ACT WOMEN’S PREMIER LEAGUE
MATCHDAY 7
Sunday 29th May
CU Academy 1 (Karly Roestbakken 80’ (pen)) Gungahlin United 7 (Ashleigh Palombi 4’, 34’, 61’, Caitlin Cantrill 34’, Brittany Palombi 51’, 52’, 55’)
(Riverside Stadium)
By Isaac Norwoozi
Gungahlin United claimed the points on the weekend with a 7-1 defeat of the CU Academy at the Riverside Stadium in Queanbeyan. Both Palombi sisters, Ashleigh and Brittany, nabbed a hat-trick whilst the Academy scored their first goal of the season from the penalty spot in the second half.
Gungahlin United started off with the foot on the pedal, with Brittany Palombi coming agonisingly close to opening the scoring for the side within the first minute. They would be rewarded for their early dominance shortly after, as Ashleigh Palombi found the net off Brittany Palombi's corner to give her side the early lead. CU Academy tightened up in the defence, but it was Gungahlin that dominated the early possession, starting again every time CU Academy cleared the ball.
Gungahlin also stayed tight in defence, not allowing CU Academy to make any progress in their half. Moving forward, Gungahlin looked like scoring at every instance, with every shot going either just wide or being saved by goalkeeper Lily Dawson. After 27 minutes of dominance, Gungahlin finally got their second as Caitlin Cantrill finished off a good play to make it 2-nil. From there it seemed the floodgates would open, as Ashleigh Palombi bagged her second after a clever pass across goal from Brittany Palombi to put Gungahlin up by three. CU Academy finally looked like they would build up a head of steam, but the referee would blow the whistle for half time.
CU Academy kicked off the second half and immediately looked to push forward. This push didn't last long however, as Gungahlin immediately took control of the match once again. It would take just six minutes to get their first goal of the half, with Brittany Palombi finally getting her first of the game after she hit the ball into the top corner from the edge of the box. Just one minute later, she would bag her second to make it 5-nil. Then, three minutes later the younger Palombi claimed her hat-trick with yet another goal to put Gungahlin up by six.
Ashleigh Palombi would be the next to net a treble, putting her side up by seven after brilliantly chipping the keeper. CU Academy would finally have their moments in the game shortly after, however failed to find the target, and Gungahlin proceeded to dominate once again. The pace of the game would slow significantly in the final fifteen minutes, with both sides moving forward but nether really looking like scoring. Then, with just ten minutes remaining CU Academy were awarded a penalty. Karly Roestbakken stepped up and made no mistake slotting her side their first goal of the season.
CU Academy: 16. Olivia RIDDEL, 3. Mikayla VIDMAR, 5. Emily JENSEN, 6. Cecilija MATIC, 7. Isabella TAMMARO, 8. Anna MIHALYKA, 9. Mia GIORGI, 10. Georja DICKIE, 12. Demi NIKIAS, 14. Molly LAWLESS, 15. Isabel MULHALL
Substitutes used: 2. Bronte PYKE, 16. Lily DAWSON, 22. Karly ROESTBAKKEN
Gungahlin United: 1. Gill RAYMOND, 2. Lorena BARBARO, 3. Georgia FOGARTY, 8. Ilahna AITCHISON, 10. Ashleigh PALOMBI, 11. Brittany PALOMBI, 13. Natalie DE MARCO, 14. Caitlin CANTRILL, 15. Peta-Claire FOTHERGILL, 17. Sally ROJAHN, 18. May BAILEY
Substitutes used: 16. Alex PATTERSON, 20. Kayla MARGIOTTA, 26. Sophie BUI
YELLOW CARDS: Nil
RED CARDS: Nil
Canberra FC 1 (Eden Stoddard 1’) Belconnen United 2 (Alice Churchill 2’ (og), Chloe Callaghan 86’)
(Hawker Football Centre)
By Nick Amies
Belconnen United maintained their lead at the top of the ACT Women’s Premier League with a last-gasp 2-1 win over Canberra FC at Hawker Football Centre. Two early goals set the pace for a frenetic contest before Chloe Callaghan’s 86th minute strike secured the points for the Blue Devils.
Canberra FC came out on top when these sides clashed in Round 2 and took the lead in this match inside the first minute. A dangerous cross from the right found the head of Eden Stoddard, who had made a forward run from midfield. With no defenders following her run, Stoddard took full advantage with a free header over Maja Blasch and into the net. The advantage would not last long though, as Belconnen showed why they are leading the competition with an equaliser just a minute later. A quick burst forward from the Blue Devils caught the opposition defence off-guard and combination play from Cara Cutaia and Jessie Williams forced an own goal from defender Alice Churchill.
Jennifer Bisset was running the Canberra FC midfield and nearly set up a second goal for her side. Bisset’s lofted pass over the defence found the run of Eden Stoddard, and the midfielder held up the ball before laying it off to Kate Thornton for the shot. The attacker kept her shot down, but dragged the ball wide of the bottom corner. Belconnen started the second half in the ascendancy and nearly hit the lead in the 55th minute. Caitlin Munoz beat the offside trap to go one-on-one with Georgia Stewart, and although the ‘keeper made a timely intervention to deny Munoz, danger was still present. Somehow though, the Blue Devils could not find the back of the net, with desperate Canberra FC defending stopping several goal bound shots.
The breakthrough finally came with five minutes of regulation time remaining. A ball over the top of the Canberra FC defence found the run of Chloe Callaghan, despite a touch from substitute defender Megan McFarland. With goalkeeper Georgia Stewart caught off her line Callaghan made no mistake, lofting the ball over the ‘keeper to score her first goal of the season.
