In an entertaining first ‘match of the round’ for the 2017 PS4 NPLW season, title challengers Tuggeranong United FC proved too strong for hosts Canberra FC at Woden Park Enclosed, coming away with a thrilling 4-2 win with the help of Meg McLaughlin’s first half hat-trick.

The home side started strong, looking sharp and Bridget Wright put an early chance just over the bar in the 4^th minute. The first goal for Tuggeranong came against the run of play in the 6^th minute, as former Canberra United gun McLaughlin took the ball down the line and coolly slotted it inside the near post.

Canberra FC responded in the 13^th minute, with Chantel Jones’ through-ball picking out Kate Thornton to tuck the ball away inside the far post. Just one minute later, McLaughlin struck again for the visitors, finding space outside the top of the box and striking a rocket into the top left hand corner, giving Canberra FC keeper Georgia Stewart no chance.

After a string of chances, Canberra FC found the net once again in the 36^th minute, as Wright used her pace to get onto the end of a long ball from Jones and finish to the keeper’s right. Moments before the end of the first half, a lapse in concentration from the Canberra FC defence led to a penalty that McLaughlin calmly tucked away for the advantage.

The second half was tightly contested, but a brace put the visiting side at ease when Paula Van Dommelen found her way through the home side’s back line and drilled the ball past the keeper into the far corner.  

Tuggeranong will look to carry their first round form into next week when they face 2016 competition winners Belconnen United FC, while Canberra FC search for their first points of the season against 2017 league returnees, Monaro Panthers.