Clarence Zebras v Ulverstone
Date: Saturday 19 September
Venue: Wentworth Park
Kick Off: 2:30 PM
2020 Record:
Clarence Zebras (6-1-1)
Ulverstone (3-3-2)
Top Scorers
CZ: (10) Zoe Nichols
Ulv: (4) Eli Cropp
Recent Head to Head Record
2020: Round 4: Ulverstone 1 - 1 Clarence Zebras
Match Primer
The intrigue in this fixture began in round four when the pair tussled for a 1-1 draw, and since that time it’s only grown. Ulverstone have hit their stride since the Round 4 result, winning three of their last four matches. While Clarence Zebras could be walking wounded after suffering their first defeat of the season last time out against Olympia to slip back into second place. Both clubs have something to prove. For the home team, it’s now all about keeping the pace with Olympia to challenge for the top spot at the end of the season. The travellers from the North West will have eyes on bridging the gap to the top two after cementing their hold third spot with a win over South Hobart. A good result this weekend and the gap between the pair would be just four points. Last time the pair met, Clarence Zebras struggled to break down an organised Ulverstone, with the Reds finding rhythm in their combinations on the ball. Whether the Zebras are able to flick the switch to produce an attacking display capable of finding chinks in the Reds armour will be a match decider. Spirits will be high at Ulverstone after discovering some goalscoring form against South Hobart last weekend.
South Hobart v Kingborough Lions
Date: Sunday 20 September
Venue: Darcy Street
Kick Off: 2:00 PM
2020 Record:
South Hobart (2-1-5)
Kingborough Lions (2-0-5)
Top Scorers
Sth: (4) Phoebe Djakic, Niki Moutsatsos
KL: (5) Laura Davis
Recent Head to Head Record
2020: Round 4: Kingborough Lion 2-7 South Hobart
2020: Summer Cup Round 1: South Hobart 3-2 Kingborough Lions
2019: Round 16: South Hobart 1-6 Kingborough Lions
Match Primer
South Hobarts recent dip in form turns this weekend's encounter with Kingborough into a season decider. In a turning of the tables from round 4, Kingborough’s strong performance against University has the potential to kick start their season back to life. With one point splitting the teams on the ladder, the match is poised to breathe life to or suffocate a side's season. There are signs the Lions attack has finally roared to life, bagging 8 goals in both of their last outings. Any suggestion Kingborough no longer has a totally isolated front line should send shivers of fear to any opponent. While South Hobart aren’t shy of a goal, the results have dipped from their earlier season adventures. Both sides have players who can score from the slightest of chances if the ball can get in and around the box. The team with the most discipline in the back will come away with the biscuits. The battle for fourth spot is all up for grabs. South Hobart have the potential to cement their position, while Kingborough have the chance to leap frog them and breathe down the necks of Ulverstone, with a match in hand against University still to play.
University v Olympia Warriors
Date: Sunday 20 September
Venue: Olinda Grove
Kick Off: 2:00 PM
2020 Record:
University (0-1-6)
Olympia (7-0-1)
Top Scorers
Uni: (3) Sophie Young
Oly: (10) Bonnie Davies
Recent Head to Head Record
2020: Round 4: Olympia 9 - 0 University
2018: Promotion Play Off Match: University 0-6 Olympia
2017: Round 18: Olympia 6-2 University
Match Primer
Top against bottom on the ladder is rarely a kind fixture. Olympia will be buzzing with the confidence of securing a win against title challengers Clarence last weekend. University will be at the drawing board, wondering what went wrong in a drubbing at the hands of Kingborough. For a result other than the predictable Warriors win, something significant will need to happen. The Bees have the opportunity to salvage some respect from the competition with a good game against the Warriors. Keep it tight, or pull out the improbable to earn some points, and that could set up confidence for the remainder of the season. However, University will need to show some defensive backbone to make that happen. Meanwhile Olympia can rightly go in with heady ambitions of scoring plenty of goals after back-to-back tight encounters in the WSL. The balance remains for the Warriors to respect the opposition enough to attack the match like they would any other, while still wanting to add to their goal tally. Defensive records don’t always tell the right story, however one team sitting with 1 against across 8 matches and the other with 42 in 7 games does tell a tale. University hasn’t been able to keep opposing attacks at bay and face a difficult task against a stingy Olympia side. While defences might not deserve all the blame or credit, the simple facts suggest there’s one likely winner here.