THE STORY OF THE SEASON

ROUND 1 NPL: OLYMPIC SPRING OPENING DAY SURPRISE

The new season brought a new experience for many as the spectre of relegation loomed ominously in the background. At this early stage however, there were few signs of teams being haunted by the possibility of demotion to the second tier, that was a fear for another day. What there was in abundance was expectation. Some teams had greater expectations than others if truth be told, although Round 1 wasn’t the time to be revealing those to the competition at large. That meant that the four opening matches of the NPL campaign would be played free from any real constraints but conversely, also shackled by their own potential self-doubt.

One club who may have harboured those doubts was Canberra Olympic, many predicting that the exodus from O’Connor and the youthful squad left behind might be the undoing of this proud Canberra institution. Not that there was anything but positivity emanating from the Olympic camp. But, even with that, the bookmakers would have had the visitors at longodds to produce a season opening victory at the Riverside Stadium where they made the trip on the first Saturday of the season.

The home side, the Monaro Panthers, had begun their one evolution, appearing to be in the opposite direction as they attracted a swathe of new talent to Queanbeyan, most of it experienced and battle-hardened in the NPL arena. Indeed, the starting eleven of the Panthers had more than 500+ games worth of top-flight nous than their opponents, Cattanach fielding several debutants at this level as the two squared off in front of the live BarTV cameras at 5:30pm on an increasingly, unseasonal, cold evening in NSW. What transpired across the next 95 minutes was surprising in the extreme.

Olympic’s bright young things more than matched the Panthers across the first forty-five minutes and could count themselves rather unfortunate as they headed to the changing rooms a goal adrift. Defending stoutly, and using the pace of Aisosa Ihegie and the tireless, energetic running of James Crawford up front, Olympic caused problems for the Panthers but fell behind when some rat-a-tat football saw Ben Basser-Silk rifle home a first time effort into the bottom corner that gave James Christis in goal no chance at all.

Olympic hit back in the second-half when Cale Brown stunned the home crowd with a beautifully executed free-kick from the edge of the penalty area after Josh Calabria had fouled Crawford. Worse was to come for Calabria who needlessly bundled over an Olympic

defender in the final third, picking up a second yellow card, and duly the subsequent red. That left Panthers down to ten and, almost immediately, they fell behind to a goal of sole quality. Ihegie collected a pass and ran at the defence, cutting inside to blast a low drive into the near post. Suddenly, the upset was on. Panthers spurned a glorious chance to equalise when Stephen Domenici was sent clear and lobbed the ‘keeper only to see his effort drop wide.

Olympic sealed the points two minutes into stoppage time when Tyson Livermore scored a remarkable goal, throwing a lazy right foot at a cross and clipping an extraordinary finish over the stranded Evan Alexandrow-Ridley, celebrating with a somersault near the corner flag. If that wasn’t enough there was a fourth three minutes later as Alen James tip-toed around a couple of half-hearted challenges to clatter home from the top of the box. A stunning end to an unbelievable match.

The season had begun at 12:45 on a sunny afternoon at Melrose Synthetic as Gungahlin United made the trip to play the newly renamed West Canberra Wanderers. The Gunners had seen a large exodus of players in the off-season but were swiftly out of the blocks and in front inside eight minutes. Inevitably it was their former marksman, Roy Anderson, who opened the scoring, finding a pocket of space on the edge of the box to thump home into the top corner. If that was quality, the second was nothing if not fortuitous. Retrieving a loose touch in midfield, Michael John played an innocuous looking square ball that caromed off the retreating Shae Thornton and, from fully 30 metres, looped up and agonisingly over the head of Wanderers stopper Callum Cook into the back of the net for a freak own goal.

Wanderers refused to let that deflate them however and when Lachlan Fields reacted fastest to a loose ball inside the area to hook home from six yards just past the both mark, it was game very much back on. Any hopes of a point were squelched ten minutes from the end though when Gunner’ captain Jack Green lost his marker to plant a textbook firm header past Cook for 3-1. Moses Garang’s first ever NPL first grade goal in stoppage time secured the points and a 4-1 away win for Marcial Munoz and his team.

A bout of squally rain and a mild hail shower greeted the Champions, Canberra Croatia as they began their title defence with the always tricky visit to Nijong Oval on the Sunday and a fixture against a Tigers FC team that had been rejuvenated in the summer months with a swathe of new additions. Head Coach Ryan Grogan deployed most of them in an attacking line up that featured Roko Strika, Josh Gulevski and Sam Whithear operating almost as triple number tens behind the line forward in Nik Popovich. At the back Lachlan Griffiths was given the job of marking Daniel Barac as the centre back made his first Tigers FC outing, partnered alongside Nathen Megic. For Croatia, there was a league debut for Luke Pilkington in defence, meaning Nick Bobolas had to be content with a place on the

bench, whilst Matt Waters was back in the NPL line-up for the first time in over a year.

Whether it was the changes in the system, the new faces no quite gelling, or the quality of the opposition, possibly a combination of all three, the Tigers failed to connect as a cohesive unit and their goal-threat was minimal throughout. Surprising, given the quality of the forward options at their disposal, but also a testament to the class of Canberra Croatia and the defending of Ryan Keir and Daniel Colbertaldo in front of the back four. By the break, the away side we’re ahead, Nikos Kalfas scoring the opening goal, cutting infield and firing a shot at goal that skimmed off the top of the wet turf, deceiving goalkeeper Jakob Cole as it bounced over his outstretched arm and nestled into the bottom corner.

Whilst second best for large parts, Tigers were still in the match until three minutes into the second half. A corner, deliciously delivered by Amilio Kista, was met by the forehead of Ryan Keir, his downward header finding the back of the net through a cluster of players. If that wasn’t enough, Croatia sealed the winner with seventeen minutes to play. A corner from the other side was the downfall of Tigers this time, Kista inexplicably afforded time and space outside the area to line up a first-time left foot cracker that flashed past Cole into the net. Another in the glorious catalogue of goals that Kista seems to save for this venue.

The first round of action was completed at Kambah 2, the home of Tuggeranong United, as they fell to a narrow defeat to Belconnen United. A scrappy goal, bundled in from close range by left back Darren Bailey, after Tuggeranong failed to clear a Blue Devils corner, proved to be the difference in the end, but the home side will look back on a raft of missed opportunities. Creating the better openings, Mitch Stevens would have felt his side were worthy of at least a point but were left disappointed by the outcome and left with plenty to ponder ahead of a trip to the champions in Round 2.

WNPL: BLUE DEVILS IN THE GROOVE EARLY

Michael Zakoski’s career as head coach at Belconnen United began in the best possible way with a dominant win against Wagga City Wanderers. The Blue Devils were quick out of the blocks and wasted no time in testing Sammie Emms in the Wanderers goal, but she was beaten early when, after beating away a free-kick by Michaela Thornton, could only watch on as Sarah Johnston followed up to open the score at McKellar.

The visitors were given a lifeline by the referee on the half hour mark, when a penalty was awarded for an unlucky hand ball. Prolific striker Megan Castle kept her composure and carefully placed the ball in the bottom right to equalise, but it appeared to be a minor setback for the Blue Devils. Emms delayed the inevitable a couple of times but four minutes before the break, Talia Backhouse finally was able to put the ball past the Wanderers´ goalkeeper, allowing her team to come to the locker room with a thin advantage.

Belconnen put the game to bed within seven minutes of the start of the second half, Keira Bobbin twice finding the back of the net with powerful shots from close range. Castle had an opportunity to bring her team back in the game, but new Belconnen goalkeeper Cristina Esposito showed her quality, diving low to make a solid block. Shortly after Olivia Bomford scored the sixth goal for the Blue Devils, with a beautiful shot from outside the box who

kept their foot on the accelerator, taking advantage of the visitors’ obvious fatigue to score another couple of goals, by Nicole Jalocha and Backhouse. The result was a little harsh for the Wanderers, who came to McKellar with the best intentions and were in the game for 50 minutes. With a full squad, the Riverina team had the undoubted potential to cause some upsets this year, especially on home soil.

With two new coaches, both former Canberra United players, the duel at Melrose Synthetic was one of benches, with Emma Stanbury and Nicole Begg wearing their manager’s hat for the first time. Anna Vandenbroucke was the first goal scorer of the afternoon, the forward left with the way task of tapping the ball in after Ashleigh Sykes’ powerful strike was only deflected by Janet King.

At the other end, Aurelia Haynes had to remain vigilant a minute before, to interrupt a counter-attack and save a shot from the edge of the box by Sarah Whitfield. The score would remain in favour of Olympic as both teams went back to the locker room. Back for the second half, the Wanderers were quick to level the game. Seven minutes in, Kilkie Leten’s header was deflected by a Blue defender into her own net, out of the reach of Haynes.

At 1-1, both teams fought for opportunities, in a game rather dominated by Olympic. It was clear that both sides changed about half of their starting team during the off-season, and you can expect much better football played by either of these teams later in the season. Yet Nicole Begg’s team would have the last word, thanks to no other than her twin sister Ashleigh Sykes who stole the points in the final minute.

Visiting the 2020 undefeated champion in Round 1 was not the easiest draw for Canberra United Academy, yet they were seconds away from the upset at Deakin. Canberra Croatia lined up without their leader Grace Gill, in Sydney for the Westfield W-League Grand Final, but in safe hands thanks to Jennifer Bisset in the midfield and Olivia Fogarty up front.

Bisset’s name would have been on the scoresheet if it were not for a very inspired Jayla Murphy, between the posts for the Academy. The young goalkeeper, who arrived from Belconnen in the offseason, almost disrupted the whole Deakin game plan by herself. Brittany Palombi, Bisset and Jamie Berkeley trying their luck, without success. Meanwhile, for the Academy, Anna Hunt and Sophia Christopherson had successfully used their pace a couple of times to get the better of the home side’s back line. On a counter-attack just before the half hour mark, Hunt was launched behind Alice Churchill by Meg Roden, the striker took a perfect first touch to find herself facing Ally Hinson, slotting he and giving the Academy the advantage that they would keep until the end of the half.

The second act saw the home team keep pushing, finally rewarded with 17 minutes left to play. Following a good effort by Fogarty, Palombi reached the edge of the box, dribbled past Annie Grove, and launched a powerful left shot that left the hero of the match, Murphy, had no chance to stop. The Academy did not fold though, and less than 10 minutes later, Christopherson used her pace to beat Churchill, who fouled the winger right on the edge of the area. Hunt took her responsibilities from the spot kick and scored her second goal of the game. Eddie Senatore’s girls thought the upset was theirs in game 1, but in the dying

moments of the game, Tayla Hampson, solid until then, misjudged her back pass and offered the ball to Palombi meters away from the goal line. The 2020 Golden Boot did not hesitate and chipped the ball over Murphy to grab her side a deserved point.

The last game of the weekend was a North/South suburb duel, that the Gunners took away against a Tuggeranong team plagued with injuries. Without their striker Madeleine Magee or their captain, Stephanie Coates, the Tuggies, still put up a good fight in the first-half. They played compact and defended low, going for fast breakaways to get near Kailey Tonini’s area. On the other end of the pitch, Diego Iglesias’ players did not waste any time. Ten minutes into the game, Jade Brown’s powerful strike finished in the top right corner and left Sophie Rolfe no chance. Minutes after Steffi Lejins had hit the post, Rachael Corbett decided to clean the other cobwebs above Rolfe, with a shot from the edge of the box ending in the top left corner.

The second-half started with more of the same domination from the home team. The best opportunity for Tuggeranong came at the hour mark. A corner allowed to bounce in the middle of the box was volleyed in at the far post, from close range by Zoe Williams, and Tonini was lucky to see the ball going straight in her arms. The Gunners took the warning seriously and three minutes later Jade Brown would score her second goal of the afternoon, pushing the ball into the empty net after she had skilfully dribbled around Rolfe. The home side kept pushing, and following a corner kick, the captain Maddie Perceval added her name on the scoresheet with 15 minutes left to play in the game.

ROUND 2 NPL: WANDERERS ADD TO PANTHERS’ WOES

Canberra Olympic continued their evolution with a second against the odds victory in a fortnight as the young charges from O’Connor powered past Belconnen United in a superb 3-0 success at their home venue. The score was harsh on the Blue Devils who, arguably, had the better chances before falling behind with Olympic goalkeeper James Christis standing strong to deny Luca Florez and then making a smart double save to block Leon Michl’s first effort and his follow up. Michl was an early substitute for young Cassidy Tanddo who was forced off the pitch with an ankle injury midway through the first-half. It was a scrappy and disjointed opening forty-five minutes with neither side able to take a form grip on proceedings and with Christis the busier of the respective shot-stoppers.

Both sides were forced into a change from their opening day wins, Tanddo coming into the starting eleven for Taylor Beaton as Fabian Miceli was without five first choice players, whilst Robbie Cattanach was forced into a midfield change, Alen James being unavailable and replaced by Bailey Sorensen. Otherwise, the teams were as they were, and a tight, cagey contest developed. It appeared as if a piece of magic or a mistake would be required to break the deadlock and it was the latter that turned the course of the direction of the points as Olympic hit the lead in the 62nd minute. The usually reliable Jordan Thurtell shanked a clearance straight to James Crawford on the edge of the area giving the striker a glorious chance. He still had work to do but shifted the ball into his right foot and bent a curler into the top corner.

That was Crawford’s first ever NPL goal, but he didn’t have to wait long to get a second, twenty-two minutes to be precise, as he nodded into an empty net from the penalty spot after substitute Elie Darwich had strolled through the Belconnen defence and dinked a terrific cutback over Thurtell, giving Crawford the simplest of tasks. The goals were the least that Crawford’s endeavours deserved, his tireless running, energetic pressing and nononsense style impressing onlookers in the first two weeks of the campaign. His partnership with Aisosa Ihegie was in its formative stages but was already showing signs of a blossoming relationship that was to cause many problems for NPL defences throughout 2021.

Ihegie was to have his say on proceedings late on. The forward had been on the periphery for most of the match, flitting in and out and putting in the kind of display that has exasperated his coaches throughout his nascent career. But if he was in the edges of the game for 93 of the 94 minutes played, what he did in that final minute was sublime. Receiving a pass with his back to goal, Ihegie’s first touch rolled his marker whilst his second was struck with venom, a blistering hit that flashed past Thurtell, who was left standing, and

fairly tore into the top corner. A strike of power and beauty in one, and his second of the season. A glimpse of the potential in this talented footballer that, if harnessed on a regular basis, would turn a very good player into a sensational one. Consistency was key, and goals in successive matches gave suggestion to perhaps that quality being added to his all-round game. For Olympic a second win was manna from heaven. A surprise maybe, given the chat around the club prior to the start of the year, but deserved, nonetheless. Two wins from two. Six points from six. Seven goals scored and only one conceded. Fair to say the Olympic faithful were happy.

Not happy were the regulars at the Riverside Stadium. Murmurings of discontent could be heard following a second loss in a row, a disappointing 1-2 home reverse to West Canberra Wanderers, compounded by the injury time dismissal of midfielder Jeremy Habtemariam for allegedly swearing at the Assistant Referee. A second home defeat and a second red card hinted at problems for Monaro Panthers that meant that one of the pre-season favourites found themselves rooted to the foot of the league table at this early stage. It wasn’t supposed to be like this for Monaro under new head coach Frank Cachia. An influx of expensively assembled talent had failed to gel as a unit and they weren’t able to settle against a West Canberra Wanderers outfit that hassled and harried, fought and niggled throughout.

Such was the close attention afforded to the Panthers players that frustrations began to boil over early, Habtemariam visibly agitated by the treatment he was getting. The Wanderers were playing some attractive football at times with central midfielder Marco Jadric gliding across the turf and making a menace of himself in the engine room whilst Ulisses Da Silva’s South American imports, Alessandro Pena and Juan Ospina Colorado adding a touch of class in the forward third. They were both to the fore as the Panthers were undone by a terrific goal from Ospina Colorado inside fifteen minutes, the centre forward meeting a low cross from the right flank from Alexandru Uricaru with a sweeping first-time finish that arrowed past Alexandrow-Ridley to put Wanderers ahead.

Monaro were incandescent with some of the challenges that were coming in, none more so than when Adam De Franceschi absolutely hammered Jeremy Habtemariam as the wispy Panthers playmaker looked set to break clear. Retribution came in the form of Tim Bobolas, carded for scything through the back of a Wanderers midfielder moments afterwards. Tensions were building and threatened to boil over when Tom McLachlan felled Ospina Colorado with Jeremy Habtemariam taking offence and Lachlan Fields perhaps fortunate to escape sanction for barging into the mini melee and shoving the Panthers midfielder.

Wanderers further stunned the home support with twenty minutes of the second-half gone creating and converting a brilliant goal. Ospina Colorado flicked a pass with the outside of the right boot towards Uricaru who retrieved and slipped a pass backwards. The resultant cross was pinpoint accurate for Gabe Cole, arriving at the far post to plant a firm header across Alexandrow-Ridley for 2-0. A late penalty, slotted by Stephen Domenici, gave Panthers brief hope and they may have stolen a point had Mason Interlandi, in the Wanderers goal, not pushed a McLachlan effort round the post when the ex-Belconnen and Olympic man broke into the area.

A brace apiece from Daniel Barac and Jason Ugrinic ensured that Canberra Croatia extended their unbeaten record to 14 matches in competitive games, including the Charity Shield, as they defeated Tuggeranong United 4-1 at Deakin Stadium on their official ‘name day’. Surrounded by pomp and pageantry, the club officially became Canberra Croatia, a ceremony a year in the making due to the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions causing the postponement of the 2020 event. With the national anthems of Australia and Croatia, folkloric dancing, and a multi-cultural band of Samoan singers, born in New Zealand, singing Croatian songs, the scene was set for a memory afternoon.

Tuggeranong, who made one change to the team that was beaten by Belconnen at Kambah in Round 1, the surprising inclusion of Sean Kiddey in a forward role on the right of the front three, needed a stoning start but were behind within scene minutes. Matt Waters found Barac in acres of space between the United central defence duo of Regan Walsh and Andrew Buesnel, and the forward duly prodded home. Tuggeranong will argue that the incident that followed may have changed the fortunes of the match, however, such is the quality of this Deakin outfit that it’s hard to question that even the dismissal of Amilio Kista would have made a difference. That the Greek midfielder should have gone was not in doubt to anyone that saw him react to a crude challenge from Conor Nolan by swinging a left arm and connecting with the face of the Scottish midfielder. The one man that mattered though, referee Theo Dracopoulos, only brandished the yellow card, much to the amazement of most of the Stadium.

That kind of let-off was never going to be utterly forgiven, and Tuggeranong were vociferous in their protests both at the time, and post-match. Croatia made the most of their good fortune and, after superb approach work by Daniel Subasic, Ugrinic swept a left foot shot into the top corner to double the lead. There was a third before half-time, Jakeb Wiseman in the visitor’s goal making an outstanding save to push a magnificent Luke Pilkington free-kick onto the upright, only to see the ball bounce back into the six-yard box where Barac nodded into the empty net. After the interval there was a fourth and Barac was the architect, holding off Buesnel, recovering after stumbling and playing a delightful reverse pass into the path of Ugrinic who confidently clipped home his second of the encounter.

Tuggeranong would have the last word with the goal of the match. Substitute Andrew Slavich, who had bagged a brace in the last Tuggies win at Deakin in 2017, came off the pine and unleashed all his frustrations into a bouncing ball that, from 25 metres, flew like an Exocet, cannoning down off the underside of the bar and over the line giving goalkeeper Sam Brown absolutely zero chance of making the save. It’s debatable the Croatia number one even saw it such was the venom with which Slavich hammered his strike goalwards. In a niggly match five players saw yellow and some roughhouse tacking was waved away. It was that kind of day, but a day in which the champions, by whatever name they wished to be known, continued to look like the team to beat.

Tigers recovered from an opening day defeat to Canberra Croatia to take out their first win of the season but needed a vast dose of good fortune to do so. The winning goal came five minutes from ten interval as Roko Strika showed his class, cutting inside his marker and delivering a dangerous ball into the box. Gungahlin defender Jack Green threw a boot at the ball that was behind him as he faced his own goal and connected, only for it to spin outrageously off his heel and towards the Gunners’ net. Josh Lagudah in goal seemed to have it covered and yet, somehow, misjudged the bounce, allowing the ball to creep out of his reach and roll agonisingly across the goal line. If Gungahlin had benefited from a freak own goal in Round 1, they felt the other side of the coin in Round 2.

Earlier, the home side had gone ahead in spectacular fashion. Philippe Bernabo-Madrid lined up a free-kick some 30 metres out on the angle and ripped a rocket of a shot, a la Cristiano Ronaldo, that dipped and swerved and arrowed past Jakob Cole in the Tigers goal. That came after five minutes, but the lead lasted just 120 seconds as Tigers responded. Strika was the man to draw Ryan Grogan’s team level, arriving unmarked in the six-yard box to turn home a low centre. Then came Green’s unfortunate involvement and a goal that sent the points back to Cooma. Compounding Gungahlin’s, and Green’s, misery the central defender was later carried off after a hefty challenge from nil Popovich. It later transpired that Green had severely damaged an ankle, fracturing, and displacing his tibula, an injury that required surgery that was feared would keep him out for the entirety of the season. When you add in the send-off of Badreldin Abbas it really wasn’t the Gunners’ day.

WNPL: CHAMPIONS FIND THEIR GROOVE

Canberra Croatia FC claimed a 5-0 win over the West Canberra Wanderers in Round 2 of the NPLW at Melrose Synthetic with a convincing performance. It took the champions less than ten minutes to open the scoring, a great run down the right-hand side flank from Krista Hagan, saw the ball lobbed across goals to star striker Brittany Palombi who finished the job superbly. The Wanderers responded well but were backs to the wall for large parts of the match, watching on as Jennifer Bisset hit the bar with a strike from distance. The home side spurned a glorious chance to level the ledger after good inroads from player/coach Emma Stanbury, but the support was lacking, and the chance went begging. Janet King, in the Wanderers goal, was the busier of the two stoppers and was extremely unfortunate as Croatia went two to the good seven minutes before the interval. King acrobatically punched away a shot only to see Jamie Berkeley react quickest to slot into the gaping net. Grace Gill added a third immediately after the break, whilst King denied her a second minutes later

with another wonderful save, flicking the ball up over the cross bar, but could do little as the former Matilda made it four with her second. Substitute Chantel Jones completed the scoring, and was then sent to the sin0bin for dissent, but it mattered little as Canberra Croatia ran out comfortable victors.

A new coach, two wins in two games and 15 goals scored. This 2021 season looks eerily like 2020 for the Blue Devils as they swept past Canberra United Academy at Hawker Football Centre. The Academy lined up the same squad that almost caused an upset against Canberra Croatia, but for their third game in a week (they played a round of Federation Cup midweek, losing 5-2 to Canberra Croatia) they looked a shadow of themselves. Belconnen, without Nicole Jalocha, and without goalkeeper Cristina Esposito, and with centre back Karen Clarke between the sticks, developed their usual football, and never were threatened by the Academy. Keira Bobbin launched the fireworks after ten minutes of observation between the two teams. Following a long ball by Clarke, the winger’s acceleration was no match for Tayla Hampson. Bobbin sped up to the box and sneaked the ball between Jayla Murphy and her near post with her left foot. The intensity and high press showed by the Academy a week ago was nowhere to be seen, and the greens had all the difficulties to execute three passes under the Blue Devils’ constant pressure, very rarely finding themselves in the other half of the pitch. Five minutes after her first goal, Bobbin was at it again. Reilly Yuen accelerated past Annie Grove into the box, turned around and crossed the ball, which bounced in the middle of an apathic defence. Bobbin appeared, controlled the ball and soft volleyed it in the back of the net.

The third goal came from Belconnen captain Michaela Thornton. Murphy played a short goal kick, but her midfield did not attack the ball. Thornton did not need a better invitation, she jumped in front of her opponent, found herself with the ball in the box and placed it in

the opposite side net. The first-half was dominated head and shoulders by Belconnen. By the 36th minute, Bobbin validated her hat-trick with a perfect copycat of the first goal: a ball on the right wing, a run past her defender and a ball between the keeper and the post. A minute later Murphy could only deflect Yuen’s cross in the feet of Olivia Bomford, who happily tapped it in the empty net. The Academy finally caught a breather in the last 5minutes of the first-half, playing a bit more offense. 2 minutes before going to the locker room, Christopherson made the best of a ball on her right corridor. She dribbled past her opponent, ran into the box, and saw her shot slipping through Clarke’s gloves. The Academy forward thought she would score a second goal a minute later with an attempt from 25 yards on its way to the top left corner of Clarke’s goals, but the skipper proved her team could count on her in that new jersey, with a stunning save, keeping Belconnen 4 goals ahead at the break. The Blue Devils started the second-half on a slower pace, giving the Academy the opportunity to play a bit more. Belconnen stayed as lethal as ever though, and Thornton only needed 15 minutes to complete her own hat-trick.

A week after a last-minute goal gave Olympic the win in West Canberra, they were unable to repeat the same result for their first game at home, against a Gunners’ team that seemed ready to challenge for the title. The game started on a high rhythm, both teams showcasing their ability to keep the ball in the build-up. The first alert was on Kaley Tonini’s goal after a corner-kick, but the keeper saw the ball going inches away from her left post. Gungahlin answered by Jade Brown, who after a superb service by Elke Aitolu, saw her powerful strike from the edge of the box deflected away by Aurelia Haynes. However, it was Olympic would find the back of the net first. The Gunners were not able to clear the ball properly and after a lucky blunder, Ashleigh Sykes found herself with only Tonini to beat. The striker did not let that chance slip away and placed the ball perfectly in the bottom right corner. Gungahlin tried to answer straight away but Brigitte Sander’s shot was once again stopped by Haynes. The whole Olympic defence was at fault three minutes before the break though, when Stella de Marco was given all the time in the world to adjust a perfect through ball for Erika Pennyfield, whose run was unfollowed. The midfielder’s left-footed effort slipped through Haynes gloves.

The goalkeeper would save her team once more before the break though, with a stunning save following a point-blank header by Madeleine Perceval. Nicole Begg’s players thought they had found the solution a minute into the second act, but Sykes, recovering the ball in her own half and after a run past a trio of Gunners, could not adjust her strike past Tonini. Diego Iglesias’ side would rarely be endangered after that, mostly thanks to a very serious game defensively, with all players involved in recovering the ball every time it was in Olympic’s possession. The battle of the midfield was constant throughout the second half, but the Gunners kept trying to play their passing football. The reward came at the 67th minute, and again from Pennyfield. She took advantage of an Olympic midfielder slipping and took her chance from 35 yards away. Her strike took a dive just under the crossbar and gave her team an advantage they would not let go. Gungahlin kept pushing and had several opportunities to make the score worse. A 100% De Marco play saw Natalie finding Stella behind the Blues’ defence, but her shot hit the crossbar. Ella-Rose Brown would find the back of the net though, following a headed through-ball by Pennyfield. Brown dribbled the last Olympic defender and put the ball past Haynes. The keeper was solicited one last time by Jade Brown, but the forward’s left shot lacked power and was stopped easily. The

showdown ended in favour of Gungahlin, who with a second win are at the top of table, trailing the Blue Devils only because of the goal difference.

The game between the 8th and 7th of last season turned in favour of the latter, with all six goals scored in the second-halfas Wagga City Wanderers came away from Kambah 2 with all three points against Tuggeranong United. For their first game without Michael Aldred on the bench, the coach resigning during the week, Tuggeranong showed a lot of spirit and had opportunities to score first, but eventually paid for their missed chances. Sam Gray had his team playing a usual high line, often trapping the Tuggeranong forwards off-side. In a cagey first-half that saw the Wanderers’ best chance being pushed by Sophie Rolfe on her crossbar, both teams seem to focus on not conceding, and most of the ball possession was the visitors’. The second-half started on a whole other rhythm. A minute in, Tuggeranong forward Melinda Reavell had hit the crossbar. A minute later, she found herself alone a meter away from the goal-line but went for a chest control instead of a header and saw the ball drifting away. Wagga took the warning seriously and answered immediately. Megan Castle found Cristina Grauer-Kompos at the far post, and the former Canberra Croatia forward, although not connecting properly with the ball, lobbed Rolfe to score her first goal of the day. Wagga City took control of the game again. 10 minutes later, Castle was found in the back of the Tuggeranong defence, solid until then. Rolfe came out of her goals to meet the Wanderer striker, but was unable to control her tackle, taking Castle down irregularly in the penalty area. From the spot kick, Castle made it 2-0 despite Rolfe’s foot touching the ball.

Wagga’s number 9 scored her second of the day with a half an hour left to play, with a skilled touch, sneaking the ball between Rolfe and her near post. The afternoon went from bad to worse for the keeper, who failed to clear the ball after a back pass, offering Kirilee Cameron her first goal in a Wanderers’ jersey. Grauer-Kompos completed her brace with the goal of the afternoon at the 80th minute. After some nice footwork by Piper Lockley, the new Wanderer did not hesitate and from the edge of the box scored in the opposite top corner. Tuggeranong would score their first goal of the season five minutes later, thanks to Zoe Terry, excellent on her right wing the whole game. On one of her many runs, her pace did the talking, outrunning three Wagga defenders and putting the ball out of reach and in the back of Samantha Emms’ net but it wasn’t ever going to be enough to prevent the Wanderers from claiming their first win of the campaign.

ROUND 3 NPL: UPSETS THE ORDER OF THE DAY

A last-minute penalty from Shane Murray, awarded in controversial circumstances, saw Tuggeranong United come from 1-3 down to earn their first point of the season in a 3-3 draw with Tigers FC in a match that was switched from its Sunday slot at Nijong to Thursday evening at the AIS. The award of the spotkick, in the 89th minute and United’s second penalty of the match, was fiercely debated by those in yellow, Tuggeranong substitute Sean Kiddey falling over Antoni Timotheou’s dangling leg with what appeared to be, minimal contact. Fellow replacement Murray cracked home the resultant penalty, his first touch of the ball after coming on, to earn the point, leaving the Tigers shattered at the two points dropped, points they felt should have been theirs.

The ‘home’ side had made the perfect start to the encounter when they hit the front after only four minutes, Roko Strika making inroads down the left flank and crossing low into the area where Nik Popovich was on hand to steer into the empty net after Jakeb Wiseman was unable to cut out the superbly placed centre. It was one of two goals that Popovich would score before the half-time break, the second a volley with the outside of the right foot to guide a cross from the left from Josh Gulevski past Wiseman in the 41st minute. It was nothing less than the Tigers had deserved from their effervescent display and yet Tuggeranong felt they could have been on the scoresheet, a well-worked training ground routine ending with Jonathan Turek seeing his effort cleared off the line. United played some slick stuff at times but went into the interval two behind.

