The Stingrays joined Uni at the top of the table, almost completely eliminating their inferior goal difference in the process, with a 14-nil thrashing of last-placed Sutherland.

Locked in a desperate relegation fight, Sutherland had used a number of their top-line players in their 5-2 win over Illawarra in reserve grade, as they chase crucial club championship points. 

But it provided the perfect opportunity for the Stingrays to surge closer to the NPL crown, with Uni to play their round 19 game against the Football NSW Institute on Tuesday night.

“The goal difference could be really important for us, so it was great to keep pushing in the second half,” Stingrays coach Carmelina Moscato said. “It’s been such a crazy season, anything can happen in the last few weeks. 

“We saw in reserve grade they’d played a few of their best players, obviously they have other priorities with the club championship.”

The Stingrays are locked on 42 points with Uni and now just one goal behind.

The win also put veteran striker Michelle Carney in the frame to finish the season as leading goalscorer. 

Carney scored four, moving her total to 20, just two behind Macarthur’s Georgia Yeoman-Dale.

Evelyn Chronis matched Carney’s haul with four of her own, Erica Halloway scored twice. 

With the points already in their keeping, Blaize Kendis gained valuable minutes in the second half, after an injury-plagued campaign. 

The Rays return home to take on Bankstown at JJ Kelly Park on Sunday.