PLAYSTATION 4 NATIONAL PREMIER LEAGUES: CANBERRA
MATCHDAY 4

Saturday 23rd April 2016
Woden-Weston FC 0 Monaro Panthers 1 (Mark Shields 5’)
(Woden Park)

An early goal from lethal Panthers striker Mark Shields gave Monaro their first win of the season as they defeated Woden-Weston FC 1-0 at Woden Park on a chilly Saturday evening in the national capital. Shields’ goal in the fifth minute ending up deciding a match that Monaro, in the main, dominated in terms of chances created, restricting Woden-Weston FC to limited opportunities throughout the ninety minutes. The crucial moment in the match came when Martin Deng chased down a long ball from Chris Ruiz, putting pressure in Woden-Weston FC goalkeeper Kris Trajanoski who could only half clear the ball to forward Shields. Shields calmly took it on, beat a defender and rammed the ball into the roof of the net. It was the goal that the Panthers needed to produce a much better performance from the one at home to Tuggeranong a week ago when they were fortunate to escape with a draw. Indeed, they should have really added to their tally here when Shields found himself well-placed on no fewer than three occasions, wasting a couple of one-on-one chances, admittedly from difficult angles, but opportunities he would usually snaffle. Darian McGarry-Watson also nearly added his name to the score-sheet in bizarre fashion as he chased down a perceptive pass over the top of the Woden-Weston defence. Trajanoski read the situation and came to tidy up only for his clearance to hit McGarry-Watson and, fortuitously, bounce straight back into the Woden-Weston custodian’s arms. With Alan Murphy again enjoying a solid performance in the holding midfield role, clear-cut chances for the home side were severely limited. They will feel however that they probably should have equalised when striker Tom Hirst was sent clear by a brilliant pass only to smash his effort straight at the advancing Nathan Alferink when a touch more guile could have produced more reward. Hirst was Woden-Weston’s best option for a goal and he went close again in the latter stages as Alferink stood firm to preserve the win for the Panthers. 

Woden-Weston FC: 1. Kris TRAJANOSKI, 2. Bradley OLIVERA, 3. Adam DE FRANCESCHI, 5. Jean-Baptiste BLAISE, 6. Ben GRIEG, 7. Matthew WATERS, 8. Richy HURTADO LORA, 10. Caleb BROWN, 11. Bensah AFIABO, 13. Tim DEHELEAN, 14. Tom HIRST 
Substitutes used: 4. Mitch KORDA, 14. Arok THON, 15. Chris MCEWAN
Monaro Panthers: 21. Nathan ALFERINK, 2. Tony SPASESKI, 3. Daniel HEARLE, 4. Luka MARKULIN, 5. Chris RUIZ, 6. Alan MURPHY, 7. Daniel FELLIZZI, 10. Mark SHIELDS, 11. Darian MCGARRY-WATSON, 13. Ed MCCARTHY, 14. Martin DENG 
Substitutes used: 8. Sam ROESTBAKKEN, 16. Thomas HEWITT, 20. Caleb CULLEN-RUA
YELLOW CARDS: 11. Bensah AFIABO (Woden-Weston FC), 5. Chris RUIZ, 6. Alan MURPHY, 10. Mark SHIELDS (Monaro Panthers)
RED CARDS: Nil

Sunday 24th April 2016
Tigers FC 7 (Nicolas Abot 5’, Alex Oloriegbe 25’, Daniel Barac 30’, Stephen Domenici 44’, 63’, Nahuel Guerrero 67’, Alan Gaston 70’) FFA COE 3 (John Roberts 21’, Jaidon Seldon 40’, 57’)
(Nijong Oval)

