Belconnen United 5 (Jasmine Maguire 6’, Maddy Whittall 29’, 70’, 82’) def. Canberra Olympic 0

By Nick Graeber-Browne

Belconnen United tightened their grip on the Premiership on Saturday night with a thumping 5-0 win over top four hopefuls Canberra Olympic.

Both sides had big wins in Round 17 and came in full of confidence but it was Belconnen United who got off to the better start.

Jasmine Maguire scored from close range just six minutes in to get things underway after a slew of chances for the hosts.

After the opening goal Olympic grew into the game and began to threaten Belconnen themselves continued to create chances as well and it was the home side who would score next.

Maddy Whittall doubled the lead with a classy finish after she was sent through by a good ball from Nicole Jalocha.

Both sides played positive football for the remainder of the half, yet the score remained 2-0 at the break.

United started off the second half strongly as Jalocha struck the crossbar two minutes in, and Miriam McLaren was forced into some key saves as the hosts put Olympic under the pump.

But they would not be kept at bay for long and a sublime solo goal from Whittall pushed them further ahead, the forward weaving her way through a crowd of defenders in the box before firing home.

And with eight minutes left on the clock she claimed her hat-trick goal with a brilliant strike from outside the box into the top corner, before substitute Acacia Argento sealed the score line, finishing off a chance in the final minute of regulation for United’s fifth.

It was hardly a scoreline that reflected the game, with Olympic in the game for large parts of the contest, but their major threats including Meg McLaughlin were nullified well by a strong United backline.

The result all but wraps up top spot for Belconnen, while Olympic are right in the mix of the fight for fourth spot with Gungahlin United.