PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues: Capital Football
Round 5 – Review  

Friday 8th May
Woden-Weston FC 1 (Nikolas Popovich 82’) Canberra Olympic 3 (Philippe Bernabo-Madrid 7’ (pen), 24’, Tim Bobolas 30’)
Canberra Olympic kept up their good start to the season with another convincing victory as they swept aside Woden-Weston FC 3-1 at Woden Park under the floodlights on Friday evening. Knowing that a victory would put them top of the league for at least 24-hours, Olympic started brightly and their endeavour was rewarded after only seven minutes. Callum Smith embarked on a slalom run into the Woden-Weston FC penalty area only to have his progress illegally impeded. Philippe Bernabo-Madrid made no mistake from the penalty spot to send the visitors ahead. Woden-Weston FC should have drawn level in the 19th minute when they were awarded a spot-kick of their own for handball against an Olympic defender. Pepe Varga took the penalty but Olympic goalkeeper Angelo Konstantinou guessed correctly to make a diving save and preserve his team’s advantage. And the hosts were made to pay for their profligate nature in front of goal just four minutes later. Bernabo-Madrid must have been taking notes from the UEFA Champions League Semi-Finals in midweek as he channelled his inner Lionel Messi to set off on a solo run that saw him drift past a couple of Woden-Weston challenges and finish with the confidence of a player at the top of his game. The strike was his seventh league goal of the season and had Olympic in the box set at 2-0 ahead. That soon became three with another goal of supreme quality. Woden-Weston was struggling with the width that Olympic were imparting on their game and from a cross into the danger zone the title chasers went further ahead. Tim Bobolas showed immeasurable braving throwing himself to meet the ball in amongst the bootlaces to send a diving, acrobatic header past Rory Larkin and virtually secure the three points before the half-time whistle. With the game all but decided the second half became something of a non-event with Olympic content to keep possession and stroke the ball around without threatening to add to their comfortable lead. Woden-Weston FC did up the ante in an effort to get back into the game but the effect of three matches in six days was taking its toll on the team. They did pull one back inside the final ten minutes when substitute Nikolas Popovich grabbed a consolation goal but it did little to dent Olympic’s enthusiasm as they recorded another victory to consolidate their solid start to the season. 
Woden-Weston FC: 21. Rory LARKIN, 2. Andrew SLAVICH, 3. Zach HARRIGAN, 4. Ohio ASIKHIA, 5. John GIBSON, 6. David JENKINS, 7. Pepe VARGA, 10. Aaron CASHMAN, 12. Andrew KILEY, 15. Mitch STEENBERGEN, 16. Adam DOBELL
Substitutes used: 8. Adrian CANIZARES, 9. Tim ANDERSON, 11. Nikolas POPOVICH
Canberra Olympic: 1. Angelo KONSTANTINOU, 2. Tim BOBOLAS, 5. Jonathan TOOLE, 6. Adrian MACOR, 9. Philippe BERNABO-MADRID, 10. Robbie CATTANACH, 11. Michael REEVE, 14. Callum SMITH, 15. Tom MCLACHLAN, 17. Nick BOBOLAS, 18. Phil YARNOLD
Substitutes used: 4. Daniel COLBERTALDO, 8. Bernard RENE, 13. Josh CALABRIA
Discipline: YELLOW CARDS: 4. Ohio ASIKHIA (Woden-Weston FC) 
Match Officials: Luke Withell (referee), Georgia Ghirardello, Justin Cho

