Belconnen United 12 (Sam Price 30’, 32’, 57’, Maddy Whittall 40’, 64’, 75’, 81’, 82’, Bronte Pyke 45’, Nicole Jalocha 49’, 89’, Caitlin Munoz 60’)

Belconnen United jumped to within a point of Canberra FC on the table with a game in hand thanks to a 12-0 over Canberra Olympic on Saturday at McKellar.

Sam Price netted the first 30 minutes in as she stole in following a poor goal-kick, and when Olympic failed to clear the ball properly minutes late she curled in another from the edge of the area. Lauren Keir set up Maddy Whittall for the third and Bronte Pyke was unmarked to tuck home the fourth on the stroke of half-time.

Nicole Jalocha was on the board first in the second half and the goals flowed from there with Price completing a hat-trick eight minutes later and then Caitlin Munoz netting on the hour mark. Whittall had her second four minutes later, and it only took another 11 for her to have a hat-trick as well. She scored two in two minutes as the game entered the final 10 minutes and when Jalocha scored her second it sealed the scoreline at 12-0.

Belconnen take on Canberra FC in the Federation Cup semi-finals on Wednesday night at Deakin, with Canberra Olympic facing Woden-Weston at Hawker.

 

Canberra United Academy 2 (Bella Barac 12’, Sasha Grove 38’) drew. Canberra FC 2 (Jamie Berkeley 6’, Mel Bunker 33’)

By Jakob Gisik

The top of the table clash between Canberra United Academy and Canberra FC certainly lived up to expectations, as the two teams played out a thrilling 2-2 draw at Hawker on Saturday evening.

The young Academy side matched it with their more experienced opponents for the full 90 minutes, twice coming from a goal down to secure a vital point from the encounter.

Canberra FC struck early after Jamie Berkeley soared in at the back post to volley home a well-directed free-kick from Krista Hagen.

But Heather Garriock’s side equalised shortly after, as Bella Barac produced a stunning free-kick that curled across the face of the wall and into the side netting.

Parity remained for the next 20 minutes, until a loose pass from an Academy defender fell to Mel Bunker, who fired a low, line drive into the bottom corner of the net to restore the visitors lead.

It lasted just five minutes however, as Sasha Grove intercepted an errant pass herself and coolly tapped the ball under Canberra FC’s goalkeeper Nat Vasta to level the scores going into the break.

The intensity elevated in the second-half, and was highlighted by a number of physical collisions between the two sides.

The biggest of which came in the 62nd minute, when Canberra FC defender Ivana Galic laid a heavy tackle on Hayley Taylor-Young, leaving the Academy striker a little worse for wear.

Annie Grove then received the first yellow card of the game after she collided with Bunker in midfield, with the latter moving gingerly after the challenge.

The match appeared as though it may peter out, until a flurry of opportunities in the final 10 minutes reignited the contest once more.

Barac came close to scoring her second with a free-kick that was not to dissimilar from her first, but her effort was well saved by Vasta in goals.

Canberra FC then had two huge chances to steal the match in stoppage time, but shots from both Brittany Palombi and Vanessa Ryan were denied by the woodwork.

The draw sees Nik Brozinic’s side hold onto top spot on the NPLW ladder, while the Academy now sit equal second with Belconnen United.

 

Gungahlin United 4 (Nat De Marco 12’, 65’, Ella-Rose Brown 17’, Stella De Marco 77’) def. Wagga City Wanderers 0

Gungahlin United took advantage of a tired Wagga City side to run out 4-0 winners at GEO on Sunday afternoon. With Wagga City having played a full 90 the day before Gungahlin struck early, with Nat De Marco poking home a rebound after Erika Pennyfield’s initial shot was saved.

Ella-Rose Brown grabbed the second, intercepting a pass across the Wagga City backline before racing in on goal and slotting home her effort, and despite plenty of Gungahlin pressure the score remained 2-0 at the break.

United poked around again in the second half and DeMarco scored her second 20 minutes in as she had her turn to intercept an errant pass at the back and sneak a finish past the goalkeeper into the bottom corner. Shortly after it was Stella De Marco’s turn, stealing in from the left-hand side and lofting a lovely chip over the stranded ‘keeper and into the net.

Gungahlin now face Monaro at the AIS next week, while the Wanderers will take on Belconnen Unitred.

 

Tuggeranong United 1 (Chloe Daisley 73’) def. by Woden-Weston 6 (Anna Vandenbroucke 15’, Sarah Whitfield 22’, Ellen Brown 31’, Tayla Zanotto 44’, Shaquille Chong 65’, Alex McKenzie 75’)

Woden-Weston picked up their second win of the NPLW season, scoring four first half goals to secure a 6-1 victory over Tuggeranong United on Sunday.

They got off to a strong start when Anna Vandenbroucke was played in behind the Tuggeranong defence and she lobbed the keeper with a lovely first-time effort to put the Wanderers in front. Just over six minutes later Sarah Whitfield thumped home a header and 31 minutes in Ellen Brown’s rushed cross floated over everyone and nestled in the far corner to suddenly have Woden-Weston leading by three goals.

Tayla Zanotto smacked home a bouncing ball just before the break to extend the lead out to four goals and leave Mark Boyd’s side well in control after 45 minutes. Their fifth came from a sweeping counter as Sofie Christopherson was released down the right and her cross found Shaquille Chong to round the keeper and fire home. Tuggeranong got one back though as Chloe Daisley raced onto a through ball and dinked a tidy finish past the keeper, but any wild hopes of a comeback were erased when Alex McKenzie broke away and slotted Woden’s 6^th goal as the match entered the final 15 minutes.

Woden-Weston will now take on Canberra Olympic in the Women’s Federation Cup tomorrow night, while Tuggeranong face a challenge hosting Canberra FC next weekend.

 

Rescheduled Match |

In their rescheduled round two match, Monaro picked up their first win of the season with a 3-2 triumph at Riverside Stadium on Saturday afternoon against the Wagga City Wanderers.