Tigers FC outlined their title credentials by netting a magnificent seven as they demolished the FFA COE 7-3 at Nijong Oval. The Centre of Excellence certainly played their part to the full in what was an enthralling match packed with entertainment and excitement and ten goals of quality. Despite being beaten by such a margin, the FFA COE youngsters were in touch with their opponents for large periods of the match and it wasn’t until midway through the second half that the home team, and one of the title favourites, finally shook off the tenacious FFA COE team. The Tigers got off to a perfect start when their Argentinean striker Nicolas Abot opened the scoring in the fifth minute of the match, the goal his fourth strike of the season. Far from being deterred, the visitors hit back through their own in-form striker as John Roberts bagged his fourth of the campaign to level the scores in the 21st minute. The goals continued to flow as Alex Oloriegbe restored the Tigers lead four minutes later and Daniel Barac made it 3-1 on the half-hour. Jaidon Seldon pulled one back for the FFA COE five minutes before the interval, but a first of the match for Stephen Domenici had the Tigers 4-2 ahead at half-time and in control of proceedings. The next goal would be crucial and it was FFA COE who got it as Seldon added his second of the afternoon to keep Tony Vidmar’s team in with a real shout of an upset. The Tigers had other ideas though and Domenici’s second, his fifth of the season, kept the FFA COE at arms’ length and put the Tigers 5-3 ahead. Pushing for another way back into the match, the visitors were caught out again and two goals in three minutes sealed the matter. Nahuel Guerrero made it 6-3 with his first goal for the club before Alan Gaston, called off the bench in the second half, racked up the second as the Tigers roared into the lead of the championship with another breathtaking display of attacking verve. 

Tigers FC: 1. Jakob COLE, 2. Nahuel GUERREO, 3. Hussein FUREJE 4. Osman FOFANAH, 5. Julian BORGNA, 6. Dejan SANTRAC, 7. Goran JOSIFOVSKI, 8. Nicolas ABOT, 9. Daniel BARAC, 10. Alex OLORIEGBE, 17. Stephen DOMENICI
Substitutes used: 12. Alan GASTON, 13. Milan POPOVICH, 15. Brad MOREE
FFA COE: 12. Jordan GRIFFITHS, 2. James FLETCHER, 3. Patrick SCIBILO, 4. Kaleb COX, 5. Joel KING, 6. Kai TREWIN, 7. Jacob ITALIANO, 9. John ROBERTS, 10. Lachlan BROOK, 22. Jaidon SELDON, 23. Marc TOKICH
Substitutes used: 8. Eduardo CASTENDA, 14. Rahman AKBARI, 16. Ben OBST
YELLOW CARDS: 5. Julian BORGNA (Tigers FC), 14. Rahman AKBARI (FFA COE)
RED CARDS: Nil

Gungahlin United 4 (Marcial Munoz 38’, Mitch Steenbergen 61’, 81’, 90+3’) CU Academy 0
(Gungahlin Enclosed)

A hat-trick from Mitch Steenbergen was the highlight of Gungahlin United’s 4-0 win over CU Academy at Gungahlin Enclosed. The big striker found the net three times in the second half to cement the victory for Gungahlin who had been made to work for the points by a young CU Academy team that, at times, played some quality attacking football although they were, once more, punished for making errors in key parts of the field. The first half was a fairly even affair and it took until seven minutes from half-time for the Gunners to break the deadlock. It too the craft and guile of veteran midfielder Marcial Munoz to do it as the experienced playmaker found the space to find the strike past Academy goalkeeper Sam Brown, returning between the posts after sitting out in Matchday 3. That was the only goal of the first half but after the break centre forward Steenbergen took centre stage. He opened his account for the afternoon in the 61st minute latching onto a terrific defence splitting pass from midfielder Liam Walsh and cracking in a shot that hammered off the underside of the bar and bounced down, adjudged to have crossed the line before coming back into the field of play, the goal confirmed by the Assistant Referee. Despite being down by two the Academy was still in the match and it wasn’t until nine minutes from time that the points were secured for the home side. Regan Walsh initiated the move, finding Justin Rankin on the right hand side. Rankin had plenty to do but did it well cutting the ball back into the danger zone where Steenbergen was on hand to tap in from close to goal. And the striker had his treble in stoppage time. Rankin’s long throw was collected by Frano Blazevic who did exceptionally well to hold off a brace of markers and slide the ball to Steenbergen. With confidence coursing through his veins, Steenbergen took a touch and buried the ball into the back of the net. It sealed a good Gunners display in which Christian Junna and David Jenkins were the stand-outs. 

