The Wanderers Women’s NPL side welcome the Gladesville Ravens to Wanderers Football Park on Sunday as both sides look to bounce back from disappointing losses in Round 3.
The Western Sydney Wanderers NPL side return home to Wanderers Football Park to take on the Gladesville Ravens after a trip to Macedonia Park that ended in a 3-1 defeat of the Red and Black.
The Ravens were left frustrated after a 2-1 defeat to the Macarthur Rams, following a monstrous Issabella Coelho goalkeeping performance left the Ravens scratching their head as to how they didn’t come out with any tangibles.
Both teams will look to capitalise on late surges in their respective games, as they showed plenty of fight in an attempt to claw back their respective deficits.
The Wanderers have shown plenty of promise across the opening three weeks, despite only taking three points from nine, it has been evident to see the strengths of this team and the week to week development has been a highlight of their season.
Depth in squad quality will be key to going deep into this year’s competition, and the introduction of Alyssa McKenzie and Olivia Vanderlaan off the bench last week showed that the Wanderers will always have a Plan B when Plan A isn’t working. Estella Cameron and Brooklyn Hudson having done the same in the opening two rounds.
The Key Decider: Avoiding the late surge
The game will be decided by whichever team can create that early opening and take their chances, both teams have struggled in parts of the opening rounds to convert their chances in the early moments of the game and have had to leave it late to rescue the result.
The Wanderers have looked threatening through the likes of Anika Stajcic, Miriam Zumaya and Talia Kapetanellis but have lacked the sharpness to convert their chances early on.
They have yet to fail to score in a game this season, but if they are able to improve their efficiency in front of goal, it will provide a tougher challenge for their opponent. This means that their games will less likely become a chase, but a question of whether their opponents can keep up with their effectiveness in front of goal.
The Ravens will look to improve their clinical instinct this weekend if they are to take any points from this game, Patricia Charalambous proved dangerous but failed to convert her chances in the dying moments of the game.
They bring a style of play that relies on their ability to hit their opponents on the transition, but their lack of a clinical edge has let them down.
This game looks to be an exciting prospect, and if both teams can find their clinical edge, strap yourself in for a goal frenzy.
NPL NSW Women’s Round 4
Western Sydney Wanderers FC v Gladesville Ravens FC
Sunday 30 March, 5:00pm
Wanderers Football Park
