Monaro Panthers 1 (Kaitlyn Joy 84’) drew. Gungahlin United 1 (Jade Brown 81’)

Gungahlin United left the finals door open for Woden-Weston as Kaitlyn Joy’s stunning late free kick helped Monaro to a share of the points at Riverside.

In an enthralling match the two teams remained locked up through the first half and it wasn’t until the game entered it’s final ten minutes that it sprang properly into life when Gungahlin took the lead.

A harmless ball was played towards the Monaro backline but a miscue meant that Jade Brown was able to run onto it and she stood up her defender before turning inside and curling an effort past the outstretched arm of the Monaro goalkeeper to put Gungahlin ahead.

But the advantage last only minutes, and Monaro were presented with a chance to draw level with a set piece out on the left wing.

Kaitlyn Joy stood over the ball before launching it goal wards, over the head of Kailey Tonini and sneaking under the crossbar to bring Monaro onto level pegging.

The result means Gungahlin need just a point against the Canberra United Academy or Canberra FC to seal their finals berth, while Monaro face Belconnen this weekend and Woden-Weston in the final round.

 

Canberra FC 12 (Bunker 13', Gill 15, 18', 25', 84', Goldstein 38', Ryan 42', Palombi 48', 55', Hagen 59', 72', Jamie Berkeley 66') def. Tuggeranong United 0

Canberra FC effectively locked in second spot with a thumping 12-0 victory over a depleted Tuggeranong United outfit on Sunday afternoon.

Mel Bunker got the scoring underway when her deflected cross slipped inside the near post, and the game exploded into life shortly after as Grace Gill scored a 10-minute hat-trick including a lovely free-kick from out on the left.

Brittany Palombi teed Rachel Goldstein up for an easy finish for the fifth and Vanessa Ryan ghosted in at the back post shortly after to add a sixth goal as the game reach it’s break.

The hosts wasted no time getting back into their groove for the second half as Palombi netted one of her own, and another seven minutes later, before Krista Hagen struck from long range just before the hour mark.

A good run and cutback from Goldstein found Jamie Berkeley unmarked in the area to score Canberra FC’s 10^th goal of the afternoon, before there was time for Hagen to add a second of hers and Gill to grab her fourth before time expired.

Canberra FC now have a week off competitive matches with the bye before a final round meeting away to Gungahlin. Tuggeranong resume against Canberra Olympic on Sunday, in their final match of the 2019 season.

 

Wagga City Wanderers 0 def. by Belconnen United 9 (Brown 2', 3', 61', 66', Day 4', Jalocha 37', Bobbin 53', 88', Forner 56')

Belconnen United claimed a ninth straight Premiership with victory over the Wagga City Wanderers at Gissing Oval on Saturday.

A long ball from Karen Clarke gave Catherine Brown the opportunity to open the scoring which she took, and Michaela Day set Brown up for her second just a minute later before scoring one of her own as Belconnen took a 3-0 lead inside four minutes. Nicole Jalocha capitalised on a collision at the back to score Belconnen’s fourth of the half later on, and they picked up where they left off after the break.

Keira Bobbin got them off the mark for the second 45 as she raced into the box and cut insider her defender before firing home, and Alexia Forner followed close behind with a shot on the turn in the box.

Brown added two goals in a five minute spell to push the lead further out and Bobbin had the final say when she scored with two minutes to play.

Belconnen now take on Monaro next weekend in their penultimate game, while Wagga City will host Woden-Weston at Gissing Oval on Sunday.

 

Canberra Olympic 1 (Finch 70') def. by Woden-Weston 3 (Chong 36', Zanotto 59', Christopherson 69')

By Jakob Gisik

Woden-Weston’s finals aspirations have been reignited thanks to a 3-1 victory over Canberra Olympic at O’Connor Enclosed on Sunday afternoon.

The win sees the Wanderers move to within striking distance of the top four, and they can still play finals if they win out and either Gungahlin United or the Canberra United Academy drop their remaining two games.

The Wanderers took just a 1-0 lead into the break, but second-half goals to Tayla Zanotto and Sofia Christopherson helped the visitors seal a valuable three points.

Woden Captain Cassia Mcglashan believes her side showed a lot of character in what was a do-or-die match.

“There was a bit of fire in the girls today which was good,” Mcglashan said.

“We’ve had an up-and-down season with injuries and everything, but we’re certainly fighting for that fourth spot.

“We’ve got our eyes on that prize at the moment and from there we’ll set our sights higher but that’s our aim for now.”

The Wanderers started the better of the two sides, but struggled to find a way through a resolute Olympic backline.

That was until the 36^th minute, when striker Shaquille Chong curled a one-time effort into the bottom right corner to put her side ahead 1-0.

Mcglashan said Chong’s goal was the boost the Wanderers needed heading into half-time.

“[Chong’s goal] set us in motion a little bit,” Mcglashan said.

“We started pressing a little bit further forward and started playing those early balls to feet which is really important for us and our front line, so that started us off well.”

Zanotto made it 2-0 for the visitors just prior to the hour-mark after she slotted the ball past Olympic Goalkeeper Angelica Pahina, who did well to get a hand to it but couldn’t keep it from dribbling into the bottom corner.

Woden iced the game 10 minutes later when Christopherson burst down the right flank and fired a low shot past Pahina and into the back of the net.

Olympic struck back almost immediately as Emma Finch pounced on a loose ball and tucked it past Cristina Esposito in goals to give her side hope.

The home side pushed hard in the final 10 minutes but couldn’t find a way past Esposito, with the star Goalkeeper playing a pivotal role in keeping Woden’s finals dreams alive.

They’ll now head to Wagga Wagga for the second instalment of the Wanderers derby, while Olympic will be looking for their third win of the season when they host Tuggeranong United on Sunday.