Gungahlin United: 1. Jason DENHAM, 2. Alex MOSCARITOLO, 3. David DEXTER, 4. Jamie VEARNCOMBE, 7. Regan WALSH, 8. Christian JUNNA, 10. Marcial MUNOZ, 11. Jake WILSENER, 12. Mitch STEENBERGEN, 14. Liam WALSH, 15. David JENKINS
Substitutes used: 5. Jason O’DWYER, 6. Justin RANKINE, 17, Frano BLAZEVIC
CU Academy: 1. Sam BROWN, 2. Ross COSTANZO, 4. Antoni TIMOTHEOU, 5. Niko KRESIC, 6. Thomas MILICEVIC, 7. Joshua GULEVSKI, 8. Adrian MACOR, 9. Sam WHITHEAR, 15. Lachlan GIFFITHS, 18. Jonathan TUREK, 20. David CARDER
Substitutes used: 10. Daniel FABRIZIO, 11. Tomas KRKELC, 13. Daniel SUBASIC
YELLOW CARDS: 8. Christian JUNNA, 12. Mitch STEENBERGEN (Gungahlin United), 4. Antoni TIMOTHEOU, 18. Jonathan TUREK (CU Academy)
RED CARDS: Nil

Tuggeranong United 2 (Nikolaos Kalfas 15’, Andrew Slavich 25’) Canberra FC 2 (Josip Jadric 30’, Thomas James 47’) 
(Kambah 2) 

Canberra FC came from two goals behind to earn a point in an exciting 2-2 draw with Tuggeranong United at Kambah 2. The result, whilst probably being a fair reflection of the encounter, indicates just how far Tuggeranong have come from the dark days of 2015 as they recorded a fifth point of the season and have suffered only one defeat in four starts this season. They started like a house on fire in this one, taking the game to their opponents with Emilio Kista and Aaron Cashman dominating the midfield exchanges. It was therefore no surprise when United took the lead on the quarter hour mark. A ranging pass encouraged Nikolaos Kalfas to challenge Jordan Lamb and the Greek star won the battle, advancing to lash a brilliant shot across the face of Rory Larkin’s goal and into the far corner. That gave Tuggeranong a huge injection of belief and they doubled their lead in the 25th minute. Kalfas was again heavily involved, standing up his marker before jinking into the area and squaring for Andrew Slavich. There was still much to do but Slavich took aim and blasted a shot that proved too good for Larkin, bouncing over the prostrate Canberra FC goalkeeper and into the net. Shortly after Kista clobbered the outside of the post with a vicious effort as Tuggeranong were on top. FC hit back though with a quality goal of their own. The pace of Josip Jadric was always a threat to Tuggeranong and the winger got goal side on the half-hour and executed a perfect lob over the advancing Costa Fallas to halve the deficit. Thomas James and Ryan Keir then went close for FC as the half ended with Tuggeranong deservedly ahead. It took the visiting team just 55 seconds to level matters up in the second half as an intricately work move allowed Ian Graham to burst into the area. His shot was well stuck but Fallas was equal to the task, beating the ball away, only for it to fall kindly to James who tapped in his second goal of the season into the gaping goal despite the best efforts of the covering defenders. That goal set the tone for much of the second half as FC pressed for a winner but Tuggeranong weren’t without opportunities themselves and Kista sent an acrobatic volley over after a slick counter-attack whilst Daniel Roberts blasted over from the edge of the box. FC had the final chance of the game in the dying stages when James appeared to tumble over a challenge inside the area but, despite strong protests from the FC players, the officials waved the incident away and the match ended as a well fought, and fair, draw. 

