WOMEN’S PREVIEW: MANLY UNITED v BULLS FC ACADEMY

On Sunday, it’s another home game for the Manly United Women’s 1st Grade team! This weekend’s opponents will be Bulls FC Academy, who are flying high on the NPL NSW Women’s table.

Bulls were promoted to NPL NSW after a very successful League One Women’s campaign in 2022. That success has continued this year, with Bulls currently occupying second place after losing only once during the opening eight rounds of the season. Their last outing was a 3-1 win over Northern Tigers – Claudia Valletta, Avaani Prakash and Charlotte Lancaster all found the back of the net in that game. Manly’s defence will also need to watch out for young flyer Peta Trimis, who is the Bulls leading scorer with four goals.

As for Manly, it was a case of heartbreak on the weekend. Emily Minett’s first half headed goal looked to have given us victory, but a stoppage time strike from Sydney University’s Jaime Beaufils meant we had to settle for a 1-1 draw. Minett has done brilliantly to be one of four players leading the NPL NSW Women’s Golden Boot race, joining Ashlie Crofts (APIA), Brinley Gentle (Jets) and Leena Khamis (Rams) on six goals for the campaign. At the back, Grace Arnold earned a lot of praise for her performance against Sydney Uni, and her defensive talents will be needed against a Bulls side that has scored multiple goals in each of their last three games.

Despite Jemima Lockley’s opening goal last weekend, Manly’s Reserve Grade team would fall to their first defeat of 2023 against Sydney University. Our Reserves are still in a promising position, sitting fifth on the table after eight rounds, but Sunday will be a tough test for them as Bulls are top of the Reserve Grade table.

If you can’t get to the ground for our Women’s 1st Grade clash, tune in on NPL.TV .

Manly United v Bulls FC Academy

Sunday 7 May, 5pm (Reserves at 3pm)

Cromer Park