COACHESCOMMENTS
Good a ernoon and welcome back to McKellar Park for Round 15 of the 2024/25 Ninja A-League. We extend our welcome to the players, officials, and supporters of our opponents today, the Central Coast Mariners. Today is an important day for the club as we celebrate the club with our Forever Green – Heritage Round’. This is massive for us, as we celebrate the history of the club, where we are now and where the club will go in the future. We are a proper community club, and we want as many people as possible to come out and cheer us on. In terms of the match, Mariners are a strong side and will certainly provide a challenge. Our run of form recently has been great, unbeaten in the last three and only the one loss in the last seven. Let’s hope for another three points today in our push for finals. A special congratula ons to Michelle Heyman for being named in the Ma ldas squad, as well as Ruby Nathan and Liz Anton for being named in the NZ Football Ferns team.
Antoni Jagarinec, Head Coach
CLUB HONOURS BOARD
PREMIERS (3) 2011/12, 2013/14, 2016/17
CHAMPIONS (2) 2011/12, 2014
SEENINGREEN:ELLYSEPERRY
Perhaps best known for her Cricket career, Ellyse Perry was once a bonafide football star plying her trade for Canberra United. She began playing the club at the start of the 2009 W-League season and went on to become the jointrecipient of the Young Player of the Year award. She also won three Canberra United awards for the season: the Players', Supporters' and overall Club Player of the Year. Perry was selected for the Matildas squad for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup. In the group game against Norway, she came on as a substitute, making her the first Australian to appear in both the ICC and FIFA World Cups. She was in the starting line-up for the quarter-final against Sweden, scoring Australia's only goal in the 3–1 loss that eliminated the team.
PLAYERPROFILE
Date of Birth: 03/11/1990
Place of Birth: Wahroonga, Sydney, NSW
Position: Defender
Clubs: NSW Sapphires, Central Coast Mariners, Canberra
United, Sydney FC
International Honours: Australia (18 caps, 3 goals)
Canberra United Apps: 25
Canberra United Goals: 2
VISITINGTODAY:CENTRALCOAST
The Central Coast Mariners were one of the founding clubs of the A-League Women’s back in the 2008/09 season, but a lack of funding saw them exit the competition in 2010. That was a massive disappointment for all connected to the club as, led by the goals of a young Michelle Heyman, they had finished second in the 2009 campaign, losing a narrow semi-final to Brisbane Roar. Back into the fold in the 2023/24 season, the Mariners returned with a point to prove, making it to the finals series after ending their return campaign in a highly creditable fifth place. A penalty shoot-out win over Melbourne Victory teed up a two-legged semi-final with Sydney FC, but the Sky Blues prevailed 2-1 on aggregate. Already with a strong squad, they’ve added Championship winner Taylor Ray to the side in what is a massive addition for the Coasties. Even with some big names departing the club, namely Kyah Simon and Casey Dumont, under the guidance of Emily Husband, the Mariners will possess a dangerous squad capable of anything.
DIDYOUKNOW?
The Mariners two biggest wins are both 6-0 victories over Adelaide United in 2008 and 2009.
Despite not having played for the club since 2009, Michelle Heyman is still top scorer for the side with 11 goals.
A lack of funding saw the team withdraw from the league ahead of the 2010/11 season, and they only returned in the 2023/24 season.
CLUB HONOURS BOARD
PREMIERS (0)
None
CHAMPIONS (0)
None
THERIVALRYIN100WORDS
With the Mariners having not been in ALeague Women’s for over a decade, there wasn’t much of a rivalry between the two clubs. In three games over the first two seasons, it was an even split with a win, a loss and a draw apiece. To their credit, Mariners did the double over us last season in their return to elite football, but Michelle Heyman has held the title of their leading scorer for 15 years, so we have that. They once played a home game in Canberra which is strange, but we totally get why they would want to.
ONETOWATCH TAYLORRAY
Midfielder Taylor Ray signed on with the Coasties ahead of the season, in a stunning coup for Emily Husband’s side. Fresh off winning a third championship with Sydney FC, Ray has amassed 64 appearances with six trophies and is set to make a massive impact in Gosford. She is also a one-time CommBank Matildas representative, having made her senior international debut for Australia against Spain in 2022. The 23-year-old clocked in her most appearances in a Liberty A-League season last campaign, having suffered multiple ACL tears over the years. She is known for being strong on the ball, but is equally adept at winning it back in defensive situations.
MATCHACTION:NEWCASTLEJETS
United travelled to Newcastle to take on the Jets at McDonald Jones Stadium in Round 13 of ther 2024/25 season. What followed was a bruising encounter that ended in a two-all draw. An early subs tu on saw Holly Murray depart with Alex McKenzie stepping onto the field. Going down in the 10th minute, United responded strongly.
Two goals in the space of five minutes via Sofia Christopherson and Michelle Heyman, put United in front. Christopherson was denied a second via a smothering save from Danielle Krzyzaniak. Newcastle started well in the second half, with Cassidy Davis denied by the frame of the goal. Sheridan Gallagher levelled the score with just under 20 minutes to go, and was later given her marching orders a er two yellow cards for a set of dangerous tackles. Bethany Gordon hit the woodwork late in the piece, with Maja Markovksi denied by a great save.
