.Key Player: Ella McConnon, Olympia Warriors
In the wake of Madison Chambers’ departure, Ella McConnon has stepped up in a big way and was all business in last week’s 3-2 win over South Hobart. She found the net for the fourth time this year and will need to continue doing so to inspire the Warriors towards a second-place finish.