ACT WPL MATCHDAY 2: Canberra FC stun Blue Devils

ACT WOMEN’S PREMIER LEAGUE
MATCHDAY 2
Sunday 10th April 2016

Belconnen United 0 Canberra FC 1 (Grace Gill 38’)
(McKellar Park)

Canberra FC recorded their first ever win against Belconnen United in the ACT Women’s Premier League by defeating the powerhouse team 1-0 at McKellar Park. A single goal, scored seven minutes before half-time by Westfield W-League midfielder Grace Gill proved the difference in a match that caught the attention from the outset, absorbed the watching faithful, and refused to let go for the whole ninety minutes. That FC should claim the win showcases just how far the club have progressed over the past few years with the only sour note on proceedings for the successful visitors being the loss of goalscorer Gill to injury just before the final whistle following a hefty challenge from Madelyn Whittall. Belconnen will still be wondering how they didn’t get at least a point from the match having created numerous opportunities which due to a combination of bad luck and poor finishing left them chasing the game. Ella-Jane Riley was a standout for the victorious FC whilst defender Kat Conroy impressed coming off the bench proving a rock solid addition to the Canberra FC defensive effort that frustrated Belconnen at each and every turn. The win means Canberra FC sit second on the ladder, one of only two teams to have won both matches so far in 2016, trailing Gungahlin United on goal difference. 
 
Belconnen United: 1. Maja BLASCH, 3. Lauren KEIR, 7. Jessie WILLIAMS, 8. Michaela DAY, 9. Tahlia BACKHOUSE, 10. Chloe CALLAGHAN, 11. Madelyn WHITTALL, 12. Nicole JALOCHA, 13. Sam PRICE, 14. Ellie RAYMOND, 16. Cara CUTAIA
Substitutes used: 2. Katie WOODMAN, 4. Amy SPENCE, 5. Sofia MERKOUREAS
Canberra FC: 1. Georgia STEWART, 2. Amy MCLACHLAN, 3. Meg MCFARLAND, 6. Alice CHURCHILL, 7. Kristy BABINGTON, 8. Emma BESTEK, 9. Grace GILL, 10. Jennifer BISSET, 11. Ella-Jane RILEY, 13. Bridget WRIGHT, 34. Marcia WALLIS
Substitutes used: 4. Nida MOLLISON, 12. Sheridan MCELLIGOTT, 16. Kat CONROY
YELLOW CARDS: Nil
RED CARDS: Nil

Woden-Weston FC 2 (Rhianna Goldstein 5’, Leah Carnegie 78’) Tuggeranong United
(Woden Park)

By Isaac Norwoozi

Woden-Weston FC edged Tuggeranong United FC to earn their first win of the 2016 Women’s Premier League season. It was a battle of defences as Woden-Weston FC held on to take all three points in a gritty 2-nil win over Tuggeranong United. Tuggeranong United started the game off strong, coming up just short of goal twice within minutes of kick-off. However, Woden-Weston found their groove shortly after, and punished a relaxed Tuggeranong defence just five minutes into the game. Rhianna Goldstein found space to shoot from outside the box, and the ball ended up in the back of the net, despite goalkeeper Jill Scott getting a hand to it. Tuggeranong nearly got an equaliser shortly after, but Rhiannon Daisley’s outside of the foot attempt came off the post and was cleared frantically. Woden would then go on the counter, where Goldstein caught Scott off her line. Goldstein was unable to punish Tuggeranong however, as her effort missed the goal by inches. 

The match started to heat up, rough challenges from members of both sides led to frustration on the pitch. Tuggeranong United shifted momentum in their favour, putting Woden-Weston’s defence under immense pressure time and time again. However, Woden defended well and almost caught Tuggeranong on the counter multiple times, forcing goalkeeper Scott to come out of her box and clear the ball on several occasions. The first half was an exciting back-and-forth affair, but ended with just the one goal in Woden’s favour. Tuggeranong United hit the ground running once again in the second half, making several chances but failing to hit the target every time. Woden had their chances, but it was Tuggeranong that dominated possession for most of the second half. Despite their dominance, Tuggeranong were unable to find an equaliser, as Woden defended valiantly to refuse their opponents a path to goal. 

When momentum the momentum finally shifted, Woden were able to add a cushion to their lead with just over ten minutes remaining in the game. Leah Carnegie found space outside the box, and fired the ball into the top corner of the net giving the keeper no chance, and her side a two goal lead. Woden would hang on to earn the 2-nil win at AIS Field 1. Tuggeranong United head coach Michael Aldred says he was disappointed with the end result but believes that his side played good football nonetheless.  “I’m a little bit disappointed (about the result), but I think we played football, we played well, but we just got a little bit outsmarted and out muscled today” said Aldred. “We’re trying to play football the right way. It’s a learning curve for a very young side. I think we just need to continue training the way we do and believe in what we are doing”. 