BUSINESSUNITEDSQUAD
Canberra United extend its thanks to our 2024/25 Business United Squad members. To join our club contact: ceo@capitalfootball.com.au
LASTTIMEWEMETHERE
Saturday 23 December 2023
Canberra United 0 Central Coast Mariners 3 (Wurigumula29’, 69’, Trinis 74’) Canberra United suffered Christmas heartbreak as they were handed a 0-3 home defeat by Central Coast Mariners in front of 1,285 spectators at McKellar Park in the National Capital. United Head Coach Njegosh Popovich made three changes to the starting X1 from the Round 8 clash in Melbourne, the enforced absence of goalkeeper Chloe Lincoln due to suspension, handing a first start to Coco Majstorovic in goal, whilst Sarah Clark also made a first start having impressed from the bench against Victory. Ruby Nathan completing the changes. It took something special to break the deadlock, and it was the Mariners that provided it in the 29th minute. Wurigumula collected the ball inside the Canberra final third, cut inside the defender and smashed a stunner that flew high above the outstretched arm of Majstorovic and into the top corner for a sensational goal. United sought to up the tempo by introducing the returning Maria‘Cote’ Rojas and Kiwi Deven Jackson, but it was Mariners who struck again. Wurigumula got to a through ball ahead of her marker, touching it into her own path and raced clear to round Majstorovic and slide home her, and her team’s, second. Mariners’ pace was causing issues to the home defence and Wardlow streaked clear five minutes later to clinically bury the third. In response, Rojas saw a header saved by Langman, but Canberra were unable to force a way back into the contest and the Mariners were deserved winners.
MATCHACTION:PERTHGLORY
Back at home a er travelling to Newcastle, Un ed faced off against long me rivals Perth Glory for a massively important clash in Round 14. Perth came into this clash full of confidence, as they had just beaten the high-flying Brisbane Roar with an injury- me winner. It was a tense first half as neither side could trouble the opposing goal all that much.
Sally James was in great form in goals for United, rarely troubled by Perth turned up the pressure in the second half, shoo ng out of the blocks a er the break. A corner sent in by Emma Robers was ini ally punched away by Casey Dumont, before falling to Liz Anton, with the United centre back poking the ball home for her first goal in green. The visitors began to build and were crea ng plenty of opportuni es of their own, with United handling the pressure well. Perth had a free-kick late in the game, with Sally James rising highest to claim the ball and seal the win for United.
HOWTHEYSTAND:2024/25
FIXTURES&RESULTS
R1: Brisbane Roar (h) W 3-2 (Markovski 15’, 56’, Stanic-Floody 31’)
R2: Wellington Phoenix (a) W 1-0 (Heyman 11’)
R3: Adelaide United (h) L 0-2
R4: Perth Glory (h) D 1-1 (Stanic-Floody 69’)
R5: Central Coast Mariners (a) L 1-2 (Markovski 38’)
R6: Melbourne City (a) L 2-4 (Heyman 12’, 89’)
DEC 21, R7: Melbourne Victory (h) L 0-2
DEC 29, R8: Newcastle Jets (h) D 0-0
JAN 4, R10: Brisbane Roar (a) W 1-2 (Robers 81’ Heyman 88’)
JAN 11, R11: Western United (h) W 2-1 (Mihocic (OG) 21’, Christopherson 50’)
JAN 15, R9: Sydney FC (a) - L 0-2
JAN 18, R12: Western Sydney (h) W 1-0 (Khamis (OG) 45’)
JAN 25, R13: Newcastle Jets (a) D 2-2 (Wilson (OG) 24’, Heyman 29’)
FEB 1, R14: Perth Glory (h) W 1-0 (Anton 56’)
FEB 8, R15: Central Coast Mariners (h)
FEB 15, R16: Adelaide United (a)
MAR 1, R17: Melbourne City (h)
MAR 9, R18: Melbourne Victory (a)
MAR 14, R19: Western United (a)
MAR 23, R20: Sydney FC (h)
MAR 29, R21: Perth Glory (a)
APR 13, R22: Wellington Phoenix (h)
APR 20, R23: Western Sydney Wanderers (a)
GOALSCORERS
5: Michelle HEYMAN
3: Maja MARKOVSKI
2: Mary STANIC-FLOODY
1: Emma ROBERS, Sofia CHRISTOPHERSON, Elizabeth ANTON
ONTHESTAGETODAY
1. Sally JAMES
2. Alex MCKENZIE
3. Elizabeth ANTON
4. Holly MURRAY
5. Madison AYSON
6. Ivana GALIC
7. Jynaya DOS SANTOS
8. Tianah MIRO
9. Ruby NATHAN
CANBERRAUNITED v
CENTRALCOAST
MARINERS
1. Sarah LANGMAN
2. Brianne RILEY
3. Ashley IRWIN
4. Jessika NASH
5. Annabel MARTIN
6. Isabel GOMEZ
7. Jade PENNOCK
8. Bianca GALIC
10. Taylor RAY
11. Annalise RASMUSSEN
10. Mary STANIC-FLOODY
11. Emma ROBERS
12. Hayley TAYLOR-YOUNG
13. Sofia CHRISTOPHERSON
17. Maja MARKOVSKI
18. Coco MAJSTOROVIC
19. Jaya BOWMAN
20. Lillian SKELLY
21. Aideen KEANE
23. Michelle HEYMAN
24. Georgia RITCHIE
25. Darcey MALONE
28. Tegan BERTOLISSIO
32. Bethany GORDON
Head Coach: Antoni JAGARINEC
12. Tiana FULLER
13. Sarah ROWE
17. Teresa MORRISSEY
18. Taren KING
19. Leia PUXTY
20. Chloe CARMICHAEL
21. Brooke NUNN
22. Peta TRIMIS
23. Lily MCMAHON
24. Shadeene EVANS
33. Tess QUILLIGAN
Head Coach: Emily HUSBAND
TODAY’SOFFICIALS
REFEREE: Caitlin WILLIAMS
ASSISTANT REFEREES: Delfina SHAKESPEAR, Vicky CLARKE
FOURTH OFFICIAL: Charlotte FLYNN