ACT WOMEN’S PREMIER LEAGUE
MATCHDAY 1
Sunday 3rd April 2016
Tuggeranong United 2 (Hayley McLachlan 21’, Jamie Berkeley 69’) Belconnen United 7 (Samantha Price 9’, 54’, Michaela Day 49’, Jessie Williams 61’, 71’, Aoife Colvill 87’, Adriana Ilheo 90+2’)
(Kambah 2)
By Nick Amies
Six second-half goals saw Belconnen United kick-start their ACT Women’s Premier League title defence in a 7-2 win over Tuggeranong United at Kambah 2 on Sunday. The Blue Devils, who started the match without Westfield W-League veterans Caitlin Munoz and Catherine Brown took an early lead after Samantha Price tapped home Jessie Williams’ cutback. However Tuggeranong, led by Canberra United forward Meg McLaughlin, looked dangerous on the break and found an equaliser in the 21st minute. A break forward saw the ball reach Hayley McLachlan on the left, who promptly sent the ball past a disbelieving Maja Blasch into the top right corner of the goal.
The Belconnen defence was temporarily rattled from the goal, a turnover while playing out from the back presented Anna Doyle with a chance to put her team in front. Unfortunately, The Tuggeranong attacker could not test the goalkeeper, sending her shot just wide of the bottom corner. A response was required from the Blue Devils and they nearly had one in the 30th minute. Winger Maddy Whittall rounded goalkeeper Jill Scott and looked up to an open goal, only to be denied by a brilliant covering challenge from fullback Sonja Sheedy.The half-time break saw the withdrawal of McLaughlin due to illness and without their star forward as an attacking outlet Tuggeranong were subject to sustained pressure from the visitors. Belconnen’s Michaela Day put her side back in front in the 51st minute, curling a free-kick around the wall and into the bottom corner.The lead was doubled just four minutes later as Samantha Price picked up her second goal of the game. Left back Chloe Callaghan produced a barnstorming run down the flank and sent a dangerous cross into the box and Tuggeranong keeper Jill Scott palmed the ball into the path of Price, who calmly finished into the unprotected goal. Jessie Williams then got her name on the scoresheet, shaking off the challenges of two players before blasting a shot into the bottom corner. However, the forward could have scored a hat-trick in a matter of minutes, spurning two one-on-ones either side of her goal.
Tuggeranong were able to hit back with a goal in the 69th minute from Jamie Berkeley after the midfielder calmly controlled a cross from the left before slotting the ball into the bottom corner. However, Belconnen responded almost immediately as Jessie Williams lobbed Jill Scott after Nicole Jalocha’s long-range strike rebounded off the crossbar. The visitors’ substitutes then completed the scoring in the final minutes. First, Aoife Colvill exchanged passes with fellow substitute Cara Cutaia before lobbing the ball over the goalkeeper from outside the box; then Adriana Ilheo sent a low shot into the bottom corner after having her initial attempt blocked to complete the scoring.
