Article: Jeremy Magan
Photo: Anthony Caffery Photography

Belconnen United 8 (Maguire 31’, 45’, Rasschaert 50’, Forner 59’, Jalocha 63’, Carnegie 72’, Thornton 83’, Zarevac 85’) defeat Wagga City Wanderers 0

The Blue Devils have now scored 33 goals in 5 games (and only conceded one), and now sit comfortably in the top-two alongside Canberra Croatia. The scoreboard does not do the Wanderers' justice. Their strategy coming into the game worked for the best part of the first half. Sam Gray had his midfield working tirelessly. Miranda Walker was Michaela Thornton’s shadow and prevented her from organizing the Blue Devils’ game, Maddie Harris was pressing everywhere on the field and Tia Lyons was disrupting the transition towards the Belconnen offensive lines. Wagga City also had a very high defensive line, trapping their opponents offside six times in the first half-hour. At the half-hour mark, Alexia Forner finally found space to turn around in the middle of the field and delivered a beautiful through ball for Jasmine Maguire, who shot a powerful left foot in the opposite side net to open the score for the home team. Maguire was found in space one more time, thanks to a little flick from Catherine Brown, and scored an almost identical goal just before half time.

The intensity shown in the first 45 minutes by the visitors unfortunately slowly disappeared, as the “road rollers” Belconnen kept creating opportunities. Five minutes into the second half, Samantha Price delivered a gem of a through ball for Jessie Rasschaert, who dribbled past keeper Samantha Emms before tapping the ball in. Alexia Forner scored her sixth goal of the season 10 minutes later, her free-kick cleaning the top left corner cobwebs. Nicole Jalocha joined her teammate at the top of the goalscoring ladder shortly after, as Rasschaert found her in the box. Forner delivered a second assist at the 72^nd minute, finding Leah Carnegie behind the defence, before the substitute found the bottom corner. Thornton added the seventh goal of the day from a corner the Wanderers could not clear, while Zarevac scored her second goal in as many NPLW matches, intercepting the ball in the visitors’ defence before leaving Emms no chance from close range.

Canberra Olympic 6 (Sykes 15’, 74’, Dawson 30’, 67’, Hampson 48’ (og), Jones 52’) defeat Canberra United Academy 2 (S. Grove 12’, Roden 90+2’)

Fifth-seeded Canberra Olympic hosted fourth-placed Canberra United Academy on their own turf at Hawker Football Centre. Olympic came from behind to secure a huge victory, which sees them sit two points ahead of CUA with a game in hand. Scott O’Donell’s team was playing without its star striker, Hayley Taylor-Young, but could count on the return of Anna Hunt, back from her head injury against Woden Weston. The striker needed just over 10 minutes to show her worth, assisting Sasha Grove, who skilfully beat Angelica Pahina from the edge of the box. The celebrations were cut short by Olympic’s favourite twins. Three minutes after Grove’s goal, Nicole Begg found Ashleigh Sykes in the box, who chipped the ball over Isobel Davy to equalize. At the half-hour mark, Alexandra Cook’s long ball behind the defence was perfectly timed for Sykes, who crossed the ball to Lily Dawson who just had to tap it in the empty net. Canberra United would create a couple more chances in the first half but was unable to beat Angelica Pahina.

The second half started the worst way possible for the Academy. Three minutes in, Nicole Begg in the box selflessly tried to find Sienna Farrar at the far post, who forced Tayla Hampson to put the ball in her own net. Eleanor Jones would score Olympic's fourth goal minutes later, following an inspired assist by Emma Guo, before Nicole Begg delivered her third and fourth assist of the game in the 67^th and 72^nd minute. The first was a cross for Lily Dawson, and the second, a great double 1-2 played with Sykes, who scored her fifth goal of the season. Meg Roden was able to score the Academy’s second goal in injury time, a shot from outside the box landing under the crossbar. The result leaves Canberra United Academy's top-four hopes on a knife-edge as they have a BYE in Round 7.

Tuggeranong United 0 draw with Woden Weston 0

The Valley Derby ended with the first goalless draw of the season in NPLW, a result that pleases neither teams on the ladder. In a game they needed to win in order to hope and fight for a top-four spot, Sam Boyd’s team had the best chances to score in the first half. In the 7th minute, a mad scramble in the box ensued as Tuggeranong failed to clear a corner, but Woden Weston could not find a finish. Woden Weston was handed a chance from the penalty spot, as a throw-in hit Stephanie Coates’ arm in the box. Anna Vandenbroucke’s penalty, unfortunately, lacked precision and Isabella Sanzari, was quick to dive and stop the ball. Minutes later, a great through-ball from new recruit Emma Stanbury provided Tuggeranong United with their best chance in the opening half, but the striker's shot was well-saved by Cristina Esposito. The rest of the first half was a disputed battle in the midfield, and both coaches will regret their sides missed opportunities in the box.

The second half was a similar contest, with Woden Weston getting the best opportunities early on, but always finding Sanzari or a Tuggies foot in the way. Woden Weston's Sarah Whitfield had an opportunity to open the scoring in the 60th minute, as she rode the challenge from Rhiannon Daisleym before unleashing a strong left-foot strike that forced Sanzari into a save. United's best opportunity fell to Stanbury in the 73rd minute, who found herself facing Esposito one-on-one but the Westfield W-League midfielder's shot was hit straight into Esposito’s hands. Woden Weston kept pushing and tried to take advantage of a confusion in the Tuggies’ box in the last five minutes as Sanzari spilled a free-kick, but Woden could not find the back of the net.

Monaro Panthers 0 defeated by Canberra Croatia 10 (Gill 5’, 50’, Palombi 12’, 23’, 37’, Field 15’, 54’, 74’, Chao 32’, Agnew 85’)

Washed out on Saturday, Monaro ended up hosting Canberra Croatia on their turf at Deakin Stadium on Tuesday night. Nik Brozinic’s team dominated their way up to the top of the ladder, winning their fifth straight game since the start of the season. Monaro Panthers unfortunately stays at the bottom of the table with one point. The goal festival started early for Canberra Croatia, whose experience and skill was simply too much for a Panthers side lining up without some of their most important players (Hardwicke injured, Compton suspended). Grace Gill opened the score within the opening five minutes, putting the ball in the bottom corner after an assist by Grace Field. The other threat upfront for the Deakin side, Brittany Palombi, scored the first of her three goals seven minutes later, putting a powerful left-foot shot out of reach for Josipovic. Field scored the third goal at the 15 minutes mark, served ideally at the penalty spot. Palombi scored her second goal of the night eight minutes later, lucky to see the ball not cleared by the Queanbeyan defence. She positioned herself on the favourite left foot and glanced the ball past Josipovic. Sharon Chao found the net for the 6^th time this season, following up on a Palombi shot stopped by the Monaro keeper. She was joined at the top of the goal-scoring ladder by her teammate Palombi five minutes later. The lefty completed her hat trick on a set play routine, a corner passed outside the box and a shot from 25 meters out ending in the bottom corner, the last goal of the first half.

The second half started a bit better for the Monaro Panthers, showing more aggressivity and intensity, but Gill put her name on the scoresheet for the second time, this time via a free kick in the 50th minute. Minutes later, Field, who was served in the box by the impressive Krista Hagen, scored the 8^th goal for Canberra Croatia. She completed her own hat trick 20 minutes later with a beautiful left shot from outside the box. The last game of the night happened 5 minutes before the end of the game after a great run from Lara Agnew. The young full-back ran from her half and beat Josipovic from close range to bring the goal tally to double digits.