ACT WOMEN’S PREMIER LEAGUE
MATCHDAY 4
Thursday 21st April 2016
Belconnen United 3 (Talia Backhouse 49’, Michaela Day 63, Jessie Williams 90+3’) Gungahlin United 1 (Brittany Palombi 7’)
(McKellar Park)
By Nick Amies
Three second half goals from Belconnen United saw the defending premiers secure a 3-1 win over Gungahlin United at McKellar Park, handing Gunners their first defeat of the season and moving above them on the table through goal difference. Both sides pushed hard for an early breakthrough and Belconnen went close inside the first three minutes. Maddy Whittall was played in behind the defence and although Gungahlin keeper Sophie Roche smothered the initial shot the loose ball fell to Cara Cutaia on the edge of the area. However, despite having an unprotected goal to aim at the midfielder skewed her shot over the bar.
The visitors possessed a significant pace advantage in attack through the likes of Ashleigh and Brittany Palombi, and the former nearly put her side in front in the seventh minute. Grace Field’s pass put the number ten into open space but her shot missed the target. It was a sign of things to come – just seconds later Gungahlin hit the front. Once again, Grace Field threaded a pass in behind the Belconnen defence, this time to find the run of Brittany Palombi. The attacker made no mistake, caressing the ball into the bottom corner for her fifth goal in just four games this season.
Having already suffered a 1-0 defeat at home to Canberra FC this season, the Blue Devils were determined not to sustain another setback on their turf and began to dominate possession as they searched for a goal. Michaela Day had a pair of good chances from the edge of the area, while Talia Backhouse was denied one-on-one by Gungahlin keeper Gill Raymond. The visitors still posed a threat of their own though, with Ashleigh Palombi and Georgia Fogarty forcing last-ditch interventions from defender Sofia Merkoureas and goalkeeper Maja Blasch during the rest of the first half.
The start of the second half yielded an equaliser for Belconnen, as Talia Backhouse rose above the pack to head home Cara Cutaia’s corner just five minutes after the restart. 13 minutes later and the Blue Devils had hit the lead thanks to another set-piece, this time a free-kick after Sally Rojahn made a foul in front of the penalty area. Matildas representative Caitlin Munoz stood over the ball, but feinted in her run-up to deceive the goalkeeper and allow Michaela Day to place the ball into the unprotected bottom corner of the net.
Gungahlin attempted to restore parity through captain Ashleigh Palombi after a dangerous through-ball cut open the defensive line. The league’s leading scorer charged goalwards, but Lauren Keir’s covering challenge halted the danger. The home side were able to add a third in the final minutes in the aftermath of another set piece. A long free-kick found substitute Jessie Williams in the penalty area, who held up the ball before picking out the onrushing Ellie Raymond. Her first-time effort was saved by the keeper, but the attacker was able to pounce on the loose ball for a tap-in to secure the points.
Belconnen United: 1. Maja BLASCH, 2. Katie WOODMAN, 3. Lauren KEIR, 4. Amy SPENCE, 5. Sofia MERKOUREAS, 8. Michaela DAY, 9. Tahlia BACKHOUSE, 10. Chloe CALLAGHAN, 11. Madelyn WHITTALL, 14. Ellie RAYMOND, 16. Cara CUTAIA
Substitutes used: 6. Caitlin MUNOZ, 7. Jessie WILLIAMS, 12. Nicole JALOCHA
Gungahlin United: 28. Sophie ROLFE, 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: 1. Gill RAYMOND, 2. Lorena BARBARO, 25. Alex MARTENS
YELLOW CARDS: 8. Ilhana AITCHISON, 10. Ashleigh PALOMBI, 17. Sally ROJAHN, 19. Iesha DE ANDRADE
RED CARDS: Nil
Sunday 24th April 2016
Canberra FC 5 (Kat Conroy 27’, Alice Churchill 69’, 89’, 90+2’, Bridget Wright 82’) Tuggeranong United 4 (Jamie Berkeley 5’, Meg McLaughlin 25’, 70’, 84’)
(Deakin Stadium)
By Isaac Norwoozi
Two hat-tricks, two penalties, and plenty of drama, Canberra FC fought back from 2-nil down to win 5-4 in a thrilling affair at Deakin Stadium. Tuggeranong United were the underdogs coming into Deakin, but started off the game as if they were favourites, dominating the early possession. They were rewarded early, as a ball across goal by Meg McLaughlin beat the keeper, and was forced into the net by Jamie Berkeley who was under pressure from Canberra FC’s Alice Churchill.