Tuggeranong United: 1. Jill SCOTT, 2. Sonya SHEEDY, 6. Rachael CORBETT, 7. Hayley MCLACHLAN, 8. Meg MCLAUGHLIN, 9. Anna DOYLE, 10. Miranda SUMMERSBY-MITCHELL, 13. Sandra HILL, 15. Stephanie COATES, 24. Jamie BERKELEY, 25. Dianne WILSON
Substitutes used: 3. Kimberly MORGAN, 11. Rhiannon DAISLEY, 23. Stephanie TRIMBLE
Belconnen United: 1. Maja BLASCH, 2. Katie WOODMAN, 4. Ellie RAYMOND, 7. Jessie WILLIAMS, 8. Michaela DAY, 9. Tahlia BACKHOUSE, 10. Chloe CALLAGHAN, 11, Madelyn WHITTALL, 12. Nicole JALOCHA, 13. Samantha PRICE, 15. Lauren KEIR
Substitutes used: 3. Adriana ILHEO, 5. Aoife COLVILL, 15. Cara CUTAIA
YELLOW CARDS: Nil
RED CARDS: Nil
Match Officials: Peter KNIGHTS (referee), Murray HOLDOM, TBC
GUNNERS OUT-FIRE WODEN-WESTON
Gungahlin United 4 (Ashleigh Palombi 39’, 89’ (pen), Grace Field 78’, Ilahna Aitchison 90’) Woden-Weston FC 0
(Gungahlin Enclosed)
By Isaac Nowroozi
Gungahlin United FC hit the ground running in the opening round of the 2016 WPL, dismantling Woden-Weston FC to earn a 4-0 home success. The Gunners had the majority of possession in the first half, and came close to finding the opening goal on several occasions. Georgia Fogarty and Grace Field came close to breaking the deadlock for Gungahlin, both women missed the target by inches after receiving clever balls inside the box. Frustration started to set in for Woden-Weston, who were failing to successfully clear the ball. Gungahlin also started to feel the heat not long after, Field ended up with the ball at her feet after a defensive blunder from the visitors, but her shot would only find the crossbar.
After 40 minutes Gungahlin were finally rewarded for their dominance. Brittany Palombi’s corner found Ashleigh Palombi, who’s picture perfect header found the bottom corner of the net to give the hosts a slender half-time advantage. Woden-Weston looked like a different side in the second half, dominating possession early as they looked for the equaliser. Three minutes into the second half Georgie Thomson came close to finding that goal for Woden, but her effort went just wide. Woden-Weston dominated possession for the first 20 minutes of the second half, however it was Gungahlin that looked much more dangerous in front of goal. Gungahlin came close several times, but none came closer than Ashleigh Palombi, who was denied a second goal only by the crossbar.
However, once again Gungahlin were rewarded by their persistence. Sally Rojahn fed Field with a short clever pass in the box, and Field made no mistakes rocketing the ball past goalkeeper Georgie Boric to make it 2-0 in the 78th minute. Gungahlin did a good job of holding possession in Woden’s half, frustrating their opponents and forcing them to up the aggression in defence. In the end, that frustration ending up costing Woden-Weston, as they gave away a penalty with just one minute remaining in normal time. Ashleigh Palombi stepped up to the plate, and fired the ball low off the side of the post and into the net to make it 3-0. It was a picture-perfect penalty that Boric had no chance of saving despite diving the right way. Before Woden-Weston could even react, Gungahlin added another via Ilahna Aitchison. Aitchison found space to shoot from distance, and was able to hit the back of the net despite Boric getting a hand to the ball. Gungahlin Head Coach Paulo Romero was pleased with his sides performance, but feels there is room for improvement.
“There are a few little things we will have to iron out” said Romero. “In defensive we were caught of position a couple of times, but overall I’m very happy with their performance”. Woden-Weston FC Head Coach Diego Elmoudawar had similar views. Elmoudawar believes his side performed well, and is choosing to focus on the positives from the game.
“I actually think it was great performance” said Elmoudawar. “We came into the first game of the season against Gungahlin with a brand new team, and I saw massive positives. We basically lost it in the last ten minutes, but we’re still going to train hard and go for the season”.