The character and determination shown after the restart by United was first class and they gained a tangible reward in the 53rd minute with a real rarity - a goal from left back Cameron Doherty. It took the genial defender, and Tuggeranong club stalwart, 106 games to break his NPL duck and when he did it was with a goal of importance. Marco Gayer, who arguably played his best-ever game in a Tuggeranong shirt, was yeh architect, cutting back onto his left foot and swinging a cross into the area which Andrew Slavich flicked on allowing Doherty to chest over the line from close range. Within five minutes the Tigers had restored their two-goal cushion though, Popovich laying off to Timotheou who cracked home a low drive for his tenth NPL goal of his career.

That could well have been that, however United kept coming and within two minutes they’d been awarded a penalty when Timotheou was adjudged to have offended. The misdemeanour allows Doherty the unlikely chance to double his tally, but his spot-kick was well saved by Tigers ‘stopper Cole. Andrew Slavich was quickest to react to the loose ball for the visitors, finishing into the far corner to score in consecutive games. That set the scene

for the dramatic finale and Murray’s equaliser to round off a six-goal thriller.

Penalties were the order of the day throughout the Round with a spot-kick inflicting a first defeat on Canberra Croatia in over a year. Gabe Cole was the man on the mark for West Canberra Wanderers, his conversion of a penalty awarded four minutes into the second half, the key moment in a surprise 1-0 success for the Woden based outfit. It was their first even win at Deakin Stadium and only their second in NPL history, the other coming back in the inaugural season of 2013. Cole was sensationally dismissed within thirty seconds of his goal, flicking a finger at a section of the Croatia support that were hurling abuse at the goalscorer, perhaps a hint of inexperience from the man in the middle at this level leading to that sanction. West Canberra defended stoutly with ten men for the remaining forty minutes to hold on to a sensational victory, one that meant that they recorded a second victory in successive weeks.

The Champions didn’t help themselves, missing half-a-dozen players from their usual squad for a variety of reasons, Daniel Barac, Daniel Colbertaldo, Luke Pilkington, Nick Bobolas, Daniel Subasic and Matej Busek all not available to pull on the red shirt. Dean Ugrinic handed debuts to Aiden Milburn and David’s Seselja with Ben Reardon also making a first Croatia appearance off the substitutes bench. That should not diminish the efforts of the Wanderers though who showed tremendous grit and no little quality in securing the points. Six cards were issued in total, two to the hosts and four to the visitors, excluding Cole’s dismissal pointing to a fractured affair, not that the travelling support from Melrose Synthetic cared one iota.

Over at O’Connor Enclosed in the match chosen for live commentary, Canberra Olympic scored one penalty and missed another as they threw away a two-goal cushion to allow Gungahlin United off the hook, the visiting team earning a point from a 2-2 draw. In fairness, the response of the Gunners to going two adrift was superb, Marcial Munoz’ team suddenly switching on to the contest and reiterating the quality they possess in the final third in the shape of Philippe Bernabo-Madrid, Michael John and Misko Naumoski. Olympic went in front in the first-half with another superbly crafted goal. James Crawford was to the fore again, running hard into the channel and cutting back a terrifically weighted cross that found midfielder Alen James unmarked at the far post to guide home his second goal in successive matches.

They should have had a second before the interval as well, Crawford tricking his way between a pair of Gungahlin defenders before being felled inside the box. Aisosa Ihegie, in his 100th NPL match, was entrusted with the penalty but saw his effort strike the base of the left-hand post. At the other end Naumoski was denied twice by James Christis, the second chance seeing the ‘keeper plunge to his left to push a curling effort away for a

corner, the best opportunity of the opening stanza for the Gunners. Gungahlin has started the match with two changes from the narrow loss to the Tigers in Round 2, both enforced. The suspended Badreldin Abbas was replaced by Ethan Stamatis, making his first NPL start, whilst Bernard Rene was drafted in for Jack Green.

Olympic did get a second nine minutes into the second-half when they were awarded a second penalty of the afternoon. Ihegie rampaged through the middle and was bundled over inside the box leading to Ricardo Alberto pointing to the spot. James took responsibility and coolly sent Lagudah the wrong way to make it 2-0. It took Gungahlin sixty seconds to respond. Bernabo-Madrid nearly converted a cross, Christis clearing only as far as John who confidently struck a low shot into the back of the net. Incredibly, just two minutes later, the Gunners were level.

Bernabo-Madrid used to be a hero in these parts, a major part of the team that did the treble and reached the semifinals of the FFA Cup in 2016, so his equaliser was greeted with a bittersweet response, the scorer, neglecting to celebrate fully with his teammates despite the importance of the goal. And the striker nearly won it in stoppage time, controlling a cross and lifting a shot over the advancing Christis in one swift movement, only to see it clatter back off the crossbar. Moses Garang threw himself at the rebound and, amidst a flurry of boots, it appeared as if the referee had pointed to the spot for the third time in the encounter, only for a goal kick to be the outcome after a scuffle between the two sets of players. Garang, at the centre of it, then scooped an effort over from close range as the game ended 2-2.

It wasn’t quite crisis time at Monaro, but a third successive loss left the Panthers rooted to the foot of the table and doing plenty of soul-searching ahead of a Round 4 match-up with Canberra Croatia and, prior to that, a midweek test of their FFA Cup credentials against Wagga City Wanderers at the Riverside. Without Stephen Domenici, Jeremy Habtemariam and Tim Bobolas, Frank Cachia was forced to juggle his pack once more and, justifiably, can feel that they could have got something from the match. They were undone by two superbly taken goals, the first a solo effort from Luca Macor who collected a rogue clearance from Panthers’ ‘keeper Evan Alexandrow-Ridley and advanced unchecked into the area, dropping the shoulder and firing a finish into the bottom corner. The second was, probably, even better, Leon Michl running from left to right then wrapping his foot around a left-foot effort that cleared the cobwebs from the top corner.

Panthers needed a response and they got one to force themselves back into the match when they were given a penalty. Lukman Ahmed-Shaibu blasted it straight down the middle to halve the deficit, but that was as close as they got, the Blue Devils claiming a second win

from three to place fourth on the congested ladder in the early rounds, one of three teams a point behind Canberra Olympic. Interestingly, in the four matches played in the NPL in Round 3 there were six penalties awarded. Four were scored, Murray, James, Cole and Ahmed-Shaibu, whilst Doherty and Ihegie were the unfortunate pair to miss from 12-yards.

WNPL: TRIO OF WINS FOR CLUE DEVILS AS CROATIA HIT HALF-A-DOZEN

It was three out of three for Michael Zakoski on his new bench, after the Blue Devils once again showed their ruthlessness in front of goal at O’Connor, going ahead early and adding to their tally at regular intervals. After a few minutes of back and forth between both teams, Michaela Thornton recovered a ball high in Olympic’s half, and saw the run of Nicole Jalocha. The captains precise through ball was perfectly timed for her partner in crime, who stood-up Aurelia Haynes with a precise strike in the bottom left corner. Whilst this was a harsh start for Olympic, who came into the game playing positive football, they showed that they were not just there to make up the numbers. Nicole Begg’s players alternated the good and the less good in this first-half, often bringing the ball in Belconnen’s last third and finding Ashleigh Sykes, but also lacking in execution in that last pass, as well as in their defensive effort. Belconnen, whether it was in transition or built-up attacks, often reached Haynes’ area too easily.

After a few corner kicks came close, the Blue Devils found the breach on their 4th attempt and superb run and header by Talia Backhouse that left Haynes no chance. The 3rd goal was a story of miscues for Olympic, who were obviously shaken. An otherwise harmless looking through ball by Vanessa Ryan was not anticipated properly by Haynes, who saw the ball bounce over her and end in the back of the net. With a 3-goal lead, the Blue Devils could allow the intensity to drop a bit and operate in transition. Olympic went back to trying to create space on the wings to get through their opponents’ solid defence, with little success. And when Sykes or Tara Manthongsy found a little bit of space for a shot opportunity, they found Thornton, working tirelessly as usual, in their way.

The second-half started with the return of a familiar face in the capital: 130-cap Matilda and Julie Dolan trophy winner Heather Garriock subbed in for Olympic, and her left foot almost had an immediate impact when she looked for Sykes in the back of Belconnen’s defence straight from kick-off. The action ended in a comfortable save for Esposito, but the added experience of Garriock in Begg’s ranks saw a team more focused on tasks both defensively and offensively. The second act would be cagey, with a few opportunities on both ends denied by crucial defensive efforts. Once again Belconnen bided their time, before Backhouse was found in front of the empty net and happily tapped the ball in. The last goal of the day came from another great ball recovery by Thornton, whose intensity this

high on the pitch surprised the Olympic defence. The skipper stole the ball in their feet inches away from the box, and comfortably won her duel with Haynes.

The duel between two teams searching for their first win favoured the home team in a cagey match, with the Canberra United Academy coming from behind to win their first match of the season, downing the West Canberra Wanderers 2-1. The first shot of the game was on Janet King’s goal, the Wanderers’ keeper happy to see a short-range volley by Anna Hunt landing in her hands. The Academy had the better start, but against the run of play, the Wanderers hit the front, Kilkie Leten inherited the ball outside the box and made the run on the right wing. Her cross/shot took Jayla Murphy by surprise and ended in the back of the net. The Wanderers almost did it again ten minutes later when Murphy gave the ball straight to Leten at the edge of the box but a miscommunication between two of the visitors’ forwards saw the chance go begging. The Academy would reap the reward of their early domination with an equaliser at the half hour mark. Following a long ball by Nadia Zakman, Hunt shower her skills by using her body to control the ball and roll around Samantha Briggs. On her right foot, the Academy striker left King no chance, finding the opposite side net to make the game even.

The rest of the first-half was a battle of the midfield where neither team really prevailed, but the Academy still had the better chances to score the crucial goal in the second half. The introduction of Emma Stanbury upfront would allow West Canberra to play higher up to pitch and to have a bit more possession in their opponents’ half. The Academy was still able to create space on the wings and 20 minutes into the second half, Sofia Christopherson ran down the right full speed and sent in a cross in Perry’s direction. The left forward rushed in front of King’s dive and was able to tap the ball into the empty net. The Wanderers tried to put in the work to get that equalizer back but struggled to match the intensity the Academy put into the

There was a second win in a row for Canberra Croatia who remained two points behind the leaders Belconnen and Gungahlin on the table. But it was not the easy win everyone would have predicted. For 80 minutes, Tuggeranong’s defensive solidity and eagerness to get back in shape and fight every ball was a work of art. They had conceded twice in the first-half but were successfully frustrating the reigning champion and holding them to “only” a 2-goal advantage until they collapsed in the last ten minutes of the game. The picture was clear early in the first-half. Tuggeranong would “park the bus”, always posted nine players behind the ball, and cut the passes between the midfield and the attack in the middle of the park that would put them in too much danger. The Deakin side, seeing going through the middle would not work, asked their full backs to help on the wings. Alice Churchill happily indulged and recorded a hat trick of assists to give her team the points it needed.

At the 15th minute, a lovely ball between United goalkeeper Jess Abbott, spectacular on her debut, and her defence, found Olivia Fogarty whose volley left the Tuggeranong keeper no chance. Then at the half hour mark, Churchill’s cross found Grace Gill, whose header was first masterfully saved by Abbott, before she took the rebound and smashed the ball in the back of the net. 2-0 was the score at half time, despite a very one-sided game that saw Canberra Croatia with most of the possession in their opponents’ half. The second-half started the same way, an attack-defence scenario where Tuggeranong’s only offensive

weapon, Maddie Magee, was always left to her own device to try and create some magic. Nik Brozinic’s players did not panic and kept playing their game, slowly finding breaches within the Tuggies’ defence. A plethora of chance started from the 70th minute onwards, and after Gill saw a couple of attempts go wide, her teammates finally found the target to score four goals in the last 10 minutes. Chantel Jones subbed in halfway through the second act, was the first to strike. At the end of the third successful cross by Churchill, Jones found herself alone facing Abbott and tapped the ball in. Three minutes later, while Jones was asking for a foul against her in the box, Jennifer Bisset, playing her 50th WNPL match took advantage of a ball the Tuggies struggled to clear, stabbing home before Jones and Renee Junna, with her first goal at this level, added to the tally in stoppage time.

The trip to the Riverina was a success for Diego Iglesias and his Gungahlin United team, who kept up with Belconnen’s pace a week before hosting them at home. Both Wagga City Wanderers and the Gunners were fired up from the get-go in an intense game that saw two teams trying to play attractive passing football for 90 minutes. The Gunners were quick to reap the reward though, with right back Ella-Rose Brown finding Jade Brown in behind the Wanderers’ defence after five minutes. The young striker faced Samantha Emms coolheaded and slipped the ball in the bottom left corner for her third goal of the season. A quarter of an hour later, Natalie De Marco found her sister Stella with a silky through ball between a brace of Wagga defenders. De Marco entered in the box and fired a shot in the top left corner that left Emms helpless. Offensively the Wanderers were rarely able to threaten Kaley Tonini, despite a solo attempt by Piper Lockley.

On the other end of the pitch the Gunners kept trying to put the ball behind their opponents’ defence and after a couple of opportunities stopped by Ava Tuksar or Sammy Emms, Ella-Rose Brown re-enacted her first goal assist, this time finding Stella De Marco. Emms was able to put a hand on the midfielder’s shot, but that was not enough to prevent the ball from slowing rolling in the back of the net. Gungahlin sealed the points when a freekick earned by Steffi Lejins offered Erika Pennyfield the opportunity to bring the danger in Emms’ box once more. The experienced midfielder decided to go for goal instead, and her long strike took the perfect dip in the top right corner of the target, out of reach for the Wanderers’ keeper.

ROUND 4 NPL: WANDERERS WIN THREE IN A ROW

It seemed inconceivable in 2020 that we would be sat, less than twelve months later, looking at West Canberra Wanderers sitting on top of the NPL table but, after their third success in a row, that was exactly the situation before Canberra Croatia headed to the Riverside to take on Monaro Panthers in the late kick-off. That remarkable scenario arose as Ulisses Da Silva’s young and exciting charges came from behind to inflict a first defeat of the season on Robbie Cattanach’s Canberra Olympic by the odd goal in five at Melrose Synthetic. The winning goal was a thing of beauty as well, Colombian import Sebastian Ospina Colorado launching himself acrobatically to meet a chipped cross and send a stunning overhead kick into the net off the underside of the crossbar. There was a brief hiatus while the officials made sure the ball had crossed the line, it had bounced back into play, but the goal was awarded, and an early goal of the season contender lodged.

The strike was a fine accompaniment to a magnificent opener from West Canberra’s other import, Alessandro Pena, who had given the hosts the lead in a madcap first-half that produced four goals. Pena was afforded space and time to cut in from the left flank but, 35 metres from goal on the angle, looked to be in safe territory as far as Olympic were concerned. What the visitor’s defence hadn’t bargained on however was for Pena to unleash a ferocious rocket of a shot that arrowed into the top corner. A truly breathtaking strike. Olympic though had been in excellent form themselves and were hardly likely to be thrown off their stride despite the sheer quality of the goal and they responded in brilliant fashion, netting twice in three minutes to turn the match on its head.

Midfielder Simon Rohan-Jones, who had started the 2021 campaign in robust form, drilled home from just inside the box on the right-hand side to bring his team level before Alen James clipped in from close range, following up, for his fourth goal in his first three NPL matches – an outstanding start to his first-grade career. West Canberra managed to reply in kind, equalising from close range as central defender Lachlan Fields scrambled home a freekick from inside the six-yard box, a goal eerily like the one he had scored against Gungahlin United in Round 1. At 2-2 the game was there for the taking and it was Ospina Colorado who rose to the occasion, his unbelievable match-winner giving West Canberra the three points and putting them top of the table, two points clear of Canberra Olympic heading into the afternoon offerings.

For a long time, it looked as if Belconnen United, who had won two from three by Round 4, would join the Wanderers on nine points, but a late flurry from Tigers FC made sure that they escaped from McKellar Park with a share of the spoils in a 2-2 draw. In a quote sensational denouement to the fixture, the Tigers were awarded a brace of penalties within sixty seconds, both deep in stoppage time, to allow them a chance to leave with a point. Match referee Alex McConachie had no hesitation in pointing to the spot in the 90th minute, Roko Strika having his ankles clipped as he burst into the area and gifting the playmaker the chance to pull his team level, only for Jordan Thurtell to make a wonderful save and push the ball away for a corner. Within 17 seconds though, the Tigers were lining up for another go. Taking a short corner, the Tigers initial appeals for handball were waved away only for Josh Gulevski to tumble under the challenge and a second spot-kick be awarded. This time Julian Borgna made no mistake.

The goal sealed the comeback for the visiting team who had trailed 2-0 by the 85th minute, when Nik Popovich shrugged off the attention of his marker to race into the area and clip a composed finish across Thurtell and into the far corner. By then, the Blue Devils had established a two-goal cushion given to them by Darren Bailey and Luca Florez. Bailey, normally a left-back but deployed further forward, gave the hosts the lead in the first-half with a finish worthy of a centre-forward. The Scotsman gathered a pass out wide, ran at his marker and cut infield to send a sweeping left-footed shot beyond the reach of Jakob Cole and into the net. It was the amiable bailey’s second goal in four league matches at the start of the season. Young forward Florez, the top scorer for Belconnen in 2020, then opened his account for the year, showcasing his penalty box predatory instincts by volleying home after Michael Piccolo had seen his mazy run and resulting shot saved by Cole and deflected into the air by off Ross Costanzo.

At the Riverside in the main game featured by BarTV Sports, problems continued to mount for the under-pressure Frank Cachia as his Monaro Panthers lost a fourth game in succession, narrowly beaten by the champions, Canberra Croatia. The telling moment came in the 27th minute when Amilio Kista thundered in a superb strike, in keeping with his own personal highlights reel of 2020-2021. Ironically, it all stemmed from a poor free-kick from Daniel Colbertaldo, his dead ball effort cannoning back off the wall. Croatia played it back into the crowded box and Daniel Barac flicked a left-footed ball across the area to where Kista was waiting. The Greek midfielder took a touch to steady himself and then unleased a truly venomous strike across Evan Alexandrow-Ridley and into the bottom corner.

The match was a relatively scrappy affair, a contest littered with fouls of which there were 23 in the first-half alone. Despite that however, there were some excellent passages of football with both defences in domineering form. Matt Grbesa, on his 34th birthday, was the

standout, his rocklike presence and uncanny ability to judge an interception proving priceless to Croatia, under the stewardship of Assistant Coach Andy Rakic with Dean Ugrinic away with the ‘Docceroos’ in Melbourne. When Monaro did get past Grbesa, and his central defensive colleague Nick Bobolas, playing opposite his brother Tim who was at full-back for the home side, Sam Brown was equal to the task. The best opportunity for a Panthers leveller came late in the second-half when Lasse Olrik met the umpteenth free-kick from Tom McLachlan out wide with a firm and precise header. Unfortunately for Monaro, his effort went straight at Brown when, placed either side of the Croatia stopper, probably would have resulted in a goal.

Kista was the game’s most creative influence, although the introduction of Seb Woods and Adam Neou from the Panthers bench did provide added attacking impetus and pace for the hosts. Lukman Ahmed-Shaibu had a couple of half-chances for Monaro, heading into the ground on the edge of the six-yard box and setting up a chance for Tom McLachlan which the midfielder skewed wide. Whilst it wasn’t all backs-to-the-wall for Croatia, they were made to work hard for the win and the thoughts around the game were that the Panthers couldn’t possibly remain rooted to the foot of the table for long.

WNPL: CROATIA STAY UNBEATEN, BLUE DEVILS DOWN GUNNERS

Canberra Croatia kept their unbeaten run intact with a statement win against Canberra Olympic at Deakin Stadium during the most entertaining game of the weekend. The visitors put doubt into the minds of the reigning champions during the first 35 minutes, until Nik Brozinic’s armada proved too strong to stop for Nicole Begg’s squad. The only game played on Saturday was Tianah Miro’s first in her new colours with the young, talented, and versatile player having joined Olympic from Gungahlin during the week. The return of Brittany Palombi for Canberra Croatia was undeniably felt, even given the absence of Chantel Jones and Grace Gill, with the left footed forward bringing danger around Aurelia Haynes’ area with a long-range free-kick.

Croatia took the lead when Jamie Berkeley, launched by Rhiannon Fensom behind the Olympic defence, ran inside the box, and perfectly squared a ball for Olivia Fogarty, who kept her cool to fire past Haynes from point blank range. Olympic refused to be bowed and answered straight away with a dangerous long range shot from Lara Burdett that was beaten away by Ally Hinson. The addition of Miro and the return of Rachael Hardwicke in the middle of the pitch for Olympic made a difference offensively, but defensively, they were too easily beaten. Palombi was found on the right wing again, and offered a copycat of Berkeley’s ball to Fogarty, who this time could not connect with the properly. Olympic kept the pressure high and were finally rewarded when Iesha De Andrade and Ashleigh Sykes

offered their version of the Canberra Croatia goal to level things up. Haynes helped delay the inevitable with a superb save in front of Isabella Barac but could not anything in front of Palombi when the striker smashed a penalty kick, earned by Berkeley, into the top right corner.

The game kept going from end to end, but Croatia took over as Palombi struck twice in quick succession to complete a hat-trick. Her first, following an inspired through ball by Fogarty, saw her wrong-foot Haynes in goal before, two minutes later, she latched onto a long ball from Fensom and duly converted with her left foot to give her team a comfortable 4-1 advantage at half time. The second-half began with the same rhythm, both teams trying to get an early goal. Another penalty, this time taken by Fogarty right down the middle, would bring further reward to the home side as they increased their lead. Ashleigh Sykes would remain the main threat upfront for Olympic, forcing Hinson to another fine save after some great footwork in the box.

Olympic were creating more chances, usually by Hardwicke and Miro, but were unable to find the target, until Ally Cook finally found the back of the net. Following a corner kick cleared by the home side, the Olympic defender took her chance from 35 meters away, with her ball dipping perfectly just under the crossbar and over the arms of Hinson. Olympic hopes of a comeback were cut short 10 minutes later however, when Krista Hagen followed up on a cross by Lara Agnew reflected in the air by Haynes and headed the ball into the empty net. Palombi scored the last one for Deakin, her 7th of the season, a minute before the end of the game, with a precise left footed effort following an assist by Alice Churchill.

The first battle of the Wanderers of 2021 ended with a home win as victory for West Canberra secured Emma Stanbury’s first three points as a Head Coach. On Melrose synthetic, both teams came out all guns blazing, with West Canberra dominating the first five minutes. Sam Gray’s players, usually comfortable ball to feet, were not as smooth as usual in the build-up offering their opponents too many chances. Ana Sofia Chaverra Calle did not hesitate when she found herself with acres of space outside the box, her sublime curved strike finding the top right corner, with nothing Samantha Emms could do as the home side got the goal their superiority deserved.

Wagga City almost answered straight away, missing the target by an inch but it was the home team who went further ahead minutes later. Tiana Jaber launched Kilkie Leten down the right wing and her lung bursting run culminated with the perfect cross for Briana Maguire at the far post. The midfielder’s first attempted forced Emms into a miracle save, but unfortunately for the keeper, Maguire was the most prompt at the rebound, and tapped the ball in the back of the net. The home team tried to kill the game in the first-half, but Emms was again exceptional on her line, and when she could not get to the ball, her post was doing the job for her. At the other end, Janet King’s first-half was way too quiet for Wagga to hope more than the negative result at the end of the first-half.

West Canberra attacked first in the second act, earning a corner kick within a minute. If the outcome of the set piece was not great, it set the tone for the pressure the home side was willing to apply early on. Wagga stayed focused defensively and waited for their chance which did not take long to come. Following a scramble that could have seen West Canberra

score their third goal, the visitors started a speedy counter attacked and in two passes, Megan Castle found herself facing King. Her first attempt was stopped but the striker fought and pushed the ball in the back of the net, for her 4th goal of the season. Stanbury’s players were not going to let their first win slip though and, three minutes later, Elizabeth Edwards found herself alone in the 6-yard box and easily tapped the ball in. The thrilling second-half saw the ball going from one side to the other, but always, the defences prevailed. Wagga was not able to take advantage of an undisciplined West Canberra team (ten fouls at the end of the game), and were even beaten a fourth time, in injury time. Ellen Brown fought to keep the ball alive in the box, and addressed a perfect cut back for Leten, sealed the deal for the red and black Wanderers.

The game of the week at the Gungahlin Enclosed Oval saw Belconnen getting their 4th win in as many NPLW matches, against a Gunners team that never found the solution offensively. The duel between the two teams who had won their first three games each started on a high rhythm, both teams trying to hit first. The high press Michael Zakoski asked of his players early in the game prevented Diego Iglesias’ squad from developing their usual passing football. The Gunners focused on being solid defensively, with success until the 21st minute. That’s the moment Olivia Bomford chose to let her skills speak on the left wing. After twisting and turning in front of two players, she clipped a perfect ball between Kailey Tonini and her defence, to find Sarah Johnston in a perfect position. The former Stingray did not hesitate and smashed the ball past the keeper with her left volley.

The Blue Devils had scored on their best chance and kept most of the possession for the rest of the first-half, without being able to really endanger Tonini again besides a couple of set pieces. Gungahlin, with too many, uncharacteristic, missed passes and loose ball control, never really bothered Cristina Esposito in what had been a cagey first-half and real battle of the midfield. The Gunners came back from the locker room with better intent, albeit giving up some space defensively. Dangerous on set pieces first, Belconnen enjoyed the extra room behind the Gunners’ midfield and increased the pressure on Tonini’s goal. Unable to find a white shirt on a succession of goal kicks from the 70th minute onwards, Gungahlin did see the pressure mounting and a scramble, after yet another corner, saw Brigitte Sander’s attempt at clearing the ball ricochet off Bomford for the second goal for the visitors. The striker hit the net again two minutes before full time. After some outstanding footwork in the box, she found herself on her left foot and found the net at the near post to ice the points. Despite Gungahlin’s defensive efforts, Belconnen firepower had again spoken.

The Canberra United Academy confirmed their good start of the season by getting a second win in a row against a club from the South and taking the fourth spot on the ladder, with already a little gap with the bottom four. Tuggeranong, donning their gold and green jersey once again, was under pressure from the get-go at Hawker Football Centre as the Academy pressed high early and Tuggies were barely able to execute three consecutive passes to bring the danger upfront. The home team made them pay their mistake immediately. Jessica Abbott, solid and reassuring until then, fumbled a near post shot by Sofia Christopherson, to let the Academy take the lead after ten minutes. Ten minutes later it was two as Christopherson stole the ball in the Tuggeranong defence after a bad pass. She found her partner upfront, Anna Hunt, who turned around a player, open her right foot and found the opposite top right corner in a superb finish.

Jayla Murphy was lucky to give Tuggeranong hope early after that second goal. She took her time to clear the ball after a back pass, and saw her clearance hitting the face of Maddie Magee, only to fall inches the wrong side of the post. The rest of the first-half saw the visitors defending with the same intensity they showed in Round 3 against Canberra Croatia, and a Canberra United were happy to pass the ball around waiting for opportunities the game lacked intensity. The second-half was a cagey affair, with both team struggling the endanger the opponents’ goalkeeper and a drop in rhythm. The night fell over Hawker’s pitch so quickly that Tuggeranong president / interim coach Stan Mitchell had to remind the referee that more lights were needed, for the players’ safety.

ROUND 5 NPL: CROATIA SUFFER SECOND SUCCESSIVE DEFEAT

After going a whole season unbeaten, albeit a shortened eleven match campaign in 2020, Canberra Croatia suffered a second defeat in three games and a second in succession at home as Belconnen United continued their remarkable record at Deakin Stadium with a 2-1 victory in the only NPL match that was played on the Saturday afternoon. The Blue Devils took their record in the last ten matches at the home of the champions to an increase seven wins and one draw with the three points enough to put the visitors to the top of the Premier League table ahead of the trio of Sunday afternoon fixtures. Having lost to Canberra Croatia in the FFA Cup Qualifying Quarter Final ten days previously there was a sense that Belconnen had the goods to beat their hosts, on that occasion they had come from 2-0 down to draw level before losing in extra time.

Fabian Miceli’s plans were thrown into some disarray in the warm-up as midfielder Luca Macor was forced out of the starting eleven, he was feeling unwell, being replaced by Christian Kreskas. With a surprise selection of Darren Bailey up front, the Scotsman had usually played his football at left-back, the Blue Devils team selection had an unusual look up it. Meanwhile, Canberra Croatia had announced the signings of Nikola Taneski and the return of Thomas James to the club, although James was yet to be confirmed despite media reports to the contrary. That added more firepower to the front end of the park and would likely be noticeable later in the campaign. On this day however, it was the inclusion of Kreksas for the Blue Devils that was to prove decisive.

It was the young forward who opened the scoring against his former club in only the third minute. Michael Piccolo found Luca Florez who prodded a through ball behind the home defence. Bailey appeared to be felled but advantage was played and Kreskas advanced onto the ball to slide a composed finish past Sam Brown in the Croatia goal and into the bottom corner. Canberra Croatia responded by upping the intensity but were hit by a sucker punch just before the half hour. Bailey was heavily involved again, reacting fastest to a ricochet and being felled inside the penalty area giving referee Alex Twomey a simple decision. Piccolo took the spot-kick, which was poorly struck, allowing Brown to save only for the ball to rebound kindly to the Blue Devils midfielder who nonchalantly tucked it home.

With a two-goal lead at the break Belconnen were in command of the clash but the champions got themselves back into the contest nine minutes after the resumption. Nikos Kalfas, on as a first-half substitute for the injured Nick Bobolas, played in Daniel Barac and his cross rebounded off the unfortunate Adrian Macor and fell straight to Jason Ugrinic who tapped into the empty net for his third league goal of the year. That gave Croatia a foothold in proceedings but, try as they might, and they continuously knocked on the door in the second half, they were unable to find a way through a stubborn Belconnen defence marshalled superbly by Cassidy Tanddo and Izach Clements at centre-back with Zac Maybury and skipper Taylor Beaton also outstanding.

Monaro Panthers would enter their match with Gungahlin United minus one of their forwards as news emerged that American import Lukman Ahmed-Shaibu had left the club in midweek, sensationally signing for SD Raiders in a move that was completed in a matter of

hours and out of the blue. Domenic Giampaolo and Sam Smith were also absent, but Head Coach Frank Cachia could welcome back Jeremy Habtemariam who was returning from suspension. And it was Habtemariam who was to have a huge bearing on the match, even though the match winner came in the shape of Stephen Domenici as Monaro won by the odd goal in five.

To claim their first points of the season the Panthers had to do it the hard way, coming from behind after conceding to the Gunners first attack of the contest in the eleventh minute. It was a galling blow for the Panthers who had started brightly and threatened Josh Lagudah in the Gungahlin goal with a couple of half-chances that came to naught. By contrast, the home teams break to strike the initial blow was devastating. Michael John rolled Josh Calabria with a beautiful feint and sprinted away from the defender who was left trailing on his wake. The cross was inchperfect, and Philippe Bernabo-Madrid didn’t need to break stride to connect with a thumping header that flashed past Evan Alexandrow-Ridley and into the corner.

