Belconnen United FC 3 (Bomford 21’, Thornton 58’, 90+1’) beat Gungahlin United FC 2 (Heyman 9’, 86’)

The game of the day went down to the wire on Saturday, with the Blue Devils scoring the game winner in injury time. With 10 games to play, Gungahlin is now 13 points away from the top 2 on the ladder.

Two players were in everyone’s conversation around the field before the game: 2021 Westfield W-League Julie Dolan trophy winner Michelle Heyman was in the starting line-up for the first time with her number 32 for Gungahlin, and Tiana Jaber, also a Westfield W-League player with the Jets, was on the bench for Belconnen United, freshly recruited from West Canberra. On Hawker’s synthetic, both teams started the game with their foot on the pedal, and although the Blue Devils had most of the possession, the first goal was scored by the Gunners. Elke Aitolu intercepted a pass 30 meters away from Belconnen’s goals, quickly passed it to Ella-Rose Brown who found Heyman with her first touch. Canberra United’s most prolific goal scorer controlled the ball in the box, and from the outside of her right foot, buried it in the bottom corner. Karen Clarke, replacing Cristina Esposito between the sticks for the second time this season, did not stand a chance. Beaten at their own game, the Blue Devils spent the next few minutes low in their own half, abandoning the ball to the Gunners. Michael Zakoski’s squad slowly built their confidence back up and was starting to bring the danger towards Tonini when they received a gift. A miscommunication in Gungahlin’s defence saw Keira Bobbin offering the ball and a 1v1 to Olivia Bomford, who easily put the ball past Tonini. The rest of the half remained scoreless, both teams showcasing their solidity defensively.

The second half started with the same intensity. Gungahlin tried to build attacks by the midfield, while Belconnen resorted to a more direct football. The entrance of Tiana Jaber on the left flank was an added bonus for the Blue Devils, defensively and offensively. Within 10 minutes, Tonini had to make a couple of saves, but could not do anything when Michaela Thornton, following a cross by Leah Carneggie, pounced between the keeper and her defence to put the ball in the back of the net. Belconnen intended to manage their advantage until full time but would finally concede at the 85^th minute. Just like so many times in Westfield W-League this season, this was the moment Heyman chose to showcase all her talent. She pulled off a text-book control and powerful left strike to bury the ball in the top left corner of Clarke’s net. The Gunners celebrated, thinking they finally had gotten a point against a team in the top 3 this season, but in injury time, Thornton, again, changed the narrative. 35 meters away from goals, she inherited a ball on her left foot and did not hesitate to take a chance. Her shot dipped perfectly under Tonini’s crossbar, offering her team the 3 points with only seconds left to play.

Belconnen stay in second place after the clash, tied with Canberra Croatia, before travelling to Deakin on Saturday for what could be the game of the season. Gungahlin, unable to get 2 positive results in a row since game 3, will host the Academy on Sunday.

Canberra Olympic FC 0 def. By Canberra Croatia FC 1 (Palombi 45’)

The unkind weather moved this clash to Melrose, where the teams were facing each other on the synthetic just after midday on Sunday. Canberra Croatia kept their seat atop the table thanks to the answer to any of their question this season, Brittany Palombi.

The best way to celebrate Alice Churchill’s 200^th game under the red and white checkered shirt was to get all 3 points, and that’s just what her squad did, not without fighting hard for it. Canberra Croatia started the game on the front foot, with Olivia Fogarty losing a 1v1 duel to Aurelia Haynes after just 80 seconds played. Olympic used their pace upfront and quality in the middle of the park to try and answer, but the best opportunities were for the Deakin side during the first half. After a couple more alerts in Haynes’ area, Canberra Croatia finally broke the deadlock seconds before the half time whistle, thanks to none other than Birttany Palombi. Launched on the right wing by Jenny Bissett, Grace Gill took the time to look in the box and offer a perfect ball to her teammate, who just had to push the ball in the empty net for her 15^th goal of the season.

Ash Sykes tried to be the solution for Canberra Olympic again, but her duel with Rhiannon Fensom did not always end up to her advantage, Fensom usually doing just what is needed to deny Sykes clear chances at goal. The second half dropped in intensity, with both defences the star of the show. The anticipation, tackles and well-timed interventions either side of the pitch were a real showcase of composure and talent from both back 4. The visitors also used all their experience and stop Olympic’s attacks in their own half, pressing high and preventing as much as possible long balls towards Sykes. In the end, neither teams would add to the score line despite subbing in fresh blood upfront.

