Sunday 15th May
Gungahlin United 0 Belconnen United 3 (Jessie Williams 32’, Cara Cutaia 51’, Katie Woodman 89’)
(Gungahlin Enclosed)
By Nick Amies
Belconnen United continued their perfect start to the 2016 Women’s Federation Cup, notching up a 3-0 win over fierce rivals Gungahlin United at Gungahlin Enclosed on Sunday afternoon. Heavy winds moving directly across the field made the opening stages difficult for both sides while they adapted to the conditions. It was clear that the flight of the ball would be strongly affected off any sort of lofted pass or shot, something that Brittany Palombi attempted to exploit in the 12th minute. With a free-kick awarded in front of the penalty area, the Gungahlin forward looked to use the breeze to outmanoeuvre the opposing keeper, but her dipping shot couldn’t sneak under the crossbar.
Crossing was proving difficult for both sides, but Belconnen fullback Chloe Callaghan was constantly finding good space on her overlapping runs forward. One delivery caught in the wind and nearly snuck into the net, but luckily for Gungahlin ‘keeper Gill Raymond it flew over the crossbar. After exchanging unsuccessful shots from distance, Belconnen took the lead in the 32nd minute. Once again Callaghan charged down the left flank, this time drilling a low cross into the penalty area. The delivery was pinpoint, finding the feet of Jessie Williams for a poacher’s finish and her second goal in this season’s Federation Cup.
The lead was nearly doubled minutes later after Gungahlin turned over the ball playing out of defence. Belconnen’s Madelyn Whittall sent in a dangerous cross from the right, but Ellie Raymond’s header did not have enough power to beat the goalkeeper. Gungahlin looked to lead striker Brittany Palombi for a way back into the contest, at times causing grief for the opposition defence with her mazy dribbles. However, close attention from the Belconnen defence, in particular Sofia Merkoureas, saw most of her more dangerous chances denied.
The second half started with another chance for Gungahlin as Ilahna Aitchison looked for goal from a long-range free-kick. Unfortunately the wind was still wreaking havoc on the pitch, keeping the midfielder’s effort well over the crossbar.
It did not take long for the Blue Devils to find their second goal of the game. Ellie Raymond received the ball out on the left flank and instead of using the overlapping run of Chloe Callaghan elected to cut inside and chip the ball into the box. Her pinpoint pass found the feet of Cara Cutaia, who calmly controlled the ball before slotting it into the bottom corner.The pressure on the Gungahlin goal continued just minutes later. As the defence rushed out following the breakdown of a corner the ball was lofted back in to find the forward run of Jessie Williams, outfoxing the defenders and keeping her onside. Goalkeeper Gill Raymond was alert to the danger though, staying strong to smother Williams’ goalbound effort.Things looked to get worse for Gungahlin just before the hour mark, with Sally Rojahn’s arm blocking a shot on the goal-line after a scramble in the box. A penalty was awarded to the visitors, but Belconnen captain Michaela Day couldn’t make the advantage count, sending her effort wide of the top corner.
Belconnen were pushing hard for a third, but a series of fine saves from Gill Raymond and desperate defence saw the Gunners deny Katie Woodman, Talia Backhouse, Ellie Raymond and Madelyn Whittall to stay in the match. Another set-piece looked to provide a lifeline for Gungahlin, but Brittany Palombi once again saw her shot blocked by a determined Chloe Callaghan. The finishing touch was found by the Blue Devils in the 89th minute. Madelyn Whittall set off on a run down the left flank before cutting it back from the goal-line to Katie Woodman. Gill Raymond got a hand to the midfielder’s shot, but was powerless to stop the ball trickling into the net regardless.
