NPLW Round 8 Preview
Monaro Panthers v Belconnen United | Saturday, 25th May – 5pm @ Riverside Stadium
Monaro will face a tough task as they look for their second win of the season this weekend, taking on the undefeated Belconnen United at Riverside Stadium. The Panthers were beaten 6-1 by Gungahlin last weekend at the AIS and remain in sixth spot with Wagga City and Tuggeranong also on three points. There has been some talk of a star performer returning to the Monaro lineup this weekend, and they will be also be buoyed by the return of Head Coach Ian Worthington following time overseas. They are up against a side averaging over eight goals a game and yet to concede in the league though, so the going is likely to be tough for the Panthers at Riverside.
Belconnen came out of last weekend’s big win against Wagga City battered and bruised, likely losing Sam Price for the season and with Bronte Pyke potentially out for a few weeks as well. Antoni Jagarinec has depth to choose from but will likely not have planned on using it so early in the season and will need to make changes here. Keira Bobbin impressed as she started in place of Maddy Whittall to net five goals and will be the likely option to start up top again this weekend. If United can win this then they will be five points clear with one round to play and can sit back as Gungahlin and the Academy look to take points off each other on Sunday.
Gungahlin United v Canberra United Academy | Sunday, 26th May – 2pm @ Gungahlin Enclosed
The Canberra United Academy and Gungahlin United will both be looking to continue recent undefeated runs when they meet at GEO on Sunday afternoon. The Academy come into this game fresh off the bye, but must approach it properly with a big clash against Belconnen looming next weekend to finish off their first half of their season. They impressed in their last outing in the draw against Canberra FC and will need to be at their best again. Emily Jensen will and Stefi Lejins will find themselves up against the inform Ella-Rose Brown and will need to be wary of the threat she poses.
Gungahlin roll into this game off the back of a big 6-1 win against the Monaro Panthers last weekend and will want a win here ahead of a big meeting with Canberra FC next weekend. Brown impressed with her hat-trick last week and will again be a threat, while the backline was solid and only undone by a stunning long-range effort from Alicia Meuronen. They will have a tough time this week against the likes of Hayley Taylor-Young and Sasha Grove though, and will need to remain organized to keep them at bay.
Tuggeranong United v Canberra Olympic | Sunday, 26th May – 3pm @ Greenway Enclosed
Canberra Olympic continue the search for their first win in the league when they take on Tuggeranong United. Olympic had a weekend off last week with their game against Woden-Weston to be rescheduled, after narrowly falling to them in the Federation Cup the week prior. So they will be refreshed and ready to go here, and should be largely at full strength. This weekend they take on a side who they dispatched convincingly in the cup quarter-finals, and Andrew Woodman will be hoping to see his side approach this game with the same vigour that they did at Hawker. That night they were on the scoresheet in the very early minutes, and a fast start here would be valuable for securing three points.
Tuggeranong are looking to rebound from defeat to Canberra FC last weekend and take on the side below them on the table. United were without Steph Coates last weekend in the loss and it remains to be seen if she will return this weekend but would be a boost if she could. They have struggled to break down defence’s the last few weeks, but with Olympic struggling to keep the opposition out at times as well they may have their chance here. This is also a shot to get a little payback for the Federation Cup result a few weeks back and a chance to move out of the cluster of teams they find themselves in now. A win here would be an important with the bye next weekend ending the first half of the season for Tuggeranong.
Woden-Weston v Wagga City Wanderers | Sunday, 26th May – 3pm @ Melrose Synthetic
Woden-Weston will be chasing a win this weekend, seeking to keep in touch with the top four after not playing last weekend. The overturning of their result against Canberra FC has them sitting in fifth with nine points, just four back from fourth spot with a game in hand. They booked a spot in the Federation Cup Final with a win over Canberra Olympic recently and will be keen to carry that form over into this matchup. Their most recent league outing was a 6-1 win over Tuggeranong United so they are bringing a suite of strong form into this and will back themselves to find a result against the struggling Wagga City.
Wagga City arrive in Canberra for the first ‘Wanderers derby’ of the NPLW season and after picking up a win in round one have lost five straight matches to be sitting in seventh on the table. Last Saturday’s dismantling at the hand of Belconnen would not have been how they wanted to approach this game, but they can close the gap to Woden-Weston to just three points with a win here. Another winnable clash with Canberra Olympic brings a close to the season’s first half next weekend before they face Tuggeranong United once again. The Wanderers will be keen to build momentum, beginning here, as they head into the second half of the campaign.
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