With time running out, Canberra FC found themselves with one last chance to secure a result. Jennifer Bisset made a dangerous run through the Belconnen defence after a poor turnover, but Eden Stoddard’s final shot at the end of the move failed to test Maja Blasch.The Blue Devils maintained their two point advantage over Gungahlin United at the top of the table, while at the same time opening a seven-point gap from Canberra FC. Antoni Jagarinec’s side can continue their spell at the top with a win over Canberra United Academy next weekend at McKellar Park, while Canberra FC take on Woden-Weston at Deakin Stadium.
Canberra FC: 1. Georgia STEWART, 2. Alice CHURCHILL, 5. Kate THORNTON, 6. Amy MCLACHLAN, 7. Kristy BABINGTON, 8. Emma BESTEK, 10. Jennifer BISSET, 11. Ella-Jane RILEY, 14. Rachael GOLDSTEIN, 19. Eden STODDARD, 34. Marcia WALLIS
Substitutes used: 3. Meg MCFARLAND, 13. Brigitte WRIGHT, 16. Kat CONROY
Belconnen United: 1. Maja BLASCH, 2. Katie WOODMAN, 3. Lauren KEIR, 4. Amy SPENCE, 5. Sofia MERKOUREAS, 6. Caitlin MUNOZ, 7. Jessie WILLIAMS, 8. Michaela DAY, 9. Tahlia BACKHOUSE, 10. Chloe CALLAGHAN, 16. Cara CUTAIA
Substitutes used: 11. Madelyn WHITTALL, 12. Nicole JALOCHA, 15. Samantha ROFF
YELLOW CARDS: Nil
RED CARDS: Nil
Woden-Weston FC 1 (Erika Pennyfield 49’) Tuggeranong United 3 (Alex Lawrence 31’, 59’, 67’)
(Woden Park)
A treble from Tuggeranong United striker Alex Lawrence saw the visiting team to a crucial three points as Tuggies downed Woden-Weston FC 3-1 at Woden Park. Lawrence was in exceptional form in front of goal on the day and Woden-Weston had no answer to the striker’s deadly finishing, ably supported by some creative play from her colleagues.
It was Lawrence who found the breakthrough just past the half hour mark in a cagey first half in which both teams had their chances to take the lead. But, arguably, it was a goal that Tuggeranong deserved and had the visitors in a lead going into the half-time break. But a one-goal advantage is always precarious and Woden-Weston set about trying to claw back that deficit after the break.
It took the hosts’ four minutes to draw level as Woden-Weston FC top scorer found the target with Erika Pennyfield netting her fourth goal of the season. But that turned Tuggeranong into a more aggressive unit and Lawrence took advantage to restore her team’s lead in the 59th minute. Woden looked for a response but it was United who found the crucial goal as Lawrence completed her hat-trick in the 67th minute to seal the result.
Woden-Weston FC: 1. Georgia BORIC, 2. Celina GAYER, 3. Edith MELI, 4. Rhianna GOLDSTEIN, 7. Sarah CRITTENDEN, 8. Erika PENNYFIELD, 9. Paula VAN DOMMELEN, 11. Emma BEAUMONT, 14. Georgie THOMSON, 8. Bridgit PLUMMER, 34. Cassandra WATSON
Substitutes used: 13. Catherine BARNSLEY, 17. Leah CARNEGIE, 27. Amelia TURNER
Tuggeranong United: 1. Claudia ESPOSITO, 2. Sonja SHEEDY, 6. Rachael CORBETT, 8. Meg MCLAUGHLIN, 9. Alex LAWRENCE, 10. Anna DOYLE, 12. Kristy HELMERS, 13. Sandra HILL, 15. Stephanie COATES, 20. Miranda SUMMERSBY-MITCHELL, 24. Jamie BERKELEY
Substitutes used: 7. Rhiannon DAISLEY, 11. Sarah DAISLEY, 14. Hayley MCLACHLAN
YELLOW CARDS: Nil
RED CARDS: Nil
TABLE
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts |
1 | Belconnen United | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 26 | 7 | +19 | 18 |
2 | Gungahlin United | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 29 | 8 | +21 | 16 |
3 | Canberra FC | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 14 | 8 | +6 | 11 |
4 | Woden-Weston FC | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 12 | -2 | 7 |
5 | Tuggeranong United | 7 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 15 | 19 | -4 | 6 |
6 | CU Academy | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 41 | -40 | 0 |
LEADING SCORERS
10 Brittany PALOMBI (Gungahlin United)
9 Ashleigh PALOMBI (Gungahlin United)
8 Meg MCLAUGHLIN (Tuggeranong United)
5 Ellie RAYMOND (Belconnen United)
4 Michaela DAY (Belconnen United), Erika PENNYFIELD (Woden-Weston FC)
3 Samantha PRICE, Jessie WILLIAMS (Belconnen United), Alice CHURCHILL (Canberra FC), Alex LAWRENCE (Tuggeranong United), Karen CLARKE (Woden-Weston FC), Own GOALS
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)
1 Chloe CALLAGHAN, Adriana ILHEO, Amy SPENCE, Katie WOODMAN (Belconnen United), Emma BESTEK, Grace GILL, Rachael GOLDSTEIN, Eden STODDARD, Brigitte WRIGHT (Canberra FC), Karly ROESTBAKKEN (CU Academy), Caitlin CANTRILL, Grace FIELD, Georgia FOGARTY, Sally ROJAHN (Gungahlin United), Sandra HILL, Hayley MCLACHLAN (Tuggeranong United), Leah CARNEGIE, Rhianna GOLDSTEIN, Paul VAN DOMMELEN (Woden-Weston FC)