Monaro responded well and Seb Woods, introduced into the starting team for the first time in 2021, was instrumental in the leveller. It was his astute pass that found Jeremy Habtemariam on the top of the box and his left-footed side-foot effort took a deflection that wrong-footed Lagudah and nestled in the net. If there was a touch of fortune about that goal, there certainly wasn’t about the one that put the visiting team ahead early in the second half. A terrific, long curving pass from central defender Lasse Olrik freed Domenici goal side of Bernard Rene and the ace forward strode confidently on to finish with aplomb across the Gunners custodian. Immediately Gungahlin replied. Lagudah’s long clearance gave John a glimpse and that was all he needed, cutting inside and shooting, a helpful deflection of David Jenkins seeing the ball flash into the roof of the net. It was reward for the forward who might have scored earlier from a superb piece of control and trickery only to scuff the shot when we’ll-placed.

That could have broken the Panthers, but they weren’t to be bowed on this occasion. A Tom Bobolas throw-in found Domenici inside the area and his control lifted the ball into the air. Contorting his body, the forward swivelled and unleashed a mid-air volley that arced into the top corner for a very special goal. There could have been more at both ends as, with a 32 deficit to chase, Gungahlin committed more into attack, but the best chance fell to substitute Ben Basser-Silk, the replacement somehow sliding wide of the goal when presented with a gilt-edged chance created by debutant substitute Beau Harvey in stoppage time. It mattered little in the end though as the Panthers finally bared their teeth.

Canberra Olympic suffered a second defeat in as many weeks as they slumped to a 5-0 defeat to Tigers FC on the AIS Synthetic, the Cooma team’s home match having been

switched from Nijong Oval due to incessant rain during the week. Robbie Cattanach was forced into fielding a makeshift back four with Nick Faust and Oliver Wiederkehr unavailable and the Tigers took full advantage of the unfamiliarity in front of James Christis as they confidently claimed all three points. Olympic’s young guns gave as good as they got in the opening exchanges but a brace of goals within two minutes of each other just past the half hour made certain that Tigers wouldn’t be denied. Nik Popovich had put the home side in front earlier, but it was Julian Borgna and Josh Gulevski that made sure they’d be no coming back for Olympic before the interval.

At 3-0 there as little chance of an Olympic recovery but the second-half display was much better even though the scoreboard increased eight minutes after the restart when Popovich netted his second of the match. Jay Kelly, on as a substitute, was able to add a fifth with seven minutes left in the match as the Tigers ended up with five. Having bashed half-a-dozen past Weston-Molonglo FC in their midweek FFA Cup Qualifying Quarter Final, the Tigers appeared to have found their goal touch at exactly the right time, a time where they could begin to make inroads into the teams above them in the table. With a swathe of attacking talent at his disposal, and a solid looking defence, Ryan Grogan had all the tools available to him to mount a serious title challenge.

Tuggeranong United came from behind to earn their second point of the season with a 1-1 draw against West Canberra Wanderers who continued to defy expectations as they increased their unbeaten run to four matches. Indeed, the Wanderers hadn’t lost since the opening day and the point they gained was enough to push them to the top of the League table. Alessandro Pena game the Wanderers the lead before Harrison Buesnel nodded in an equaliser just before half-time. Having failed to score in their opening four matches of 2020, the Wanderers had now scored in twelve league matches in a row and it was a sign of their progression that they, ultimately, would have been disappointed to come away from Kambah 2 with only a point from the Southside derby.

WNPL: CANBERRA CROATIA WIN TOP OF THE TABLE BATTLE

The duel between the two only undefeated teams in the WNPL at the start of 2021 ended in a Canberra Croatia win. In a rematch of last year’s Grand Final and this season’s Community Shield the Deakin side reminded Belconnen why they were the reigning champs with a dominating performance at McKellar Park. It could not have started better for the visitors when, five minutes in, Grace Gill found Brittany Palombi in the back of the defence in the box. The season’s leading goal scorer did not hesitate when facing Cristina Esposito and Sent the wrong way with her right foot to bring her tally to eight for the campaign. The Blue Devils would be dangerous on set pieces as usual, but never managed to head or volley the

ball on target. On the other end, Esposito had to stay alert with Palombi and Olivia Fogarty bringing danger from the wings but could not do anything when the former combined with Grace Gill in the box. After a ball recovered high by Bisset, Gill ran into the box, and after a one-two with Palombi, just had to tap the ball in for the second Canberra Croatia goal.

The visitors controlled the rest of the first-half, restricting Belconnen to only a couple of opportunities. They were the first one dangerous in the second-half too. Straight off the kick-off, Hagen launched Berkeley into the area, but the midfield shot went straight at Esposito. A minute later, Gill’s skilful footwork allowed her to face Esposito on a narrow angle, but again the ‘keeper was lucky to see the ball coming right in her gloves. The Blue Devils would again resort to set pieces to bring the danger around Ally Hinson, without much success despite Deakin defending poorly on most corner kicks. What became a cagey second-half was finally boosted with 15 minutes left, when Bomford gave some hope back to the home team. In the middle of the pitch, she inherited a loose ball, eliminated her opponent with an aerial control, and took a chance with her left foot from the edge of the box. Her strike found the bottom right corner to make it 2-1.

Belconnen tried to ride on that wave and push for the equaliser but, unfortunately for the Blue Devils, Hagen’s 80th minute corner kick was fumbled by Esposito, excellent until then, and Fogarty, all alone, appreciated the offering by scoring her team’s 3rd on the day and her personal 4th this season. The score would remain unchanged. Nik Brozinic and his team made a statement over the weekend, smothering the Blue Devils and showcasing all their talent and experience.

West Canberra took no prisoner in the Derby of the South, scoring five goals in the space of fifteen minutes. Tuggeranong United first offered good resistance, with their now signature dense and combative defence, and the game was a cagey one for the first-half hour. The Tuggies unfortunately still struggled in the build-up and rarely were able to string three passes together, let alone in their opponents’ half. The Wanderers waited patiently for their opportunity, and it came at the 35th minute with a skilful run by Alex McKenzie. Found in the back of the defence by Emma Stanbury, she outpaced her opponent to face Sophie Rolfe one-on-one. The Tuggeranong defence, passive for once, anticipated the cut back pass, but McKenzie decided to dribble Rolfe on her own to get a first goal of the season. Rhiannon Daisley was to respond straight away, but her shot from long range, headed to the top right corner, was beaten away by Janet King. The Wanderers would make the score comfortable before going back to the locker room, with Briana Maguire, fighting to get the ball back

between two defenders, who was there again to tap the ball in after McKenzie’s shot was deflected by Rolfe.

The Wanderers came out all guns blazing in the second-half with the firm intent to kill the game early on. A perfect free-kick by Tiana Jaber, found Sofia Chaverra between defenders and the keeper, and allowed her to score her third goal in as many games within ninety seconds. On the very next attack, Rolfe was forced to use her hands to stay in control of a back pass by Lara Mustaine, therefore conceding an indirect free-kick seven metres from her line. McKenzie just touched the ball and let her player/coach fire it in the bottom right corner, the first goal for Stanbury this season. The Wanderers would not stop there: another beautiful cross by Jaber found Kilkie Leten at the far post, the winger’s header leaving Rolfe helpless. In five minutes, all hopes were over for Tuggies. Stanbury’s players kept pushing, a were rewarded late in the game one last time. A long kick by King (who got an assist on that one), bounced in the Tuggies box, and Elizabeth Edwards protected the ball until she was in the right position to beat Rolfe and find the net.

Canberra Olympic finally got a taste of victory again after three straight losses, in the Riverina. Ashleigh Sykes’ four goals in an hour were too much for the Wanderers to hope for a better result. The game started on a high rhythm, with both teams keen to play direct football. After a couple of alerts through their wingers, the Olympic midfield finally found Ashleigh Sykes in the back of Wagga City’s defence. The Julie Dolan winner outpaced everyone, faced and dribbled Samantha Emms and scored her first of the day. The Wanderers had trouble getting through a very dense blue midfield, and unfortunately were not quick enough to defend on Sykes whenever she would be around the ball. At the end of one of her runs on the right wing, she found Rachael Hardwicke in the middle of the box. The former Panther’s shot was saved by Emms but released a couple of metre away, and Sykes was the most prompt to get the ball, scoring her second. Three minutes later, the two forwards combined again, and Sykes went from a run from her own half to face Emms on her own and smash the ball under the crossbar.

Hardwicke had an attempt from long range that Emms beat it away and Tianah Miro would also be denied twice by Emms, the young keeper from the Riverina showing week in week out how strong she is on her line. By the time the referee sent the two teams to the locker room, the Wanderers could feel lucky they had only conceded three times. Their best opportunity, like a symbol of that first-half, was a shot by Megan Castle, who hit the back of the legs of her own teammate when it could have been a dangerous strike for Aurelia Haynes.

The second-half was the same one-sided matchup, with a Wanderers’ team spending too much energy chasing the ball rather than keeping possession. Yet another ball behind the defence found Sykes at the 55th minute, and the striker easily sneaked her 7th of the season between Emms’ legs. She tried to offer a goal to Hardwicke instead of going for her fifth a minute later, but Olympic’s number nine sliced it over the crossbar. Anna Bennett would succeed at the 67th minute though, at the end of another run through Wagga’s defence. A minute later, Sykes series of dribbles was interrupted irregularly by Ava Tuksar in her own box, allowing Ali Cook to make it 6-0 from the spot kick. The Wanderers kept pushing until the end to try and get one in, unsuccessfully.

Vicki Linton, on the bench for the first time in 2021, saw her Canberra United team imitate their elders to cause an upset with a win against Gungahlin United. Gungahlin put their high press in place early and the Academy struggled to get the ball out of their half. Diego Iglesias’ squad was rewarded for their effort after ten minutes. Rachael Corbett stole a ball in her opponent’s feet 25 metres from Chloe Lincoln’s line, drove it towards the box and skilfully tapped it for Steffi Lejins. The former Academy player battled it out with Alyse Jensen, saw her shot deflected by the defender, and drop into the bottom right corner for the opener. The Academy tried to answer on set pieces and with long range shots. Following a corner kick set up undoubtedly rehearsed at training, Sasha Grove found Nikita Perry by herself at the far post, but her header glanced inches away from Kailey Tonini. It was Gungahlin’s turn to suffer under pressure, and the Gunners barely reached Lincoln’s box for the remainder of the half, mainly due to poor execution in the final third.

After Annie Grove missed a header from close to the goal line, and Sasha Grove failed in a one-versus-one with Kailey Tonini, the home team finally got a deserved equaliser five minutes before the break when Sofia Christopherson’s cross was deflected in her own net by Madeleine Perceval. Back from the locker room, Gungahlin did not waste any time to take the advantage, with another “goal of the season” moment for Jade Brown. Following a quick sequence, Brigitte Sander ran down the right wing, and crossed a low ball towards the 6-yard box. Brown skilfully let the ball roll to her back heel and executed a “Madjer” that left Lincoln no chance. The Gunners kept pushing forward, but it was the Academy that won it in 75th minute. A combined press by Sasha Grove and Anna Hunt that succeeded and stealing the ball off Ruby Gambale’s feet. The Gunners were left unmanned at the back and Hunt’s pass reached Christopherson at the far post, who just had to tap the ball in the empty net.

ROUND 6 NPL: TIGERS PURR WITH SECOND FIVE-GOAL HAUL

A treble from Julian Borgna and a double from Roko Strika helped the Tigers to a 5-1 hammering of West Canberra Wanderers in the early afternoon kick-off at Melrose Synthetic as the Tigers went top of the table ahead of the afternoon matches in Round 6. The only blot on the otherwise perfect landscape for the visiting team was the injury sustained by central defender Nathen Megic in the first-half, the captain rolling his ankle when landing awkwardly winning a header form which teammate Lachlan Griffiths probably should have scored. The injury looked quite severe and would keep Megic out of the line-up for the FFA Cup Qualifying Semi-Final tie with Yoogali the following Wednesday evening. Fortunately for Ryan Grogan it didn’t affect his team on the day as the in-form Tigers ran roughshod over the Wanderers with the attacking threat none more visible than in the form of the goal scoring duo.

The opening goal from Roko Strika was a thing of beauty and simplicity all at once. Nik Popovich flicked on a throw and Strika, collecting the ball in his stride, bundled off a challenge, and cracked a low shot into the bottom corner with unerring accuracy. It was just the tonic that the Tigers needed, and they doubled the tally just ten minutes later. Borgna got a shot at goal that deflected onto Strika’s pass with the playmaker’s heels clipped and referee Alex Twomey awarding a penalty. Borgna struck the spot-kick beautifully, high into the top corner giving Mason Interlandi in the Wanderers goal zero chance. It was two-nil at the break and the Tigers increased their advantage to three when Strika spun on a loose ball inside the area and clipped a finish past Interlandi for three. Borgna then took centre stage by completing a first NPL hat-trick of the season.

His second was a decent striker’s finish showcasing some silky skills and quick feet. Lachlan Griffiths sent a long ball forward to Josh Gulevski with the wide-man picking up the run of Borgna inside him. There was still plenty to do for the forward, but he ghosted past his marker, switched the ball from left to right and back in a flash, before slipping a stunning finish across the ‘keeper into the far corner for a delightful goal. There was more to come. Awarded a free-kick 25 yards from goal and to the left of the area, Borgna lifted a superb effort up and over the wall lancing it into the top corner for a quite breathtaking strike. West Canberra Wanderers had chances of their own, the best falling to Sebastian Ospina who got away from his marker only to blast his shot straight at Jakob Cole in the Tigers net. Substitute Jackson Paesler was more accurate in the final minute, cutting infield onto his left foot and hammering a shot straight as an arrow into the top comer. A classic goal, but little

consolation to a side beaten by five goals to one.

Attention switched to the two matches that kicked off at three o’clock as Canberra Olympic hosted Canberra Croatia and Belconnen United rolled out the welcome mat to Gungahlin United. Thirteen goals followed in two tremendous encounters with the Gunners and Blue Devils sharing six at McKellar Park whilst Croatia flexed their muscles in a 5-2 hammering of Olympic at O’Connor, six of those goals coming in a breathless first-half. It didn’t take Croatia, who ended the day at the top of the Premier League, long to break down Olympic, winning a penalty inside three minutes that was confidently despatched high into the roof of the net by Nikos Kalfas. One became two on the half-hour, a goal that sparked a run of four goals in seven improbable minutes.

Croatia’s goal came when Ryan Keir reacted fastest after James Christis pushed a shot onto the post, Keir on hand to steer the loose ball into the empty net. That seemed to galvanise Olympic, and the home side pulled one back in the 35th minute via a free-kick out wide. South American import Jonathan Kerzsberg, back after serving a suspension for being sent off for head butting Tuggeranong midfielder Shane Murray in the early rounds of the FFA Cup Qualifying competition, swung in the dead ball that Croatia custodian Sam Brown appeared to lose in the sun, it sailed over his head and into the net. That setback, which brought Olympic back to within a goal, appeared to pole the bear and the champions suddenly switched into gear and within two minutes of conceding had netted twice to lead 4-1.

Both goals showed how pace and tenacity can play a big part in the game as Daniel Barac sprinted onto a pass that should have been tidied up by the Olympic defence and rounded the ‘keeper to slot into the net. Seconds later there was another on the opposite flank as Jason Ugrinic repeated the feat, his goalbound effort being diverted into his own net by the retreating Michael Southam who was lunging to try and keep it out. The quick-fire double salvo brought back memories of the old Canberra Deakin sides of the early to mid-2000s who had the uncanny ability to kill off their opponents with a short, sustained, lethal spell of football. Olympic needed to score next to have even an inkling of a recovery and they managed just that two minutes into first-half injury time. Alen James was denied by a superb diving save by Brown, the ‘keeper spreadeagled to push the shot into the post only for Aisosa Ihegie to follow up and scoop the ball into the unguarded goal for his third league goal of the campaign.

Six goals in the opening half certainly got the blood pumping and, understandably, the goal

flurry was unlikely to continue into the second-halfas both teams fixed the defensive errors that had been capitalised on inside the first forty-five minutes. The goal that did arrive, the one that sealed the three points in the 5-2 win, came in the final three minutes and was a milestone for substitute Nikola Taneski. On for his debut in red, Taneski was handed a goal in a plate by Amilio Kista, the midfielder getting on the end of a move that began inside their own area and, in three passes, found the ball in the opposite box. Kista ran to the by-line and squares unselfishly for Taneski who side-footed into the unguarded goal.

There were half-a-dozen goals shared equally as the United’s of Belconnen and Gungahlin played out a six-goal stalemate over at McKellar, a superb advert for the game as the contest swung from end-to-end The Gunners trailed twice and led once, only to see Belconnen secure a point that they will feel, having been in front twice, should have been all three. Darren Bailey continued his emergence as a striker of real repute, press-ganged into the position by necessity, the left-back struck twice in the opening half hour, the first a precise finish when released into the left channel and the second a wonderful lob that dropped invitingly into the net. In between times Gungahlin had pulled one back, Philippe Bernabo-Madrid nodding in from almost on the goal-line after Moses Garang had chipped the advancing Jordan Thurtell, the Gunners forward making sure under pressure.

Misko Naumoski drew his team level in the second half, curling in from close range after being left unmarked inside the area following a swift Gunners attack, and the visitors went in front when Garang scored a cracker of his own. The lanky forward advanced deep into Belconnen territory and curled a magnificently taken effort from distance that bent and dipped over Thurtell into the top corner. Belconnen weren’t to be denied in their effort for a point, earning a share of the spoils with thirteen minutes remaining. Substitute Michael Mensah rose highest to meet a corner and thunder a header past Josh Lagudah in the goal for a brilliant equaliser. Both teams had chances thereafter to claim all three points, but a draw was a fair outcome to end a terrific day’s entertainment.

It was a very similar tale of the tape at the Riverside Stadium on the Saturday evening as the fourth and final game of Round 6 also ended in a high-scoring draw as Monaro Panthers and Tuggeranong United shared four goals apiece. These two teams had entered this fixture occupying the bottom two slots on the NPL table and there they would remain and, yet it was hard to see either Panthers or United staying there after an effervescent display from both teams that could easily have yielded victory. The Panthers would feel most aggrieved, feeling that they should have been playing at least forty-five minutes against ten men when United goalkeeper Jakeb Wiseman advanced from his area and handled a Seb Woods shot well outside the box just before the break. The officials decreed that the ball had struck Wiseman on the chest, much to the surprise of nearly everyone in the Stadium who felt for sure that the Tuggeranong goalkeeper was lucky to stay on the park.

At that stage, the visiting team were one goal to the good, Andrew Slavich having taken advantage of hesitation by Tim Bobolas, playing in the centre of defence in the absence of the injured Lasse Olrik, skipping on to a pass and rounding Evan Alexandrow-Ridley before firing a shot back across the retreating ‘keeper who was wrong-footed and couldn’t keep the ball out. It was a slender advantage, Slavich volleying over from the edge of the box at the end of a swift Tuggeranong attack that involved Cam Doherty and Euan Peterkin in

Tuggeranong’s other meaningful chance of the half. But it was the incident just prior to the break that had everyone talking, and the Panthers’ coaching staff seething at the official’s non-communication with each other.

They needn’t have worried as within four minutes of the restart the Panthers were level. A Tom McLachlan free-kick was cleared as far as Adam Neou who dropped the return ball perfectly into the path of full-back Josh Calabria. His first touch was exquisite and the second purposeful, stroking the ball past Wiseman and into the bottom corner for a finelytaken leveller. Tuggeranong appeared to have done enough to win it when they went in front for a second time with twelve minutes to play. A routine corner caused havoc inside the Panthers area with substitute Brandon Cashmore cracking a shot, with his first touch some ten seconds after coming off the bench, into the cluster of players. The ricochet fell to Peterkin who stooped to conquer, heading in from close range. Tuggeranong’s inability to clear a set-piece was to hurt them again inside the final ninety seconds however as Calabria struck again. Dom Giampaolo floated in the cross and Calabria emerged from the pack unmarked to send a diving header hurtling into the back of the net and secure a point.

WNPL: EIGHT-GOAL THRILLER AT O’CONNOR ENCLOSED

The reigning champions, Canberra Croatia, kept their undefeated run alive in NPLW with victory over Wagga City Wanderers but were forced to wait for the last fifteen minutes to get comfortable on the scoreboard against a less experienced Wanderers that showed a lot of spirit and resilience before running out of steam. The home team negotiated well an outing that could have been complicated, to end a week where they faced Belconnen twice. The game started with Nik Brozinic’s team on the front foot. With Grace Gill and Olivia Fogarty on the bench, Brittany Palombi led the forward line alongside Jordan Ujdur and Sharon Chao. The Golden Boot for 2020, well on her way for a repeat, created a couple of opportunities for herself early on and struck after only ten minutes. In very Palombi fashion, she found a pocket of space at the edge of the box and delivered a thunderous strike in the top left corner, out of reach of Samantha Emms. The keeper would be the main reason the score was not more severe at half time, thanks to a few saves to push the danger away. The rest of the first-half was a battle of the midfield, with Canberra Croatia trying to build up momentum and Sam Gray’s squad defending heroically and trying to develop football in transition.

The second-half started with Nik Brozinic’s team in the same mindset, and Gill on the pitch, but the local unfortunately came out injured 20 minutes later. It did take Croatia little time to increase the lead as, after a ball was cleared away too casually by the Wanderers’ defence, Alice Churchill delivered a perfect cross to the middle of the box. Unchallenged,

Isabella Barac had the time to control the ball and wrong foot Emms for her first goal of the season. Wagga City tried to answer with Megan Castle, but the visitors leading scorer’s chance from out of the box lacked the power needed to worry Ally Hinson. Chantel Jones, Olivia Fogarty, and Jamie Berkeley all on the field for the last twenty minutes brought Canberra Croatia the freshness needed to suffocate their opponent.

Emms would deny Jones a goal once, but seconds later the new entrant would take her time to pick out the bottom corner from point blank range. Jones added a couple of assists to her tally of the day. The first one was for Krista Hagen. Launched in behind the defence, the crafty midfielder snuck the ball between the keeper and her near post. Brittany Palombi, for her 10th goal of the season already, received the second assist from Jones at the 86th minute, when her shot from outside the box bounced just before and over Emms to make it 6-0. In between these 2 goals, Jenny Bissett also added her name to the scoresheet, with a left footed effort at the end of a solo run.

The game of the week surely saw Canberra Olympic levelling with the Academy four times on Sunday at O’Connor Enclosed. The epic showdown between Nicole Begg and Vicki Linton went to the wire, with three goals scored in the last quarter of an hour. The game started with the high intensity we have come to expect from both teams, and the visitors would not waste time, taking the leading after just over five minutes thanks to their leading goal scorer. Anna Hunt’s powerful strike from the edge of the area found the empty net, just after Aurelia Haynes had superbly won her duel with Sasha Grove by her near post. Olympic tried to answer quickly through Ashleigh Sykes, but the runs by the former W-League player were met by fierce defensive efforts by the Academy.

The game turned into a disputed battle of the midfield with Begg’s team having the best chances and Chloe Lincoln keeping her net untouched just before the break. Ally Cook’s free-kick from close to the halfway line reached the box, and Lincoln, trying to punch it away, misjudged the trajectory, and Rachael Hardwicke, like a real poacher, waited for the ball to bounce towards her and headed it into the empty net. Olympic tried to take advantage of the momentum but Lincoln, again, was in Sykes way when she tried to score from short range. Sadly, for the home side, a combined mistake by their centre back and goalkeeper offered Sofia Christopherson the goal needed to put the Academy back up seconds before the half time whistle.

Begg’s team came back on the field guns blazing to try and level the score again, and the solution, as often for Olympic, came from her twin sister. Sykes saw her first attempt, a

powerful left footed effort, crashed on the crossbar; the second one, from the right, was denied by Lincoln, but the third one, a volley after she headed the ball for herself, snuck between the keeper’s legs to make it 2-2. Christopherson replied, assisted by Anna Hunt, to give United their third advantage on the day. Lincoln kept the lead intact with another great save following Hardwicke’s shot, but on the following corner, could not grab the ball, offering Cook her first goal of the day from point blank range. Christopherson would go on and get a hat trick for the visitors, earning a corner kick and scoring an unorthodox goal with her knees at the end of it. With five minutes left on the clock, the Academy probably thought the game was in the bag but from the kick-off, Sykes ran towards the box, only to be fouled just outside it. From 18 meters, Ally Cook’s free-kick perfectly dipped behind the wall and out of reach for Lincoln, for the 8th and last goal of this thriller.

It was two for two for West Canberra against Gungahlin United in a week after their midweek win in extra-time in the Federation Cup semi-final, and another win grabbed in the dying moments of the league contest. The game at Gungahlin Enclosed started as a cagey affair, between two teams probably tired from the mid-week game. Forced to resort to long range shots in the first-half, the Wanderers fired the first efforts, with Emma Stanbury and Tiana Jaber trying to put Kailey Tonini under pressure, without success. The Gunners needed a while to find their bearings, and finally bring the danger around Janet King’s area, without finding the target. The game gained in intensity, with both teams creating half opportunities, but mainly showcasing their excellent defending ability. The best opportunity in the first 45 minutes would be credited to Elke Aitolu. Five minutes before the break, the home teams forward took her responsibility on a free-kick from 20 meters. Her ball perfectly swerved over the wall and came crashing onto King’s crossbar, leaving the striker wondering how she had not scored.

The second-half began with a similar rhythm, with West Canberra defending more than they were attacking, and the Gunners using the width of the pitch again to find solutions. The pressure resulted in a couple of clear-cut chances for the home team. Their best shot at scoring in the second-half was a chance for Jade Brown, who ran in the six-yard box to cut a cross by Natalie De Marco. The young striker volleyed the ball from point blank range, but King was fortunate to see the shot going straight at her. The deciding moment came in the 87th minute. Following one of many runs by Jaber on the right wing, Emma Stanbury took possession outside the area. Without hesitation, the skipper took her chance, and her powerful shot forced Tonini to a dive on to her right to make a superb save. Unfortunately for the keeper, she was only able to slap the ball away in her six-yard box, and substitute Elizabeth Edwards was the fastest to get the rebound and bury it in the back of the net.

The Blue Devils got a much-needed win in Kambah, after two losses in a week to Canberra Croatia. The final score of 6-0 felt harsh on Tuggeranong once again, who wasted early opportunities that could have changed the game. Michael Zakoski started the game in a 3-52 he introduced mid-week in the Federation Cup semi-final, but with two new faces in his back three, Maria Pachi and Jasmine Zabel surrounding Karen Clarke. Tuggeranong would not let the new starting line-up any time to set up, and probably took the Blue Devils by surprise with their speed in transition. The Tuggies’ defence, very much like against Canberra Croatia, proved hard to get through, with Ash-Lee Condon coordinating her team’s efforts perfectly. Seconds after Michaela Thornton found Sophie Rolfe’s post, Madeleine

Magee would offer the home team their best opportunity of the game. Launched behind the defence, she ran towards the box, but her shot from the edge of the area ended inches wide of Cristina Esposito’s goals. Later, Magee, on her way to another duel with the Blue Devils’ keeper was stopped illegally by Karen Clarke, in position of last defender. The referee took his time and decided to only give the centre back a yellow card, where a red card would have suffered no contestation.

Belconnen weathered the storm and decided to wait for their turn. The solution came from set pieces, with Clarke scoring the first goal of the day after the half hour mark. The direct free-kick, from over 30 metres away, surprised Rolfe and found the back of the net. Another free-kick, taken by Leah Carnegie minutes later, was successfully headed in by Talia Backhouse at the far post. Belconnen would give themselves more breathing space before the half, with Cassia McGlashan, following an umpteenth cross by Leah Carnegie, bundling the ball into the back of Rolfe’s net. Thornton was next on target, finding the inspiration to strike the ball from distance to clean the cobweb sin the top right corner of Tuggeranong’s goal. The Tuggies would almost never bother Esposito in that second-half but would keep defending with the intensity shown in the first act. Belconnen would improve their goal difference in the last 15 minutes thanks to two more goals, from Vanessa Ryan from short range, and Thornton, again from long range, chipping the ball over Rolfe.

ROUND 7 NPL: WANDERERS DREAM RUN CONTINUES

West Canberra Wanderers eased themselves to the top of the NPL table at the end of the Saturday play in the competition with their 2-0 win over Belconnen United seeing Ulisses da Silva’s team leapfrog the three above them, moving from fourth up to top ahead of the two fixtures scheduled for Sunday afternoon. It was a welcome return to form for the home team who had been gun-shy in a heavy loss to the Tigers at the same venue a week prior but, on this occasion, they had the measure of the Blue Devils who dropped to fourth place on the ladder as a third of the season had been completed. The visitors could well have got back into the match in the second-half only for striker Michael Mensah to miss from the spot after Belconnen had been awarded a penalty with seven minutes played in the second half. They never recovered from that heartbreak, but Wanderers were well worthy of the three points.

The Wanderers had taken the lead in only the sixth minute as defender Shae Thornton stole in unmarked at the back post to volley in a free-kick, an expertly taken goal for his first at this level. It was just the start that the home team wanted, and they were able to kick on from that and double their advantage before the half-time break. Jackson Paesler had shown his penchant for a superb strike or two already in 2021, the latest just a week prior when he lashed in a consolation at home to the Tigers. This effort lacked the power of that one but was equally classy. Paesler collected the ball on the right and cut infield, taking on the defence before curling a beauty past Jordan Thurtell from fully 25-metres for a wonderfully taken goal and a 2-0 half-time cushion. It was enough for West Canberra to rack up a fourth win of the season and meant that, at this stage of the campaign, only Gungahlin United and the Tigers had lowered the Wanderers colours in league action.

The commentary match on Saturday took the cameras to O’Connor Enclosed and what was hoped would be an exciting clash between Canberra Olympic and Tuggeranong United. What transpired was a rather stodgy affair, not helped by the constant interruption of the referee’s whistle for a string of free-kicks, many of which would be described as ’soft’. This culminated in the dismissal of United defender Jonathan Turek late in the second half, however there would be few in attendance that would have criticised the decision to sendoff Turek, guilty of grabbing the hair of Olympic winger Tapaia Ringi for no real apparent reason that could be seen. Ringi’s reaction was enough to suggest he may have seen a card as well, although of the yellow variety when, in fact, he escaped censure completely. United also saw a goal chalked off for handball, Marco Gayer bundling home a magnificent cross

from Andrew Slavich, even though there were indications that the ball was out of play by the time Slavich managed to get his cross into the box.

Olympic also had a goal ruled out, Chris Reay heading in an Aisosa Ihegie cross, the winger adjudged to have been offside when meeting the ball with a meaty finish in the first-half. By that stage Olympic were already ahead. From the first corner of the afternoon, Cale Brown swung in a delicious cross to the back post where Ihegie ghosted in unmarked to launch a diving header beyond the reach of Jakeb Wiseman and into the top corner. It was the Olympic hitman; s fourth goal of the season and he was causing havoc against his former club with a series of scintillating runs. His power made life difficult for Harrison Buesnel and Turek and when Ihegie beat the latter to a long ball in the dying embers of the first-half, James Crawford suddenly found himself with a free run clear on goal. Wisemen advanced and spread himself to block Crawford’s shot, keeping his team in the match and ensuring they trailed by just one at the interval.

