Macarthur Rams and Bulls FC Academy have had vastly different seasons in the premier women’s soccer competition in NSW, National Premier Leagues (NPL)
The Rams won the premiership in 2024, but this season has seen a young team struggle to stay away from the bottom of the table.
On the other hand, the Bulls, after a slow start to the season, have been flying high in the past 10 rounds.
For the past two weeks the Buls were perched at the very top of the NPLW ladder, with the finals coming into view.
So when the two ran on to the pitch to face each other at Lynwood Park in Round 24, a Bulls win would have been most people’s tip for this “local derby’’.
Nobody told the Rams girls what the script was because they stunned Bulls FC Academy, defeating them 4-2.
The loss has meant the Bulls have dropped to second place on the ladder, and will now need to re-group for the last two rounds if they are to finish first.
There were no goals in the first 45 minutes at Lynwood Park as the two combatants trundled off for the half time break.
Things got a little more interesting in the second half, with six goals all up.
Sakura Nojima and Lola Sossai notched up goals to give the home side a 2-0 lead.
When Nojima added a third with 10 minutes to go, it looked like the Bulls were at risk of an embarrassing scoreline.
But when Isabella Coco-Di Sipio scored from the spot in extra time, and Jynaya Dos Santos added a second for the Bulls to make it 3-2, the Rams would have been more than a little nervous.
However, Tea Mucenski iced the match for the Rams and the 4-2 final scoreline.
The three points has lifted the Rams further away from bottom spot, and they are 11th, or fourth from last, with two matches still to play.