Tuggeranong got the opportunity to lead by two just moments later via a penalty, however Canberra FC goalkeeper Georgia Stewart denied Dianne Wilson in spectacular fashion. However, soon after Tuggeranong would score their second, as McLaughlin beat Stewart from close range. It took two goals to wake Canberra FC up, as the home side got one back just a minute after conceding via a spectacular long range effort from Kat Conroy. Canberra FC pushed forward trying to get the equaliser, but the half would end 2-1 in favour of the away side.
Canberra FC looked like a different side coming into the second half, and found the equaliser after just two minutes. Bridget Wright found herself with the ball in front of an empty net, and made no mistake to take the game to 2-all. Twenty minutes later, Churchill made up for her own goal, intercepting a pass, taking the ball into the box and hitting it into the back of the net to give Canberra FC the lead for the first time in the match. Tuggeranong however, would not quit, finding an equaliser via McLaughlin to take the game to 3-all with just over ten minutes remaining. Five minutes later, Churchill found herself being the hero once again for Canberra FC, hitting the ball into the bottom corner to give her side the lead for the second time.
Tuggeranong still refused to quit, as ended up winning a penalty in the 90th minute for a chance to salvage a draw. McLaughlin stepped up and made no mistake, picking up her hat-trick to make it 4-all. However, the drama did not end there, and McLachlan was called to the plate once again for Canberra FC. Churchill capitalised on a defender’s mistake, and made no mistake hitting the ball past the keeper to earn herself a hat-trick, and give her side the lead for the third and final time. Canberra FC held the ball until the final whistle to earn the 5-4 win in one of the greatest Women’s Premier League matches in history.
Canberra FC head coach Peter Kavouras was pleased with his sides result, however feels that his side has things they still need to work on. “I think that the girls got a bit nervous when they saw that they had some W-League players,” he said. “They were rushing their passes and there was no real structure in the midfield, but the end result, 5-4, with the players we had, I’m happy.”
Tuggeranong FC head coach Michael Aldred was pleased with his side’s performance, but felt his side deserved better. Aldred also praised the quality of the Women’s Premier League after an incredible game. “I thought it was a fascinating advert for the WPL, anyone who watched that would see that there is some real quality football being played,” he said. “I think we were a little bit unlucky, the result was a little bit harsh on us.”