Tuggeranong United: 12. Costa FALLAS, 2. Cameron DOHERTY, 4. Sam SHADBOLT, 6. Sean KIDDEY, 7. Nikoloas KALFAS, 8. Daniel ROBERTS, 9. Aaron CASHMAN, 10. Emilio KISTA, 14. Andrew SLAVICH, 15. Liam HIGHMORE, 16. Eddie COGGAN
Substitutes used: 3. Jonathan REIS, 5. Nick FAUST, 13. Tim ANDERSON
Canberra FC: 1. Rory LARKIN, 5. Izach CLEMENTS, 6. Ryan KEIR, 7. 8. Ian GRAHAM, 9. Thomas JAMES, 10. Dominic GIAMPAOLO, 14. Josip JADRIC, 15. Jordan LAMB, 17. Aidan BRUNSKILL, 19. Michael MENSAH, 21. Nikola BARISIC
Substitutes used: 13. Kye EDWARDS, 18. Misko NAUMOSKI
YELLOW CARDS: 2. Cameron DOHERTY, 14. Liam HIGHMORE (Tuggeranong United), 9. Thomas JAMES (Canberra FC)
RED CARDS: 19. Michael MENSAH (Canberra FC)

Canberra Olympic 3 (Angelo Konstantinou 21’, Jordan Tsekenis 45+2’, Philippe Bernabo-Madrid 68’ (pen)) Belconnen United 2 (Sam Smith 50’, Jason Ugrinic 84’)
(O’Connor Enclosed)

By William Bremner

Canberra Olympic took all three points in a stirring match at O’Connor Enclosed defeating a valiant Belconnen United. The final score line of 3-2 in favour of last year’s Grand Final winners is indicative of how close the encounter was but does not tell the whole story with Olympic striking the woodwork on a number of occasions and Belconnen coming close to claiming a point at the death. Both teams are battling injury and absence to key staff so this, on paper at least, appeared to be a test of the respective squad depths. For Olympic Joel Valtonen was recalled from the Capital League and for Belconnen veteran Matt Valeri bolstered their squad as under study to young gun Ahmed Ugool. 

The northern suburbs squad started brightly causing problems down both flanks and easily penetrating the rejigged Olympic back four. Keeper Konstantinou worked hard to deny Sam Smith on a couple of occasions and Ugrinic on the right and Wells through the middle also started strongly. On twenty minutes the game was turned on its head. Olympic had few real chances up until then but suddenly Jordan Tsekenis found himself in behind and bearing down on goal. Belconnen's experienced defensive stalwart Matt Grbesa lunged in and the referee after a short delay to collect his thoughts pointed to the spot and brandished a red card deeming the Grbesa tackle as one that denied a goal scoring opportunity. Up stepped Konstantinou and although his spot kick was saved by Perakovic he netted the rebound. Perakovic had saved similarly the week before and was beaten again by a favourable rebound and must be cursing his luck. Olympic took a stranglehold on the match in first half stoppage time when Tsekenis turned home his third of the season to give the hosts a two-goal cushion. Down by two at the break, and a man short, the Blue Devils had the proverbial mountain to climb. Prior to the second goal being scored the Blue Devils had shown that they were very much still in the game with chances to Smith and a wicked curling shot from Dustin Wells just missing the target. 

The second half began much as the first with Belconnen attacking and they were rewarded after 10 minutes of the second period when young Smith curled a left footer over Konstantinou and firmly into the Olympic net. 2-1 and the Blue Devils faithful began to believe a comeback was on. The second major talking point arrived in the 65th minute. Perakovic in the Belconnen goal was adjudged to have brought down an attacking player when he appeared to get some contact on the ball. The referee awarded a second spot-kick however and Philippe Bernabo-Madrid made no mistake from the spot restoring Olympics two goal advantage. 

