Ulverstone v Kingborough Lions
Date: Saturday 22 August
Venue: Ulverstone Showground
Kick Off: 2:15 PM
2020 Record:
Ulverstone (0-3-2)
Kingborough Lions (1-0-3)
Top Scorers
Ulv: (2) Eli Cropp
KL: (2) Laura Davis, Christabelle Moore
Recent Head to Head Record
2020: Round 1: Ulverstone 1 - 3 Kingborough Lions
2019: Round 18: Kingborough Lions 3 - 4 Ulverstone
2019: Round 13: Ulverstone 1 - 3 Kingborough Lions
Match Primer
The fortune of winning matches may have alluded both clubs since their last encounter, but it has still been a tale of two stories. Kingborough returns to the North West in search of the form they left there. Ulverstone’s run of three draws from their last four outings shows something is working, but they’ve yet to crack the secret code of turning good performances into wins. Kingborough sat out Round 5 due to rain postponement. The time hopefully spent bringing some steel to its leaky backline, with an urgent need to improve on a record of conceding 18 goals in their last three matches. While a repeat performance from last weekend for Ulverstone, where the simple things didn’t quite hit the mark, would spell a missed opportunity to break their duck and secure a win. The first five minutes will be vital to this fixture as neither side have looked able to claw back to win from an early deficit, while confidence will go the way of the brave if a daring opening provides a goal. This match is unlikely be a repeat of the one sided affair they played out back in Round and the highly sought after chocolates are firmly up for grabs for both these sides if they play to their potential.
South Hobart v Olympia Warriors
Date: Sunday 23 August
Venue: Darcy Street
Kick Off: 2:00PM
2020 Record:
South Hobart (2-1-2)
Olympia Warriors (4-0-0)
Top Scorers
SH: (4) Niki Moutsatsos
Oly: (6) Olivia Bomford
Recent Head to Head Record
2020: Round 1: South Hobart 0 - 1 Olympia Warriors
2020 Summer Cup: Round 3: Olympia Warriors 4 - 2 South Hobart
2019: Round 18: South Hobart 0 - 9 Olympia Warriors
Match Primer
South Hobart the WSL dark horses face another opportunity to frustrate the ladder leaders in Olympia. South have demonstrated some fine form over the bottom half of the table, now the question is whether they can muster up a similar performance against one of the title favourites. The Warriors will require caution in this fixture that would be considered a “must win” as they look to maintain top spot. A match at Darcy Street just begs for wingers to stamp their authority on the match and both teams possess quality on the flanks in their respective attacks. The thought of the space to be found out wide should already be sending a whiff of fear to both sets of fullbacks looking at the daunting task that lies ahead of them. The biggest question is can South Hobart be the first team to breach the Warriors defence? It’s a mammoth task, but form suggests it’s very much in the realm of possibility. A replay of a tight encounter such as round 1 is very much on the table. One twist is Olympia arrives at this fixture with the benefit of a weekend off, while South Hobart fought a hard-earned draw against Ulverstone. Momentum is a funny thing, the rest may not be to the Warriors advantage. However, with the extra space at Darcy Street, Olympia’s forwards will likely ask one too many questions for South Hobart’s defence to answer.
University v Clarence Zebras
Date: Sunday 23 August
Venue: KGV
Kick Off: 4:45 PM
2020 Record:
University (0-1-3)
Clarence Zebras (3-1-0)
Top Scorers
CZ: (6) Zoe Nichols
Uni: (2) Sophie Young
Recent Head to Head Record
2020: Round 1: Clarence Zebras 8 - 0 University
Match Primer
Two teams who sit opposite ends of the table will now meet at the slick and span KGV, rather than compete at a likely waterlogged Olinda Grove. A week off for the pair provides the opportunity for fresh legs to hit the ground, with both desperate to produce the goods, albeit for different reasons. Whether a change in venue and a month of matches are significant enough to see a closer encounter than the 8-0 scoreline from their last match up remains to be seen. The neutral venue will see the advantage of the Olinda Grove long ball, high forward press game for University come to nought. The pitch at KGV is likely to see the ball run too long to take proper advantage of the method. Although the high press on defenders could force some mistakes on a slippery surface. The possibility for Clarence Zebras to mix things up and try some new tactics is within imagination, after struggling for goals against a winless Ulverstone last time out. Armed with the knowledge of how to unpick the Bees defence already this season, now would be a good time for Clarence to test some new ideas. For University to find their first win of the season against Clarence is a massive ask. The Bees will be needing to keep things organised at the back if they want to spring a surprise here. The Zebras have demonstrated they have the arsenal to dismantle most sides in the WSL. It’s simply a question of whether they will come out firing.