Vodafone Women's Premier League Round 21 Preview

By Niki Cook

The WPL reaches its penultimate round this weekend, and although the finals places have been all but confirmed, there are three sides still battling to avoid the drop to Division One. The University of Melbourne has the current unenviable distinction of occupies the remaining relegation position, three points behind Eastern Lions. It has the hardest task of all to avoid relegation, not only because of its position, but also because it faces Box Hill Inter at Wembley Park on Friday, a team that has lost just one match all season. Inter demolished the University back in Round 10, scoring nine times and conceding just one. Inter is still in the hunt for the minor premiership, which gives the successful club not only a psychological boost, but also one less match en route to the Grand Final. Eastern Lions face a tough match as well on Saturday, when they take on fifth-placed Brimbank at the Italo Australian Social Club. Brimbank is virtually assured of finishing at least fifth, as it is six points plus goal difference ahead of Heidelberg United, but at least a point from this match would confirm things. Brimbank enjoyed a comfortable victory in the sides’ previous meeting, scoring four answered goals to claim the three points. Eastern Lions have a three point advantage over the University of Melbourne, but will not want to remain in contention for relegation going into the last game of the season. Saturday also sees the meeting of the league’s two regional sides at Strathfieldsaye sports Complex, when Bendigo Vipers host Ballarat and District. The sides have enjoyed differing fortunes in the league this year, with Bendigo proving a competitive mid-table side, while Ballarat has struggled in the top flight. Neither side has anything left to play for other than pride, as Ballarat has already been relegated, and Bendigo cannot make the finals, although it could overtake Heidelberg and finish sixth. Bendigo comfortably won this fixture earlier in the season, by five goals to nil. Two of the top three sides meet at Comets Stadium on Sunday when leader Cranbourne takes on third-placed Keilor Park. With both sides already guaranteed to be part of the finals, this match could provide an indication of how the teams will fare when the home and away season is completed. Cranbourne edged out Keilor earlier in the season 2-1, but both sides will be keen to register a win in this match, to assert their authority in a match-up that could be repeated in less than a month’s time. Having finally recorded a victory last weekend, South Melbourne will be looking to make it two in a row when it takes on Heidelberg United at Henry Scott Oval on Sunday. Defeat at Heidelberg earlier in the year began South’s horror run that produced just one victory in ten matches, and it will be keen to atone for that this time around. Heidelberg is still an extreme outside chance of making the finals, but will need to produce a big win here, and hope for a heavy defeat for either Ashburton or Brimbank. Eltham North will look to secure its WPL future at Partington Flats on Sunday, but will have its work cut out against an Ashburton side that defeated it 4-2 earlier in the year. Eltham is five points ahead of the University of Melbourne, and two ahead of Eastern Lions, so would be extremely unfortunate to be relegated, but it is still a possibility. Ashburton climbed back to fourth after its victory over Bendigo last weekend and will look to hold onto that position with another win this weekend.