By Georgina Lewis 24/8/25
Above: Lacey Wynne in action for NWS Spirit FC
Round 24 delivered statement wins, late drama, and a finals picture that got a little sharper—and a little messier. Here’s how it all unfolded.
Match of the Round — Manly United 2–0 Illawarra Stingrays (Cromer Park)
This was a must-win for Manly and they played it like one. After an even first half, the hosts leaned into set-piece quality and front-foot pressure. Sienna Dale’s 53rd-minute header—attacking a wicked free-kick—was the payoff for a spell where Manly pinned the Stingrays back and forced mistakes. Alexia Forner then split the game open late with a clever early ball in behind, letting Tegan Biasi ice it on 86’.
Tactically, Manly were compact between the lines and denied Stingrays the central combinations they’ve thrived on. Brianna Edwards made saves to keep the visitors alive, but Manly’s discipline and speed in transition were the difference. A proper “season-on-the-line” performance that keeps their finals push real; a stumble for the Rays when they could least afford one.
Macarthur Rams 4–2 Bulls FC Academy (Lynwood Park)
A wild second half, and a reminder that Lynwood can swallow you whole if you switch off. Rams went from cagey to ruthless after the break: Sakura Nojima and Lola Sossai landed a one-two to make it 2–0, Nojima added a third late, and even a penalty from Isabella Coco-Di Sipio plus a stoppage-time spark from Jynaya Dos Santos couldn’t flip the momentum. Tea Mucenski’s dagger settled it at 4–2.
Big takeaway: Macarthur’s press and directness rattled the Bulls’ build, and the Rams’ senior heads managed the chaos better. For the Bulls, it’s a reality check for a top-two side that’s been flying.
Northern Tigers 0–2 NWS Spirit (North Turramurra)
Spirit arrived with nothing to lose and played with exactly that freedom. Bethany Gordon dictated tempo and delivered the pass of the night—an arcing ball for Skye Halmarick’s composed opener on 13’. The second came from Gordon’s set-piece craft, forced over the line via an own goal on 77’.
Credit to Tiahna Robertson for a huge first-half save on Lily McMahon that preserved the platform. For Tigers, plenty of grit but not enough incision in the final third; for Spirit, a clinical away job that keeps them humming as spoilers in the run-in.
Sydney Olympic 0–3 APIA Leichhardt (Valentine Sports Park)
This was the APIA machine in familiar, ruthless mode. Teal Kilbride poached the opener from a corner scramble (36’), then a trademark set-piece routine freed Ashlie Crofts for a near-post bullet (70’). Crofts doubled up three minutes later after Sophie Hoban pounced on a loose clearance and fed her nine.
APIA’s set-piece threat is basically a weekly cheat code, but their control without the ball is just as impressive—compressing space, forcing turnovers, striking from rehearsed patterns. Olympic’s revival earlier this season has stalled; APIA look every inch a title contender on form alone.
Western Sydney Wanderers 2–2 Mt Druitt Town Rangers (Wanderers Football Park)
A game that said plenty about both sides. Rangers were on top early and got their reward via Ena Harada’s skidding free-kick (45+3’). Wanderers answered after the break—Nikkita Fazzari reacting quickest after a sharp initial save (67’)—before Rosaria Galea won and buried a penalty to restore Rangers’ lead (73’).
Then came the sting: Isabella Sultan smacked a free-kick off the post and Olivia Vanderlaan roofed the rebound in stoppage time. A point that Wanderers richly earned with second-half energy; for Rangers, it’s two dropped in a tight top-four race.
Newcastle Jets 1–2 UNSW (Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility)
UNSW showed top-four steel. Angelique Hristodoulou capitalised on an early error for 1–0 (5’), Alexis Collins equalised with a savvy chip after timing her run to perfection (39’), and then came the late-late punch: down to ten after Aaliyah Kilroy’s second yellow (89’), UNSW strung together a rapid restart sequence that ended with Chloe Smith tapping home at the near post (90+1’).
That’s big-game temperament—recovering from the red, then landing the last blow. The Jets’ counterpunching was lively, but UNSW’s poise in chaos keeps them right in the hunt.
Gladesville Ravens 3–1 Sydney University (Christie Park)
Ravens were efficient and then some. Allyssa Ng Saad finished off an early route-one break (10’), Morgan Roberts produced the strike of the round with a disguised “cross” that dipped into the far corner (35’), and Roberts added a stoppage-time tap-in from Eliza Familton’s persistence (90+1’). Maddie Caspers grabbed a late consolation (90+2’) but the points were long gone.
Ravens looked fast, direct, and ruthless on turnovers—an encouraging template to carry into 2026. Uni had moments but were punished whenever their last line stretched.
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