Olympic’s advantage lasted just four minutes after the resumption as Tuggeranong equalised from a corner of their own. Shane Murray supplied the delivery, his in-swinging corner dropping out of the setting sunshine and being missed by a clutch of players at the near post before hitting Buesnel on the thigh and crawling inside James Christis’ near post. Buesnel’s celebration was almost apologetic in the circumstances, but it was a crucial goal at a critical moment for United. Quite how important it might be was for another day as the match ended all-square, only the second draw between the two teams in NPL history and Tuggeranong’s first ever point at O’Connor Enclosed.

After going a whole season unbeaten, albeit in a shortened campaign, Canberra Croatia lost for the third time in the last five matches as they stumbled to a 0-1 loss away to Gungahlin United. For some inexplicable reason, the champions always seem to struggle away to the Gunners and, since their introduction into the competition in 2015, had only ever scored three goals in away matches against them. Quite why that was the case, when they sweep all challengers aside on a regular basis, was one of those football quirks. On this occasion, the reason for their lack of goals was quite simple, the form of the Gungahlin United defensive unit. Badreldin Abbas was a colossus in the back four, a ‘nothing shall pass’ attitude exemplified by the way he handled the much-vaunted Canberra Croatia attack with relative ease. Nikola Taneski, making his first start for the club, was largely anonymous, taken out of the equation by Abbas and his central defensive colleague Bernard Rene. With full backs Robert Tkatchenko and Jacob Kite, the latter making only his second NPL start, in solid form, the visitors could not find a way through.

They did threaten in the opening half, Nikos Kalfas sending a firm right-foot drive thundering against the post and then seeing another effort saved by Josh Lagudah. Lagudah made an even better save towards the end of the first forty-five minutes, spreading himself to block a Taneski shot when Kalfas squared a ball to his centre-forward who looked certain to score. Those were the best moments for Dean Ugrinic’s team, their other moment of concern for the home support coming mate on when Ryan Keir got in behind but got too much on his volley from eight yards, slamming it high over the bar with Lagudah staring down the barrel. In truth though those opportunities were rare examples on a day in which Gungahlin won the midfield battle, ensuring that the Croatia engine room was left spluttering rather than purring as it has become accustomed to.

The moment that decided the match arrived exactly on the hour mark. Roy Anderson was influential, the young midfielder gliding almost effortlessly across the baize-like surface of the AIS and evading a couple of would-be challengers to slip a ball to the left of Michael John, standing with his back to goal. John needed no second invitation and spun on the spot to despatch a lethal right-foot drive low, and beyond the reach of Sam Brown in the Canberra Croatia goal, to nestle into the bottom corner. It was a real touch of class, and a goal worthy of settling any contest. Gungahlin hadn’t won since Round 1 when they comfortably saw off West Canberra Wanderers at Melrose Synthetic and there were plenty of questions about whether they could cope without their skipper Jack Green. Gunners needed a statement win and, with these three points, they got one.

The Monaro Panthers meanwhile weren’t looking for statement win, they were just looking for any win, as they slumped to another defeat, going down 1-3 to the Tigers at Nijong Oval. The loss left the Panthers at the foot of the table on goal difference behind Tuggeranong United who had a game in hand on their rivals. To cap it all off, ahead of a Wednesday evening FFA Cup Semi-Final meeting with League Champions Canberra Croatia, Monaro would be without their Head Coach after Frank Cachia was admitted to hospital after suffering what turned out to be a blood clot on his calf. A timely reminder, if any were needed, that the NPL was after all merely a game and not all-important. In the absence of their coach, the Panthers were led by their assistant coaches, namely Ian Worthington and Matt Cachia.

The home side, who had reached the FFA Cup Qualifying Final themselves in midweek with a nervy 1-0 win over Yoogali SC, got off to the perfect start when Nic Popovich, the player whose goal sent to the Final showdown, netted the first of what was to be a brace of goals in the 18th minute. It was a lead that the Tigers held until the final minute of the half when Josh Calabria, who had bagged a double himself in the previous Round’s 2-2 draw with

Tuggeranong United, kept up his scoring streak with a beautifully placed free-kick to send the Panthers into the changing rooms level at one apiece. Monaro would look to an incident early in the second-half to claim what could easily have been a turning point in the contest. Tom McLachlan struck from range, only to see the ball cannon off the post and fall to Jeremy Habtemariam who seized on the rebound. The waif-like midfielder went past his marker who certainly made contact the back of Habtemariam who went down appealing for the spot-kick only to see it waved away by the officials.

There may have been a case for Monaro, and they felt double aggrieved when, with nineteen minutes to play, the hosts were awarded a penalty of their own. Popovich, usually so reliable from the spot, stepped up to ram the kick home and give his team the lead. Four minutes later they made the points secure, and with it took over top spot on the league table by a point from West Canberra Wanderers. Josh Gulevski, who had been less freescoring than in previous seasons, collected a pass close to the top of the box and thrashed a low drive through a crowd of players and past Evan Alexandrow-Ridley in the Panthers goal.

WNPL: WANDERERS TITLE CONTENDERS?

There are only so many upsets a team can cause before they are considered a real contender. The Wanderers clearly showed their intent for the rest of the season with this point taken at McKellar. Emma Stanbury had her team set-up defensively for the first ten minutes, dense in the middle of the park to avoid leaving too much space to the home team. Clarke, Isabella Tammaro and Jazmine Zabel too often had to resort to long ball to get out of their own half, making the job easier for Sarah Whitfield and her teammates on the other end. The game became a cagey affair where both teams tried their luck from long range or on set pieces, without really causing trouble to the goalkeepers. The Blue Devils seemed to lose a bit of composure towards the end of the firsthalf, overcommitting to some challenges and committing a couple of dangerous fouls around the box. Unfortunately, 3 minutes before the break, it was in the box that Sarah Johnston’s charge on Stanbury was deemed irregular by the referee. The player/coach decided to face Cristina Esposito herself and sent the ‘keeper the wrong way from the spot.

West Canberra would be the first to make a mistake after the half-time break. A long ball in the box by Olivia Bomford was misjudged by both the central defence and Janet King, but not by Talia Backhouse, who pounced and headed it over King to equalise. The momentum was Belconnen’s, and Bianca Kimpton’s shot from the edge of the box a minute later was inches away from being her team’s second goal of the day. West Canberra dropped lower to try and disrupt the Belconnen offense, turning to counter attacks to bring the danger near

Esposito’s area. On one of them, Whitfield addressed a perfect ball in behind the Blue Devils’ defence for Sofia Chaverra. The Wanderers’ leading scorer saw her shoot crash onto the post and be cleared on the line by Tammaro. With under ten minutes left, Belconnen, just like a week before, got lucky to have all eleven players on the pitch until the end, when Thornton, already on a yellow, fouled Chaverra who was going to enter the box. The whistle was blown but no card for the captain, and the following free-kick landed just wide of Esposito’s left post.

Another week, another win for Canberra Croatia, who had to fight long and hard for this one, at home against Gungahlin United. The game in Deakin was high in intensity, and the home team was dangerous first on set pieces in the opening ten minutes, with Krista Hagen’s header over the crossbar the biggest warning for Kailey Tonini. Gungahlin had to wait patiently at first, dropping a bit deeper and looking for solutions in transition. Croatia struck first when Olivia Fogarty collected the ball at the edge of the box and her powerful shot was beaten away by the Gunners’ keeper. The following corner kick ended up in a scramble in the box and a penalty given to the home team, a bit harshly, for an involuntary handball by Ruby Gambale. NPLW leading goal scorer, Brittany Palombi took the matter in her own hands and scored her 11th goal of the season from the spot kick. The goal was a bit of a wake-up call for Gungahlin who had been solid until then defensively but too timid on the other end of the pitch. The solution would come from set piece, and thanks to Natalie De Marco, on her 100th game in NPLW. A long-range free-kick by Elke Aitolu bounced right in front of Ally Hinson who could only push the ball away, straight at De Marco who buried it from point blank range.

The second stanza began in a similar fashion with Gungahlin United trying to play short out of defence but giving away the ball too cheaply, too often. Their defensive effort was a real work of resilience and determination however, and an issue for Canberra Croatia, rarely able to find space in and around the box. The Gunners had the most dangerous opportunity of the opening ten minutes with a great sequence of play initiated and ended by Aitolu, whose cross ran along the goal line with none of her teammate able to tap it in the back of the net. Gungahlin started to play, and press, higher up the field in the last 20 minutes to try and get more than a draw away from home. The plan almost worked out when Ella Brown’s free-kick from a distance landed inches away from Hinson’s right post. The answer came from the home team’s new entrant, Chantel Jones, who followed up a shot by Krista Hagen deflected by the Gunners and found herself facing Tonini alone. The striker took her time and chipped the ball over the keeper’s shoulder to give her team the win. The Gunners called for offside, and it was a very close call, but the goal was allowed.

The Academy kept their run alive with a 5th undefeated game. In the Riverina, it took Vicki Linton’s team less than a half to take a comfortable lead over the Wanderers. The Academy had the first opportunities early in the game, but neither Nikita Perry’s, nor Anna Hunt’s efforts found the target. The first goal of the game came a minute later, thanks to a penalty generously given to the visitors. Meg Roden faced Samantha Emms and wrong-footed the keeper to get an early lead. The home team’s task was made harder when the Wanderers found themselves with only 10 players on the pitch for ten minutes, with Cristina GrauerKompos sent to the sin bin for dissent. The Academy would not let the opportunity pass and scored twice in that time. Roden, again, found the back of the net after a great ball through by Perry in behind the defence, and minutes later Annie Grove, in the box for a corner kick, needed two attempts to volley the ball past Emms from close range, despite calls for a handball.

Hunt almost made it 4-0 three minutes later, but Emms smash the striker’s attempt up in the air first, then out of danger, just as GrauerKompos was coming back on the field. Unfortunately for the home team the very next Academy attack would bring the fourth goal, with Hunt taking the right wing and crossing the ball close to Emms, for Sasha Grove to volley it from point blank range, leaving the Wanderers’ keeper no chance. By that point, the Wanderers had barely tested Chloe Lincoln but would still find a goal just before half time. Megan Castle, in the middle of the park, saw Kirilee Cameron’s run and launched a ball perfectly behind the defence. Running at Lincoln alone, the midfielder took her time and found the bottom right of the goals to make it 4-1 before half time.

Canberra United Academy started the second stanza still going forward but with Wanderers also cresting chances. Another combination from Cameron-Castle almost led to a second goal, but latter’s touch in the box was a bit too long and Lincoln could pick it up and clear the danger. A scramble in the other box, following a free-kick by Latisha Babic, benefitted Hunt who tapped the ball in to put her team four goals up again with 30 minutes left to play. This time the Wanderers would answer immediately, with a penalty given for a handball by Alyse Jensen. Megan Castle placed the ball, and her powerful strike found the bottom left corner. Her team could not capitalize on the momentum unfortunately, and the Academy took over the end of the game, circulating the ball well and forcing Wagga City to defend lower. Despite several attempts, the visitors were not able to make the score worse until the dying moments of the game, when Sofia Christopherson facing Emms for the second time in two minutes, finally got past the keeper with the help of the post.

Canberra Olympic confirmed their good form of late, with a third game undefeated beating Tuggeranong 4-0. Kambah was once again the stage of wasted opportunities for the home

team, dominating at times but showing week in week out their lack of experience in front of goals. The better start was for new United coach Paulo’s Romero’s squad, with a high pressure early on. On three occasions times in the first five minutes, they could have taken advantage of some fragility in the Olympic defence. Tuggies were able to recover the ball close to the visitors’ penalty area and increase pressure on Aurelia Haynes, forcing the keeper to make mistakes that could have been costly. Nicole’s Begg defence bent but did not break, and on one of their first dangerous counterattacks, Ashleigh Sykes used her pace to dribble past Sophie Rolfe, only to be shoved in the back by the returning Stephanie Coates. The referee did not hesitate to point at the spot kick, and Ally Cook, seven minutes in and against the run of play, gave her team an advantage they would keep until the end.

Slowly, Olympic took over possession in the first-half, Rachael Hardwicke and Lara Burdett finding more space than they needed to organize the play against a Tuggeranong team less organised in the press and, from another foul on Sykes, Olympic were awarded a second penalty. Ally Cook was happy to bury it in the bottom left corner, just like the first one, to score her 6th goal of the season – the 3rd from the spot. Begg had introduced Heather Garriock into the line-up at the interval, and the former Matilda had an instant impact. It took her four minutes to launch Sykes into the area, a chance that saw the striker wrongfooting Rolfe for the third goal of the day. Several times, Anna Vandenbroucke, Hardwicke, Sykes or Garriock thought they would add another goal to their tally, but the Tuggies defence stood firm. The dynamic shifted in the last twenty minutes, with the entrance of Melinda Reavell bringing energy and spirit to the Tuggeranong front line. More opportunities came their way, but again, the lack of execution in the last third, plus some solid work from Olympic’s defence, would get in the way of a goal. It would be Garriock that would score the last goal of the day instead. After a clever one-two with Sykes, the midfielder faced Rolfe alone and opened her left foot to find the opposite side of the goal.

In midweek, Tuggeranong United and Gungahlin United met in the rearranged Round 4 fixture at the AIS with the game proving to be entertaining despite the ultimate 0-0 draw. The stalemate was United’s fifth draw in a row, a remarkable statistic that had them seventh on the table with only five points, having lost less games than the champions, Canberra Croatia, four places above them! The first-half was tight with two organised teams cancelling each other out and the Gunners edging it. Connor Nolan for Tuggeranong and Michael John for Gungahlin had half-chances but he best chance of the game fell to Tuggeranong striker Eddie Coggan, making his first start of the season. A raking pass from Regan Walsh, diagonally across field from the right, sent Coggan in on goal but his scuffed finish, under pressure from Josh Lagudah, wasn’t the required ending for the home team who were forced to feel an understrength unit.

ROUND 8 NPL: SIX DRAWS IN SUCCESSION FOR LUCKLESS TUGGERANONG

Quite incredibly, Tuggeranong United earned a sixth draw in succession as they were forced to share the spoils on a cool Saturday afternoon at McKellar Park, held to a 1-1 stalemate by Belconnen United who played the final quarter of the match with only ten men following the dismissal of central defender Izach Clements for a second yellow card offence. Clements had taken exception to a challenge from Connor Nolan, a tackle that earned the Tuggeranong midfielder a yellow card himself, lashing out in retaliation and leaving referee Nathan Shakespear no alternative but to brandish a second yellow, followed swiftly by the red. Perhaps Clements had been lucky to escape a straight red for his actions, but no matter what, the decision appeared to be the correct one. Nolan had earlier enjoyed a tete-a-tete with fellow Scotsman Darren Bailey, deployed in a two-man frontline alongside the bullish Michael Mensah. That duo was largely well marshalled by the teenage centre back pairing of man mountain Tarisayi Mbogo and Harrison Buesnel in an absorbing battle of youth against experience.

In a tight opening stanza, it was the Blue Devils who hit the front just before the interval. Taylor Beaton won the ball in midfield and when Daniel Felizzi tried something slightly too extravagant, he was robbed by Luca Florez who skipped easily away from the challenge of the Tuggeranong right back with some quick feet and skipped a pass across the face of the six-yard box where Bailey nipped in to stab home his fifth goal of the season. It was a goal that Bailey’s performance deserved, the defender-turned-hitman proving a nuisance whenever the ball was played into his channel. That poacher’s effort was the difference between the two teams at the break, however it didn’t take Tuggeranong long to pull themselves level upon the resumption.

Marco Gayer was introduced as a substitute for Daniel Fulton in the 58th minute and, within sixty seconds, had drawn his team back on terms. Shane Murray started the move, sweeping a pass wide to Regan Walsh who played a pass infield to gayer. His first touch back to Walsh was deflected wide but allowed Euan Peterkin, a half-time change, to back-heel a pass to Cameron Doherty. Doherty’s resultant cross was inch-perfect allowing Gayer to meet it on the full, nodding back across Jordan Thurtell and into the net off the base of the far post. Both teams had a god chance to claim all three points after Clements had departed the scene, Harry Truman, making his first start of 2021, drilling a shot that Thurtell did well to save amidst huge appeals for handball by the Blue Devils faithful, a cry that looked more than reasonable. At the other end, Dustin Wells blasted a long-range effort that brushed the

fingertips of Jakeb Wiseman in the Tuggeranong goal, before crashing back off the bar, the rebound falling to safety as the game ended all-square.

At O’Connor Enclosed Monaro Panthers, who had reached the FFA Cup Qualifying Final in midweek with a gutsy penalty shoot-out win over Canberra Croatia, eked a measure of revenge for their Round 1 loss to Canberra Olympic by claiming a 2-1 success that dragged them off the foot of the NPL table. It was a vital win for Olympic, still without Head Coach Frank Cachia recovering from illness, as it moved the Panthers to within a point of Canberra Olympic, and a point ahead of draw specialists Tuggeranong United. The visiting team had to rely on a penalty to claim the victory though, Samuel Habtemariam blasting a low effort from the spot away from the reach of Mason Interlandi in the Olympic goal to settle the issue. Olympic slumped to a sixth game without a win, having only picked up two points in that period, a far cry from the opening two wins of the season which had promised much for Robbie Cattanach and his young squad.

Olympic weren’t without chances, and the narrowness of defeat may have had some encouraging signs for the home support, but much like those around them on the table after eight rounds, there may have been some nervous glances and checking of the fixture lists ahead of forthcoming matches. The opening goal of the contest was beautifully crafted by the Panthers in the 35th minute, an incisive attack culminating with former Olympic players Tom McLachlan and Stephen Domenici exchanging passes, allowing the former to stride on and finish with the outside of the right boot underneath the advancing Interlandi. That goal gave Monaro a slender but deserved half-time advantage.

The lead lasted less than a minute as Olympic came out firing on all cylinders. Jonathan Kerszberg played a prominent part in the equaliser, battling to shrug off a couple of halfhearted Panthers’ tacklers to swing a ball wide into the left channel. A slick passing movement out wide ended with a perfect delivery across the face of the six-yard box where Aisosa Ihegie readjusted his feet to slide his fifth goal of the campaign past Evan Alexandrow-Ridley from close range. The Panthers were rocked but unlike in Round 1 they regrouped and won the decisive penalty from which Habtemariam capped a good week from the spot for the Panthers by slamming home the match-winner.

A game of strange decisions and turning points saw West Canberra Wanderers return to the top of the NPL table with a 2-1 win over Gungahlin United at the AIS. With Canberra Croatia overturning Tigers FC by the same score line, the Wanderers proudly sat atop the pile after eight rounds. Capital Football brought in an interstate official for the clash, Tarren Richards given the middle having switched from Queensland to Wagga and, whilst letting the game flow, he was at the centre of three decisions that affected the outcome of what was an even

and balanced affair. The first of those trio came inside the first-half when Marko Jadric, Wanderers delightfully fluid central midfielder, was adjudged to have felled Gungahlin’s Nick Rathjen inside the box, although contact appeared to be minimal if any. The referee saw otherwise and awarded a penalty. Michael John took it, but his hop, step and a jump proceeded a poorly taken effort that was easily repelled by Mason Interlandi in the Wanderers goal. That was the best chance of the first forty-five minutes and the teams entered the break all-square at 0-0.

The game swung in a three-minute spell at the commencement of the second stanza as the Wanderers struck twice. The first came from a free-kick from out wide, a delivery that Alessandro Pena floated into the penalty area that was haphazardly dealt with by Josh Lagudah in the Gunners goal. The shot-stopper uncharacteristically fumbled the delivery, perhaps unsighted by the sunshine that was glaring in his eyes and was helpless as Shane Thornton snapped onto the rebound and clattered a shot high past Lagudah and onto the roof of the net. It was the holding midfielders second goal in successive weeks. If that was a great start to the half for Ulisses Da Silva’s team it was to get even better only three minutes later. Ryan Gulevski was stunned to be penalised for fouling Jackson Paesler when most in the ground agreed that the free-kick should have gone the other way.

That didn’t excuse the rank bad defending that followed, Pena sending in the dead ball and finding Babin Paudyal completely unmarked ten yards from goal. Paudyal flicked the ball on with perfect timing, arcing his header into the far corner and giving Lagudah absolutely no chance of saving. Gungahlin needed a response and Marcial Munoz sent on top scorer Philippe Bernardo-Madrid, back from injury, to try and rescue the situation. BernaboMadrid almost reduced the arrears with a powerful header that Interlandi did well to push away for a corner. The ‘keeper could do nothing with the Gunners goal five minutes from time when Roy Anderson met a Misko Naumoski corner with a header which appeared to hit his own arm before looping in. Anderson looked like he gave himself up with his reaction, only for the goal to be awarded. Gunners tried in vain to get a leveller, but Wanderers had done enough and were on the summit by the end of the day.

At Deakin Stadium, Canberra Croatia called on all their powers of perseverance and character in coming from behind to claim a vital 2-1 win against league leaders Tigers FC. Having been dumped from the FFA Cup Qualifying competition at the semi-final stage in midweek, Croatia were understandably flat in the opening half and, when the opposition is as stacked in quality as the Tigers, that can only end one way. It did take until seconds before the half-time whistle for the visitors to make the breakthrough but, when they did, it was a goal for some substance. Breaking swiftly from their defensive third, Sam Whithear was allowed to run unchecked by the Croatia midfield, freeing Tony Madaffari down the left wing. His lunging cutback, after slightly miss-controlling the ball, fell nicely for Josh Gulevski who cut back into his left foot and despatched a superb low strike into Sam Brown’s bottom right-hand corner.

Dean Ugrinic had shuffled his pack for the encounter, and it was one of his inclusions that brought his team level in the second half. The goal was well worked and beautifully executed, Nik Taneski feeding Marko Vrkic outside the penalty area for Vrkic to sweep a leftfooted shot that was always curling out of the reach of Jakob Cole in the Tigers net. At 1-1

the scene was set for one of these clubs to step up and take what, in the long-term planning of both, could prove to be a hugely significant victory. And it was the home team that found a way with seventeen minutes remaining. Matt Grbesa fired a 50-metre raking pass over the retreating Tigers defence for Nikos Kalfas and the forward side-stepped Cole before the ‘keeper brought him down, the covering defenders on the line saving Cole from dismissal.

Kalfas, who was introduced as a substitute in the Cup loss, took on the responsibility himself only to slide a poor spot-kick low to Cole’s left. The goalkeeper saved, but could not hold the ball and, as it squirmed free, Kalfas reacted fastest and, with a modicum of relief, tapped into the gaping net to put Croatia in the lead. Cole would be disappointed that he couldn’t hold the penalty but could little to recover and stop Kalfas who couldn’t miss the rebound. Tigers attempted to respond, ahead of the huge FFA Cup Qualifying Final at the same venue a week later but found the reigning champions in no mood to lose for the second time within four days and they held on comfortably to move into second place whilst Tigers FC dropped from first to third, an indication of just how tight the NPL1 table was at this stage.

WNPL: ACADEMY ENDS CROATIA’S UNBEATEN STREAK

After going almost two years without a loss, Canberra Croatia finally surrendered their WNPL regular season unbeaten record when they were surprised by the Canberra United Academy, the youngsters winning 3-1 at Hawker Football Centre. The Academy could thank their inspirational goalkeeper, Chloe Lincoln, for the win though as she played an instrumental part in the victory against the reigning champions. When the team at the top of the ladder visits the 3rd, you expect an entertaining game of football and that is exactly what was out on offer. Canberra United Academy made the better start, with an all-out high press and an eagerness to bring the ball up into the danger zone as fast as possible with Sofia Christopherson being the main protagonist early on. Resisting Jennifer Bissett and Renee Junna, the Academy top scorer ran with the ball all the way to the left side of the visitor’s box and placed a powerful pass in front of Ally Hinson’s goal. Latisha Babic was the fastest to pounce on the ball and tapped it in between the keeper’s legs for the dream start. The visitors, maybe stunned by such an early goal, needed that time to regroup and start playing their football. Slowly, the ball started circulating in the feet of Canberra Croatia players, forcing the Academy to defend lower and operate in counterattacks. It was time for the Chloe Lincoln show. Olivia Fogarty’s volley, Krista Hagen’s deflected shot, Brittany Palombi and Grace Gill’s attempts from long range, Jennifer Bissett from the edge of the box, anything thrown at Lincoln on target was to add to her highlights’ tape.

While the game was mostly spent in one half of the pitch, the second goal would happen at the other end. Sasha Grove, at the corner of the box on her left side, went for goal, and her shot took a deflection and snuck in between Hinson and her near post. Against the run of play, the home team was up 2-0 at the half hour mark. Canberra Croatia kept pushing, but also grew frustrated not to be able to break the Academy defence with the battle in the

midfield increasing in intensity. At the start of the second-half Canberra Croatia continued where they left off, Camped near the Academy penalty area. Unfortunately for the visitors, on maybe the first good sequence of passes and build-up coming from Canberra United in the second half, Sasha Grove was found in the box. She tackled the ball, almost out of her reach, to push it to Nadia Zakman, who found herself alone facing Hinson. The winger kept her cool and chipped the ball over the keeper’s shoulder and in the back of the net.

At 3-0, the Academy could wait for Canberra Croatia to push forward and focus on their defensive and transition game. Fogarty thought she had found the solution when her powerful left-footed effort from the edge of the box was on its way to the top left corner, but Lincoln, again, decided otherwise and beat it away for a corner kick in what was the save of the game. Fogarty was rewarded for her hard work eventually, earning a penalty at the 65th minute after dribbling between a brace of Academy players in the box. Palombi took the ball and quickly found the bottom right corner to score her 12th of the season. Her team kept pushing, but again when Jamie Berkeley faced Lincoln one-on-one, the keeper had the answer. Chantel Jones and Isabella Barac, subbed in, also had their opportunity to get on the scoresheet, but could not get on target allowing the Academy to earn a fourth point from six against Croatia in 2021 and end the champions 22-match unbeaten streak.

The two in-form teams of the competition met at O’Connor in a showdown that was eerily like their previous encounter in Round 1, an entertaining game, and at the end a narrow win for Olympic. The home team did not waste any time to bring the danger around Janet King’s area, with Ashleigh Sykes making her first run in the box after just 50 seconds. The shot was off target, but the warning was received by West Canberra, who responded with shots from distance. Both teams settled defensively, and the game became a battle of the midfield, with very few clear opportunities. Aurelia Haynes in the Olympic goal was the busier of the keepers, having to dive in Liz Edwards’ feet to save her team, before beating away a tricky free-kick from long range with the sun in her face. The Wanderers returned from the locker room with the same attacking mindset, forcing Olympic to defend very close to their penalty box. Haynes’ anticipations had to be perfectly timed to prevent Sofia Chaverra or Liz Edwards chances from point blank range.

Ashleigh Sykes would oversee waking her team up. A first run, through four defenders, ended up in a deflected shot. On the following corner, Ally Cook’s header missed the target. A minute later, Rachael Hardwicke was in the right corner of the pitch. Thinking the former Panther had led the ball over the line, the Wanderers seemed to stop playing for a second, asking for a throw-in. Hardwicke did not think twice and crossed the ball at the near post, where Sykes was here to volley it in the back of the net. Olympic was up against the run of

play, and it was only the beginning of West Canberra’s woes. Five minutes later, frustration would get the of their most experienced players. After a foul whistled against Emma Guo, Tiana Jaber’s comments towards were not tolerated by the official, who showed her a straight red card. Her coach and skipper, Emma Stanbury, argued about the decision and was given a yellow and was sent to the sin bin. Down to 9 players for 10 minutes, the visitors focused on defending well, putting their body on the line to avoid conceding a second goal, but even with Stanbury back, they could not find a way to breach the Olympic defence.

The Blue Devils went back on top of the ladder after their win in the Riverina. The home team tried to strike first, with Megan Castle going for a powerful run between two Blue Devils players, only to be stopped illegally by Karen Clarke outside the box. The free-kick dipped over the cross bar, but the visitors were warned and, within a minute they were in front. Reilly Yuen found space in front of goal to fire a finish past Samantha Emms with her right foot. Wagga City kept their head up and went back to work. A couple of avoidable fouls by the Belconnen defence offered the home team opportunities on set pieces at the edge of the box, but neither Castle, nor Cristina Grauer-Kompos were able to really endanger Cristina Esposito.

The repeated attacking waves of Talia Backhouse, Keira Bobbin and Yuen would not get a better result at the other end, and when Emms was not beating the ball away, her crossbar was there to help keep the score unchanged. The Blue Devils only needed one early in the second-half to double their advantage. Following a corner, a scramble in the defence saw Olivia Bomford, alone in the middle of five Wanderers. Emms palmed her first effort away, but was helpless to prevent Bomford’s second shot, a volley from close range, heading in. The home team tried to use these free-kicks, and corner kicks, to answer, but never were

able to get past Esposito. The rhythm dropped a little bit, with Wagga showing signs of fatigue and Belconnen happy to manage their advantage. The visitors waited for the right opportunity to add another, and it came at the 76th minute. A shot by Katie Woodman seemed to go straight at Emms but Bomford pounced to steal the ball just in front of the keeper and scored her 7th of the season into the empty net. The fourth, and final goal, was a gift from the Wanderers keeper. Emms miscued a pass, and the ball went straight to Backhouse, who took her time to wrong foot Emms from the edge of the box.

Tuggeranong United was after a second goal and their first point this season when they hosted Gungahlin United and they met half of their target, but Gungahlin left with all three points, the Gunners ending a series of four losses in a row. It was almost the perfect situation for the home team, known for their defensive solidity this season as they went in front six minutes in, Maddie Magee’s left footed attempt fumbled by Kailey Tonini into her own net. Tuggeranong was happy to be up on the scoreboard and started showcasing again the defensive energy that they had shown all season. The Gunners tried to answer as fast as possible but struggled to get the ball out of their own box, under the Tuggies pressure. Too much enthusiasm defensively however cost the home team and Stephanie Coates saw another penalty whistled against her at the 12th minute. Elke Aitolu did not let her chance pass and levelled the game from the spot. The Gunners kept pushing and Jade Brown is probably still wondering how she missed a chance at the quarter of the hour. Alone in front of Sophie Rolfe and from point-blank range, the number 11 could only shoot straight at the keeper, happy to see the ball ending in her gloves. Rolfe did not have that chance minutes later in front of Pennyfield. The midfielder, ideally served by Brown in the box, saw her precise right footed strike hit the far post before rolling into Tuggeranong’s net.

