Article: Jeremy Magan
Photo: Anthony Caffery Photography

Canberra Croatia 3 (Gill 13’, 55’, Palombi 65’) defeated Canberra United Academy 1 (Canavan 49’)

Canberra Croatia captain Grace Gill stamped her authority all over the NPLW Match of the Round, as her two goals and an assist ensured her team’s fourth win in as many games. There was no revenge in the rematch of last season’s Elimination Finals, as Canberra Croatia defeated Canberra United Academy at Deakin Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The home side stamped its authority on the game in the 13th minute, as Brittany Palombi found Gill in the box. The Canberra Croatia stalwart smartly turned on her left foot and launched a powerful kick in the top left corner, leaving Isobel Davy helpless. A minute later, Palombi went for the run down the left-wing and tried to score from outside the box but the ball flew over the crossbar. The rest of the first half was rather cagey, as both teams focused on not giving their opposition an inch of space. Palombi had a couple more shots that were well dealt with by Davy, while CUA’s most dangerous moment came five minutes before half time. Hayley Taylor-Young dribbled past Rhiannon Fensom and tried to score in a narrow-angle, but her shot was stopped by goalkeeper Ally Hinson.

CUA came back with more intensity in the second half, pressing higher and relentlessly. Within five minutes of the restart, Daisy Canavan, under no pressure in the middle of the park, took her chance from 35 meters away. The powerful shot landed under the crossbar and out of Hinson’s reach. Grace Gill cut the visitors’ celebrations short moments later. Launched by Grace Field, she saw Davy a few meters off her goal line and decided to shoot from 20 meters out. The ball dipped just under the crossbar, to give Canberra Croatia the lead once again. The goal seemed to take the wind out of Academy's sails, as Gill came close to her hat-trick five minutes later but her free-kick was thwarted by the crossbar. The game would be sealed not long after, when Gill, again, found herself with the ball in the box. She bought enough time for Palombi to start her run and perfectly backheeled the ball for her fellow striker. Palombi did not hesitate and shot a powerful left shot that beat Davy. The result means that Nik Brozinic’s side is still the only team that hasn't dropped a point this season, while Scott O’Donell’s side keeps their fourth spot, a point ahead of Canberra Olympic before the two teams meet next Sunday in O’Connor.

Wagga City Wanderers 5 (Lockley-Hinschen 3’, 5’, Castle 44’, 58’, Harris 62’) defeated Monaro Panthers 1 (Hardwicke 26’)

The Wanderers recorded their first points of the season and did it with panache. They started the game full throttle, with Piper Lockley-Hinschen scoring two goals within the first five minutes. The first a cross-shot that finished in the opposite side net, and the second a nice left foot floating ball from outside the box that landed out of reach for Jelena Josipovic. Sam Gray’s players did not stop pushing, but their shots would either be stopped by Josipovic or find the crossbar. The Panthers in the meantime would show their frustration after a catastrophic start, collecting three yellow cards in the first 15 minutes. Monaro’s response would come, once again, from their captain and best player, Raechel Hardwicke. The former Wanderer scored one of the goals of the season, not hesitating to shoot a free-kick from close to halfway, which masterfully landed just under the crossbar. Her team could not gain much momentum from it, Wagga City still being the more dangerous team. They found the back of the nets again after Lockley-Hinschen was brought down in the box just before half-time. The powerful spot-kick from Megan Castle left Josipovic no chance.

The second half started with more of the same, the Panthers goalkeeper preventing the Wanderers to score on several occasions. She could do nothing to stop the Wanderers' 58th-minute striker, as Tess Vaccari's cross found Megan Castle inches away from the empty goals. Monaro’s afternoon would only get worse, center-back Thembi Compton getting a second yellow card and being sent off at the 60^th minute. On the following corner, Maddie Harris’ header found the net for the fifth and last time for the Wanderers, who took the luxury to miss another penalty five minutes before full time. Wagga City Wanderers are now sixth, four points behind fourth spot, before a tough visit to Belconnen United. Meanwhile, Monaro Panthers take today’s opponents’ spot at the bottom of the table with a worse goal difference than Tuggeranong and Woden Weston, all with one point.

Gungahlin United 3 (Miro 47’, Corbett 61’, Aitolu 84’) defeated Tuggeranong United 1 (Bui 90+1’)

Gungahlin United keep their undefeated run and their place at the top of the ladder, with a home win against Tuggeranong United on a soaked pitch that prevented both teams from playing their best football. With the addition of Westfield W-League player Emma Stanbury and the return of youngster Anne-Marie Symms, Michael Aldred probably had on paper his most competitive line-up of the season in Gungahlin on Sunday. The first half showed exactly that, Gungahlin not being able to play their game as easily as we have seen in the past. Adding to that, the excellent form of Isabella Anzari between the posts ensured no goals were scored in the opening 45 minutes.

The second half started ideally for the home team, with Stella de Marco sliding a gem of a through ball behind the defense for Taniah Miro, who, full of composure, beat Sanzari to finally break the deadlock. The keeper remained on her A-game to resist the Gunners’ siege until an unfortunate deflection helped Rachel Corbett’s header into the back of her net just after the hour mark. From there the Tuggies tried to play higher up the pitch, and Stanbury missed out on her first goal, putting the ball inches away from Tonini’s left post. The home team took advantage of it and played some speedy counter attacks, without consequences for Aldred’s squad. Five minutes before full time, Elke Aitolu, after a 1-2 with Jade Brown, added her name to the scoresheet, after her shot from 25 meters out slipped through Sanzari’s gloves. Tuggeranong reduced the score in injury time thanks to Sophia Bui’s header, a few minutes after she entered the pitch.

Woden Weston Wanderers 0 defeated by Belconnen United FC 7 (Zarevac 5’, Clarke 8’, Thornton 10’, 55’, Jalocha 66’, 81’, Rasschaert 77’)

Belconnen United showed the full array in their arsenal, scoring seven goals for the third time in four games this season. Woden Weston had the worst possible start against the NPLW champions, conceding three goals in the first 10 minutes at Melrose Synthetic. In just the fifth minute, Nina Zarevac was the first to find the back of the net for the Blue Devils. Woden struggled to clear a great through ball from the box before Zarevac received the ball in front of the empty net and tapped it in. Alexia Forner’s corner-kick a couple of minutes later was successfully headed in by Karen Clarke before Michaela Thornton made it 3-0, finishing from close range after a beautiful through ball by Vanessa Ryan. Ahmed Ugool’s players kept pushing despite their comfortable lead, leaving the Wanderers little opportunity to be dangerous for the remainder of the first half.

Back from the locker room, the Wanderers brought the fight to the Blue Devils, preventing them from getting into their box as often as they had in the first half. In the 55th minute, Thornton went into a little solo performance in the midfield, running the ball to the edge of the box before placing a right strike in the side net. Nicole Jalocha scored from the almost exact same angle 10 minutes later. With under 15 minutes left to play, Alexia Forner got her second assist on corner-kick, with Jessie Rasschaert heading the ball in the back of the net this time. The last goal of the day came from another corner kick, that Jalocha tapped into the net after some confusion in the Wanderers’ box. Mark Boyd’s team will be eager to forget about the result as fast as possible and refocus on next week’s game against Tuggeranong, while Belconnen will host the Wagga City Wanderers on Saturday.