Canberra Croatia was content with a short win, and remain in first place before the clash, on Saturday in Deakin, versus Belconnen United. That second defeat in a row drops Canberra Olympic to the 5^th spot, 2 points behind 3^rd place Canberra United Academy, before hosting Wagga City this weekend.

 

Tuggeranong United FC 1 (Magee 76’) drew with Canberra United Academy FC 1(Grove 81’)

It took 11 rounds for Tuggeranong United to finally got their first point of the season this weekend, and they were minutes away from getting all 3 points.

Against an Academy team who likes to have the ball and build up from the back, the Tuggies decided to press high and densely. They frustrated their visitors of the day, preventing them from stringing 4 consecutive passes for most of the game. Canberra United were able to be dangerous by playing some more direct football, but rarely worried Sophie Rolfe between the sticks. The goal was obviously to concede few or none for Paulo Romero and his team, and they showed the same energy and determination that we have witnessed from the white and green stripes all season. Once again, Ashley Condon showed the extent of talent, leading and repositioning her team from the centre back position. Besides a couple of shots from distance and a couple of scrambles on set pieces, not a lot happened offensively in the first half.

The second half saw a bit more space being created as the time went on and both teams tried to get a result. The Academy used the width of Melrose Synthetic to put Tuggeranong off balance, but rarely were able to then make the right decision with the last pass. The home team kept working hard defensively and resorted to more direct football offensively. Their efforts were finally rewarded with 15 minutes left to play. Just as the Academy modified their backline, Sophia Bui delivered a fantastic through ball behind the defence to find Maddie Magee. The striker faced Chloe Lincoln alone, dribbled around the keeper and tapped the ball in the empty net. Tuggeranong were ahead for the first time in 2021. Vicki Linton and her troops went straight into attacking mode to try and save a point from their travel, and after a couple of unsuccessful set pieces, they managed to equalize thanks to their number 10, Sasha Grove. Grove inherited a ball 25 meters from the goal and did not hesitate to take her chance. The ball dipped under the crossbar and over Rolfe, undoubtedly bothered by the sun on that instance. Canberra United kept pushing to try and get all 3 points, but the score remained unchanged, Tuggeranong finally getting a point in the competition.

Very positive result for Romero and his team, before hosting West Canberra in the South Canberran derby this weekend. The Academy will want to bounce back from 3 games without a win when they travel to Gungahlin Enclosed Oval, where Vicki Linton will be reunited with her striker this summer, Michelle Heyman.

 

Wagga City Wanderers 0 def by West Canberra Wanderers FC 1(O’Callaghan (p) 65’)

A different season start for West Canberra, now officially without Tiana Jaber and Emma Stanbury in their rank. Visiting the Wanderers from the Riverina, West Canberra grabbed a second straight 1-0 win.

Gissing Oval did not look its best after the rainy week, and the quality of the football offered by the 22 actors suffered from it. Both teams came in the contest with attacking intent, and the first warning was on Janet King’s goal, lucky to see the ball landing in her hand following a scramble in her box. Alex McKenzie’s answer seconds later was off target, but the game had started on a good rhythm. The bad news started early for Wagga City, who saw Ava Tuksar adding her name to the long list injured players already on Sam Gray’s list at the 12^th minute. 15 minutes later, it’s King’s crossbar that denied the opener for the home team. West Canberra managed to come out of their half by surges, and on one them, earned a corner kick. It was dealt with by the defence, but only as far as Melinda O’Callaghan, who, trying to put the ball back in the box, was happy to see it dipping behind Sam Emms and under the crossbar, offering the lead to her team. Wagga decided to push even higher to try and equalize before half time, but for every opportunity, a foot, a head, or the gloves of a West Canberra player was on the way. The visitors focused on defending well and trying to exploit any space in transition.

Back from the locker room, the scenes were not too dissimilar. For long period of times, West Canberra had control of the ball, but as soon as it was in Wagga’s feet, Sarah Whitfield’s teammates were very quick to come back in shape and set up a dense defence, too hard to break through for the home team. Sam Emms, as usual, was to thank for the score not being larger than a goal to null at full time. Her team gave everything they had to try and get an equalizer, but were never really able to endanger their opponents, whose experience really showed in the second half. West Canberra would even feel like they should have scored more than once, with the amount of chances they wasted or Emms saved in the last 15 minutes.

This win brings West Canberra back in the top 4 mix, before a complicated game in Kambah on Sunday. Wagga City will, in the meantime, travel to the capital and face Canberra Olympic on their turf to try and close the gape between them and the top 6.