The Gunners would lose an important player to injury just before the break, Rachel Corbett going down after a contact that did not seem dangerous. Stella De Marco was inches from scoring a superb goal just before going back to the locker room, but her attempt was repelled by Rolfe’s post. Tuggeranong came in the second-half with intensity and tried to press the Gunners high, but they were still able to pierce the penalty area at will. Tuggeranong battled bravely but the decisive third goal came from Gunners’ left-back, Brigitte Sander. Sander was perhaps fortunate in the respect that she was lucky to see her left footed cross transform into a shot on target, and a goal, the ball looping behind Rolfe in the top left corner. Gungahlin seized the momentum and added a 4th goal to the tally by Stella De Marco minutes later. After a corner by Ella Brown was not cleared by the defence, De Marco inherited the ball at the edge of the box and volleyed it without hesitation into the back of the net. The home team tried to respond by Magee but the goal scorer’s attempt from long range ended up off target.

ROUND 9 NPL: OLYMPIC BACK IN THE WINNERS CIRCLE

Canberra Olympic rediscovered some of their early season mojo with a narrow 1-0 win over Belconnen United on an afternoon in which the Blue Devils could count themselves extremely unfortunate not to have come away with a reward for their endeavours. It was a combination of poor finishing and superb goalkeeping that denied Fabian Miceli and his team who missed the chance to put pressure on the top two by recording what would have been a fourth victory of the season. Instead, they were left to rue the missed opportunities as Olympic stole the maximum return thanks to a goal from Aisosa Ihegie five minutes into the second half. Ihegie had looked lively all afternoon, his quick feet and physical presence meaning that Cassidy Tanddo and Zac Maybury in the Belconnen defence had a torrid day’s work. Ihegie had already stung the palms of home goalkeeper Jordan Thurtell in the first-half, a lone effort after Belconnen had dominated proceedings, but the Belconnen number one could do little about the matchwinner at the commencement of the second stanza. Jonathan Kerszberg helped create it, the South American resisting the urge to pull the trigger and sliding a ball to Adam Forner to his left instead. Forner did shoot, his effort repelled by Thurtell only for it to fall to Ihegie. The forward kept his composure to pick his sort and slide home from eight yards.

Belconnen had plenty of openings in the first forty-five minutes to have taken the lead themselves, none finer than the one spurned by Michael Piccolo on his fiftieth NPL appearance. James Christis saved from a Michael Mensah strike, but the ball rebounded kindly for Piccolo who, somehow, scoped the ball over the bar from ten yards with the goal at his mercy. If that was careless, the shot which cannoned back of the inside of the post moments later was purely ill fortune, Piccolo’s fine strike drawing a fingertip stop from Christis onto the frame of the goal. Christis had made an even better stop in the early stages of the match, somehow keeping out a strongly hit drive from Mensah from penalty-spot range, the Olympic custodian getting a strong wrist on the ball to turn it away for a corner when the stadium expected the net to bulge. Belconnen introduced new signing Curtis Schaeffer from the bench, the nine-goal former Brindabella Blues marksman looking lively in a late cameo and creating problems for the Olympic defence. Try as he might though, not even a player in as good as form as Schaeffer in front of goal could break a resolute Olympic defence and, whilst Robbie Cattanach would be the first to admit they rode their luck at times, the result was a reward for a mighty effort over ninety-plus minutes.

Monaro Panthers suddenly found themselves on the coattails of the top four as they downed the league leaders, West Canberra Wanderers, 3-1 at Melrose Synthetic as Frank Cachia and his team began to click into gear. Recovering from the disappointment of losing the FFA Cup Qualifying Final to Tigers FC a week previously, and being without the suspended Stephen Domenici and injured Samuel Habtemariam, the result was an even better indication that the Panthers had perhaps, turned a corner and were starting to show the kind of form pre-season expectations had heaped upon them. They didn’t have it all their own way, however, as was likely to be the case against a team that was top of the table for a reason, the Wanderers fighting back from 0-1 down to draw level before succumbing in the second half. The Panthers gave a debut to defender James Wilson, newly arrived from Adelaide, and he made the perfect start to life at the club by stopping to score off a corner after only a quarter of an hour. But the home team drew level five minutes into the second-half when Gabe Cole saw a low drive deflected into his own net by Ben BasserSilk, the goal credited to Cole on the official match card but appearing to be every inch an own goal.

After feeling aggrieved at some of the decisions that went against them in the FFA Cup Final loss the previous weekend, the Panthers got one of their won just past the hour when Jeremy Habtemariam was felled in the area for a stonewall penalty. Kofi Danning took on the responsibility, with Habtemariam getting treatment for the injury sustained in the tackle, and he duly rifled the spot-kick high into the top corner of the net. If Basser-Silk was unfortunate for the own goal that drew the team’s level, then he more than made up for it by sweeping in a clinical third with eight minutes left, sealing the result for the visitors. Basser-Silk was on the end of a slick move that ripped Wanderers defence open with the midfielder applying the coup de grace. The victory moved Panthers up into sixth, only two points off the top four ahead of the Sunday afternoon match.

There was only one fixture to be played in the NPL1 on Sunday as the Tigers FC versus Gungahlin United match had fallen prey to the wet and cold weather that plagued the region in the lead up to the game rendering the pitch at Nijong Oval, Tigers’ home abode, unplayable. That meant that Canberra Croatia’s visit to Tuggeranong United was the only offering, but it was a match that promised much as United looked to break a six-game drawing streak whilst Croatia needed a win, at a venue that they hadn’t won at in six years, to move top of the table. In the end, United did break their drawing streak, but hardly in the manner that they may have envisioned with Croatia coming away with a narrow 1-0 success courtesy of goal from Daniel Barac three minutes into the second half. Brace arced his back to meet a delicious cross from winger Nikos Kalfas, glancing a perfect header away and beyond Jakeb Wiseman and into the far corner of the net.

Both teams spurned glorious chances in the first-half, notably Tuggeranong inside the opening five minutes as Marco Gayer got himself in behind a rather static and flat Canberra Croatia defence. Sam Brown, in the visiting goal, slipped and appeared to present a golden chance to gayer who elected for finesse rather than power, his flicked effort with the outside of the right boot beating Brown but lacking the pace to find its way into the net, cleared off the cline by the covering Matt Waters. At the other end, Croatia split the United rear-guard presenting Jason Ugrinic with a brilliant chance, but he fluffed his lines and placed his shot wide of the post to the relief of Wiseman. Harrison Buesnel came to the rescue of his ‘keeper late in the first-half when the teenage centre-back positioned himself perfectly to clear Kalfas’ shot off the line after the Greek winger had found space from a miscued Ryan Keir volley.

Clear-cut openings were few and far between in the second half, Harry Truman having the best for the home side, dancing his way through the Croatia defence, side-stepping the last challenge before hitting a left foot shot that lacked the power to beat Brown whom, to his credit, made a great save low to hie right or push the ball to safety. Croatia substitute Matej Busek created havoc when introduced late on, seeing a vicious volley deep over the bar and denied a strike on goal by a heroic block from Tuggeranong skipper Cameron Doherty. United did have the ball in the net late on, their own as substitute Shane Murray, sidelined with the flu preventing him from starting, drilled home a loose ball from the edge of the box. However, the whistle had long since gone, Jenno Cerruti punished for a swinging boot, and the chance of a seventh successive draw went begging.

WNPL: CROATIA PUT WANDERERS TO THE SWORD AGAIN

Canberra Croatia bounced back from their first competitive league match loss in two years, with a comprehensive three goal win at home over the West Canberra Wanderers. The home side went in front when Jamie Berkeley opened the scoring just under 20 minutes as she headed home a cross from Alice Churchill. Croatia continued their dominance of the match and grabbed a second through Grace Gill right before the break. After a well-placed pass from Krista Hagen, Gill had all the time in the world as she expertly found the top corner from the edge of the box.

Croatia put the lead out to three ten minutes into the second-half and with Gill getting her second after a well taken penalty after Wanderers’ defender Hannah Coppell was sent off for handling the ball on the goal line. Substitute Chantel Jones confirmed the result with Croatia’s fourth of the afternoon just a few minutes later, as she was on hand to tap the ball in following a corner, her sixth of the season, all after coming off the bench. Despite the

result being out of reach, Wanderers managed to pull one back through Samantha Savanhu. Getting on the end of a great through ball, Savanhu shot from the edge of the box and watched her shot sail over Ally Hinson in the Croatia goal but, by then it was too little, too late.

Canberra Olympic strengthened their position in the top four with a thrilling win away to Gungahlin United coming out on top in a five-goal classic. Olympic got off to a flying start and almost scored inside the first two minutes but Ashleigh Sykes was cruelly denied by the post. The visitors would find the opener 20 minutes later though as Sykes passed to Anna Vandenbroucke, who slotted past Kailey Tonini in the Gunners goal. Five minutes later and Olympic had another. Sykes used her pace to get away from her defenders before smashing the ball past Tonini to double the lead.

The remaining goals would not come until the second half, with three goals in a frantic 15minute spell. Gungahlin centre back Madeleine Perceval pulled one back for her side, rising highest to head home a cross from Erika Pennyfield. Courtney Halse put the lead back out to two for Olympic, with a wonderous long range goal off a free-kick, but Gungahlin came back again with less than five minutes to go as Ella Brown intercepted a horror goal kick from Aurelia Haynes, Brown slotting the ball home. It would be too late for Gungahlin however as Olympic held on the for the win, cementing their spot in the top four.

Wagga City Wanderers secured their second win of the season with a dominant three goal win over the winless Tuggeranong United at Gissing Oval. Wagga looked to control from the start but would not be able to score until just under 20 minutes in. After a great attacking build up from the home side, Megan Castle chipped the keeper from the edge of the box. Tuggeranong had their own chances with Rhiannon Daisley taking several long-range shots in quick succession, unfortunately straight into the arms of Ebony Warner-Chilstone in the Wagga goal.

With chances at either end, Wagga would score next as Christina Grauer-Kompos got her first of the afternoon, finding herself on the end of a long range free-kick from Ava Tuksar, Grauer-Kompos lobbed the keeper to double the home sides lead right before the break. It was a more even second-half with plenty of chances at either end. Wagga had a great chance to take the lead to three less than 10 minutes into the half, but Kirrilee Cameron sent her attempt onto the post. The third and final goal of the afternoon would not come until the last 15 minutes, as Grauer-Kompos grabbed her second of game. Intercepting a stray pass from the keeper, Grauer-Kompos shot from long range with the ball sailing into the back of the net. The result saw Wagga pick up just their second win of the season, while Tuggeranong were still without a win.

Belconnen United kept their place at the top of the ladder after a two goal over Canberra United Academy at Hawker Football Centre. The Blue Devils got off to a great start as Michaela Thornton sent a free-kick onto the crossbar before it was cleared out for a corner. The Academy came close to opening the scoring early on, but Cristina Esposito was alert to the danger and shut down the attacking opportunity. Despite enjoying much of the possession, the Blue Devils struggled to break down the Academy defence. Chloe Lincoln came up clutch yet again, as she got her hands up to tip a free-kick from Leah Carnegie over the bar. The following corner came very close to going in as Vanessa Ryan headed just wide of the upright.

Belconnen kept up the attacking pressure and would eventually find the opener through Ryan. Following a quick one-two with Olivia Bomford, Ryan kept her defender at bay to slot home the opener not long before the break. Belconnen kept up their attack in the secondhalf constantly creating opportunities. It would take some time for them to convert their chances however, as they would not be able to find their second until the 70th minute. Following a great passage of play, Reilly Yuen was on hand to smash home the rebound and secure the result. The win saw Belconnen hang on to first place, but only on goal difference, with the Academy in third.

ROUND 10 NPL: OMINOUS FORM FOR RED MACHINE

Canberra Croatia began to purr in ominous fashion as they won the top of the table contest against West Canberra Wanderers in superbly convincing fashion, coming out on top with a 5-0 win at Melrose Synthetic. It was the Wanderers fourth loss of the season on their own patch, having been downed by Gungahlin United, Tigers FC and Monaro Panthers before losing out in this one versus two battle. The victory put Croatia five points clear of the Wanderers heading into the Sunday matches. Dean Ugrinic’s team looked in great nick in the first-half, with Nikos Kalfas running rampant despite having collected a hefty knock on the ankle from Wanderers’ defender Seamus Carr in the opening five minutes. It was an ankle injury that forced him off at the interval but, by that stage, he had already inflicted maximum damage on the opposition by scoring once and creating the opener for strike partner Daniel Barac.

Barac had put Tuggeranong to the sword in Round 9 from a Kalfas cross and the same combination opened the scoring in the 18th minute. Kalfas fed a sublime pass in between the Wanderers defence for Barac to run on to and the in-form striker slipped a confident and composed finish under Mason Interlandi in the Wanderers goal. Three minutes later and it was double the trouble for the home team as Kalfas added a second, latching onto a pass over the top of the Wanderers back four to slam a strike between the legs of the exposed West Canberra stopper. It was a crucial strike that sucked the life out of the Wanderers who, despite going close just before the interval when Jackson Paesler fired wide from a promising position, were staring up the proverbial mountain. Ulisses Da Silva’s team had begun the second-half in good fashion with substitute Zedan Mutlu looking lively, but the match was put beyond their reach from the penalty spot after Nik Taneski was brought down when through on goal. Dusting himself off, Taneski calmly slotted the third from the spot.

Croatia underlined their superiority late in the game by adding to the tally in somewhat bizarre fashion. Firstly, Taneski looped in a cross-shot from close to the bye-line that flummoxed Interlandi, perhaps assisted by the wind, as the ball dropped over the ‘keeper at an improbable angle to make it four. The final nail in the home coffin was even crazier. Aaron Cashman was under no pressure when he passed back to Interlandi but, inexplicably, put too much heat on the ball that bounced over the custodian’s right foot and fizzed into his own net to end an impressive afternoon’s work from the league champions who were finding momentum.

At the Riverside Stadium, a first ever NPL goal from substitute Maxx Green on his debut allowed Belconnen United to come away from their encounter with Monaro Panthers with a share of the honours, the game ending in a 2-2 draw. The Blue Devils had taken the lead in this Ione, after a goalless opening half, as Luca Florez tapped into an open net following Darren Bailey’s agile stretch to knock a cross back across the face of the Panthers goal. Having lost to Canberra Olympic in Round 9, Belconnen were in search of the three points to reignite their title push, but they were pegged back by a resilient Monaro who, perhaps, earlier in the campaign may have found it difficult to recover from falling behind in a match in which they had dominated possession in the first-half.

The Panthers drew level when Stephen Domenici was given the chance to net from the spot, an opportunity that he was never going to pass up, coolly sending Jordan Thurtell in the Belconnen goal the wrong way to make it 1-1. Suddenly, the Monaro gander was up again, and they went in front when Josh Calabria met a free-kick at the near post to glance a superb header past Thurtell, the left-back’s fourth NPL goal of the season. It was a classy finish, but the Belconnen goalkeeper would have been left asking questions to how Calabria was able to get to the ball and force it home ahead of his would-be marker. Seeking a win that would have put them above Belconnen, the Panthers were left disappointed when Green came on to level the scores, but a draw meant both sides remained well in the hunt for the top four and on the fringes of the race for the crown.

Action on Sunday switched to Kambah 2 and Tuggeranong United’s search for an elusive first win of the season. That they didn’t get it, Tigers FC claiming a vital 2-1 win to keep their own title hopes alive, meant that Tuggeranong were in danger of being cut adrift at the foot of the table and favourites for the dreaded drop into NPL2. The loss, coupled with Gungahlin United’s win over Canberra Olympic, left United on six points, five behind Monaro and Olympic and needing a swift turnaround in results and fortunes before it became too late. Unlike against Canberra Croatia a week earlier, at the same venue, Tuggeranong struggled to create any meaningful openings against the Tigers leaving Jakob Cole largely unemployed on a cold afternoon Southside.

Tigers had the better chances and in Nik Popovich had a forward at the top of his game, whether asked to hold the ball up to bring others into play, or to act as a willing runner in the channels, Popovich was up for all tasks and delivered with aplomb. The number nine had already drawn a smart save out of Jakeb Wisemen in the Tuggeranong goal before he gave his team the lead in the 11th minute. A searching pass from the back from Lachlan Griffiths found Roko Strika wide and his delivery allowed Popovich, at the second attempt, to slide the ball underneath the United ‘keeper to open the scoring. Strika was to the fore again in the second half, sending a brilliant pass inside the Tuggeranong defence for Josh

Gulevski who cut inside his man and fairly rammed his shot past Wiseman who had no chance of stopping it. The strike was Gulevski’s fifth goal in four games in all competitions.

At 2-0 Tigers were in complete control of the match and were holding Tuggeranong at arm’s length in a competent and confident manner and yet, in stoppage time, they wobbled momentarily. Shane Murray clipped a free-kick around the wall that entered the net off the base of the post to give Tuggeranong brief hope of an unlikely comeback but despite a nervous three minutes of time added on, they were unable to threaten Cole again and Tigers came away with an important success.

Gungahlin United moved onto twelve points and up into fifth as they climbed above both Monaro Panthers and Canberra Olympic after convincingly seeing off the later 4-0 at AIS Synthetic, the match moved to the artificial turn when the grass fields at the AIS were deemed unplayable. Philippe BernaboMadrid was the star of the show, the forward netting a treble to move onto seven goals for the season and to put himself very much in the race for the Golden Boot. More importantly, it eased the pressure on Marcial Munoz and his team at one end of the table whilst, conversely, opening a challenge for the top four at the other.

A pair of goals from Bernabo-Madrid within five minutes of each other inside the opening twenty minutes gave the Gunners a more than solid platform from which to work, and it was on they were never to relinquish. Bernabo-Madrid added a third before the break with Roy Anderson rounding out the scoring early in the second half. Gungahlin introduced new signing Domenic Giampaolo, completing a mid-season switch from the Panthers, as they cruised home to a straightforward victory over Olympic. Olympic’s eleven points left them in seventh, five points ahead of Tuggeranong at the foot of the table whilst the Gunners accumulated dozen, and a game in hand, suddenly gave their season a different feel.

WNPL: HEYMAN OFF THE MARK IN GUNNERS WIN

Belconnen United’s ruthless finishing was in evidence once again at McKellar Lark as they struck three times in the first ten minutes on the way to a 4-2 victory over Canberra Olympic in a blistering opening to the Round 10 contest. Nicole Begg’s team must have felt like it was a bad dream as they were swept aside by a rampant Blue Devils opening, the home side going in front after only three minutes of the match. Off the very first set-piece, an early corner, a scramble in the box led to Keira Bobbin pouncing to slot home the first of the afternoon. Six minutes later, Olivia Bomford made her way through the midfield before finding Reilly Yuen in the box, and the youngster, amidst the protests for offside, wrong footed Aurelia Haynes. On the very next attack, the Blue Devils earned a free-kick just outside the box and Michaela Thornton picked the open side and her powerful strike beat

Haynes, who could only brush her fingers at the ball as it made its way into the net, to give Belconnen a healthy three goal cushion.

Canberra Olympic looked like they had not got out of the locker room, but for Belconnen, it was a dream start. Olympic needed some inspiration and who else buy Ashleigh Sykes would motivate her teammates? The goalscoring Golden Boot chaser made countless runs, resists, outsmarts and outruns her opponents, but without finding an opening to endanger Cristina Esposito. The answer came from another source five minutes before half time, with another free-kick. Alexandra Cook and her explosive left foot cleaned the cobwebs past Esposito with a superb effort from a distance, sending her team to the locker room full of hope. Olympic had the momentum and after a couple of chances before half-time that the offensive duo Sykes-Anna Vandenbroucke could not convert, the visitors started the second act at full speed. Belconnen weathered the storm and makes the most of their transition football and, less than 10 minutes in the second half, Bobbin struck again. At the end of a long run from her own half, Bobbin slalomed between two defenders and hit the ball so hard Haynes could only deflect it into her own goals. Olympic kept their head up and could count on their most lethal weapon to come back minutes later. Sykes, found in the box, dragged the ball back on her left foot and buried it in the back of the net however that was as good as it got for Olympic who went home defeated.

West Canberra Wanderers needed to bounce back after two straight losses and did it by the thinnest of margins against the Canberra United Academy thanks to Samantha Savanhu’s second goal in seven days. No Tiana Jaber, no Emma Stanbury, no problem. Without their two-star players, West Canberra displayed the same discipline they had at Melrose since the start of the season. A solid defensive unit, and explosive counter attacks were the recipe for success against the Academy. Vicki Linton’s squad cannot be blamed for not trying however with Sacha Grove leading her troops offensively, able to create several opportunities for herself and her teammates. But in the last third, their inability to be in a position of scoring was the downfall during the first-half. Grove was not able to hit the target when she could find the space to shoot, and Janet King was lucky to put a hand on a point-blank header by Nikita Perry later. At the other end Chloe Lincoln had to produce a couple of saves in an otherwise quiet first-half.

Back from the locker room, the home team decided to play higher and tried to add presence in the box. The game stayed a cagey affair, with great intensity in the middle of pitch but little solution upfront for both sides. The deadlock was finally broken with under 20 minutes

left to play. A ball cheaply given away by the Academy midfield allowed Alex McKenzie to offer Savanhu a ball at the edge of the box. The striker resisted Stephanie Nikias and her almost perfect shot found the top right corner, out of reach of Lincoln. The Wanderers had suffered but made the most of their opportunities. The Academy kept going forward to try and level the game, but luck was not on their side. Alyse Jensen’s strike from the corner of the box crashed on the crossbar of a helpless King, while Meg Roden’s attempt from distance was off-target and Wanderers held on for an important win.

Different venue, same result. For their second meeting this season, Gungahlin United saw Off Wagga City Wanderers by four goals to nil. A debut, and goal, for Canberra United, Matildas and W-League all-time leading scorer Michelle Heyman was the cherry on top for the Gunners. Diego Iglesias would have been pleased to see his squad starting on the front foot, constantly bringing the ball near Sam Emms’ area from the get-go. The pace, physicality, and constant movement in Gungahlin’s midfield early on proved too much for Sam Gray’s young and injury laden squad. Emms, back in the starting line-up, was already showing off her skills within five minutes. In front of Ella Brown first, then Erika Pennyfield, Emms delayed the inevitable for as long as she could. Just before quarter of the hour unfortunately, Jade Brown dribbled and was fouled by the talented keeper. Brown decided to take care of the spot kick herself, picking the bottom right corner to score her first of the day.

The Gunners kept the pressure up and ten minutes later captain Maddie Perceval was forgotten in the middle of the box, and had all the time in the world to bury her header in the back of the net. Ten minutes later, another corner saw Ruby Gambale attempting a header. Emms deflected the ball on the crossbar, and before she could pick it up, Jade Brown tapped it in for the third goal of the day. Gungahlin dominated that second-halfas much as the first. Sam Emms again was fantastic blocking Jade Brown from point blank and from distance, to stop to Natalie De Marco’s long-range effort, and Ella Brown’s volley from up close. Kailey Tonini at the other end at a quiet day at the office. Michelle Heyman signed her NPLW debut in a Gungahlin jersey with a goal at the 85th minute. Following the 12th corner for her new team, Heyman appeared at the far post to volley the ball with enough power and precision to leave Emms no time to dive. The addition of the international striker could be a season changer for Gungahlin, and it certainly started on a positive note.

The reigning champions took the top spot with panache in Deakin, scoring 12 to slaughter bottom of the table Tuggeranong United. Nik Brozinic’s squad passed Belconnen United on the ladder thanks to a better goal difference. Tuggeranong came out trying to press high to prevent their opponents from finding their goal scorers, but their efforts did not pay off. Five minutes into the game, Olivia Fogarty saw Brittany Palombi’s run through the defence

and found her perfectly in the box. Facing Sophie Rolfe alone, Palombi left her no chance and scored the first goal of her team. A minute later, the goalkeeper won her duel with the striker, and then beat away an attempt on target from Grace Gill to keep her team in the game for a few extra minutes. After another save in front Renee Junna, Rolfe had to get the ball in the back of her net for the second time at the 19th minute, when Fogarty half volleyed a ball from the edge of the box in the bottom corner. The home side would keep attacking relentlessly and Palombi became the passer finding Fogarty in the box, for the number 7 to wrongfoot Rolfe. Before the half hour mark, centre back Rhiannon Fensom inherited the ball in the middle of the box after a corner kick and buried it with her right foot.

The very next corner kick was successfully headed in by the other centre back, Cecilia Matic, before Fensom scored her second of the day with a beautifully chipped ball from 25 meters away. Another corner kick meant another goal two minutes before half time, with Fogarty recording her first hat trick of the season and making it 7-0 as the teams went back to the locker room. The Tuggies came back from the locker room with more density in their defence and could count on Rolfe again to make a few saves to keep Canberra Croatia mute for 20 minutes. Zoe Terry even put her name on the scoresheet with a powerful left footed effort from long range that took a dive behind Ally Hinson and under the crossbar. That goal did seem to wake up the home side though, who struck four times in the following five minutes. First Palombi was found in the back of the defence by Chantel Jones and won her one vs one with Rolfe. Jones and Palombi were also involved in a smooth sequence of play that ended with Jamie Berkeley opening her right foot to find the opposite side netting and two minutes later, Berkeley was lucky to see the ball literally falling onto her lap in the 6yard box, and just tapped it in the empty net, before Rhiannon Daisley, unfortunate, tried to clear a cut back pass from Alice Churchill, only to send the ball in her own goals. The 12th, and last goal for Canberra Croatia, was scored by Krista Hagen from long range.

MID-SEASON TRANSFERS

The NPL transfer window was open from 1-30 June and the following NPL1 players switched clubs during that period.

BELCONNEN UNITED

Curtis SCHAEFFER (Brindabella Blues)

CANBERRA CROATIA

Thomas JAMES (Wollongong Wolves)

CANBERRA OLYMPIC

Nicholas SUBASIC (Belconnen United)

GUNGAHLIN UNITED

Domenic GIAMPAOLO (Monaro Panthers) Leon MICHL (Belconnen United) Henri MULWILA (Stirling Lions) Alexandru URICARU (West Canberra Wanderers) Stefan VUCIC (Belconnen United)

MONARO PANTHERS

Gary MEHMETAJ (Canberra Croatia) Alessandro PENA (West Canberra Wanderers) James WILSON (Para Hills United)

TIGERS FC

Daniel FABRIZIO (Manly United) Niko UJDUR (MacArthur Bulls)

TUGGERANONG UNITED

Dylan BERKREY (unattached)

WEST CANBERRA WANDERERS

Lachlan HARRINGTON (Tigers FC) Michael MENSAH (Belconnen United) Ben OBST (Gungahlin United) Jai SELDEN (Oakleigh Cannons)

In addition, Callum Cook left West Canberra Wanderers to join White Eagles in NPL2 and Daniel Felizzi left Tuggeranong United to sign for Queanbeyan City in NPL2.

ROUND 11 NPL: UGLY SCENES MAR CRUCIAL CROATIA SUCCESS

As the NPL competition reached the midway stage of the competition, there was all to play for at both ends of the table but with points becoming ever more important round-by-round. With wet weather causing a raft of venue changes, nearly all matches in the top two tiers of men’s football and women’s Premier League were switched to synthetic surfaces and, at Hawker Football Centre in the Saturday Match of the Round, Canberra Olympic earned a vital maximum return with a narrow 1-0 win over West Canberra Wanderers. A penalty, with virtually the final kick of the regulation ninety minutes, converted coolly by Simon Rohan-Jones ensured the Wanderers slipped to a third successive defeat and moved Olympic into the top four ahead of a trio of matches 24 hours later. Rohan-Jones kept his nerve from the spot, despite former Olympic custodian Mason Interlandi getting a hand to the spot kick, to rifle home after Aisosa Ihegie had been upended by the Wanderers stopper.

Both sides would point to chances that may have won them the match earlier with Olympic arguably having the better of them. Interlandi thrice denied the home side in the first-half, blocking twice from Chris Reay when the left midfielder broke into clear space, and once from James Crawford when he burst clear of the Wanderers defence in the final seconds before the half-time whistle. After the interval, Daniel Linstead, making his return to first team action after a lengthy period of injury, saw a header cleared off the line by defender Seamus Carr, whilst Crawford was denied again when his goalbound effort was blocked on the line by Anton Hoshovsky after superb approach work from Ihegie. At the other end Jackson Paesler thumped a drive off the frame of the Olympic goal whilst, in the latter stages, Shae Thornton clipped the top of the bar with a long-range drive.

The Wanderers gave debuts to new signings Ben Obst and Michael Mensah at the commencement of the second stanza, both being heavily involved, Obst operating in a midfield role just behind Mensah who was his usual bullocking self. Linstead was in supreme form in the backline for Robbie Cattanach’s team though, an uncompromising, none-shallpass, approach that, alongside Nick Faust gave Olympic a backbone that looked as impressive as any they had fielded in 2021 to date. Despite their being only one goal in the match, the fixture was open and exciting and promised much more. Crawford was a willing runner for Olympic whilst Connor Bill was in excellent form at the rear for the Wanderers. In the end though it was one moment that settled it and, when presented with the opportunity, Rohan-Jones made no mistake.

There were ugly scenes at Deakin Stadium airing Canberra Croatia’s 2-1 victory over Monaro Panthers with returning striker Thomas James involved in an altercation with a spectator, later identified as a Panthers board member, after being sent off five minutes into his comeback for what was adjudged by the officials to be a stamp on Panthers’ defender David Jenkins. James had only just returned from a 13-match suspension enforced whilst we had at his previous club, Wollongong Wolves, and protested his innocent before the spectator walked a good thirty metres to verbally assault the Croatia forward, provoking an irate response. The fallout would likely last for a while and left the governing body with a real dilemma on how to deal with what was a contentious issue. The red card received by James was the second of the match, Panthers’ midfielder Tom McLachlan also dismissed, his crime being to backchat the official, although later it transpired that the pair had chatted at the full-time whistle and that the man in the middle, Tarren Richards, had perhaps misinterpreted McLachlan’s comments.

It was a strange old game. The two red cards were joined by seven yellow plus a brace of penalties, both awarded to the home side, and both for handball. Amilio Kista rammed the first low into the bottom corner past Evan Alexandrow-Ridley, after Lasse Olrik was pinged for handling as he slid in to block a cross but missed the second with woeful attempt at a ‘Panenka’ that he lifted over the bar following what looked to be a harsh call against McLachlan, the ball ricocheting off his chest into his arm inside the box. Both Panthers received yellow cards. By the time that Kista levelled from the spot the away side could, and perhaps should, have been two goals to the food. Seb Woods latched into a huge Alexandrow-Ridley kick that dropped behind the Croatia defence to advance clear and coolly slot past Sam Brown into the corner. Woods should have doubled his season tally moments later when McLachlan slid a precise pass through the defence once again but, faced with the one-on-one with Brown once again, the Champions custodian stood strong.

After the hosts equalised via the spot from Kista, and spurned the opportunity to get ahead in the same manner, the teams were all-square heading into the second half, however it took Canberra Croatia only four minutes to hit the front when the game got back underway. Annoyingly for Frank Cachia and his coaching staff, it was a relatively straightforward goal. Nikola Taneski swung in a right-footed corner that central defender Luke Pilkington met with a thumping header that flashed into the Panthers net. It was Pilkington’s first goal since joining the champions in pre-season. The dismissal of James, and the subsequent events that followed, three a dampener on proceedings and overshadowed the three points which kept Canberra Croatia top of the pile heading into the second-half of the campaign.