Gungahlin United: 1. Gill RAYMOND, 3. Georgia FOGARTY, 6. Najwa ALLEN, 8. Ilahna AITCHISON, 10. Ashleigh PALOMBI, 11. Brittany PALOMBI, 12. Grace FIELD, 13. Natalie DE MARCO, 15. Peta-Claire FOTHERGILL, 17. Sally ROJAHN, 19. Iesha DE ANDRADE
Substitutes used: 2. Lorena BARBARO, 16. Alex PATTERSON 20. Kayla MARGIOTTA
Woden-Weston FC: 1. Georgia BORIC, 3. Vanessa BURDETT, 5. B THOMPSON, 6. Sarah WHITFIELD, 7. Cassia MCGLAHSHAN, 8. Leah CARNEGIE, 9. Paula VAN DOMMELEN, 10. Erika PENNYFIELD, 11. Bridgit PLUMMER, 14. Georgie THOMSON, 15. Edith MELI
Substitutes used: 2. Celina GAYER, 4. Lauren ALLEN, 12. Catherine BARNSLEY, 18. Rhianna GOLDSTEIN
YELLOW CARDS: 10. Ashleigh PALOMBI (Gungahlin United), 9. Paula VAN DOMMELEN, 14. Georgie THOMSON (Woden-Weston FC)
RED CARDS: Nil
Match Officials: Lawrence MORRIS (referee), Jim KANARDIS, Wilson HOWDEN
FC DOWN ACADEMY
CU Academy 0 Canberra FC 5 (Kate Thornton 11’, 77’, Marcia Walls 34’, 36’, Kat Conroy 69’)
(Hawker Football Centre)
Canberra FC claimed an opening day victory over the youngsters from the CU Academy, winning their clash at Hawker Football Centre by five goals to nil. Whilst the Academy played well for the main part, they were punished for three errors which showed the ruthless nature of the elite level competition as FC made them pay with some quality finishing. Midfielder Kate Thornton opened the scoring for FC in the eleventh minute and by half-time FC was almost home and dry following a brace of goals to new recruit Marcia Walls. Walls was at the hub of a lot of FC’s best attacking moves and thoroughly deserved her brace of goals. After the interval the Academy continued to play their fast combination game and showed good shape and pace in transition with Isabel Mulhall and Demi Nikias enjoying a solid debut at this level. At the other end centre-back pairing Grace Maher and Cecilija Matic performed well under pressure but they would do little as FC substitute Kat Conroy came off the bench to make it four with 21 minutes to play. The scoring was completed by Thornton who added her second goal of the match eight minutes later to get the 2015 Grand Finalists off to a great start.
CU Academy: 21. Sabrina SANCHEZ, 2. Bronte PYKE, 4. Sophie BARNSLEY, 5. Jasmine GENOVESI, 6. Cecilija MATIC, 7. Isabella TAMMARO, 10. Georja DICKIE, 12. Demi NIKIAS, 14. Molly LAWLESS, 15. Isabel MULHALL, 17. Grace MAHER
Substitutes used: 8. Anna MIHALYKA, 13. Stella DE MARCO, 16. Lily DAWSON
Canberra FC: 1. Georgia STEWART, 2. Alice CHURCHILL, 3. Meg MCFARLAND, 5. Kate THORNTON, 6. Amy MCLACHLAN, 7. Kristy BABINGTON, 9. Grace GILL, 10. Jennifer BISSET, 11. Ella-Jane RILEY, 13. Brigit WRIGHT, 34. Marcia WALLS
Substitutes used: 4. Nida MOLLISON, 8. Emma BESTEK, 23. Kat CONROY
YELLOW CARDS: 8. Emma BESTEK (Canberra FC)
RED CARDS: Nil
Match Officials: Pat CAGGIANO (referee). Harrison SHIELD
TABLE
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts |
1 | Belconnen United | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 | +5 | 3 |
2 | Canberra FC | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | +5 | 3 |
3 | Gungahlin United | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | +4 | 3 |
4 | Tuggeranong United | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 7 | -5 | 0 |
5 | Woden-Weston FC | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | -4 | 0 |
6 | CU Academy | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | -5 | 0 |
LEADING SCORERS
2 Samantha PRICE, Jessie WILLIAMS (Belconnen United), Kate THORNTON, Marcia WALLS (Canberra FC), Ashleigh PALOMBI (Gungahlin United)
1 Aoife COLVILL, Michaela DAY, Adriana ILHEO (Belconnen United), Kat CONROY (Canberra FC), Ilahna AITCHSION, Grace FIELD (Gungahlin United), Jamie BERKELEY, Hayley MCLACHLAN (Tuggeranong United)