Canberra United Academy 3 (Isabel Barac 6', 57, Aoife Colvill 24') def. Gungahlin United 1 (Freyja Jacobson 36')

The Canberra United Academy picked up their second win over Gungahlin United for the season with a 3-1 victory at Hawker Football Centre in round eight.

Gungahlin had been plagued by poor starts recently including in last weekend’s loss to Belconnen and they struggled early again as Isabel Barac fired the Academy into a one-goal lead after just six minutes.

That left United to play catchup for over 80 minutes, and they matched the Academy early but struggled as the hosts pushed down the wings with fast attacks on the counter.

That paid dividends after 24 minutes when Aoife Colvill finished off a sweeping counter-attack to score and double the advantage and force United onto the back foot.

Freyja Jacobson pulled United right back into it just nine minutes from the break though with a brilliant set piece effort from just outside the 18-yard area. That cut the deficit heading into the break but another quick start from the Academy to the second half saw Barac complete her brace 13 minutes in would prove too much for Gungahlin to overcome as the second half fizzled out.

The Academy now take on Woden-Weston once more next weekend, while Gungahlin United face a crunch matchup with Canberra FC.

 

Tuggeranong United 0 def. by Belconnen United 3 (Maddy Whittall 36', 73', Jessie Williams 72')

Belconnen United had to tough it out, but picked up a eighth consecutive win to begin the season with a 3-0 victory over Tuggeranong United on Sunday.

On a windy afternoon at the always testing Kambah pitch, both sides struggled to get going early and clear cut chances were hard to come by as the half wore on.

But nine minutes before the break the visitors were presented with a chance and 2017 Golden Boot winner Maddy Whittall took it with aplomb, firing her side into a half-time lead.

Both sides continued to struggle in the conditions after the break, with Belconnen struggling to run away with the game as many may have expected them to.

But as the game crossed over the 70-minute mark and the game in it’s latter stages, a quick blitz from the visitors did the job. 57^th minute substitute Jessie Williams got on the scoresheet off the bench as she is so good at doing as an impact player, and just one minute later Whittall completed her brace to seal the victory and a three-goal lead.

The win keeps Belconnen three points clear of Canberra FC at the top of the table, while Tuggeranong remain winless and look to change that against Olympic in round nine.

 

Canberra FC 4 (Sophia Evans 18', Grace Gill 25', Chantel Jones 47', Jamie Berkeley 68') def. Monaro Panthers FC 0

A clinical performance from Canberra FC pushed them to a seventh straight win and helped them keep in touch with Belconnen United, as they defeated Monaro 4-0 at Deakin.

Monaro were looking to build on two recent wins that had helped separate them from the bottom of the table, but struggled to hold out a Canberra FC side that has been starting well.

Sophia Evans opened the scoring for the hosts, a ninth goal in a row for the side without conceding at the other end. And only seven minutes later Grace Gill found her way onto the scoresheet with a well taken effort to double the advantage, and the Panthers’ attack struggled to flesh out clear cut chances against a robust home defence.

Leading by two goals at the break, it did not take Mark Risteski’s team long to extend that as Chantel Jones belted in an effort two minutes into the second half and push the lead to three goals. They continued to move the ball well and pressure Monaro as the game crossed into the final half hour, and Jamie Berkeley’s strike with 22 minutes remaining put the game firmly out of reach for the visitors.

The Panthers do still look an improved side, however will have another tough ask next weekend as they face Belconnen United at McKellar Park, while Canberra FC take on Gungahlin United in a big clash.

 

Canberra Olympic 2 (Sally Rojahn 9’, Grace Basser-Silk 39’) def. Woden-Weston 1 (Kathryn Conroy 70’)

Canberra Olympic broke a recent form slump as two first-half goals helped them to a tough win over Woden-Weston at O’Connor.

Full report here.