Saturday 9th May
FFA COE 3 (Cameron Joice 15’, Benjamin Van Meurs 63’ (og), Nicholas Panetta 68’) Belconnen United 3 (Jason Ugrinic 55’ (pen), 82’, David Kemp 75’)
Belconnen United fought back from 3-1 down to earn a share of the spoils in an entertaining draw with the FFA COE at the Australian Institute of Sport on Saturday afternoon. Late goals from David Kemp and Jason Ugrinic ensured the Blue Devils came away from the match with a 3-3 draw to keep them in touch with the early pace-setters at the top of the table. The first half was a more prosaic affair than the drama that unfolded after the break with little in the way of action at either end. In fact it was a midfield battle with little to choose between the teams apart from the only goal of the half, scored by the FFA COE, in the fifteenth minute. Cameron Joice was the scorer, taking advantage of some space to net for the first time this season. The real action was saved for after the half-time interval. Belconnen forced the issue and got back on terms in the 55th minute when they were awarded a penalty for a foul on Aisosa Ihegie. Jason Ugrinic was given the responsibility from the spot and he made no mistake hammering a fierce shot past Duro Dragicevic and into the roof of the net. The Blue Devils were level for only eight minutes as the FFA COE upped the tempo and regained the initiative by scoring a second. Jackson Bandiera, summoned from the substitutes’ bench, made the difference, bursting down the wing and sending in a wicked cut-back that the Blue Devils own replacement, Benjamin Van Meurs, could only divert past Adam Perakovic and into his own net. It appeared to be game, set and match, when the Centre of Excellence top scorer Nicholas Panetta claimed his fourth of the season moments later to extend the lead to 3-1 but Belconnen had other ideas. Kemp is one of the most under-rated players in the local PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues competition but his ability to play, and play well, in multiple positions, makes him the perfect squad player. His return from his honeymoon has been a huge boost to the Blue Devils and Kemp gave them hope of a comeback by making it 3-2 with fifteen minutes left. The home side was on the back foot now and inevitably Belconnen equalised inside the last ten minutes when Ugrinic grabbed his second, and fourth of the season. The late dismissal of FFA COE substitute Danny Kim for a second yellow card completed an amazing afternoon in a sensational match. 
FFA COE: 1. Duro DRAGICEVIC, 2. Malcolm WARD, 3. Henry DAVIES, 5. Zac SPETH, 6. Joe CALETTI, 14. Solomon MONAHAN-VAIIKA, 15. Joshua HOPE, 17. Nicholas PANETTA, 19. Charlie DEVEREUX, 22. Cameron JOICE, 23. Kosta PETRATOS
Substitutes used: 10. Jamie DIMITROFF, 16. Danny KIM, 24. Jackson BANDIERA
Belconnen United: 1. Adam PERAKOVIC, 4. David KEMP, 6. David ARRANZ, 8. Conor NOLAN, 10. Jason UGRINIC, 11. Goran MUKEVSKI, 12. Jordan TSEKENIS, 14. Callum BEATON, 16. Matt GRBESA, 17. Jack BLACKLEY, 18. Aisosa IHEGIE
Substitutes used: 3. Benjamin VAN MEURS, 5. Matt VALERI, 7. Taylor BEATON
Discipline: YELLOW CARDS: 15. Joshua HOPE (FFA COE), 4. David KEMP, 6. David ARRANZ, 8. Conor NOLAN, 11. Goran MUKEVSKI, 16. Matt GRBESA (Belconnen United)
RED CARD: 16. Danny KIM (FFA COE) 
Match Officials: Matt Cropper (referee), Delfina Dimoski, Owen Watson

Sunday 10th May
Canberra FC 3 (Robbie Deeley 9’, Daniel Bennett 35’, Thomas James 75’) Tuggeranong United 0
Canberra FC shook off the disappointment of Westfield FFA Cup defeat in midweek to claim a straight forward 3-0 success over Tuggeranong United at Deakin Stadium and increase their lead at the top of the PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues to two points with a game in hand. Both sides made numerous changes from the teams that took part in the cup competition with Tuggeranong missing both Munster brothers, Zac and Ethan, who were prominent in their 5-2 success over Woden-Weston FC at Woden Park on Tuesday evening. It was Canberra FC who settled the quicker and they took the lead in the ninth minute when midfielder Robbie Deeley broke the deadlock with his second goal of the season ghosting in to finish well. Tuggeranong defended solidly and denied Canberra FC many clear chances at goal but the home team was able to go further ahead ten minutes before the interval. Winger Daniel Bennett has had a truncated start to the season with injury but he had scored in the cup defeat to Tigers and he made it 2-0 here with a well-taken goal. With a comfortable cushion at the break FC looked for further goals but Tuggeranong was steely in their resolve and threatened to force their way back into their match with their youngsters performing admirably, particularly Sebastian Summersby-Mitchell on his full debut. However, Canberra FC still looked the more likely to add to their score-line as they began to dominate possession and territory, and they increased the leaf to 3-0 with fifteen minutes remaining. Thomas James netted twice off the bench on his NPL debut at Nijong Oval and claimed a first goal at Deakin Stadium to seal the deal for the hosts. Later James almost added another but was denied by a breathtaking save from United ‘keeper Rowan Forbes-Shepherd who saved a James free-kick.  
Canberra FC: 1. Shaun BURKE, 4. Thomas MILICEVIC, 7. Robbie DEELEY, 8. Ian GRAHAM, 9. Thomas JAMES, 10. Muad ZWED, 11. Marko VRKIC, 13. Daniel BENNETT, 14. Josip JADRIC, 21. Niko KRESIC, 23. Nathan EVANS 
Substitutes used: 17. Aiden BRUNSKILL, 20. James FIELD
Tuggeranong United: 1. Rowan FORBES-SHEPHERD, 2. Cameron DOHERTY, 4. Sam SHADBOLT, 5. Tomas RUIZ, 6. Sean KIDDEY, 8. Matt RICE, 9. Sean MURPHY, 11. Sebastian SUMMERSBY-MITCHELL, 12. Jonathan TUREK, 15. Harry PETTIT, 16. Michael GURNEY
Substitutes used: 10. Alex VUJIC, 13. Dominic SZRAKITY, 14. Aioden BEATMAN
Discipline: YELLOW CARDS: 6. Sean KIDDEY, 13. Dominic SZRAKITY, 15. Harry PETTIT, 16. Michael GURNEY (Tuggeranong United) 
Match Officials: Adam Powers (referee), Thomas Klein, Duncan McLaren

