Belconnen United 5 (Jessie Williams 25’, Nicole Jalocha 27’, Jasmine Maguire 45’, Maddy Whittall 62’, 64’) def. Monaro Panthers 0

Belconnen United can seal the PS4 NPL Women’s Premiership with a win next weekend after a commanding 5-0 victory over Monaro Panthers on Saturday. 

United started well and quickly took control of the contest at Riverside Stadium, looking to assert themselves early. It didn’t take them long to go ahead, as Chloe Callaghan’s cross found the head of Jessie Williams in the 25^th minute and the in-form striker made no mistake as she buried her header. 

It took only a further two minutes for the visitors to double their advantage as Nicole Jalocha volleyed home off a corner and put her side in total control. Monaro struggled to respond under the weight of Belconnen’s possession but held up well until just on the cusp of half-time, as a lovely team move from United finished with Jasmine Maguire tucking home a tidy strike into the corner. 

Having lead 3-0 at the break the visitors came out looking for more, but the Panthers held out well initially, keeping their attack at bay. The introduction of Maddy Whittall after 57 minutes changed that though, as she came off the bench to score two brilliant individual goals in a three-minute span to put the game well and truly to bed. 

Monaro will now face Woden-Weston next Saturday with their finals hopes well and truly scuppered, while United will face second placed Canberra FC as they get the chance to seal the deal on the Premiership.

 

Canberra FC 8 (Shaquille Chong 5’, 63’, Chantel Jones 23’, 36’, 42’ 50’, Grace Gill 59’, 88’) def. Canberra Olympic 2 (Ashleigh Clarke 22’, Nat McCann 52’)

Four goals from Chantel Jones helped Canberra FC confirm their spot in the finals race in a thumping 8-2 victory over Canberra Olympic at Deakin Fields on Sunday afternoon. 

Full report here.

 

Tuggeranong United 0 def. by Woden-Weston FC 4 (Jade Bernet 63’, Rachel Crittenden 70’, 83’, Bridget Plummer 88’)

Finals football is closer and closer to a reality for Woden-Weston after a strong win over Tuggeranong United on a rainy Sunday afternoon. 

The first half was a delicate tussle as both sides struggled to find a rhythm, but after Woden-Weston began to find the ascendancy, they were kept out well by a disciplined home defence that held strong against the weight of attack. 

Neither side could find a way through and they entered the break goalless with the match poised to break open in the second half. 

And that’s exactly what happened, as the visitors broke out and began to overrun their understrength opponents.

Jade Bernet got on the board first 18 minutes into the second half, as a corner found her unmarked near the back post to knock home the ball for the lead.

The visitors doubled their advantage seven minutes later, as Cassia McGlashan’s cross from out wide dropped quickly, and Rachel Crittenden flew in past her defender to put the ball straight past Cristina Esposito and in.

And Crittenden was on the scoresheet 13 minutes later too, as she was played in down the right channel and beat Esposito at the near post with a wicked strike to go up 3-0. There was still time or Bridgit Plummer to seal the game as her looping header from a corner beat everyone and nestled in the back of the net.

The Wanderers now hold an eight point lead over Tuggeranong for the fourth finals spot with four games remaining, and can seal the spot with a win this weekend over Monaro. Tuggeranong meanwhile will take on the Canberra United Academy as they look to retain any hope of keeping their season alive.