ACT WOMEN’S PREMIER LEAGUE
MATCHDAY 6
Sunday 22nd May
Woden-Weston FC 1 (Karen Clarke 60’) Gungahlin United 3 (Brittany Palombi 13’, 15’, Grace Field 90+2’)
(ANU Willows)
Two goals from Brittany Palombi has given Gungahlin United a 3-1 win over Woden-Weston FC at ANU Willows. Palombi scored twice in the opening fifteen minutes to consign Woden-Weston to defeat and ensure that Gungahlin remained on course to challenge Belconnen United at the top of the table.
It was a perfect start to the game for the Gunners who took the lead in the 13th minute as a defensive mistake from Woden-Weston allowed Palombi to chance to send a beautifully weighted chip over the head of Georgia Boric and into the net from distance for a cracking goal. And the younger Palombi doubled her, and her team's tally, two minutes later culminating a rapid break with a well-placed shot into the bottom corner of the net.
Woden-Weston started the second half two goals adrift but came back into the match when Karen Clarke got on the end of a goal-kick to slam a brilliant finish past Sophie Rolfe and reduced the arrears. That meant that Gungahlin could not rest easy and it wasn't until stoppage time that they sealed the win, Grace Field dribbling past the Woden-Weston defence to slot home.
Woden-Weston FC: 1. Georgia BORIC, 3. Edith MELI, 5. Karen CLARKE, 6. Sarah WHITFIELD, 7. Sarah CRITTENDEN, 8. Erika PENNYFIELD, 9. Paula VAN DOMMELEN, 11. Emma BEAUMONT, 17. Leah CARNEGIE, 18. Bridgit PLUMMER, 34. Cassandra WATSON
Substitutes used: 4. Rhianna GOLDSTEIN, 14. Georgie THOMSON
Gungahlin United: 28. Sophie ROLFE, 2. Lorena BARBARO, 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
Substitutes used: 18. May BAILEY, 19. Iesha DE ANDRADE, 25. Alex MARTENS
YELLOW CARDS: Nil
RED CARDS: Nil
Tuggeranong United 1 (Meg McLaughlin 81’) Belconnen United 2 (Katie Woodman 75’, Cara Cutaia 89’)
(Kambah 2)
Belconnen United are two points clear at the top of the ACT Women’s Premier League after a last minute goal from Cara Cutaia ensured they emerged from a testing afternoon at Kambah 2 with a narrow 2-1 win over Tuggeranong United. Cutaia struck just when it appeared that Tuggeranong had done enough to earn a draw and the lateness of the goal was a heart-breaker to a Tuggeranong outfit that somehow only has one win to its name this season.
Once again the home team produced some superb passages of play and they defended resolutely with goalkeeper Cristina Esposito in top form to deny the league leaders when they did fashion some openings of note. As it was neither side could find the breakthrough in the first half which ended goal-less.
The second stanza was played in much the same pattern as both teams battled hard and looked to find the elusive opening goal that would make all the difference. Belconnen threw on substitute Katie Woodman and she finally found a goal. Woodman reacted fastest from a half-cleared corner to head into the bottom corner off a brilliant cross from the left side of the field.
The lead lasted six minutes as Tuggeranong grabbed an equaliser. Meg McLaughlin, who so often has been their inspiration this season, let fly with a 25m shot that flashed into the net to bring the teams’ all-square. But, just as a point was in the bag, the Blue Devils struck. Caitlin Munoz played a pass inside the defence and Cutaia arrived to flick a finish past Esposito and into the net.
Tuggeranong United: 1. Cristina ESPOSITO, 2. Sonja SHEEDY, 3. Miranda SUMMERSBY-MITCHELL, 6. Rachael CORBETT, 8. Meg MCLAUGHLIN, 9. Alex LAWRENCE, 10. Anna DOYLE, 12. Sophie EVANS, 15. Stephanie COATES, 24. Jamie BERKELEY, 25. Dianne WILSON
Substitutes used: 13. Sandra HILL, 23. Kristy HELMERS
Belconnen United: 1. Maja BLASCH, 3. Lauren KEIR, 4. Amy SPENCE, 5. Sofia MERKOUREAS, 6. Caitlin MUNOZ, 7. Jessie WILLIAMS, 8. Michaela DAY, 9. Tahlia BACKHOUSE, 10. Chloe CALLAGHAN, 11. Madelyn WHITTALL, 16. Cara CUTAIA
Substitutes used: 2. Katie WOODMAN
YELLOW CARDS: Nil
RED CARDS: Nil
Canberra FC v CU Academy – Match Postponed
TABLE
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts |
1 | Belconnen United | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 24 | 6 | +18 | 15 |
2 | Gungahlin United | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 22 | 7 | +15 | 13 |
3 | Canberra FC | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 6 | +7 | 11 |
4 | Woden-Weston FC | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 7 |
5 | Tuggeranong United | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 12 | 18 | -6 | 3 |
6 | CU Academy | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 34 | -34 | 0 |
LEADING SCORERS
8 Meg MCLAUGHLIN (Tuggeranong United)
7 Brittany PALOMBI (Gungahlin United)
6 Ashleigh PALOMBI (Gungahlin United)
5 Ellie RAYMOND (Belconnen United)
4 Michaela DAY (Belconnen United)
3 Samantha PRICE, Jessie WILLIAMS (Belconnen United), Alice CHURCHILL (Canberra FC), Karen CLARKE, Erika PENNYFIELD (Woden-Weston FC)
2 Talia BACKHOUSE, Aoife COLVILL, Cara CUTAIA (Belconnen United), Kat CONROY, Kate THORNTON, Marcia WALLIS (Canberra FC), Ilahna AITCHSION, Natalie DE MARCO (Gungahlin United), Jamie BERKELEY (Tuggeranong United), Own GOALS
1 Adriana ILHEO, Amy SPENCE, Katie WOODMAN (Belconnen United), Emma BESTEK, Grace GILL, Rachael GOLDSTEIN, Brigitte WRIGHT (Canberra FC), Grace FIELD, Georgia FOGARTY, Sally ROJAHN (Gungahlin United), Sandra HILL, Hayley MCLACHLAN (Tuggeranong United), Leah CARNEGIE, Rhianna GOLDSTEIN, Paul VAN DOMMELEN (Woden-Weston FC)