There was more controversy later that evening as Gungahlin United defeated Tuggeranong United by the same 2-1 score line although the game ended early as referee Theo Dracopoulos blew for time after a lengthy delay following an injury to goalkeeper Josh Lagudah. Lagudah collided with Tuggeranong captain Cam Doherty suffering a sickening kick to the head and having to be helped from the field by a combination of both team’s physiotherapists. The contact arrived in the 85th minute and play wasn’t to restart. The referee, after chatting to the Gungahlin management, but not to the Tuggeranong staff, blew for full-time. Whilst the safety of players was paramount, the ‘keeper had been escorted from the field and been replaced by defender Jacob Kite, Tuggeranong weren’t given the chance to test him which seemed counterproductive to the completion rules and regulations. Fortunately, Lagudah was cleared of any lasting damage.

Gungahlin were leading at that stage and, on the balance of play, were deservedly ahead. They’d scored in each half, the first a cracking low drive from the top of the penalty box from Misko Naumoski, the winger finding space at the end of a swift move that Tuggeranong had no answer to. The second was similar in its creation, Roy Anderson breaking from midfield to run at the visitors defence before unleashing a perfect pass to Philippe Bernabo-Madrid and the striker made no mistake, lashing a left footed shot high above Jakeb Wiseman and into the roof of the net.

Tuggeranong had handed a debut to teenage striker Mark Richards in an effort to solve their goal scoring crisis and the youngster, who had netted four on his U23 debut in a dozen-goal win over Tigers FC the week before, got his name on the scoresheet just prior to the curtailment of the fixture. Marco Gayer clipped in a cross to the near post where Richards arrived. Despite not getting a clean contact on the ball his header had enough direction to beat Lagudah. It wasn’t enough for Tuggeranong to rescue a point, and time was beginning to tick away for Mitch Stevens’ group, but there was a glimmer that Richards could provide the missing link. It was a lot to put in the shoulders of a young lad, but Tuggeranong’s need was great.

Despite the heavy rain in the week Nijong Oval survived to host the Tigers against Belconnen match and the home side kept the pressure up on Croatia thanks to a narrow 1-0 success. The telling moment came seconds before half-time when Josh Gulevski cut a cross back into the penalty area which was met by a crisp finish from Antoni Timotheou. It was a vital victory for the Tigers who moved to within four points of the league leaders with a game in hand, handily poised to pounce should they get the chance. With the news that Daniel Fabrizio was likely to add to the Tigers ranks in the foreseeable future, Ryan Grogan and his team were looking strong for a concerted title challenge.

WNPL: THORNTON WINS IT LATE FOR BLUE DEVILS

The game of the day went down to the wire with Belconnen United scoring the game winner in injury time to take out a five-goal thriller with Gungahlin United at the AIS Synthetic thanks to a last-minute strike from Michaela Thornton. Two players were in everyone’s conversation around the field before the game: 2021 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 W-League player with the Jets, was on the bench for Belconnen United, freshly recruited from West Canberra. On the 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’ #32. Elke Aitolu intercepted a pass 30 metres away from Belconnen’s goal and quickly passed it to Ella-Rose Brown who found Heyman with her first touch. Canberra United’s most prolific goalscorer 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 one-versus-one to Olivia Bomford, who easily put the ball past Tonini. The rest of the half remained scoreless, both teams showcasing their solidity defensively.

Gungahlin tried to build attacks through the midfield in the second forty-five, while Belconnen resorted to more direct football. The entrance of Jaber on the left flank was a bonus for the Blue Devils, defensively and offensively. Within ten minutes, Tonini had to make a couple of saves, but could not do anything when Thornton, following a cross by Leah Carnegie, 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 85th minute. Just like so many times in 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-foot 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 three this season, but in injury time, Thornton, again, changed the narrative. Thirty-five metres away from goals, she collected 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 maximum points with only seconds left to play.

The unkind weather moved the clash between Canberra Olympic and Canberra Croatia 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 many of their questions this season, Brittany Palombi. The best way to celebrate Alice Churchill’s 200th game under the red and white checked shirt was to get all three points, and that’s just what her squad did, but not without fighting hard for it. 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 Palombi. Launched on the right wing by Jennifer 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 15th 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 was 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 fours. 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.

It took 11 rounds for Tuggeranong United to finally got their first point of the season and they were minutes away from getting all three points when they drew 1-1 with Canberra United Academy. 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 consecutive passes for most of the game. Canberra United were dangerous when playing 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, Ash-Lee Condon showed the extent of her talent, leading and repositioning her team from the centre back position.

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 fifteen minutes left to play. Just as the Academy modified their backline, Sophie 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 travels, and after a couple of unsuccessful set pieces, they managed to equalise thanks to their number 10, Sasha Grove. Grove inherited a ball 25 metres from the goal and did took her chance. The ball dipped under the crossbar and over Rolfe, undoubtedly bothered by the sun in that instance. Canberra United kept pushing to try and get the win, but the score remained unchanged, Tuggeranong finally gained a competition point.

A different season start for West Canberra Wanderers, now officially without Tiana Jaber and Emma Stanbury in their ranks as they visited their namesake from the Riverina, West Canberra grabbing 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, the ‘keeper 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 in 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 12th minute. King’s crossbar denied the opener for the home team close to the half-hour, but West Canberra went in front shortly afterwards. A corner was partially cleared by the Wagga City defence, but only as far as Melinda O’Callaghan, who, trying to put the ball back in the box, watched it drop over the head of Wagga goalkeeper Samantha Emms, offering the lead to her team. Wagga attempted to push even higher to try and equalise before half time, but for every opportunity, a foot, a head, or the gloves of a West Canberra player was in 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. Emms, as usual, was to thank for the score

not being larger than a goal to nil at full time. Her team gave everything they had to try and get an equalizer, but were never 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 number of chances that went begging.

ROUND 12 NPL: TUGGERANONG CAPITULATE TO TEN-MAN WANDERERS

Tuggeranong United capitulated in the most abject matter as their slump towards relegation took a nose-dive with an horrendous 5-1 hammering by ten-man West Canberra Wanderers at Melrose Synthetic. The Wanderers saw Michael Mensah, starting his first game for the team since his midseason transfer from Belconnen United, dismissed ten minutes before half-time switching the momentum of the contest to what appeared to be inexorably in favour of the visitors. That Tuggeranong couldn’t take advantage of their numerical superiority was telling, but what was even more so was the way they fell apart against a West Canberra side who had lost their previous two matches. The body language of the team, as firstly Jackson Paesler cut inside his marker to finish astutely beyond Jakeb Wiseman, making his 50th NPL appearance and then Gabe Cole, at the end of a move that he initiated and involved the electric Jai Selden and the industrious Marko Jadric, made it 3-1 to the ten-men was indicative of a group that had no confidence that they could recover.

It hadn’t appeared as if that would be the outcome after Tuggeranong responded superbly to going behind inside the opening ninety seconds of the early afternoon kick-off. A poorly placed pass from Conor Nolan allowed Mensah to send Selden in on goal with a perfectly weighted ball, allowing the forward to skip around Wiseman and bury it into the back of the net from an acute angle. Far from being overawed, Tuggeranong fought back well and, with Shane Murry pulling the strings and Nolan and Regan Walsh solid in front of the back three, they began to take control of the proceedings. Harrison Buesnel, who turned eighteen during the week and one of only a few in green and gold who could hold his head up at the end of the contest, met a near post Murray corner with a glancing header to bring the fixture all-square. And, with teenage forwards Mark Richards and Jenno Cerruti finding their feet, all looked rosy in the United garden.

The half-time whistle would have dire consequences for Tuggeranong though as they emerged from the changing rooms lacking spark, verve or imagination. The Wanderers, ironically with a man short, looked far more fluent than they had with eleven and the quickfire double from Paesler and Cole gave them a cushion. United had nothing in response and when Shae Thornton floated an exquisite chip over the head of Wiseman inside the last ten minutes the points were secure at 4-1. There was time for one more and it rather unfortunately summed up Tuggeranong’s day. Blaise Vlazlovski, buoyed by Thornton’s earlier success, aimed to repeat the feat from a similar distance. His effort was less successful, but Wiseman inexplicably fumbled the ball into the net for the fifth. Tuggeranong were left with a mountain to climb.

At the other end of the table the league champions, Canberra Croatia, pulled apart Belconnen United at McKellar Park with a conniving and comprehensive four-goal win that left the Blue Devils staring nervously over their shoulders at the clubs below them in the league table. It didn’t take Dean Ugrinic’s team long to hot the front, Jason Ugrinic collecting a long-ball that was horribly missed by the advancing Jordan Thurtell in the Belconnen goal, the home goalkeeper taking a massive air-swing at the ball and presenting Ugrinic with an open goal from the angle which he gleefully took against his former club. If that goal was hard to swallow for the home support the second was equally straightforward and avoidable. A long throw from Matt Grbesa was flicked on at the near post by Ryan Keir and Nik Taneski arrived completely unmarked, ghosting in at the far post, to apply the finishing touch from close range. Simple and effective. Belconnen weren’t without their chances in the opening half, Darren Bailey was his hard-running self, and it was his cutback that gave Luca Florez a glorious opportunity to pull one back, but the striker lifted his shot up and over the Croatia crossbar.

The next goal was always likely to be crucial in determining the destination of the points and it came early in the second-half of the contest. Ugrinic again played a major park, breaking away from the Belconnen defence and finding Daniel Barac in the area. Barac’s first touch was sublime, clipping the ball over the head of Philippe Borgeaud who, despite contorting his body, was unable to get a touch. That allowed Barac to complete his 360-degree spin and slid a right-foot side-foot finish coolly past Thurtell and into the bottom corner of the goal. There was still time for more, Taneski having found his goal touch in the previous few weeks continued his run of form with his second of the afternoon. Daniel Colbertaldo and Ugrinic exchanged passes on the left flank with the former’s beautiful cross finding Taneski at the back post, Bringing the ball under his spell, Taneski cut from right to left and curled his second of the afternoon into the top corner to seal the result.

At O’Connor Enclosed there was a surprise return between the posts for veteran Canberra Olympic custodian Angelo Konstantinou, the former Futsalroo tasked with stopping the Tigers FC juggernaut that had been strengthened by the inclusion of Daniel Fabrizio on the bench amongst the substitutes. Not even Konstantinou could prevent the Tigers, Canberra’s FFA Cup representatives, from remaining hot on the heels of Canberra Croatia, with the 2-1 success meaning that Ryan Grogan’s team winning a fourth match in succession in all competitions having last been beaten by their title rivals at Deakin Stadium. The opening goal arrived after 26th minutes and was a triumph for persistence. A corner was only halfcleared and, when it was returned, Lachlan Griffiths forced a smart save from Konstantinou. Griffiths, who had remained up from the corner, reacted fastest and stabbed the ball to Nik

Popovich who, faced with the prospect of a completely empty goal, could not miss despite the home cried for offside being ignored by the officials, Replays suggested that Popovich was played on by a retreating defender.

Olympic were always in the contest and probably should have led before conceding, Aisosa Ihegie unable to convert a one-on-one. The Tigers needed a second goal, and it came with twenty minutes to play. Jay Kelly was afforded the freedom of the penalty area against the club he left in the summer and the wide midfielder lashed a ferocious drive beyond Konstantinou and into the top corner of the net. That should have been that, but Olympic were offered a way back into the match when they were awarded a penalty which Ihegie confidently converted from the spot. By that stage, Dean Cowdroy has replaced Jakob Cole in the Tigers goal, a substitution that wasn’t precipitated by any sort of injury. Cowdroy was unable to keep out the penalty however was able to see out a nervy finale to ensure that the Tigers kept on track.

All four matches were played on the Saturday in Round 12 and the final game of the round was at the Riverside Stadium where Gungahlin United were the visitors to tackle Monaro Panthers. It was a fixture that would mark the 100th NPL appearance of Panthers’ midfielder Jeremy Habtemariam and the 250th appearance of Gungahlin wide-man Misko Naumoski. Both would have cause to remember the occasion for differing reasons. Habtemariam’s evening would end abruptly, a tweak of the hamstring that had kept him out for the previous three week’s shortening his match, whilst Naumoski would celebrate a 64th NPL goal, giving his team the lead in a match that would end 1-1.

The Panthers had suffered some appalling luck in 2021 and it continued in the 17th minute of this encounter. Stephen Domenici did everything right when he curled a shot beyond the reach of Gunners’ young ‘keeper Jacob Quinn, starting as Josh Lagudah was recovering from concussion. The ball cannoned off the inside of the post and fell fortuitously into the arms of Quinn. Incredibly, within a couple of passes it was in the back of the Panthers’ net, Naumoski receiving the ball at the top of the penalty area and sending a crisp, low, left-out effort into Evan Alexandrow-Ridley’s bottom corner. It was a microcosm of the season for the home side. Their perseverance would pay off in first-half stoppage time with the leveller that was to earn them a point.

Seb Woods played a starring role, bursting down the left flank and drifting past a couple of challenges before freeing Josh Calabria. Calabria returned the pass but neither Woods nor Sam Habtemariam, on for his elder brother, could get a telling touch. Domenici recovered the ball though, keeping it in play and tabbing it back into the path of Tim Bobolas who set a stunning curling cross into the area, pin-point onto the head of Kofi Danning, who ghosted

in between a pair of Gunners’ defenders to flick a header past Quinn who had no chance of keeping it out. Neither side could add to the tally in the second half, finding the breakthrough proving elusive and the draw was a fair result of a balanced clash.

WNPL: CROATIA REAFFIRMED AS THE TEAM TO BEAT

The clash of the weekend in WNPL was at Deakin Stadium as the league’s top two met with Canberra Croatia hosting Belconnen United and the result, a comfortable 3-1 win for the home side allowed them to create a gap at the top of the division, moving three points clear of their closest rivals. The final score was the same result as the Round 5 earlier this season and, just like in that game, it took Canberra Croatia only five minutes to open the scoring. A set-piece was the origin of the goal with Krista Hagen netting her second header of the season, placing her header into the top right corner of the net. The Blue Devils, shaken and under constant pressure from their opponent, could barely get the ball out of their own half. The reigning champions tried to kill the match as fast as possible, forcing Cristina Esposito in the Belconnen goal into a series of saves.

The home side finally found a breach, or rather created one, on an indirect free-kick in the box just after 20 minutes had been played. Brittany Palombi pushed the ball to Grace Gill, whose powerful strike pierced through Esposito and a raft of her teammates, standing sideby-side on the goal line. This time the Blue Devils would find a way to answer though, and within seconds, Talia Backhouse took her chance, finishing superbly from 25 metres out to reduce the arrears. What might have been the start of a comeback ended being a lone spark from the visitors, who ended the half the way they started it, in their own half, giving away too many cheaply too close to their own box and lucky not to be punished. The third goal came seven minutes before the break. Hagen and Gill pressed together to steal the ball off Belconnen, and three passes later, Palombi was again offering the ball to her captain, who steadied herself to score her 8th goal this season. The Blue Devils attempted to be more offensive with Reilly Yuen replacing Katie Woodman, but were kept mute, only able to get close to Ally Hinson’s area on a couple of occasions. The score remained unchanged, and Belconnen recorded a second defeat in the regular season, something that had not happened to them since 2012.

Canberra Olympic secured a precious win at O’Connor Enclosed and boosted their goal difference in the process as they bagged half-a-dozen in a comprehensive win over the visiting Wagga City Wanderers. The home side started with all guns blazing and needed less than five minutes for their star striker, Ashleigh Sykes, to put her name on the scoresheet. Found perfectly by Ally Cook in the box, Sykes left Sammy Emms with no chance when she aimed and found the bottom corner. The Wanderers tried to respond, in the game and on

set pieces, but could not do better than finding Aurelia Haynes’ crossbar. Nicole Begg’s troops slowly took control of the game again, and just before the half hour mark, Sykes decided to offer a goal to Vandenbroucke, all alone in the six-yard-box, Vandenbroucke taking full advantage of the pass to fire past Emms. The danger, as often for Wagga City, came from Christina Grauer-Kompos, but her attempt from the edge of the box was stopped by Haynes.

Emms denied Jordan Ujdur with a firm right foot at the start of the second-half but a minute later, Cook signed her second assist on free-kick, with Rachael Hardwicke on the receiving end heading the ball down and in. Sykes scored her second goal on the later, tapping the ball in the empty net at the end of a great combination between Hardwicke and Vandenbroucke, whilst the fifth goal came from the spot kick thanks to the home side specialist, Ally Cook, after the referee signalled a foul from Casey Smith on Ashleigh Sykes. There was nothing Emms could do to stop that perfect penalty, powerful and in the top right corner. There was time for one more, an unfortunate own goal by Sophie Cary following a corner for Olympic, to seal a convincing win.

Gungahlin United recovered some of their early season form with a vital home win against the Canberra United Academy, a result that took Diego Iglesias’ squad are only a point away from the top three places. The game did not start the best way however for the Gunners. Put under pressure from the get-go by an Academy team playing with usual their style, Gungahlin conceded within the first ten minutes. Natalie De Marco, looking for her teammate in defence, saw her pass intercepted by Sofia Christopherson. The Academy’s winger launched her partner in crime Anna Hunt in the box, and Hunt’s shot somehow snuck between Kailey Tonini’s legs, only for Christopherson, who had followed up, to tap it into the empty net. The home side’s reaction would not take too long. Seven minutes later, Erika Pennyfield, from the corner of the box, struck a powerful shot that found the top corner.

Gungahlin took the lead before half time when Chloe Lincoln was unable to block Steffi Lejins’ shot from distance. The ball bobbled in front of the keeper and Natalie De Marco, like a real poacher, pounced and scored the second goal for her team. The Academy showed better intensity after the break and got themselves level when Nikita Perry arrived inside the area to firmly head into the net from close range. Unfortunately for the visitors, parity lasted only five minutes and it was déjà vu for Lincoln in the Academy goal. Jade Brown shot from within the box, and the power of her strike prevented Lincoln from blocking the ball.

Just like earlier in the game, Natalie De Marco was nearby and was able to tap the ball past the prostrate ‘keeper and into the net to win the match for the Gunners.

At Kambah, Tuggeranong United were only a quarter of an hour away from a first win of the season against West Canberra Wanderers only to have their hopes dashed with a quick-fire Wanderers double stealing the point, but not without some controversy. It took West Canberra a while to see a positive result emerge from their trip to Kambah. Tuggeranong had taken perfect start admittedly, with a goal very early on. Maddie Magee was on the receiving end of a cross coming from the right side, and by herself in front of Janet King, did not leave the keeper a chance to stop her shot. The rest of the first-half was a battle of the midfield with both teams trying to score from a distance, without success. It was a similar tale at the start of the second half, the Wanderers almost surprised early again, but this time King was able to deflect Kassandra Guglielmin’s attempt above the crossbar.

West Canberra kept pushing, but Sophie Rolfe, in fine form, was able to stop every ball aimed at her. The reward finally came at the 75th minute for the visitors, thanks to their captain Sarah Whitfield. On a free-kick coming from the right, the centre back ran from the back post to meet the ball at the front post and head it in the back of the net. Tuggeranong thought they had answered five minutes later through Steph Coates, after King failed to block a ball, but the goal was denied by a controversial whistle for a foul by Coates on the keeper. Replays indicated that King had spilled the ball onto the chest of the advancing Coates rather than the collision causing the ‘keeper to fumble. A tough call on the home side and one which was to cost them at least a point. The Wanderers switched back to attacking mode but Rolfe, again, denied Whitfield. On the very next opportunity however, the goal scorer became the passer, when her cross found Alex McKenzie, who pounced in front of her defender to give her team a precious win.

ROUND 13 NPL: OLYMPIC STUN CROATIA ON THEIR OWN PATCH

Deakin Stadium, as the home of the league champions and one of the premier stadiums in the region, has seen many standout moments during its existence and some incredible results, and yet few would have matched the Round 13 success for Canberra Olympic over the league leaders. An astonishing afternoon of football started with the hosts in title control and with an early lead, but ended with a stunning Olympic victory, a 5-1 hammering for Dean Ugrinic and his team by a young and vibrant Olympic outfit and a result that sent shockwaves through the rest of the division. It also opened the door to the summit for Tigers FC who, after their narrow win over West Canberra Wanderers, moved to within a point of top spot with a game in hand. It was all shaping up rather nicely as the season ticked into its third round of fixtures, rounds 14-21, which would finalise the league standings, reveal the top four and also which unlucky club would slip through the basement and into NPL2.

Canberra Croatia had excelled in dismantling Belconnen United at McKellar Park a week before they met Olympic at home, and were expected to come away with another three points, even given the visitors impressive record at Deakin Stadium. When Nikola Taneski continued his fine run of form inside eighty-five seconds, running onto a through ball and round Angelo Konstantinou in the Olympic goal to score from the angle, all seemed set fair. There was just one problem for the horn support. No-one had told Canberra Olympic of that script. Crucially, they pulled a goal back inside first-half stoppage time, leading scorer Aisosa Ihegie allowed far too much time and space at the back post to meet a cross and head home his eighth goal of the campaign. That swung vital momentum into Olympic’s path, and they took full advantage with a second-half smash and grab masterclass. Ihegie was at the beating heart of a two-goal salvo inside the space of two minutes that gave belief to the young Olympic team.

Firstly, Ihegie held up play superbly and played a square ball to James Crawford, the striker taking a touch before planting a right-foot drive low beyond the reach of Sam Brown in the 52nd minute. Two minutes later it was three. Tapaia Ringi kept a ball alive that looked to be heading out allowing Ihegie to shrug off his marker and head for goal. He kept his cool to pick out the run of Chris Reay who slammed the ball into the open net for his first NPL1 strike. There was more to come ten minutes later as Reay was sent through the Middlesex showing a clean pair of heels to the Croatia defence to rifle in his second of the match. Canberra Croatia were stunned, and it got worse for the home support as Olympic added a fifth. Again, it was from a counterattack, Ihegie and Alen James involved freeing substitute Adam Forner who, in turn, picked out Crawford to slot home his brave. It was brutal. It was

effective. It was mesmerising.

Tigers FC took full advantage of the Canberra Croatia slip-up by narrowly seeing off West Canberra Wanderers at Nijong Oval courtesy of a debut goal for new signing Niko Ujdur. The former Croatia midfielder was afforded way too much time and space inside the Wanderers penalty area to pick his spot eleven minutes before the break. It was a composed finish from Ujdur who has added to the rich attacking stocks at Ryan Grogan’s disposal. Even then though the Tigers needed a get out of jail free card and it came in the shape of a 95th minute penalty stop from goalkeeper Jakob Cole. Former Tigers forward Jai Selden was bundled over in the area by a clumsy challenge from Nathen Megic, but Cole denied his namesake, Gabe Cole, diving to his left to push the resultant penalty away and out of danger. The save was as critical as the goal as the three points swung the chase for the championship in favour of the men in yellow.

At the AIS it was honours even between Gungahlin United and Belconnen United as two sides in the logjam for the top four spots came away with a point apiece in a 1-1 draw. The result was probably a fair reflection of play; however, Gungahlin had the better of the chances in the ninety minutes with both Philippe Bernabo-Madrid and Michael John striking the base of the same post in the first-half for the Gunners as they looked to take advantage of the absence of Blue Devils stalwarts Darren Bailey and Taylor Beaton, both suspended after receiving their fourth yellow cards of the season the week before. John was distinctly unlucky to see his left-foot curler clump Jordan Thurtell’s right-hand upright whilst his strike partner rather scuffed his right-foot shot onto the same spot when well positioned. Leon Michl, on as a second half substitute for the Gunners was to draw a superb save from Thurtell when he looked to have won the points for the home side, the Blue Devils stopper reprising his role as villain in chief for the hosts after earlier blocking a Bernabo-Madrid effort.

The Blue Devils, who had started brightly with Christian Kreskas in excellent form on the left flank, went in front before the interval with a simple goal from a set-piece. Dustin Wells swung over a corner into the danger area where he found Phil Borgeaud, the defender arriving unmarked at the back post to thump a solid header last returning goalkeeper Josh Lagudah in the Gunners’ nets. The leveller was a thing of beauty with twenty minutes to play. Robbie Tkatchenko had only ever scored one NPL goal before this one and eyebrows were raised when he lined up a dig at goal from 35 metres. The full-back struck the ball sweetly though and watched as it arrowed into the net to square the ledger and earn his team a point.

At the bottom of the table Tuggeranong United were cut further adrift after the let slip a 1-0 lead to lose 1-3 to Monaro Panthers at Kambah 2. The turning point arrived in stoppage time at the end of the opening stanza as United, defending the lead, were reduced to ten men. Conor Nolan was the man dismissed, alleged to have elbowed Monaro midfield man Sam Roestbakken, although video evidence appeared inconclusive as to exactly what contact was made. At that stage United were in front as young tyro Mark Richards had given his team a 14th minute advantage, the teenage striker latching into a huge Jakeb Wiseman kick from hands to collect and fire home from an acute angle for his second NPL1 goal. That was as good as it got for Tuggeranong though as the second half brought nothing but grief as the points slowly ebbed away. Stephen Domenici equalised in the 68th minute, finally breaking the home resistance and when Josh Calabria finished off a corner routine with fourteen minutes remaining, Monaro were in control. With goalkeeper Wiseman joining the attack six minutes into stoppage time, Monaro cleared the corner and a long ball allowed Sebastian Woods to run 90 metres and tap into an open goal and seal the victory.

WNPL: BIG WINS FOR BOTH TITLE CONTENDERS

Belconnen United secured a solid win at home against bottom of the table Tuggeranong United improving their goal difference in the process with a comfortable 9-1 win at McKellar Park. The Blue Devils were too strong offensively for the Tuggies and kept the pressure on Canberra Croatia before their game 24 hours later. Belconnen started showing their teeth at the 10th minute, but Sophie Bui, covering as a keeper on Saturday, was able to deflect a point-blank effort by Katie Woodman. She was unable to stop Reilly Yuen’s attempt a minute later however, when the young striker resisted three defenders to pick the bottom corner and score the first goal for the Blue Devils. Minutes later, Leah Carnegie crossed the ball from the right, and Talia Backhouse cut it before Bui to score her first on the day.

An acceleration from Michaela Thornton on the left wing was at the start of the third goal. After running into the box, the skipper’s cut back pass found Carnegie, who added her name to the scoreboard. She scored her second goal in a similar position seven minutes later, before Backhouse put her name for a second time on the scoreboard as well, with a precise shot from 25 meters away. 5-0 at half-time, the fate of the game seemed sealed. Leah Carnegie was lucky to record a hat trick when her cross, three minutes into the second half, dipped behind Bui in the top right corner, but there was no luck involved in the seventh goal however, as Carnegie and Backhouse’s combined to find Olivia Bomford. Thornton scored just before the hour mark, with a left-footed effort from the edge of the box as the goals racked up. Sarah Daisley did pull one back for the visitors, but there was time for one more as Katelyn Hewen, attempting a clearance, pushed the ball in her own goal.

There was a crucial win for West Canberra Wanderers in their fight for a spot in the top four against a rival on the table as they defeated Gungahlin United 2-1. Gungahlin saw most of the ball early on, but the dense defensive unit at West Canberra stood firm, and the Gunners offense just could not get through the red and black wall. Ten minutes into the game, Michelle Heyman’s goal was chalked off for off-side, which seemed to wake up the Wanderers. The home team scored, somewhat against the run of play when a corner kick flew over Kailey Tonini, and Chaverra, like a real poacher, anticipated it and tapped the ball in the empty net at the far post. The main answers from the Gunners came on set pieces,

but the numerous corner kick always found an army of Wanderers in the box able to put head, leg, foot in the way to prevent Gungahlin from equalising. At the end of a hard fought first half, Chaverra even offered a second goal to her team, with a fantastic strike from 25 meters away that dipped under the crossbar and left Tonini no chance.

Back from the locker room, Gungahlin started all guns blazing. Heyman’s teammates started finding openings in the Wanderers’ defence, yet still found obstacles on their way. Erika Pennyfield met an inspired Janet King to deny what looked like a done deal. King would have the same reflexes in front of Ella Brown a few minutes later, but by then West Canberra had increased their defensive intensity again and were battling every ball. Erika Pennyfield struck a post for the visitors, and Heyman went close, before they gained their reward via Jade Brown. Launched in the back of the defence by Natalie de Marco, the young striker picked the opposite side net with her left foot and had enough strength to put it past King. The deadlock broken, Iglesias’ team kept pushing, but despite their domination, were not able to equalise.

Canberra Croatia answered Belconnen’s comfortable win on Saturday by getting all three points in Wagga with Brittany Palombi scoring five in an 8-0 win over Wagga City Wanderers. Under the sun at Gissing Oval, the Wanderers tried to stop the visitors’ offensive armada as well as they could, but Palombi still managed to find an opening just after the ten-minute mark. Launched by Sharon Chao in the back of the defence, Palombi showcased her technique with a superb, chipped ball over Samantha Emms with the outside of her left foot that ended in the top corner. Palombi found the bottom corner ten minutes later to make it two and, as the Wanderers tried to respond and bring the ball forward, they would expose themselves to a counter-attack. Palombi added two more goals to her tally just before the break. Twice, the left footed forward was found by Olivia Fogarty in the middle of the Wanderers’ defence and twice, she left Emms no chance from point-blank range.

The Deakin side would not give the Wanderers an opportunity to bounce back before an uncharacteristic error from Emms offered Fogarty her 8th goal of the season. Sharon Chao, playing her fiftieth WNPL match, added her name on the scoresheet within three minutes, with a volley in the middle of a scramble, following a corner kick. Palombi then scored her 5th and last goal on the day, her 20th in 12 games this season and her 135th in 134 career Capital Football NPLW games, volleying in from short range at the receiving end of a Grace Gill’s cross. Jamie Berkeley was at the end of another cross, and alone in the box, to round out the scoring.

Canberra United Academy resisted until the very end to secure a precious win against a direct rival for a spot in the top ending a four-game losing streak by defeating Canberra Olympic 3-2 at Hawker Football Centre. The first half was a onesided affair, the Academy keeping most of the ball against an apathetic Olympic squad, lacking aggressivity on and off the ball. Meg Roden was the first one to really bring danger on to Aurelia Haynes’ goals, with a powerful strike from the edge of the box that crashed on the crossbar. In the follow-up, Sasha Grove gathered the ball and her attempt, despite lacking power, bounced before and over Haynes. A nearperfect sequence from Canberra United brought them a second as a ball from Chloe Lincoln found Anna Hunt in six passes, and the goal scorer did not waste her opportunity against Haynes to put her name on the scoresheet. A minute later, a ball lost by Olympic’s midfield was recovered by Christopherson, whose cross was fumbled by Haynes. Nikita Perry accepted the offering and tapped the ball into the empty net, giving her team a three-goal advantage. Canberra Olympic did not seem to be able to respond, and the half time break was a welcome opportunity for Nicole Begg to remobilise the troops.