Belconnen were persistent and they were rewarded when Jason Ugrinic thumped a left foot half volley inside Konstantinou’s near post to make it 3-2 and all to play for when Olympic had their best spell of the match. Chances came and went to Cattanach who hit the post when it seemed easier to score, and there were three or four scrambles thereafter when it seemed Olympic would put the contest to bed but couldn't capitalise. Belconnen responded in the dying moments and had vociferous appeals for a spot-kick turned down in stoppage time. Cameron Reinhart burst past two defenders and rounded a third only to have his progress stopped with what could have been construed to be a foul. The referee had no hesitation in waving play on and Belconnen were left to rue a day when dame fortune appeared to desert them at crucial times. 

Canberra Olympic: 13. Angelo KONSTANTINOU, 2. Tim BOBOLAS, 3. Joel VALTONEN, 5. Phil YARNOLD, 6. Jeremy HABTEMARIAM, 8. Bernard RENE, 9. Philippe BERNABO-MADRID, 10. Robbie CATTANACH, 11. Michael REEVE, 15. Tom MCLACHLAN, 18. Jordan TSEKENIS
Substitutes used: 7. Ben BASSER-SILK, 16. Adam NEOU, 22. Daniel GIOVINAZZO
Belconnen United: 20. Adam PERAKOVIC, 3. Dustin WELLS, 4. Matt GRBESA, 7. Taylor BEATON, 8. Conor NOLAN, 9. Sam SMITH, 10. Jason UGRINIC, 11. Goran MUKEVSKI, 12. Aisosa IHEGIE, 16. Cameron REINHART, 19. Ahmed UGOOL
Substitutes used: 13. Matt VALERI, 14. Callum BEATON, 18. Nicholas DAHL
YELLOW CARDS: 2. Tim BOBOLAS, 7. Ben BASSER-SILK (Canberra Olympic), 3. Dustin WELLS, 8. Conor NOLAN (Belconnen United)
RED CARDS: 4. Matt GRBESA (Belconnen United)

TABLE

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LEADING SCORERS 
6 Sam SMITH (Belconnen United)
5 Stephen DOMENICI (Tigers FC)
4 John ROBERTS, Jaidon SELDON (FFA COE), Nicolas ABOT (Tigers FC)
3 Jason UGRINIC (Belconnen United), Jordan TSEKENIS (Canberra Olympic), Mitch STEENBERGEN (Gungahlin United), Mark SHIELDS (Monaro Panthers)
2 Josip JADRIC, Thomas JAMES (Canberra FC), Tomas KRKLEC (CU Academy), Bryce BAFFORD (FFA COE), Alex OLORIEGBE (Tigers FC), Domenic COLUCCIELLO, Marco GAYER, Andrew SLAVICH (Tuggeranong United)
1 Matt GRBESA, Toby RICHTER, Dustin WELLS (Belconnen United), Nikola BARISIC, Robbie DEELEY, Domenic GIAMPAOLO (Canberra FC), Philippe BERNABO-MADIRD, Tim BOBOLAS, Robbie CATTANACH, Jeremy HABETMARIAM, Angelo KONSTANTINOU (Canberra Olympic), Joshua GULEVSKI (CU Academy), Rahmat AKBARI, Mirza MURATOVIC, Marc TOKICH (FFA COE), Alex MOSCARITOLO, Marcial  MUNOZ, Nathan DUCK, Liam WALSH (Gungahlin United), Ed MCCARTHY (Monaro Panthers), Daniel BARAC, Osman FOFANAH, Alan GASTON, Nahuel GUERRERO (Tigers FC), Nikolaos KALFAS, Emilio KISTA, Jonathan REIS, Sam SHADBOLT Tuggeranong United), Bensah AFIABO, Daniel DI-SALVATORE, Ben GRIEG, Tom HIRST, Matthew WATERS (Woden-Weston FC)