Monaro Panthers 2 (Anthony Giorgi 30’, Michael Mensah 55’ (pen)) Gungahlin United 3 (Jack Green 22’, Stephen Domenici 26’, Josh Gaspari 75’)
A stunning goal from substitute Josh Gaspari settled a cracking match in favour of Gungahlin United as the visitors held off the stubborn challenge of Monaro Panthers to win at the Riverside Stadium. Gaspari blasted in from the edge of the box with fifteen minutes remaining, running onto a ball that was punched clear by goalkeeper Jack Pettit after a fizzing cross from full-back Nathan Tidmarsh. It was rough justice on the Panthers who had fought back from being 0-2 down after 26 minutes to claw themselves level and were worthy of a point from an entertaining match. It appeared to be a routine afternoon for Gungahlin United in the driving rain as they stormed into a two-goal lead via a brace of set-pieces. Shane Murray, once again outstanding in the playmaker role, was the architect, delivering the first from a free-kick, which Jack Green met, criminally unmarked, on the back post to plant a free header past Pettit in the 22nd minute. Murray repeated the trick four minutes later from a corner, his vicious inswinger helped on by Michael John for Stephen Domenici to poach a cute flicked finish from inside the six yard box. That prompted a superb response from the home team and they reduced the arrears before the break. Gungahlin only half-cleared a corner and Anthony Giorgi pounced to send a volley back over the melee and into the net for a quite sensational strike. Back in the game at the break Monaro started the second half much the brighter with Samale Mohamed in imperious form in midfield and they deservedly drew level in the 55th minute. Martin Deng tricked his way into the area and was dumped by a Gungahlin defender leaving the officials no choice but to award a penalty. Michael Mensah showed his calmness under pressure to send Jason Denham the wrong way from the spot. That looked good enough to earn Monaro a point before Gaspari stole the game with his wonder-strike. It was rough justice on the Panthers who tried their upmost to equalise for a third time but Gungahlin saw off their concerted late effort in relative comfort to claim a second win of the season and fifth place on the ladder. 
Monaro Panthers: 1. Jack PETTIT, 2. Michael POCHI, 3. Daniel LINSTEAD, 5. Chris RUIZ, 6. Tyson COTTAM, 8. Tim STEWART, 9. Martin DENG, 10. Mark SHIELDS, 11. Anthony GIORGI, 12. Michael MENSAH, 13. Samale MOHAMED
Substitutes used: 4. Darian MCGARRY-WATSON, 15. Daniel HEARLE
Gungahlin United: 1. Jason DENHAM, 3. Dustin WELLS, 4. Jack GREEN, 5. Nathan TIDMARSH, 6. Stephen DOMENICI, 7. Regan WALSH, 8. Shane MURRAY, 9. Daniel BARAC, 11. Jeremy HABTEMARIAM, 14. Michael JOHN, 15. Alex MOSCARITOLO
Substitutes used: 10. Josh GASPARI, 12. Danny KRAJACIC, 16. Josh PARISI
Discipline: YELLOW CARDS: 2. Michael POCHI, 9. Martin DENG (Monaro Panthers) 
Match Officials: Owen Goldrick (referee), Bruno Kehl, Jose Izurieta 

TABLE

LEADING SCORERS 
8 Philippe BERNABO-MADRID (Canberra Olympic)
6 Alex OLORIEGBE (Tigers FC)
5 Robbie CATTANACH (Canberra Olympic)
4 Jason UGRINIC (Belconnen United), Domenic GIAMPAOLO (Canberra FC), Nicholas PANETTA (FFA COE), Lucas MONTANA (Tigers FC)
3 Aisosa IHEGIE (Belconnen United), Thomas JAMES (Canberra FC), Stephen DOMENICI (Gungahlin United), Pepe VARGA (Woden-Weston FC)
2 Danai GAPARE (Belconnen United), Robbie DEELEY, Niko KRESIC, Thomas MILICEVIC (Canberra FC), Daniel BARAC (Gungahlin United), Mark SHIELDS (Monaro Panthers), Tim ANDERSON (Woden-Weston FC), Own GOALS
1 Jack BLACKLEY, David KEMP, Goran MUKEVSKI, Sam SMITH, Jordan TSEKENIS (Belconnen United), Daniel BENNETT, James FIELD, Ian GRAHAM, Marko VRKIC (Canberra FC), Tim BOBOLAS, Josh CALABRIA, Callum SMITH (Canberra Olympic), Henry DAVIES, Charlie DEVEREUX, Cameron JOICE, Kosta PETRATOS (FFA COE), Josh GASPARI, Jack GREEN, Michael JOHN, Shane MURRAY, Dustin WELLS (Gungahlin United), Anthony GIORGI, Daniel HEARLE, Daniel LINSTEAD, Michael MENSAH, Chris RUIZ (Monaro Panthers), Nic HARIDEMOS, Jeremias IBARRA, Goran JOSIFOVSKI (Tigers FC), Ethan MUNSTER, Zac MUNSTER (Tuggeranong United), Nikolas POPOVICH, Andrew SLAVICH (Woden-Weston FC)