Six teams will start their Women’s Federation Cup journey this weekend as the competition gets underway with a trio of matches. All the teams will play each other once in a round-robin competition with the top two meeting in the Women’s Federation Cup Final later in the year. Belconnen United, the reigning cup holders, will be favourites, but the other five teams all have a genuine chance of making the showdown.
The Blue Devils competition begins on Saturday evening with a 5.30pm kick-off against the CU Academy at McKellar Park. This isn’t the Academy of the ACT WPL though as the under-15 team has been replaced in this competition by their under-17 counterparts replete with Canberra United Westfield W-League starlets Grace Maher and Nickoletta Flannery amongst a skilful side that will no doubt pose a stern challenge for Belconnen.
Gungahlin United start their campaign with a match against Tuggeranong United at Hawker Football Centre on Sunday afternoon and with Tuggeranong in confident mood following their first win of the season last week. In seven-goal Meg McLaughlin and the in-form Sandra Hill, Tuggeranong possesses a front line that is capable of turning the tables on the Gunners who have many a goal threat of their own. This should make for a lively cup tie.
Canberra FC, in top form so far in the 2016 season, welcomes Woden-Weston FC to Deakin Stadium in the final match of the first round with the home side moving nicely through the gears and proving to be a real title threat this term. They may well eye this competition as a chance for silverware. Woden-Weston can rely on goalkeeper Georgia Boric, recently voted Club Pink Player of the Month, and her form could prove decisive.
WOMEN’S FEDERATION CUP 2016
FIXTURES
Round 1
Saturday 7th May
Belconnen United v CU Academy (McKellar Park, 17:30)
Sunday 8th May
Gungahlin United v Tuggeranong United (Hawker Football Centre, 14:00)
Canberra FC v Woden-Weston FC (Deakin Stadium, 14:00)
Round 2
Sunday 15th May
Gungahlin United v Belconnen United (Gungahlin Enclosed, 14:00)
Woden-Weston FC v Tuggeranong United (Woden Enclosed, 14:00)
Canberra FC v CU Academy (TBC)
Round 3
Sunday 26th June
Canberra FC v Belconnen United (Deakin Mint, 14:00)
Gungahlin United v Woden-Weston FC (Hawker Football Centre, 14:00)
Tuggeranong United v CU Academy (Hawker Football Centre, 12:00)
Round 4
Sunday 3rd July
Woden-Weston FC v Belconnen United (Woden Enclosed, 14:00)
Tuggeranong United v Canberra FC (Kambah 2, 14:00)
CU Academy v Gungahlin United (Gungahlin Enclosed, 14:00)
Round 5
TBC
Belconnen United v Tuggeranong United
CU Academy v Woden-Weston FC
Gungahlin United v Canberra FC