Woden Weston head coach Diego Elmoudawar was pleased with his sides’ performance, and their ability to turnaround after a tough loss. “It was a much better performance than last week” said Elmoudawar. “We worked much harder, out fitness improved, and we kept going for the full 90 minutes.” Elmoudawar also credits his sides defence for sticking to the game plan to earn the clean sheet. “That was something we worked on the whole week. That was in the game plan” he said. “We really stuck to the game plan, and with a bit more work up front we are going to do a lot of damage to the rest of the teams”. 

Woden-Weston FC: 1. Georgia BORIC, 3. Edith MELI, 4. Rhianna GOLDSTEIN, 5. Karen CLARKE, 6. Sarah WHITFIELD, 8. Erika PENNYFIELD, 9. Paula VAN DOMMELEN, 11. Emma BEAUMONT, 14. Georgie THOMSON, 18. Bridgit PLUMMER, 36. Jemima MILLAR-CARTON
Substitutes used: 2. Celina GAYER, 25. Vanessa RYAN, 34. Leah CARNEGIE
Tuggeranong United: 1. Jill SCOTT, 6. Rachael CORBETT, 7. Hayley MCLACHLAN, 8. Meg MCLAUGHLIN, 10. Miranda SUMMERSBY-MITCHELL, 11. Rhiannon DAISLEY, 12. Sophie EVANS, 13. Sandra HILL, 15. Stephanie COATES, 24.  Jamie BERKELEY, 25. Dianne WILSON
Substitutes used: 2. Kimberly MORGAN, 3. Sarah DAISLEY, 9. Renae SHATZMAN
YELLOW CARDS: 14. Georgie THOMSON (Woden-Weston FC)
RED CARDS: Nil

CU Academy 0 Gungahlin United 11 (Ashleigh Palombi 11’, 22’ (pen), 36’, 62’, Brittany Palombi 20’, 41’, Isabella Tammaro 18’ (og), Mikayla Vidmar 30’ (og), Natalie De Marco 16’, 73’, Sally Rojahn 75’)
(Hawker Football Centre)

Gungahlin United inflicted a heavy defeat on CU Academy winning 11-0 at Hawker Football Centre on the weekend. The Academy youngsters had no answer to an experienced Gungahlin team that showed their smarts and nous to teach the Academy a valuable lesson. The match, as a contest, was done and dusted early as the Gunners roared into a match-defining lead. Ashleigh Palombi gave the visitors the lead in the eleventh minute, the first of her match-haul of four. After that Gungahlin scored at regular intervals with Academy player Isabella Tammaro unfortunately putting through her own goal shortly after Natalie De Marco had made it 2-0. Brittany Palombi added the fourth and Ashleigh Palombi made it five from the spot by the 22nd minute. A second own goal, Anna Mihalyka deflecting a corner into her own net followed with Ashleigh Palombi completing a first half hat-trick and Brittany Palombi adding her second before the break. At 8-0 it looked bleak for the Academy however after the half-time discussion the shape was much better in the second period and Gungahlin were made to work much harder for their goals. It took until past the hour for them to add to their tally as Ashleigh Palombi grabbed her fourth before the goal of the match, scored by Natalie De Marco, hammering the ball into the top corner of the net from the edge of the area to bring up double figures. Defender Sally Rojahn completed the scoring with fifteen minutes to play. 

CU Academy: 1. Jaime BUTLER, 2. Bronte PYKE, 3. Mikayla VIDMAR, 4. Sophie BARNSLEY, 6. Cecilija MATIC, 7. Isabella TAMMARO, 8. Anna MIHALYKA, 10. Georja DICKIE, 12. Demi NIKIAS, 14. Molly LAWLESS, 15. Isabel MULHALL
Substitutes used: 9. Mia GIORGI, 13. Stella DE MARCO, 16. Lily DAWSON
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, 20. Kayla MARGIOTTA, 30. Kiara GASPARI
YELLOW CARDS: 6. Cecilija MATIC (CU Academy)
RED CARDS: Nil

TABLE

LEADING SCORERS 
6 Ashleigh PALOMBI (Gungahlin United)
2 Samantha PRICE, Jessie WILLIAMS (Belconnen United), Kate THORNTON, Marcia WALLIS (Canberra FC), Natalie DE MARCO, Brittany PALOMBI (Gungahlin United), Own GOALS
1 Aoife COLVILL, Michaela DAY, Adriana ILHEO (Belconnen United), Kat CONROY, Grace GILL (Canberra FC), Ilahna AITCHSION, Grace FIELD, Sally ROJAHN (Gungahlin United), Jamie BERKELEY, Hayley MCLACHLAN (Tuggeranong United), Leah CARNEGIE, Rhianna GOLDSTEIN (Woden-Weston FC)