PlayStation 4® National Premier Leagues
Capital Football – Round 14 Preview

By John Gibson

Saturday 18th July 2015
Belconnen United v FFA Centre of Excellence
(McKellar Park, 17:30)
Second place takes on third in the first game of the PS4 National Premier League: Capital Football on Saturday night as Belconnen United welcomes FFA Centre of Excellent to McKellar Park. After last week’s competition bye, both teams will be entering this game fresh and looking for a win to keep the pressure on the ladder-leading Tigers FC who enjoy a second week off. Belconnen are one point from the top of the table, with FFA COE three points further adrift. FFA COE had a win last start, beating a Canberra Olympic team that may have deserved more reward. The youth team will need to improve if they want another three points against a Belconnen team coming off only their second loss of the season. Last time these two teams met FFA COE were outstanding, taking it to the reigning premiers, only to concede late and settle for a draw. If they can maintain that same speed and aggression for 90 minutes, spectators will be in for some great football.

Sunday 19th July 2015
Gungahlin United v Monaro Panthers
(Gungahlin Enclosed, 15:00)
Gungahlin United play host to Monaro Panthers in the first Sunday match for the round at Gungahlin Enclosed. Gungahlin have hit form midseason, taking ten points from a possible twelve in their last four league matches, as well as winning their way into the Westfield FFA Cup Round of 32. They are looking to continue that run, as they are still a point outside the top four, with Canberra FC having two games in hand. The Panthers won their second game of the season last start and will be buoyed at the prospect of putting some wins together and moving up the ladder. A full team effort will be needed, with Shane Murray in particular stepping up for the Gunners in recent weeks, causing mischief for opposition midfielders allowing the likes of Daniel Barac, Stephen Domenici and Dustin Wells to really shine. Overall, it’s hard to see Gungahlin’s winning ways ending this weekend.

Tuggeranong United v Canberra FC
(Kambah 2-1, 15:00)
Tuggeranong United host Canberra FC at Kambah 2 on Sunday, with FC playing its first match after their return home from a successful European tour in Croatia. Tuggeranong had another loss last week in a bizarre fixture that saw them give up another early lead, when defender Dominic Szrakity was red carded for handling on the line. Eventually going on to lose 2-1, Tuggeranong also lost Coach Steve Forshaw after being dismissed by the referee after a disagreement with an opposition player. Canberra FC will be looking to overcome any jetlag as they prepare to catch up on postponed fixtures from their time abroad. The game against Tuggeranong will be used to shake the cobwebs and start their late assault on the title. FC are only five points from the top of the ladder with two games in hand and will see this match as a must have three points to start their push. 

Canberra Olympic v Woden-Weston FC 
(O’Connor Enclosed, 15:00)
Canberra Olympic play host to Woden-Weston FC in the last game of the round, with both teams looking to improve from their last performance. Olympic were successful in winning against FFA Coe, but by all reports, were lucky to take home the points. Woden Weston had another poor performance against a far better Gungahlin FC. In their last three defeats, Woden-Weston FC have conceded 15 goals and need their defence to improve to give them any shot at taking points in this fixture. Last time the two teams played was on a cold Friday night. Olympic came out much faster than their opposition, scoring three goals within thirty minutes and essentially putting the game to bed. If Woden-Weston FC are to reverse the result, a better start is essential. Olympic are still three points outside the top four and will be eyeing the three points as essential if they want to play finals football at the end of the season. 

TABLE

*Tigers FC deducted three points 

LEADING SCORERS 
14 Alex OLORIEGBE (Tigers FC)
10 Thomas JAMES (Canberra FC), Philippe BERNABO-MADRID (Canberra Olympic)
9 Nicholas PANETTA (FFA COE)
8 Julian BORGNA (Tigers FC)
6 Jason UGRINIC (Belconnen United), Robbie CATTANACH (Canberra Olympic), Stephen DOMENICI (Gungahlin United)
5 Aisosa IHEGIE (Belconnen United), Mark SHIELDS (Monaro Panthers), Zac MUNSTER (Tuggeranong United), Nikolas POPOVICH (Woden-Weston FC)
4 Goran MUKEVSKI (Belconnen United), Robbie DEELEY, Domenic GIAMPAOLO (Canberra FC), Charlie DEVEREUX, Cameron JOICE (FFA COE), Goran JOSIFOVSKI, Lucas MONTANA (Tigers FC)
3 Thomas MILICEVIC (Canberra FC), Jackson BANDIERA (FFA COE), Jack GREEN, Shane MURRAY, Dustin WELLS (Gungahlin United), Michael MENSAH (Monaro Panthers), Jeremias IBARRA (Tigers FC), Tim ANDERSON, Pepe VARGA (Woden-Weston FC), Own GOALS
2 Danai GAPARE, Sam SMITH (Belconnen United), Aidan BRUNSKILL, James FIELD, Niko KRESIC (Canberra FC), Josh CALABRIA, Tom MCLACHLAN, Callum SMITH (Canberra Olympic), Kosta PETRATOS, Malcolm WARD (FFA COE), Daniel BARAC (Gungahlin United), Sam SHADBOLT (Tuggeranong United)
1 Jack BLACKLEY, David KEMP, Cameron REINHART, Jordan TSEKENIS, Matt VALERI (Belconnen United), Daniel BENNETT, Ian GRAHAM, Marko VRKIC, Muad ZWED (Canberra FC), Nick BOBOLAS, Tim BOBOLAS (Canberra Olympic), Daniel ARZANI, Henry DAVIES, Jamie DIMITROFF, Aaron REARDON (FFA COE), Josh GASPARI, Michael JOHN, Jeremy HABTEMARIAM, Danny KRAJACIC, Nathan TIDMARSH (Gungahlin United), Tyson COTTAM, Anthony GIORGI, Daniel HEARLE, Daniel LINSTEAD, Matt MENSER, Chris RUIZ (Monaro Panthers), Jose DEFILIPPI, Hussain FUREJE, Nic HARIDEMOS (Tigers FC), Eddie COGGAN, Harry PETTIT, Ethan MUNSTER (Tuggeranong United), John GIBSON, Sam MCDONALD, Andrew SLAVICH (Woden-Weston FC)