Canberra FC: 1. Georgia STEWART, 2. Amy MCLACHLAN, 3. Meg MCFARLAND, 4. Nida MOLLISON, 6. Alice CHURCHILL, 7. Kristy BABINGTON, 10. Jennifer BISSET, 11. Ella-Jane RILEY, 12. Sheridan MCELLIGOTT, 13. Bridget WRIGHT, 16. Kat CONROY
Substitutes used: 5. Kate THORNTON, 22. Malli MALLINSON, 31. Diarna GENOVESI
Tuggeranong United: 1. Jill SCOTT, 2. Renae SHATZMAN, 3. Anna DOYLE, 6. Rachael CORBETT, 8. Meg MCLAUGHLIN, 9. Alex LAWRENCE, 10. Miranda SUMMERSBY-MITCHELL, 12. Sophie EVANS, 13. Sandra HILL, 24. Jamie BERKELEY, 25. Dianne WILSON
Substitutes used: 7. Kimberly MORGAN, 15. Beth WILLIAMS, 23. Stephanie TRIMBLE
YELLOW CARDS: 3. Meg MCFARLAND, 6. Alice CHURCHILL, 10. Jennifer BISSET (Canberra FC)
RED CARDS: Nil
CU Academy 0 Woden-Weston FC 5 (Karen Clarke 22’, 60’, Paula Van Dommelen 58’, Erika Pennyfield 71’, 83’)
(Hawker Football Centre)
Woden-Weston FC claimed their second win of the season to move onto seven points as they emerged victorious against the CU Academy winning their clash at Hawker Football Centre by five goals to nil. The CU Academy youngsters were very much in the game until just before the sixty minute mark when a brace of Woden-Weston goals in quick succession meant that they eventually succumbed to defeat. The loss wasn’t without its positives though with several players putting in fine performances including debutant goalkeeper Olivia Riddell. In a tight first half it took Woden-Weston FC 22 minutes to find the breakthrough when the experienced Karen Clarke scored her first goal of the season. That strike was the difference between the teams at the break and the CU Academy were unfortunate not to go into the break on level terms. The turning point of the match came in the 58th minute when Paula Van Dommelen scored her first goal for the club to make it 2-0. Shortly after, Clarke added her second and that was game over as far as the destination of the points were concerned. Erika Pennyfield found room to make it four with nineteen minutes remaining and the same player rounded out the scoring when she netted her second of the match in the 81st minute.
Woden-Weston FC: 1. Georgia BORIC, 2. Celina GAYER, 3. Edith MELI, 5. Karen CLARKE, 6. Sarah WHITFIELD, 7. Rhianna GOLDSTEIN, 8. Erika PENNYFIELD, 9. Paula VAN DOMMELEN, 13. Catherine BARNSLEY, 18. Bridgit PLUMMER, 23. Vanessa RYAN
Substitutes used: 10. Lorna ARKELL, 17. Leah CARNEGIE
CU Academy: 16. Olivia RIDDELL, 2. Bronte PYKE, 4. Sophie BARNSLEY, 6. Cecilija MATIC, 7. Isabella TAMMARO, 8. Anna MIHALYKA, 10. Georja DICKIE, 12. Demi NIKIAS, 13. Stella DE MARCO, 15. Isabel MULHALL, 16. Lily DAWSON
Substitutes used: 3. Mikayla VIDMAR, 5. Emily JENSEN, 14. Molly LAWLESS
YELLOW CARDS: 7. Isabella TAMMARO (CU Academy)
RED CARDS: Nil
TABLE
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts |
1 | Canberra FC | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 4 | +7 | 10 |
2 | Belconnen United | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 19 | 4 | +15 | 9 |
3 | Gungahlin United | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 18 | 4 | +14 | 9 |
4 | Woden-Weston FC | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 4 | +3 | 7 |
5 | Tuggeranong United | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 16 | -9 | 0 |
6 | CU Academy | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 30 | -30 | 0 |
LEADING SCORERS
6 Ashleigh PALOMBI (Gungahlin United)
5 Brittany PALOMBI (Gungahlin United)
4 Ellie RAYMOND, Jessie WILLIAMS (Belconnen United), Meg MCLAUGHLIN (Tuggeranong United)
3 Michaela DAY (Belconnen United), Alice CHURCHILL (Canberra FC)
2 Aoife COLVILL, Samantha PRICE (Belconnen United), Kat CONROY, Kate THORNTON, Marcia WALLIS (Canberra FC), Natalie DE MARCO (Gungahlin United), Jamie BERKELEY (Tuggeranong United), Karen CLARKE, Erika PENNYFIELD (Woden-Weston FC), Own GOALS
1 Talia BACKHOUSE, Cara CUTAIA, Adriana ILHEO, Amy SPENCE (Belconnen United), Grace GILL, Bridget WRIGHT (Canberra FC), Ilahna AITCHSION, Grace FIELD, Sally ROJAHN (Gungahlin United), Hayley MCLACHLAN (Tuggeranong United), Leah CARNEGIE, Rhianna GOLDSTEIN, Paul VAN DOMMELEN (Woden-Weston FC)