Olympic started the second half with better intent and the intensity necessary to make this Academy side doubt. Anna Vandenbroucke, one of the best Olympic players on the day, led the way with a goal 13 minutes into the second half. After a struggle to get out of Jensen’s marking, the former Wanderer found herself facing Lincoln alone, and picked the bottom left corner to start her team’s momentum. Sykes happily picked up the torch five minutes later, and at the end of fantastic solo run, found Anna Bennett into the box. Sykes and Bennett played a one-two the former W-League player left Lincoln no chance when she opened her left foot to score her 15th goal in 2021. Back within a goal to the Academy, Olympic pushed for another 5 minutes, before falling a bit flat in the last 15 minutes. Rarely able to bring the danger to Lincoln again, the visitors could also thank Ellie Summers, the keeper who subbed in just before half time, for preventing the home team from scoring a fourth.

ROUND 14 NPL: SECOND FIVE-GOAL HOME LOSS IN SUCCESSION FOR CROATIA

A bitterly cold, wet, and windy day struck the Capital for Round 14 with the scheduled live BarTV commentary match between Monaro Panthers and Tigers FC falling foul of the weather early on the Saturday morning. The match between Tuggeranong United and Canberra Olympic quickly followed suit, Kambah 2 deemed unplayable by the club officials who undertook the pitch inspection. The only surviving NPL1 fixture on the Saturday was therefore at McKellar Park as Belconnen United, entering the match in seventh place on the table, entertained West Canberra Wanderers, four places high occupying third position. Both teams needed the points, the Wanderers to cement top four hopes, the Blue Devils to stave off any potential relegation threat. With possibly that in mind, Belconnen Head Coach Fabian Miceli recalled Taylor Beaton into midfield and asked Darren Bailey to lead the line, the pair having returned from a one-match suspension for accumulation of yellow cards.

The key moment in the clash came early on, as the only goal of the contest was scored inside of four minutes. The Wanderers conceded a free-kick in a dangerous position close to the edge of the penalty rea, prime real estate for Blue Devils playmaker Dustin Wells. Wells swung over a low free-kick into the danger area with pace and purpose and Wanderers’ central defender Lachlan Fields, in attempting to divert the ball away from danger, succeeded only in clipping it past the motionless Mason Interlandi who had no chance in keeping it out. Chances for both teams were few and far between in a cagey contest in which the midfield battle was key, neither team able to exert too much pressure in the final third. The Wanderers passed up a couple of glorious chances to share the spoils in the second-half though as they pressed for an equaliser. Blaise Vlazlovski found himself in space inside the box midway through the second stanza, but his shot was timid and straight at Jordan Thurtell in the Blue Devils goal. When Lachlan Harrington, leading the line for the visitors, did get a firm effort on target, deflecting a cross from substitute Babin Paudyal onto target, Thurtell spread himself to deflect it away for a corner. That was as close as Ulisses Da Silva’s team came to claiming a point, Belconnen seeing out the match in relative comfort to take the points, move up into sixth and join both Canberra Olympic and Gungahlin United on seventeen points ahead of the Sunday fixture between the Gunners and league leading Canberra Croatia at Deakin Stadium.

If losing 5-1 at home to Canberra Olympic in Round 13 was a surprise, a repeat scoreline from the visit of Gungahlin United barely beggared belief, but that was the scenario facing Canberra Croatia and their loyal supporters at the end of another sensational ninety minutes of football at Deakin Stadium. It was a scarcely believable score as the home side

were hot with another smash-and-grab raid by a visiting team that were in no mood to be merciful. Games swing on decisions, and both teams would have cause for complaint in the opening half, the Gunners when Matt Grbesa felled Michael John inside the box for no reward and the home team for when Josh Lagudah cleaned out Daniel Barac when the forward was clean through. With no substitute ‘keeper on the bench, the Gungahlin staff would have been relieved that referee, Nathan Shakespear, deemed that Barac’s touch was away from goal and therefore worthy of only a yellow card. By them Gungahlin were ahead. A sensational cross-field through ball by Roy Anderson found Philippe Bernabo-Madrid running at the back-pedalling Croatia defence and the former home favourite cut infield to roll a finish past Sam Brown and open the scoring. It was a goal that was to separate the two teams and one that would give no indication of the second-half madness that was to follow.

Canberra Croatia had a glorious chance to equalise early in the second stanza when a loose Dom Giampaolo back pass was seized upon by Nikola Taneski. The forward rounded Lagudah but, from an acute angle, fired wide and over the gaping net. Within 75 seconds that miss would hurt doubly. Gungahlin goalkeeper Josh Lagudah fired a clearance downfield that caused a hesitation between Taneski and Brown with Michael John the beneficiary, nipping in to pick the pocket and coolly slot into the empty net to double the visitors lead. If that was a crazy goal, Barac’s effort, which momentarily brought his team back into the contest was just as slapstick. Taneski fell under a challenge from Lagudah with the loose ball falling to Bernard Rene. The defender went to clear, only to miss the ball completely, allowing Barac the simple task of tapping home. Croatia were down to ten at that stage, Grbesa having talked himself into a ten-minute sin-bin after a challenge on Nick Rathjen had seen the defender pick up a yellow card.

Incredibly, having got themselves back into the match with a numerical disadvantage, Croatia were hit with a third. Robbie Tkatchenko sent over a wonderful cross into the area where John collected, to curl a superb finish into the bottom corner, leaving Brown no chance. Gungahlin were rampant and Croatia were a defensive shambles, conceding a fourth on the break. Substitute Tom Krklec sent Bernabo-Madrid into the channel, and he drew Brown and squared for John to slide into the open goal to complete a hat-trick, taking his goal tally to six for the season. There was time for more, and it was Bernabo-Madrid who put the cherry on the cake, moving onto ten goals for the NPL season after being released over the top of the Croatia defence, what was left of it, by Ethan Stamatis’ pass. BernaboMadrid kept his composure and netted his second to complete a remarkable day, and an incredible week in the history of Canberra Croatia Football Club, for all the wrong reasons. The questions reverberating around Deakin Stadium were numerous. Were Gunners a real

title challenge? How much did the early decision not to dismiss Lagudah affect a team with no replacement ‘keeper? And perhaps most pertinently for those present where-to for the league champions?

WNPL: BLUE DEVILS WIN AS CROATIA FIXTURE POSTPONED

The Blue Devils left Melrose Synthetic with all three points, a small revenge against a team that had taken a point at McKellar Park earlier this season. The Wanderers were on the back foot from the get-go at home. Against a Belconnen team that always kept its shape, they struggled to find their front three. Losing their captain Sarah Whitfield on injury halfway through the first half did not help. The Blue Devils on the other end, took their time and built their attacks from the back, either finding Reilly Yuen, Keira Bobbin and Talia Backhouse in feet, or in the back of the West Canberra defence. After a few warnings around Janet King’s area and a succession of corner kicks, Belconnen finally broke the deadlock at the half hour mark.

At the of a solo run from her own half all the way through into the Wanderers’ box, centre back Tiana Jaber squared the ball for Keira Bobbin who tapped it in the bottom corner, leaving King no chance. Five minutes later, Olivia Bomford found Talia Backhouse behind the defence, and the striker scored her 12th goal of the season. West Canberra’s best opportunity came just after, but Melinda O’Callaghan ‘s header after a free kick by Alex McKenzie lacked power to really trouble Cristina Esposito. Back from the locker room, the Blue Devils shut all West Canberra’s hopes of a comeback within two minutes. Reilly Yuen dribbled at the Wanderers defenders at edge of the box, before finding Bobbin, alone in front of King for the second time. The number 12 once again picked the bottom corner to make it 3-0. The win brought Belconnen back to equal points with Canberra Croatia, but the Deakin side still has a game in hand after their clash with Gungahlin United was postponed after Gungahlin Enclosed was unplayable.

Canberra Olympic bagged the points at home against Tuggeranong United who remained winless this season whilst Olympic moved back into the top four. On a pitch not spared by the weather in the days before the game, Olympic had the best start and, after an opportunity in the first five minutes by Anna Bennett was blocked by Sophie Rolfe, Anna Vandenbroucke scored her first of the day at the 12th minute. Ashleigh Sykes was found on the right wing by Bennett, and at the end of her run, the home striker picked Vandenbroucke in the box. The former Wanderer first hesitated, but then took her chance, sneaking the ball between the leg of a defender in the bottom corner. The visitors’ response came from Stephanie Coates, who thought she had put the ball past Olympic goalkeeper Ellie Summers, only to find Sienna Farrar saving the ball on her line.

The second goal for the O’Connor side came minutes before half time and looked a lot like the first one. Heather Garriock, back in the line-up, found Sykes in behind the defence, who showed off her speed to get to the ball before Rolfe. Her touch sent the ball to Vandenbroucke, who just had to tap it in the empty net. Rolfe, who injured herself on that sequence, would leave her place to Sophie Bui between the posts at half time. There was nothing the new keeper could do early into the second act when Bennett launched Sykes by herself towards the box. The former W-League player put the ball past Bui to score her 16th

goal in 14 games in 2021. Bui did have more opportunities to shine in the second half, and showed she was a great option for Paulo Romero. In front of Courtney Halse, Sykes or Vandenbroucke, she made a few saves to keep the score unchanged, almost until the end. With 3 minutes left to play, Vandenbroucke had another one against one with the keeper, and did well to wrongfoot her, and complete her hat-trick on the day.

The Academy confirmed their good result last week with a second straight win at home, recording their largest win of the season against the team from the Riverina defeating Wagga City Wanderers 6-0. Vicki Linton’s team started with the better intent, keeping most of the ball at their feet and pressing high to recover it early. it took United fifteen minutes to seal the deal. Nikita Perry collected possession, at the 11th minute, a ball cheaply given away. The winger ran into the box, and her cutback pass found Bessie Reithmuller, whose shot was deflected to beat Emms. Reithmuller barely had time to celebrate her first NPLW goal, when she was found again near the box. This time she became the passer, finding Perry in the box. The forward’s skills allowed her to sneak through two defenders before slotting the ball out of reach for Emms.

The Wanderers struggled to get close to Chloe Lincoln’s area, besides on set pieces or shots from a distance. At the other end, the Academy keep bringing the danger to Emms, and after another ball recovered early by Grove, Reithmuller, trying to dribble through the defence, took advantage of a couple of lucky bounces to find herself alone in front of the keeper and score her second goal of the day, and give her team a three goal lead they would keep until the break. The home team came back from the locker room with the same mindset, and within seconds back on the pitch, Sofia Christopherson went for a run on the left wing. Despite solutions in the box, she went for goal and found the opposite side net. Just before the hour mark, Perry took the other wing to reach the box, and with another cutback pass, found Christopherson near the penalty spot. The number 7 hit it with her first touch for her second goal on the day The home side scored again when Reithmuller, with the ball in the middle of an apathetic Wagga defence, served Sasha Grove at the edge of the box, and the number 10’s left footed strike cleaned the cobweb in the top right corner, leaving Emms no chance as Academy moved into third.

ROUND 15 NPL: TIGERS TAKE COMMAND OF TITLE CHASE

The weather played its part once again in Canberra as the NPL fixtures were reverted to artificial surfaces and kick-off times moved to evening schedules to accommodate what was promised to be a wet, windy, and cold weekend in the National Capital. With most of Round 15 switched to synthetic surfaces in anticipation of poor weather which, thankfully in the main, stayed away, West Canberra Wanderers were in the fortunate position of their home match, already scheduled for Melrose Synthetic, against Gungahlin United as the only NPL1 fixture played at its original kick-off time. And it was a very important game for both in terms of the league table and the race for the top four. The Gunners led at half-time thanks to a well-worked goal after quarter of an hour of action. Domenic Giampaolo played a massive part, rolling a tackle in midfield and sending a wonderfully weighted left-footed pass in over the back of a flat Wanderers back four. Misko Naumoski had timed his run to perfection and took a touch before composing himself to slide the finish underneath the advancing Mason Interlandi.

Chasing the match there was always the chance that the home side might get caught again and, for reasons only known to the squad, their high line was penetrated again five minutes after the restart. Tom Krklec snapped up a loose ball in midfield and slid a pass between the two Wanderers central defenders, sending Philippe Bernabo-Madrid in on goal and the inform striker never looked likely to miss, slipping in a fine first-time effort into the bottom corner past Interlandi. Chances were rare in the contest following the second Gunners’ goal, as the visiting team confidently and competently, held onto their advantage, to move within three points off the Tigers in second place ahead of the monumental showdown between one and two, Canberra Croatia and the Tigers, at the AIS on the Sunday evening.

O’Connor Enclosed was, to the surprise of no-one, deemed unplayable and the match between Canberra Olympic and Monaro Panthers was switched to Hawker Football Centre and a ate evening kick-off in front of the BarTV cameras and commentary team, with 7.55pm designated the go-to time. Whilst it promised to be a late night, not even the two teams would have imagined the late, late drama that was to unfold as the Monaro Panthers stole all three points with the last-kick of the contest, claiming a 3-2 success. That the winning goal, converted from close range by Lasse Olrik, involved contributions from Josh Calabria, Tim Bobolas and Stephen Domenici, before the denouement supplied by Olrik, featured a quartet of former Olympic players, was lost on no-one. Just what the goal, and the subsequent victory, meant to those on green and black, was clear from the exuberant and ecstatic celebrations of all connected with the Panthers. It was a win that moved the

NSW-based team onto the coat-tails of the top-four and in with a great chance of making the finals series should their recent upturn in form continue.

Both sides had shouts for penalties during the ninety minutes, Daniel Linstead appearing to handle a cross in diverting a cross back to his goalkeeper, and in the second half, James Wilson hauling down Aisosa Ihegie when the forward looked like he might get in behind the defence. Domenici had given the Panthers the lead two minutes before the break when the visitors broke sharply from an Olympic set-piece. Alessandro Pena fed Domenici and the Panthers main man cut inside to rifle a shot at goal. It was heroically blocked by Nick Fast, Olympic’s skipper, but the rebound dell nicely to Domenici who sent a first-time effort scudding into the back of the net past the prostrate form of Angelo Konstantinou in goal. Olympic’s response, as it so often had in 2021, came through Ihegie. The striker, in the form of his life, scored his ninth goal of the season, in nine separate matches, when he controlled a cross and swivelled to place a low drive into the corner in the 63rd minute.

The final ten minutes brought all the drama. Seb Woods, introduced off the bench from which he had made most impact during the season, looked to have won it for Panthers when he turned home a Domenici cross with six minutes of regulation time remaining. But Olympic had other ideas and the industrious James Crawford, rode a challenge in midfield and advanced before unleashing a dipping drive that clipped the head of Josh Calabria before arcing over Evan Alexandrow-Ridley for 2-2 with three minutes to go. Incredibly, Olympic might have won it minutes later, Ihegie bursting in between a pair of defenders to find himself alone, one on one, with Alexandrow-Ridley. The Panthers ‘keeper was out quickly though to superbly block Ihegie’s shot. With the final kick, what could have been three points, became none. A Panthers move ended with a ball into the area that, inexplicably, perhaps panicked, Chris Reay toed off the foot of his own ‘keeper as Konstantinou looked to clear. The ball fell perfectly to Olrik who, from two yards, wasn’t about to turn the present down, lashing into the roof of the net to send the Panthers wild and, as celebrations ensued, the referee’s whistle ended the contest.

The Tigers burned brightly at the AIS Synthetic to grab a stranglehold on the NPL1 title chase as they leapfrogged Canberra Croatia to take top spot with a 2-0 victory. The win, and the points that accompanied it, gave the Tigers a two-point lead over the reigning champions with two games in hand, leaving Croatia playing catch-up and struggling to retain their crown. It was a well-deserved win for the men in yellow, as they dominated large facets of play, allowing playmaker Roko Strika the time and space to dictate the movement of those

ahead of him with a range of accurate, long-range passes. The Tigers better twice, two good goals from Josh Gulevski who was tasked with leading the line in the absence of leading scorer Nik Popovich with a continued calf strain, and but for the brilliance of Sam Brown would have had more. Brown was at his alert best to magnificently save from Niko Ujdur when the midfielder waltzed past some statuesque defending to curl a right-foot shot that the visiting ‘keeper did superbly to claw away for a corner.

By then the ‘home’ side had gained the ascendancy and the creator was Strika with another raking pass. His ball over the back of the Croatia defence invited Gulevski into a foot race with Daniel Subasic and a moment’s hesitation between the Canberra Croatia centre-back and his ‘keeper allied Gulevski to sneak in and deliver an impudent, improvised, back-heel finish past Brown and into the corner of the goal. It was a moment of inspiration from a player who, up until that point in the match, had flitted in and out of proceedings without really having a major say. Gulevski though is a proven goalscorer and he was to decide the outcome of the contest with his second goal eleven minutes from time. Croatia fell asleep off a throw and allowed Jay Kelly and Antoni Timotheou to exchange passes for the former to send in an exquisite cross that Gulevski, timing his run to perfection, met with a pinpoint header, guiding the ball past the stricken Brown and into the net.

For his part, Jakob Cole, like Brown playing his 99th NPL match, had relatively little to do and, when called into action, dealt with the sporadic Croatian attacks in relative comfort. Cole got down early to a strike from Luke Pilkington in the first-half and easily handled a shot from range late on, but with leading scorer Daniel Barac suspended the visiting team failed to really spark as an attacking force despite the hard-running of Nikola Taneski and Nikos Kalfas. In the end the Tigers were worthy winners, reversing the disappointment of losing both previous matches to Croatia earlier in the campaign. The win gave them pole position heading into the horn straight and left the League Champions playing catch-up and relying on favours from the rest of the division if they were to claim back-to-back titles.

At the other end of the table Belconnen United drove another nail into the coffin of Tuggeranong United as the visiting side to Melrose Synthetic, the match switched as Kambah was unplayable, claimed a two-goal win that left Tuggeranong eleven points off the pace with only eighteen left to play for. Mitch Stevens team, who hadn’t recorded a win all season up to this point, now looked odds-on for relegation with a minor miracle required for them to avoid the plummet into NPL2 for 2022. Again, Tuggeranong were competitive but, as had been their wont for all of 2021, lacked a cutting edge where it mattered most, in the final third. The Blue Devils meanwhile moved from seventh on the table and into the top four with twenty points, showcasing just how close the race for the finals places was even at

this stage of the season.

The opening half an hour was a very even contest and there was very little to choose between the teams with Tuggeranong, arguably, having the best of the opportunities that were created however it was Belconnen who broke the deadlock. After some tidy interplay through the Belconnen backline and midfield, Christian Kreskas found himself through on goal and his shot into the bottom right corner beat Jakeb Wiseman in the Tuggeranong goal, even though the goalkeeper got a hand on the ball. Tuggeranong started the second half as the aggressors, pressuring the Belconnen defence and coming close to scoring an equaliser multiple times. Against the run of play though Belconnen doubled their lead as a cross into the box fell at Adrian Macor’s feet. A neat turn in the box from the midfielder saw him create enough room to get his shot off and put Belconnen 2-0 up with his first goal of the season. A goal that moved the Blue Devils into a finals place and one that pushed Tuggeranong closer to NPL1 oblivion.

WNPL: NO PRISONERS FOR BLUE DEVILS

The Blue Devils took no prisoners in their match against Wagga City Wanderers that was switched to the AIS Synthetic, romping to a comfortable win, and scoring a dozen goals in the process. It was a tough day at the office for Sam Gray and his Wanderers, who were missing a few first team regulars when they travelled from the Riverina. Belconnen United started the game all guns blazing and the 7th minute, Olivia Bomford scored her first of the day, with a left footed shot from the edge of the box. The Talia Backhouse show then started, with the striker recording a hat trick between the 10th and the 23rd minute. The first goal was a strike from short range that landed under the crossbar. The second goal, on a corner kick, saw the Blue Devils lining up in a “caterpillar” fashion at the edge of the box. Backhouse’s run was perfectly timed to allow her to head the ball in from point blank. The third goal was a copy and paste, with the corner kick coming from the other side. Seconds after the following kick off, Samantha Price intercepted a pass in the Wanderers defence and left Sam Emms no chance in their duel. Reilly Yuen scored a screamer two minutes later, with a powerful shot from the edge of the box that left Emms no chance. The last goal in the first half came from the captain on the day, Leah Carnegie. Wearing the Belconnen’s armband for the first time, Carnegie scored a free kick from long range that surprised Emms when it took a dip under the crossbar, in the top left corner.

The Blue Devils started the second half in the same rhythm, Bomford scoring her second goal less than five minutes after being back on the field. Following skilful work by Sarah Johnston, Bomford received the ball at the edge of the box, and this time used her right foot to swerve the ball out of reach for Emms. Yuen added to the tally shortly after before Vanessa Ryan took advantage of a scramble in the box to tap the ball in and make it 10-0. Yuen’s hat-trick was completed at the 82nd minute, dribbling a defender in the box before

picking the bottom left corner. The last goal of the day was scored by Cassia McGlashan with three minutes left.

There was an important win for Nicole Begg and her Canberra Olympic squad against a direct competitor for the finals when they defeated West Canberra Wanderers 2-1 at Melrose Synthetic. Both teams started with a high intensity, but Olympic took the full measure of their opponents early on. They got their reward 10 minutes in, when Courtney Halse’s corner kick found Ashleigh Sykes, who just had to head it in. Olympic kept putting pressure on Janet King’s goal and a superb ball through by Heather Garriock found Sykes behind the back of the defence. Olympic’s most prolific goal scorer faced King and drove the ball around her before tapping it in the empty nets. The first half kept going Olympic’s way, but the Wanderers dense defence, and their crossbar, were on the way of a third goal for the visitors. The second half started on the same rhythm, with Olympic playing forward and West Canberra waiting patiently and operating on counter attacks. The Wanderers found their way back in the contest eight minutes into the secondhalf. Following a corner kick by former Academy player Tara Cannon, Sofia Chaverra fought for the ball in a forest of Olympic legs and found a way past Aurelia Haynes. The tide turned, and the Wanderers started developing better football offensively. Unfortunately for them, the lack of execution in meant they rarely posed a problem for the Olympic defence.

Gungahlin United needed a win to stay in touch with the top five and they got it, while looking after their goal difference, against bottom of the table Tuggeranong United cruising to an 8-0 win. The Gunners started the game the perfect way, with Jade Brown scoring less than 100 seconds after kick-off. Found by Ayla Robertson in the box, the young forward chipped the ball over young goalkeeper Amy Wiggan from close range. The second goal of the day came minutes later, with Robertson the scorer, after a scramble in the box following a corner kick. Robertson found the back of the net a second time just after the 20-minute mark. She slalomed through the Tuggies defence and found the bottom right corner with her right foot. Tuggeranong resisted well, mainly thanks to Wiggan, who prevented Michelle Heyman from scoring a few goals in the first half. Unfortunately, she could not prevent Elke Aitolu from scoring with a point-blank header just before the half hour mark.

The second half started with both teams battling in the midfield. Despite the score, Tuggeranong gave a good account of themselves. As usual this season unfortunately, they would lose on details, small mistakes, and period of lack of focus. Luck was not going their way either. At the hour mark, following a corner kick, the ball bounced on one of her defenders’ hand, offering Elke Aitolu the chance to score her second goal on the day, on a penalty. Madeleine Perceval added her name to the scoresheet ten minutes later, thanks to

a point-blank header following another corner kick and Heyman finally found the way to beat Wiggan with 12 minutes left to play. Ella Brown’s cut back pass found the Julie Dolan winner inches away from the goal line, and Heyman would not miss from there. The last goal of the afternoon was a repeat of that sequence with inverted role, Heyman offering the goal to Ella Brown.

Third time was the charm for Canberra Croatia, who finally beat the Canberra United Academy after a draw and a loss earlier this season. Nik Brozinic’s squad became the only team to win against every NPLW team in 2021. On a decent Deakin stadium pitch despite the rain of the previous few days, the home side knew what to expect early on, given the Academy had struck first, and as early as the third minute last time out. Nik Brozinic’s troops were fully focused from the get-go this time. It would be a long day at the office for Canberra United Academy, who, as expected, still defended vigorously, with Eliza-Jane Norris a standout holding her own against Brittany Palombi. At the other end Grace Gill forced Chloe Lincoln into a spectacular horizontal save from a powerful attempt from outside the box before Gill simply needed to adjust her aim, and just after the 20th minute, she did not let her opportunity pass. After a couple of headers by Krista Hagen, Gill inherited the ball in the box, and wrong-footed Lincoln from short range. Five minutes later, the same duel was in play, and this time Lincoln won it, only to see the ball she deflected bouncing on Steph Nikias and ending in her own net.

Up 2-0, the home side did not change their game plan. The Academy barely reached Ally Hinson’s area in that first half. At the other end of the pitch, Gill scored her second goal of the day with a perfectly weighed volley at the end of Alice Churchill’s cross. With a 3-goal advantage at half time, the home side managed the second half perfectly. Jamie Berkeley, Jenny Bissett and Krista Hagen kept dominating in the midfield, and the back four were quick to cut and clear any ball coming their way. Vicki Linton’s troops would only be dangerous on a couple of occasions in that second half, but Hinson never needed to force her talents. The visitors received the final blow with minutes left on the clock, when Hagen, following a scramble in the box, executed an acrobatic volley to score her 5th goal this season and securing a comfortable win.

ROUND 16 NPL: PANTHERS CLOSE IN ON TOP FOUR

Monaro Panthers kept up their recent run of good form and kept on the cusp of the top four picture with a 2-1 win over West Canberra Wanderers at the Riverside Stadium which saw the home side jump their opponents on the league table and into 5th place. It took two magnificent goals to do so however with Seb Woods and Ben Basser-Silk scoring stunning strikes, one in each half, for Monaro to eke out another narrow victory following on from their last-minute success against Canberra Olympic a week before. There was very little to choose between two evenly matched outfits on an unseasonably balmy evening in Queanbeyan, the weather gods smiling on the ACT and surrounding region after a fortnight of rain and snow. A good start was essential for the Wanderers who had only picked up three points from the previous 21 available so there was a sense of inevitability when the Panthers went in front after only eleven minutes.

It was a goal from nothing for the Panthers as a clipped pass forward from Tom McLachlan was met by a clearance header from Gabe Cole. Unfortunately for the Wanderers full back, switched to right back from his usual midfield berth due to the late withdrawal of Anton Hoshovsky due to injury, his header went back across his own goal on the edge of the area and fell to Woods. The midfielder’s first hit was blocked, but the rebound fell kindly onto the left foot and Woods lashed a wonderful first-time hit high beyond the reach of Mason Interlandi and into the top corner, giving the tall Wanderers stopper zero chance of reacting. The Wanderers recovered well without really threatening Evan Alexandrow-Ridley in the Panthers goal and the home side led at the break, just as they did six days prior against Canberra Olympic.

The Wanderers had gone 332 minutes without finding the net as the second half ticked into its tenth minute but their wait for a goal was about to end. Returning striker Sebastian Ospina may have scored it, rounding Alexandrow-Ridley only to be denied by the retreating David Jenkins who cleared the impending danger, diverting the goal-bound shot wide for a corner. The let-off was brief however, Blaine Vlazlovski meeting the resultant set-piece with a bullet header that flew into the net off the underside of the crossbar. It was a blow to Monaro but, unlike earlier in the season, they’d begun to ride the disappointments and find their feet, and, in substitute Basser-Silk, they had the game changer. Again, it was a partially cleared cross that created the chance, James Wilson crossing into the danger zone and Lachlan Fields half clearing to the top of the box. Basser-Silk met it with only one intention, fizzing a half-volley low back from whence it came and flashing the ball past Interlandi for a goal which deserved to win any match.

Monaro may have jumped the Wanderers, but they were unable to make any inroads into Belconnen United who remained fourth, moving onto 23 points, as they defeated Canberra Olympic 4-1 at McKellar Park thanks, in the main, to a hat-trick from striker Luca Florez. Florez had set the 2020 National Premier League season alight with his movement and goal scoring ability but had struggled to rediscover that form in 2021. That was all put to bed within ninety minutes at the Blue Devils home venue as Florez took advantage of the space afforded to him to run rings around the Olympic defence, dancing to his own tune, a rhythm and beat that Olympic simply did not match. It didn’t take Belconnen long to make the breakthrough, four minutes in fact, and the goal came from veteran Dustin Wells, who bagged his first goal of the season, opening the body to guide a delightful first-time finish into the bottom corner of the net.

Florez then took centre stage as the striker found his groove. His first goal was all his own making, collecting a bouncing ball and striding imperiously through a gap in the Olympic defence, mainly due to Nick Faust being lured into a tackle that he was not going to make, and sliding a composed finish underneath the advancing Angelo Konstantinou in the visitor’s goal. With a 2-0 lead the Blue Devils looked in good nick and yet Olympic have themselves hope when James Crawford fired inside the near post for his fourth goal in the last three games, a strike that gave Robbie Cattanach’s team a glimmer of a way back into the match.

They reckoned without the quality of Florez who was becoming increasingly unplayable. The diminutive forward made it three when he met a deep cross from Christian Kreskas to thump a header back across goal and into the far corner and he made it a treble with his third goal with eighteen minutes to play. There was a hint of controversy over the goal, the referee continuing play when the ball ricocheted off her just outside the Blue Devils area, allowing Wells to clip a superb ball over the back of the Olympic defence where Florez raced clear and slipped the finish inside Konstantinou’s near post. The decision mattered little to the outcome, as the Blue Devils were confident and comfortable victors.

The pair of matches on Sunday afternoon in Round 16 saw the top three in action with leaders Tigers FC making the trip to the AIS to take on third place Gungahlin United whilst second placed Canberra Croatia would host cellar-dwellers Tuggeranong United at Deakin Stadium. For the Tigers it would be another test of their burgeoning championship credentials and it would, once more, be one that they passed with flying colours. The men in yellow were playing with a confidence and purpose and looked full of goals, boosted by the return of leading scorer Nik Popovich to the substitutes bench after recovering from his calf strain. It was his fellow forward, the two-goal hero of the win over Canberra Croatia the week before, Josh Gulevski, that was the man in form, and he was to have the opening say

of the contest in the 18th minute. Niko Ujdur was felled right on the edge of the penalty area after taking a neat touch and that set up a free-kick in a perfect position. Gulevski went for placement over power, and it was a good choice, his shot finding its way past Jacob Quinn in the Gunners goal. The young ‘keeper had already, by that stage, pulled off a stunning stop to deny Antoni Timotheou, pushing the midfielders shot onto the post when he was clean though pouncing on an errant pass from Buddy Abbas.

