THE Western NSW Mariners FC will look to put the finishing touches on its preparation for a Football NSW Women’s State League campaign when hosting Gladesville on Sunday.
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The match, to be played at Mudgee’s Glen Willow Sporting Complex, will be the last for the Mariners before the players take the next step in their premiership push.
From 20 completed games, the Mariners have only lost twice and head into the final round sitting second on the ladder.
A win will not only confirm a top two finish and the second chance which comes with it, but could also see the Mariners replace APIA Leichhardt Tigers at the top.
The Tigers sit just two points – less than a win – ahead of Mariners and meet currently third placed Southern Districts on Sunday.
Mariners coach Mick Godbier is not overly concerned where his side ends up given all semi-finals will be played in Sydney, but admits top spot would be nice.
"If we did get that minor premiership it would be a nice little bonus, but it's not a major goal,” Godbier said.
“For us it's to finish in the top two then go one better in the finals than we did last year.
"It doesn’t really matter to us where we finish, one, two, three - we know the team that plays against us will have to work for everything because we are a confident side.”
What Godbier does want is a win over Gladesville in Mudgee and for his players to show continued improvement.
Last Sunday when playing out a nil-all draw with Southern Districts, the mentor was most impressed with the effort of his midfielders.
Though not able to find the back of the net, Teegan Courtney, skipper Kristy Collingridge, Tayla Lloyd and Kya Godbier created plenty of chances.
Under 15s talent Brianna Trappett was another who impressed against Southern Districts.
She scored against Gladesville at Mudgee earlier this season when the Mariners won 2-0 and will be keen to do so again if given a chance.
That 2-0 win came in the first meeting between the Mariners and Western this year.
The other ended in a draw which has Godbier cautious heading into the third clash even though Gladesville will not qualify for the finals.
"They'll come to play for sure. We played them about a month ago and we had them on toast, we had them 3-1, but they came back and it ended up 3-all,” Godbier said.
"We should have out best 11 back this weekend .. we had a few out last time we played, but no excuses there.
"Our aim is to keep improving, that's pretty much what we have tried to do over the last month, to sort of keep stepping up and not peaking too early.
"Hopefully then we can step up for the finals and go bang, bang.”
Three of the Mariners’ junior sides will also use Sunday’s match as a warm-up for the finals.
The under 13s have already sewn up the minor premiership, while the under 15s and under 17s have earned a semi-final spot.