Gungahlin United: 1. Gill RAYMOND, 3. Georgia FOGARTY, 6. Najwa ALLEN, 8. Ilahna AITCHISON, 11. Brittany PALOMBI, 12. Grace FIELD, 13. Natalie DE MARCO, 17. Sally ROJAHN, 18. May BAILEY, 19. Iesha DE ANDRADE, 30. Kiara GASPARI
Substitutes used: 16. Alex PATTERSON, 27. Darby WHITELEY
Belconnen United: 1. Jessica GIOVINAZZO, 2. Katie WOODMAN, 3. Lauren KEIR, 5. Sofia MERKOUREAS, 4. Amy SPENCE, 7. Jessie WILLIAMS, 8. Michaela DAY, 10. Chloe CALLAGHAN, 11. Madelyn WHITTALL, 14. Ellie RAYMOND, 16. Cara CUTAIA
Substitutes used: 9. Tahlia BACKHOUSE, 12. Nicole JALOCHA, 13. Sam PRICE
YELLOW CARDS: 17. Sally ROJAHN (Gungahlin United)
RED CARDS: Nil
Woden-Weston FC 2 (Paula Van Dommelen 40’, 44’) Tuggeranong United 2 (Alex Lawrence 23’, 87’)
(Woden Enclosed)
By Isaac Norwoozi
Woden-Weston FC and Tuggeranong United shared the spoils as Paula Van Dommelen and Alex Lawrence scored twice each in an entertaining 2-2 draw. There were extremely windy conditions at Woden Enclosed, which gave the girls problems from start to finish. Tuggeranong United were eager to put their loss to Woden-Weston earlier in the season behind them, wasting no time from kick-off.
Their early dominance paid off for them when they found themselves leading early in the game. Meg McLaughlin fed Alex Lawrence with a perfect ball, and Lawrence made no mistake touching the ball past the keeper and passing it into the net. It was the early goal that woke the opposition up, who piled on the pressure from there on out. With just five minutes left in the half, Paula Van Dommelen fired a volley into the roof of the net from a corner to equalise for her side. Just four minutes later, Van Dommelen did it again, this time hitting the ball from distance into the top corner as Woden-Weston led 2-1 at half time.
The second half was all Tuggeranong United, who pushed Woden’s defence to their very limits however could not find the net on several occasions. Despite Woden’s valiant defending, they could not hold on, and Tuggeranong found an equaliser with just three minutes left on the clock. Lawrence got her second of the match to make it 2-all, and the game ended that way.
Woden-Weston coach Diego Elmoudawar was pleased with his side’s performance under the conditions, but thought his side got unlucky in the end. “It was a very good first half, the conditions played a big role, but the girls dictated the play very well in the first half,” said Elmoudawar. “We defended well which was a big part, and were unlucky to concede that goal in the end.”
Tuggeranong United coach Michael Aldred was also pleased with his team, but felt they deserved more. “It was a good game, I think we had the better chances and the better side, but you have to put the ball in the net to win the game,” said Aldred. “Most of the second half we were camped in their half, we created some good chances but we have to learn to put them away.”
Woden-Weston FC: 1. Georgia BORIC, 3. Edith MELI, 5. Karen CLARKE, 6. Sarah WHITFIELD, 7. Sara CRITTENDEN, 8. Erika PENNYFIELD, 9. Paula VAN DOMMELEN, 12. Rhianna GOLDSTEIN, 17. Leah CARNEGIE, 18. Bridgit PLUMMER, 34. Cassandra WATSON
Substitutes used: 2. Celina GAYER, 11. Emma BEAUMONT, 14. Georgie THOMSON
Tuggeranong United: 1. Jill SCOTT, 2. Sonya SHEEDY, 3. Stephanie COATES, 6. Rachael CORBETT, 7. Anna DOYLE, 8. Meg MCLAUGHLIN, 9. Alex LAWRENCE, 10. Miranda SUMMERSBY-MITCHELL, 11. Hayley MCLACHLAN, 12. Sophie EVANS, 13. Sandra HILL
Substitutes used: 15. Sarah DAISLEY, 23. Rhiannon DAISLEY, 25. Dianne WILSON
YELLOW CARDS: Nil
RED CARDS: Nil
TABLE
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts |
1 | Belconnen United | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | +6 | 6 |
2 | Woden-Weston FC | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 4 | +1 | 4 |
3 | Tuggeranong United | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
4 | Canberra FC | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 0 |
5 | CU Academy | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 0 |
6 | Gungahlin United | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 0 |
LEADING SCORERS
3 Paula VAN DOMMELEN (Woden-Weston FC)
2 Cara CUTAIA, Jessie WILLIAMS, Katie WOODMAN (Belconnen United), Alex LAWRENCE (Tuggeranong United)
1 Emma BESTEK, Kate THORNTON (Canberra FC), Karen CLARKE, Sarah CRITTENDEN DOMMELEN (Woden-Weston FC)