Gungahlin were finding it hard to live with the Tigers high pressing, the tabletoppers midfield and front line exerting huge pressure on the Gunners whenever they were in possession, notably making sure that Nick Rathjen, in the Gungahlin engine room, was starved of time to delft his usual range for short, accurate passes, that shift the opposition around. By contrast, the Tigers were dining room at will in the central areas and duly took advantage of the space created by going two-up in the 32nd minute. Niko Ujdur took a short pass from the busy Jay Kelly and shifted it onto his right foot before sweeping a delightful curling shot from distance that left Quinn standing as it nestled into the bottom corner. A quote brilliant strike. By the time the second half reached its midway point the Tigers were in complete control, and they sealed the points with nine minutes to play. Lachlan Griffiths started and ended the move, driving through the heart of the Gunners defence before laying off a pass to Gulevski. He, in turn, sent the ball wide to Popovich, in for the last twenty minutes, and his driven cross was turned past Quinn by Griffiths who had continued his run for a superb team goal. There as a consolation for the home team, Michael John with his seventh of the season via a simple tap-in from a yard after Nick Dahl had volleyed Moses Garang’s cross back into the danger area. It was, however, a mere footnote to an afternoon when Tigers, for whom goalkeeper Jakob Cole played his 100th NPL match, again looked the goods.

Another ‘keeper bringing up a century of appearances was Canberra Croatia number one Sam Brown, his ton coming in the 2-1 win over Tuggeranong United. Brown was, like his teammates, made to work hard for the three points by the luckless United who, after sixteen rounds of the competition, remained winless. They were in this battle as well for large parts and even levelled the ledger at one stage as Andrew Slavich continued his remarkable record against Canberra Croatia, scored the 6th of his 21 league goals against the perennial league champions. It was a strange goal, Slavich’s effort being hacked off the line for Croatia to counter and win a corner at the other end of the park, only for the assistant referee to call play back and award the goal, informing the referee that the ball had indeed crossed the goal-line. That goal had cancelled out the one struck after two minutes by Nikos Kalfas against his former team, the Greek striker sprinting past Cameron

Doherty to thunder a superb strike beyond the reach of Jakeb Wiseman in the Tuggeranong goal.

With the scores locked at 1-1 there was hope amongst the United faithful that their team could push for a shock success and yet within six minutes of drawing level, Tuggeranong found themselves behind again as Nik Taneski continued his amazing recent form and struck his seventh of the season. Luke Pilkington created the chance, firing a 35-metre pass into the path of Taneski, who stepped inside the forlorn challenge of Sean Kiddey, who went to ground far too easily, and drilled his finish across Wiseman and into the net. Dean Ugrinic was able to rest Daniel Colbertaldo and Matt Grbesa, two very experienced players who were able to come off the bench and help to see the contest to its conclusion. Whilst it wasn’t vintage Croatia, it was good enough and it kept them within touching distance of Tigers at the top of the pile. The gap remained at two points but the Tigers, crucially, had two games in hand. For Tuggeranong relegation appeared to be a certainty with the only question remaining whether they would drop into NPL2 with a bang or with a whimper.

WNPL: GUNNERS EDGE NINE-GOAL OLYMPIC THRILLER

Canberra Croatia claimed back their seat at the top of the table with a third win in a week having seen off Gungahlin United in a midweek thriller as Grace Gill’s late goal earned them three points in a 3-2 win at a wet and windy Gungahlin Enclosed. Nik Brozinic’s troops did not look too affected by fatigue on Melrose’s synthetic surface against the West Canberra Wanderers as they rounded off their week, showcasing their usual physicality and aggressiveness on the ball. A bit of luck was with them too early on, when Alice Churchill’s cross was missed and fell into Janet King’s nets, with the ball taking a dip just under the crossbar. Caught cold, West Canberra tried to answer, without much success against the reigning champion, well in place in the midfield and defensively. The visitors managed their third game this week with all their experience and managed to score a second goal just before the half hour mark, thanks to the most prolific striker in the league, Brittany Palombi.

At the receiving end of a cross from Olivia Fogarty, the left footed assassin took the time to control the ball in the box, turn around her defender and used her right foot to sneak the ball between King and her near post. Besides a few attempts from long range and some set pieces in the box, the Wanderers failed to really bring any danger around Chantel Jones, always reassuring between the sticks. The leaders came back on the pitch with similar intentions, ensuring the Wanderers were stopped as early as possible, without pressing too high. The visitors kept bringing the ball in King’s area too and reaped their reward fifteen minutes into the second act. At the end of a good sequence, instigated by Grace Gill and Jennifer Bissett, Jamie Berkeley stole a loose ball right in front of King’s nose, drove the ball around the keeper and tapped the ball in for the third goal of the day. Gill netted the fourth goal for her team in the dying moments of the game. Canberra Croatia were installed in the Wanderers’ danger area when Krista Hagen saw her captain unmarked in the box. The number 3’s cross found Gill perfectly, whose header left King no chance.

Without a doubt the most exciting game of the round, from a neutral point of view at least, was played at O’Connor Enclosed, where Gungahlin United ended on the winning side of a nine-goal thriller against Canberra Olympic that could be their turning point this season. The

Gunners had the better start, scoring twice in the opening five minutes. Natalie De Marco opened the goal festival after 90 seconds, with a volley in the bottom corner that Aurelia Haynes could do little about. The second goal came off a corner kick, that Ayla Robertson somehow managed to head in within a dozen of players in the 6-yard box. Olympic was caught cold, but players coached by Nicole Begg did not let their shoulders drop and started attacking with more intensity. It paid off, with style since the incredible Ashleigh Sykes only needed eight minutes to complete a hat trick and turn the game on its head. She first cut through a cross from her captain Victoria Jamieson to head it from point blank range in the back of Kaley Tonini’s nets. Five minutes later, at the receiving end of a cut back pass by Anna Vandenbroucke, Sykes used her left foot to swerve the ball into the top right corner. On the very next Olympic opportunity, the lightning-quick striker was stopped illegally by Courtney McCann on the left wing. The following free kick, by Ally Cook was headed away by the defence, only to land in Sykes’ feet, who struck a powerful shot that pierced through the forest of legs in the box to end in the bottom corner.

After a quieter period, Michelle Heyman would finally bring both teams back to a tie. Following a perfect through ball by Stella de Marco, the WLeague all-time leading goal scorer dribbled past Haynes and scored the 6th goal of the game. The game remained open, both teams trying to get back upfront, but the tie held until the break. The second half started with more of the same. At the start of the second forty-five minutes, the Gunners were disallowed a goal, rightfully, for offside and moments later Heather Garriock was testing Kailey Tonini from long range. The Gunners would strike first again. A long-range free kick by Elke Aitolu was followed by a scramble in the box, and the ball landed on an Olympic defender’s hand. The referee pointed at the penalty spot. Jade Brown took her time and picked up the top right corner to put her team back in the lead, for a short time. Three minutes later, a corner kick taken by Rachael Hardwicke found Ally Cook’s knee at the far post, who pushed the ball in the empty nets. Olympic kept pushing for a 5th goal, but Gunners’ defence showed enough resilience to push back the waves of attack from the home side. The visitors also had their moment, but Natalie De Marco, alone in front of Tonini was tackled at the last second by Brittany Fiorese. The fatal blow did come from the Gunners, with five minutes left to play, when Jade Brown was found by Erika Pennyfield’s cross in the middle of the box. The number 11 volleyed the ball from point blank range and Tonini was beaten to end this thriller.

Playing the Canberra United Academy at Hawker is never an easy feat, but the Blue Devils delivered a serious performance to get all three points and a clean sheet. Canberra United

Academy’s home pitch was the theatre of a disputed clash between two teams needing a win in their respective fight for a top four spot and the title. From the get-go, the midfield appeared to be where most of the action was going to happen, and the more experienced Belconnen squad had to be on their A-game to stop the young tireless Academy from developing their passing football. The Blue Devils were more dangerous upfront, with Olivia Bomford, Talia Backhouse and Keira Bobbin as usual bringing danger, but also thanks to Michaela Thornton, who was allowed more freedom offensively with Sarah Johnston and Sam Price next to her in the midfield. The visitors’ captain took several chances from mid and short range, but Chloe Lincoln, or one of her defenders was always on the way. Lincoln could not do anything however, when Backhouse faced her just the half hour mark. Thornton’s run through the home side’s midfield ended with a clever ball through for Belconnen’s number 9, who was able to chip the ball over the Academy’s keeper leg to open the scoring.

Thornton, forced Lincoln into a smart save from close range in the second-half before Bobbin, perfectly served by Tiana Jaber, hit the post from the edge of the box. The early pressure from the visitors was rewarded after 52 minutes, when Backhouse took advantage of a miscommunication between Lincoln and her defence to head the ball in from pointblank range. Canberra United thought they had found the way to come back into the game just after the hour mark, but Nikita Perry’s volley was parried away superbly by Cristina Esposito. The rest of the game was a cagey affair, mainly in the midfield, both refusing to leave an inch of space to their opponents. Belconnen resisted the attempts from the Academy and recorded a third consecutive clean sheet, the 8th this season, best in NPLW.

Tuggeranong United finally recorded their first win of the season at “home”, on the AIS synthetic as they claimed. 2-0 win against the Wagga City Wanderers to break their 2021 drought. Unite coach Paulo Romero’s game plan was executed to perfection by his troops, who pressed relentlessly and collectively from the get-go. Tuggeranong was not able to reap the reward for their hard work though, unable to really endanger Sam Emms in the Wagga goal, despite a dozen situations around the box. Wagga City, who have been befouled with injuries this Term, lost a further two players in the opening half-hour, Kirilee Cameron and Abbey Nolan-Hodges, the latter to an injury that held the game up for thirteen minutes. The only dangerous opportunity for the Wanderers cane five minutes before half time, when a powerful free kick by Piper Lockley was deflected by the Tuggeranong defence near the goal line. Tuggeranong answered the best way to this first alert. With seconds left in the first half, Maddie Magee, unstoppable on her left wing was found behind the Wagga back line. On her left foot, her shot from inside the box lacked power, but Emms was only able to palm it away. The quickest player to jump on the loose

ball was Sophie Bui, who just had to tap it in for the opening goal. Back from the break the domination was still for the home team, who tried to push to score that precious second gaol as soon as possible. The Wanderers resisted until Bui, again, skilfully dribbled passed a defender in the box, and picked the opposite side net to put the ball out of reach of Sam Emms. At 2-0 the task at hand was too hard for Wagga City and they found Tuggeranong not only focused on defending their 2-goal advantage fiercely, but also attacking, and the home side could have scored a third goal if it was not for the woodwork. Magee, at the edge of the box, struck a powerful right footed effort, out of reach of Emms, that crashed against the crossbar.

ROUND 17 NPL: GUNNERS COMEBACK KEEPS THEM FLYING HIGH

Gungahlin United came from two goals adrift to turn around their fixture at O’Connor Enclosed, triumphantly defeating Canberra Olympic 3-2 in another NPL thriller. The Gunners closed the gap on Canberra Croatia above them ahead of the league champions home clash with West Canberra Wanderers 24-hours later with a dogged performance that belied their sluggish start to the contest. Olympic, buoyed by a solid start in which they had dominated possession and territory, looked likely for the three points as they took the match to their opponents, a team that were third on the table heading into the game. James Crawford was in cracking form in front of goal with four in his previous three games and the Olympic striker would add two more to his tally by the 32nd minute. Tapaia Ringi may have been aiming for goal when he lined one up after eighteen minutes at the end of a patient build-up, but his effort turned into a superb pass that Crawford, poaching behind the Gunners back four, steered past Jacob Quinn for the opener.

Crawford’s second was just as instinctive and, much to Gungahlin’s chagrin, came from a simple throw-in. Adam Forner launched one into the area, the target being Aisosa Ihegie, but he was beaten to the ball by Buddy Abbas. Unfortunately for the Gunners defender it fell nicely for Crawford who, on the turn, sent a first-time half-volley over the stunned Quinn and into the roof of the net. At 2-0 there was much to do for the visitors who were second best to most and had Quinn to thank for clawing away a stinging Jonathan Kerszberg free-kick and a close-range Simon Rohan-Jones header. But just like they did back in Round 3, Marcial Munoz team was to hit back with a brace of goals within the space of two minutes, a case of history repeating and a terrible case of déjà vu for Robbie Cattanach and his group.

Dom Giampaolo began the comeback, collecting a pass from Misko Naumoski and, leaning back, squeezing a low shot past Angelo Konstantinou and into the bottom corner. Barely ninety seconds later it was all-square. Tom Krklec intercepted a loose pass in midfield and released Philippe Bernabo-Madrid who, as he had been doing for most of the season, picked his corner and despatched his finish with unerring accuracy to bring up a dozen goals for 2021. The former Olympic man was to have the decisive say in the second half as well as he broke the delicately poised deadlock with another top-class finish. Abbas sent a ball forward that was flicked in the air towards Bernabo-Madrid who may have been offside. The flag did go up briefly form assistant Aisha Strutt, but referee Delfina Dimoski ruled that Forner had played at it in getting a vital headed touch that out Bernabo-Madrid free. Bearing down on goal the Gunners, and the league’s, leading scorer, buried his chance to put Gungahlin ahead 3-2, on course for a first ever away win over Olympic and three points closer to

cementing a top four spot.

Less goals, but no less important, was Monaro Panthers narrow 1-0 win over Belconnen United at the Riverside Stadium on the Saturday evening as a sole goal from Tom McLachlan, against his former club, sent the Panthers into the top four for the first time in 2021. The Panthers had to wait 51 minutes for the breakthrough goal but could easily have had one inside 51 seconds, Seb Woods striking the crossbar early on. It wouldn’t be the only time that Monaro hit the woodwork, Alessandro Pena, on as a substitute, clipped the outside of the post when clean through late on when, realistically, he should have netted.

That was the story of an evenly matched evening, Panthers creating the better of the opportunities that came about, as few as they were. The key moment was, of course, the McLachlan goal. McLachlan was involved in the creation with the Habtemariam brothers, Jeremy, and Sam, combining to send the ball wide to Tim Bobolas. Bobolas slung over a superb cross which McLachlan met on the volley with a side-foot finish of controlled power that left Rhys Flissinger, in the Blue Devils goal with no chance. It was the finish of a seasoned striker, let alone a midfielder who rarely troubles that stat sheet. It was narrow, but it was enough, as the Panthers continued their good form which had seemingly come at the right time.

Canberra Croatia moved to the top of the NPL after seventeen rounds with Tigers FC having an enforced lay-off with Tuggeranong United unable to travel to Cooma due to restrictions in place for many of their players and coaches. That postponement, for which the Tigers were claiming a forfeit, promised to be a saga that might run for a while and was relying on a ruling from the governing body to confirm the outcome. The Deakin side took advantage of the Tigers weekend off to go top by a point although Ryan Grogan’s team would have three matches in hand at the conclusion of the ninety minutes. They did it in some style as well, bagging five against the West Canberra Wanderers for the second time in 2021, well and truly making up for their single goal aberration against the same opponents at Deakin Stadium in the first of their three meetings. It could well have been more, Daniel Barac who ended the match with a double to his name to move onto nine goals for the season, missed a gilt-edged chance early on, somehow sliding the ball the wrong side of the post from only a couple of yards. The striker made amends in the 19th minute, stooping to meet a precise low cross from Amilio Kista to open the scoring.

That goal arrived moments after the Wanderers missed their best opportunity of the match, Blaine Vlazlovski getting on the end of a cross, but volleying high over the bar when well placed inside the penalty area. Despite dominating possession, the hosts had to wait until the second half to get the second goal that their dominance deserved. There was a touch of fortune around it as Ryan Keir floated a pass in towards Nik Taneski who beautifully controlled and showed great composure to come back inside a couple of prospective

challengers and fire a shot at goal. The fortune? A rather large deflection that wrong-footed Mason Interlandi and flashed into the back of the net. The Wanderers were their own worst enemies for the third, a loose pass across the face of their own penalty area picked off by substitute Daniel Colbertaldo who calmly gave Interlandi the eyes and passed his finish into the net for his first goal of the campaign.

There was more to come as Croatia kept up the pressure. Another replacement got the fourth of the match as Jason Ugrinic sprung the Wanderers offside trap, taking a quick glance at the assistant to check whether he had timed his run to perfection, before nonchalantly clipping his finish past the advancing Wanderers ‘keeper. A fifth was added in stoppage time and it was a second of the encounter for Barac. Luke Pilkington started the move with an incisive forward pass to Ugrinic who, first time, flicked it into the path of Barac. Canberra Croatia’s leading scorer wasn’t about to pass up the chance and he banged home across Interlandi to wrap up a solid afternoon’s work for Dean Ugrinic’s team.

WNPL: BLUE DEVILS STATEMENT OF INTENT

The game of the week on paper turned out to be a one sided encounter, with the Blue Devils taking the leaders seat temporarily on Saturday after an emphatic win against the then 3rd place Canberra Olympic. The Blue Devils took the game over early on, with Samantha Price opening the score at the 4th minute as, following a ball through by Olivia Bomford, Price found herself facing Aurelia Haynes alone, and picked the bottom left corner to give her team the lead. The task was even harder for Olympic when star midfielder Heather Garriock had to come off injured and, in the next minute, Michaela Thornton’s cut-back pass in the box found Reilly Yuen whose powerful left footed effort surprised Haynes and gave Belconnen a comfortable lead. Thornton made the gap wider just before half-time. Launched by Leah Carnegie, she outpaced Ella Hemmings and found the bottom corner in a narrow angle. Back from the locker room, Belconnen repeated the same feat, with three goals scored in 20 minutes. Firstly, Thornton found Sarah Johnston, forgotten by the visitors’ defence and alone in the box. The midfielder wrong footed Haynes from point-blank range. It was Bomford who scored her team’s last two goals of the afternoon. The forward was found perfectly by a long ball behind the defence, and her powerful left strike was too much for Haynes. Ten minutes later, the forward saw the keeper off her line and lobbed her from a distance, closing the festivities for the day.

Gungahlin United needed a win in the Riverina to take advantage of other results, and the Gunners took care of business, scoring five goals in the first half as they defeated Wagga City Wanderers 6-0. The visitors played the attractive football we are used to seeing from

them and started the game on the right foot. Natalie De Marco had a first opportunity to open the score five minutes in but blazed the ball over the crossbar from point-blank range. De Marco’s second chance came minutes later, and this time the pocket midfielder, at the receiving end of a low cross by Ella Brown, was able put the ball past Emms for the first goal. De Marco went for a brace a minute later, but her shot was deflected by Wagga’s defence, only to find Jade Brown, whose powerful volley ended in the back of the net. The Gunners kept knocking at Emms’ door, but she was able to put her hands on yet another chance for De Marco.

The 3rd goal for the Gunners was almost perfect in its conception. Natalie De Marco, involved in every dangerous opportunity, used her back heel to find her sister Stella in the box, and she kept her composure and offered a well-timed cut back pass, and the goal, to Erika Pennyfield. Gungahlin’s midfielder went for goal again five minutes later, and after Emms beat away her first attempt, Pennyfield was faster to get the rebound and chipped the ball over the keeper. Natalie De Marco would score the last goal of the first half in injury time, with a powerful and precise strike from the corner of the box, in the opposite side net. Back from the locker room, Sam Gray’s troops tried to find space behind the defence and thought they could reduce the score when Megan Castle was found in the box, but her volley was straight at Kailey Tonini. At the other end, Elke Aitolu’s perfect through ball found Pennyfield in the box, and from a narrow angle, the experienced midfielder recorded her first hat-trick of the season.

Tuggeranong United wanted to surf the wave of their first success, against Wagga City last week, and for almost a whole half, resisted the reigning champions, Canberra Croatia before the team coached by Nik Brozinic finally broke the deadlock, and sealed the game in the second-half. Amy Wiggan, between the sticks for Tuggeranong, performed as well as she had the last few weeks, delaying the opener for as long as she could. The solution came from the leading goal scorer in the league, Brittany Palombi, five minutes before half time. A scramble in the Tuggies’ box ended with Jennifer Bisset in possession of the ball. The midfielder took her time and saw Palombi free in the six-yard box, and the forward picked the bottom corner to score the first goal of the day.

Back from the locker room, the visitors faced the same difficulties when trying to bring the danger in their opponents’ area, until the 70th minute, and a prolific fifteen minutes of football. Grace Gill was the first to shine. A powerful strike from a narrow angle pierced through Wiggan’s arms 20 minutes before the final whistle. On the very next offense, Gill, again, took advantage of a ball clumsily cleared to strike the ball with enough power that Wiggan was only able to deflect it into her own net. Krista Hagen would be the next player

to add her name to the box score, with a cross/shot from the edge of the box that lobbed the home team’s keeper and dipped just under the crossbar. The fifth goal saw Alice Churchill making the most of a miscommunication in the Tuggies’ defence. She was able to tap the ball just before Wiggan could grab it, and Olivia Fogarty, alone in the box, finished the job. The last goal was also the best of the lot. Hagen was once again the recipient of a ball poorly cleared and from the edge of the box, decided to back herself. Her shot snuck between the keeper and her near post, validating another solid win for her side.

In a crucial game for the Finals spot, Canberra United Academy secured the win thanks to a late winner at Hawker Football Centre against West Canberra Wanderers. The first half was a cagey affair, with a long round of observation highlighting both teams’ intent: be patient, build up from the back and wait for the right opportunity. Despite a couple of alerts around Chloe Lincoln’s box early on, the Academy would fire the first shot. Eliza-Jane Norris, on the left wing, decided to take the matter into her own hands, ran into the box, past the Wanderers defence, and when facing Janet King on a narrow angle, back herself up and snuck the ball between the keeper and her near post. The goal was a wake-up call for the visitors, who tried to play higher up the pitch afterwards. The equaliser came from a former Academy player, Tara Cannon, the now West Canberra set-piece specialist. Her long range free-kick dipped right between Lincoln and her defensive line, only for Wanderers’ star striker Sofia Chaverra to tackle the ball mid-air and tap it in the back of the net. Both teams came out of the locker room with better intent and more intensity.

The home side decided to attack relentlessly from the get-go, with Sasha Grove and freshly subbed-in Meg Roden seeing a lot of the ball in the midfield and dictating her tempo. But it was Wanderers who went in front as miscommunication within the Academy’s defence offered Chaverra a run on goal. The Colombian striker showed all her composure, waited patiently for the keeper to make her move, and wrong-footed her to give her team the advantage. From there on, it was a one sided story, with most of the action in the visitors’ half. It took Canberra United quarter of an hour to get back on terms Meg Roden finding Christopherson who levelled. The Hawker residents kept pushing for the last 10 minutes, while offering opportunities to West Canberra to counterattack, and finally got their reward in the dying embers of the game. Latisha Babic inherited the ball in the midfield, did not hesitate and armed a missile that got in with the help of the crossbar before bouncing out. The referee needed a minute chat to confirm it was indeed a goal, and rightfully ruled in favour of the Academy midfielder.

NPL: MIDWEEK CATCH-UPS

Heartbreaking for Tuggeranong United. The team who had yet to post a win in the NPL in 2021 led Canberra Olympic 1-0 in their midweek catch-up match at Greenway as the clock ticked over into the 91st minute, left to defend a left-wing corner with five minutes of injury time left to play. United had deservedly led at that stage, showing heart and character, desire and commitment and a ton of work rate to chase and hound Olympic all evening. All that was left was to deal with a set-piece. And yet. Elie Darwich, a second half substitute who moments before and picked himself up after being left in a crumpled heap on the halfway line, swung in a beauty to the nest post and midfielder Simon Rohan-Jones rose to connect. It wasn’t the cleanest of touches from Rohan-Jones, but it was enough, the ball squeezing past Jakeb Wiseman in the United goal and somehow dropping into the net. The goal kept Olympic’s outside hopes of a top-four spot alive, and virtually condemned United to NPL2 football in 2022. The result, a 1-1 draw, being Tuggeranong’s seventh stalemate of the campaign, setting a new NPL record into the process.

For large parts of the fixture, played on a still evening with not even a hint of a breeze and in front of a good crowd and a smattering of kangaroos, Tuggeranong looked to be good value for three points. They’d started brightly, Cameron Doherty forcing a superb save from veteran goalkeeper Angelo Konstantinou inside five minutes, the ‘keeper flinging himself across and backwards to agilely tip a dipping volley over the bar. Konstantinou repeated the feat from an Andrew Slavich header, pawing this one around the post. United deserved a lead and they got one in the 24th minute. Eddie Coggan picked the pocket of Nick Faust who was preparing to clear and brought down the home striker. Coggan brushed himself off and coolly stroked the ball down the middle of the goal. Olympic, who had made one change from the team that coughed up a two-goal lead against Gungahlin, Alen James replacing Chris Reay, responded with a Rohan-Jones strike that Wiseman, perhaps seeing late through a cluster of legs, did well to push around the post.

The second stanza brought much of the same. Tuggeranong kept threatening a gameclinching second and Olympic, whilst coming more into it, were struggling to string together any meaningful periods of possession. Even so, the omnipresent theatre of Aisosa Ihegie and James Crawford meant that the teenage defenders Tarisayi Mbogo and Harrison Buesnel needed to remain vigilant. Ihegie went closet to an equaliser, his shot superbly blocked by Buesnel. At the other end Coggan lashed a tremendous volley back across goal that clipped the angle of post and bar with Konstantinou a mere spectator. As time ticked away United, buoyed by a succession of Sean Kiddey long throws, kept pushing but when Cameron Doherty was sent to the sin-bin for ten minutes, for arguing a debatable free-kick, they were forced to dig in. Doherty had returned by the time that the crucial corner broke

Tuggeranong resolve, and the body language epitomised what had been a cruel way to deny the hosts the points.

The lights went out prematurely at the Riverside Stadium during the midweek catch-up match between Monaro Panthers and Tigers FC forcing the game to be curtailed in the 93rd minute, three minutes before the scheduled end of injury time, with the score neatly poised at 1-1. To be fair, the draw was probably the result that the match deserved, leaving the Tigers three points clear at the top of the table with a game in hand on the chasing Canberra Croatia. However, it took a wonder goal from midfielder Niko Ujdur to rescue a point for the league leaders with sixteen minutes to play, shortly after substitute Julian Borgna had hit the post from the penalty spot, failing to convert after Josh Gulevski was felled inside the area. Ujdur latched onto a pass some 25 metres from goal and bent a stunning, swerving shot, that curled up and over Evan Alexandrow-Ridley in the Panthers goal, nestling into the top corner, a candidate for goal of the season.

It was just about what the Tigers deserved from an even encounter that seemed set to go Panthers’ way after they took the lead in the 58th minute. Stephen Domenici rattled home the opener, taking aim from range, and thrashing a low shot that deceived Dean Cowdroy, making his starting debut for Tigers in goal in place of the suspended Jakob Cole. Perhaps the young stopper was unsighted, but he was slow in getting down to the shot which beat him for pace more than placement. Not that the Panthers were complaining as they’d started the second half very brightly. The home side were incandescent with rage when Sam Habtemariam was flattened by what appeared to be an elbow from Nathen Megic when the combative defender challenged for the ball, but the officials deemed it a fair challenge. It would have been harsh on either side to lose a man, and potentially the points in the bargain, but as the game was plunged into darkness early, the honours were very much even.

LOCKDOWN

On Thursday 11 August at midday, ACT authorities confirmed a man in his 20s from Gungahlin in Canberra's north had tested positive for COVID-19 and had been infectious in the community since the Sunday prior. Just after 5:00pm, Chief Health Officer Kerryn Coleman announced live on ABC Radio Canberra that three others had since tested positive in the ACT, all of them close contacts of the first case, prompting the ACT to head into lockdown for seven days. Of course, this meant a swift response from all sporting bodies in the National Capital and Capital Football was quick in announcing that all activity would be suspended for yeh week, meaning the postponement of all Round 18 matches. Unsurprisingly, as the number of cases grew the lockdown was extended. ‘Following the ACT Government’s announcement that the territory’s lockdown will be extended, all Capital Football administered competitions have been suspended from 5:00pm Thursday August 12, to 5:00pm Thursday September 2,’ a Capital Football statement read. ‘ACT and NSW residents are not permitted to participate in any form of organised training, matches, face to face events or meetings for the duration of their territory and state lockdowns.’

So, the Canberra football community waited. Finally, on Monday 7 September came the clarification that many thought was likely, the 2021 season was done. Capital Football released the following statement on their website and social media channels confirming the inevitable.

‘Considering feedback collected from a club survey, changes to the public health orders that extended the regional New South Wales (NSW) and ACT lockdowns, and information provided by ACT Sport and Recreation, the Capital Football Board has made the decision to conclude all Capital Football Winter Competitions in 2021.

This has been a difficult decision to make, knowing the time and effort invested by players, coaches, volunteers, referees, families, and staff. Capital Football would like to extend sincere gratitude to all those who took part in the survey and provided feedback, all of which was essential for us to best align with the needs of our football community.

Due to the extended ACT and regional NSW lockdowns, ACT Sportsgrounds only being available to winter sporting codes up until the weekend of 24-25 September 2021, the likely transition to a training only period before competitions start once lockdown is lifted, and with no suggestion of a roadmap out before double vaccination figures reach 70-80%, all scenarios where a return to sport was possible, have now passed.

All Winter Competition season finals will not be conducted in 2021 but to acknowledge the achievements of teams through-out the season, Premiers for all leagues from U12’s to NPL will be awarded based on a points per match ratio, using points from all matches played. This method was considered the best way to identify the premier team per league and considers the difference in the number of matches played by teams, aiming to provide the fairest outcome possible under the conditions.

Promotion and Relegation will be applied from the 2021 to 2022 season for NPL1/NPL2 and NPLY1/NPLY2 competitions. Promotion and Relegation will be determined by league table

positions for 1st Grade (NPL1/NPL2) and Club Championship (NPLY1/NPLY2) per the Competition Regulations. Acknowledging that not all matches have been played, a points per match ratio will be applied to determine the 1st Grade League tables and Club Championship positions, considering all matches played.

This decision has been made considering that:

• 2021 is different to 2020. In 2020 the competition was suspended before it started, and the clear preference was to prioritise participation when the lockdown was lifted. In 2021, we started the season with intentions of playing all matches, and the principle of best endeavour was in place. • 16-18 of 21 rounds have been played in the NPL1/2 and NPLY1/2competitions (7686% of matches played). • The majority of NPL1/2 and NPLY1/2 respondents, that expressed an opinion about promotion and relegation, supported its application. • Of the people that supported promotion and relegation, the majority preferred using the points per matches played method to determine league table positions (using all matches played).

With that came confirmation that Tigers FC would be crowned NPL1 champions, Canberra Croatia would take the honours in the Women’s NPL whilst Tuggeranong United would be relegated to NPL2, replaced by champions of that Division, O’Connor Knights. As expected, the decision did not meet with universal approval. Some clubs, obviously, were happy with the result whilst others were left wringing their hands in frustration. Capital Football had, once again, gone against the grain in comparison with most of the rest of the country. Victoria and New South Wales had been forced to conclude their series early as well but made the decision to not award any prizes, or indeed impose any promotion or relegation onto their clubs, Understandably, the decision-making process would alienate some clubs and, judging by some social media chatter, did exactly that. However, the governing body was caught between a rock and a hard place. Some you win, some you lose, some are cancelled on you. Here’s hoping for a far more normal 2022.