ACT WOMEN’S PREMIER LEAGUE
MATCHDAY 8
Thursday 2nd June
Canberra FC 8 (Emma Bestek (3), Kate Thornton (2), Grace Gill, Marcia Wallis, Eden Stoddard) CU Academy 1 (Lily Dawson)
Canberra FC kept in touch with the top two with a midweek win over the CU Academy, winning 8-1 at Deakin Stadium. FC led 6-0 at the break and, even though the Academy played a much more productive second half and pulled a goal back through substitute Lily Dawson, FC added a couple more to their tally. Emma Bestek led the way with a hat-trick and there was a brace for Kate Thornton who moved onto four goals for the season. Other goals were added by midfielder Grace Gill, Marcia Wallis and Eden Stoddard who has made a huge impression since her return.
Canberra FC: 1. Georgia STEWART, 3. Meg MCFARLAND, 5. Kate THORNTON, 6. Amy MCLACHLAN, 8. Emma BESTEK, 9. Grace GILL, 10. Jennifer BISSET, 13. Brigitte WRIGHT, 19. Eden STODDARD, 33. Hiwot JOHNSTON, 34. Marcia WALLIS,
Substitutes used: 12. Sheridan MCELLIGOTT, 22, Milli MALLINSON, 31. Diarna GENOVESI
CU Academy: 17. Olivia RIDDEL, 2. Bronte PYKE, 3. Mikayla VIDMAR, 7. Emily JENSEN, 8. Anna MIHALYKA, 9. Mia GIORGI, 10. Georja DICKIE, 12. Demi NIKIAS, 14. Molly LAWLESS, 15. Isobel MULHALL, 16. Lily DAWSON
Substitutes used: 4. Sophie BARNSLEY, 6. Cecilija MATIC, 7. Isabella TAMMARO
YELLOW CARDS: Nil
RED CARDS: Nil
Saturday 4th June
Belconnen United 11 (Michaela Day 11’, 29’, Madelyn Whittall 19’, 27’, Katie Woodman 39’, 40’, Chloe Callaghan 44’, 48’, Caitlin Munoz 54’, 87’, Cara Cutaia 88’) CU Academy 0
(McKellar Park)
Belconnen United cruised to a victory over the youngsters from the CU Academy racking up double figures at McKellar Park on a damp evening in the national capital. The Blue Devils title-chasers were too strong for the Academy showing a ruthless streak in front of goal and leading 7-0 at the interval. Five different players scored doubles for the Belconnen side that remains top of the ACT Women’s Premier League following the win. Michaela Day started the scoring in the 11th minute before two goals from Madelyn Whittall made it three-nil by the 27th minute. Day added the fourth before Katie Woodman got in on the act scoring twice in two minutes. Chloe Callaghan made it seven before the interval. Callaghan netted her second within three minutes of the re-start and a double from Caitlin Munoz, followed by a goal from Cara Cutaia, her third league goal of the season, completed the win for Belconnen.
Belconnen United: 1. Maja BLASCH, 2. Katie WOODMAN, 3. Lauren KEIR, 4. Amy SPENCE, 5. Sofia MERKOUREAS, 6. Caitlin MUNOZ, 8. Michaela DAY, 9. Samantha ROFF, 10. Chloe CALLAGHAN, 11. Madelyn WHITTALL, 16. Cara CUTAIA
Substitutes used: 12. Nicole JALOCHA, 13. Sam PRICE, 15. Jordan BUCHANAN
CU Academy: 17. Olivia RIDDEL, 2. Bronte PYKE, 3. Mikayla VIDMAR, 5. Emily JENSEN, 6. Cecilija MATIC, 7. Isabella TAMMARO, 8. Anna MIHALYKA, 9. Mia GIORGI, 10. Georja DICKIE, 12. Demi NIKIAS, 15. Isabel MULHALL
Substitutes used: 16. Lily DAWSON
YELLOW CARDS: Nil
RED CARDS: Nil
Sunday 5th June
Tuggeranong United 0 Gungahlin United 5 (Brittany Palombi 13’, Sally Rojahn 44’ (pen), Miranda Summersby-Mitchell 53’ (og), Alex Martens 62’, 68’)
(AIS Synthetic)
By Nick Amies
Gungahlin United continued their pursuit of league leaders Belconnen United with a 5-0 win over Tuggeranong United at the AIS. Both sides took opening stages to adjust to the wet conditions, but Gungahlin were able to hit the lead after 13 minutes. A ball from the back sliced open the Tuggeranong defence, allowing Ashleigh Palombi a run towards goal. The striker saw her shot deflected by covering defence, but Brittany Palombi was on hand to head home the loose ball for her 11th goal of the season.
Tuggeranong looked for an immediate response after creating good space down the right flank. Sandra Hill sent in the final cross, but the delivery just evaded the unmarked Alex Lawrence at the back post. Gungahlin were struck a blow in the 39th minute, with Captain Ashleigh Palombi succumbing to an earlier injury. However, Gunners were able to double their advantage just minutes before half time after being awarded a penalty for a challenge on Natalie De Marco. Sally Rojahn stepped up to the task, calmly placing her spot-kick into the bottom corner.
Tuggeranong looked for a way back into the match early in the second half and nearly did so in the 48th minute. Meg McLaughlin swung in dangerous corner to find Kristy Helmers unmarked at the back post, but her volley was just wide of the mark. The Southsiders were made to pay for their profligacy as Gungahlin found their third goal of the match. Caitlin Cantrill made a strong move towards goal and although she did not get the decisive touch it was her defensive pressure that forced Tuggeranong’s Miranda Summersby-Mitchell to score an own-goal while attempting to clear the ball.
There was still fight left in Tuggeranong though and they nearly pulled one back through Meg McLaughlin. The striker sprinted past her defender and attempted to round the goalkeeper for the finish, but Gill Raymond made a superb save to stop the play. Just moments later McLaughlin was put through one-on-one again, but this time her shot was wide of the mark.
Gungahlin secured their fourth goal in style after a defensive clearance fell to Alex Martens in a central area 25 metres out from goal. Spotting Esposito slightly off her line, Martens took her chance, arcing the ball over the keeper and into the net. Having secured her first goal of the season, Martens wasted no time in finding her second. The striker sent a driving shot goalwards from the edge of the box and although Esposito made the initial save, Martens was able to pounce on the loose ball to complete the scoring.
Tuggeranong United: 1. Claudia EXPOSITO, 2. Sonja SHEEDY, 3. Kristy HELMERS, 6. Rachael CORBETT, 7. Anna DOYLE, 8. Meg MCLAUGHLIN, 9. Alex LAWRENCE, 10. Miranda SUMMERSBY-MITCHELL, 13. Sandra HILL, 15. Stephanie COATES, 24. Jamie BERKELEY
Substitutes used: 12. Hayley MCLACHLAN, 14. Sophie EVANS, 25. Dianne WILSON
Gungahlin United: 1. Gill RAYMOND, 3. Georgia FOGARTY, 6. Najwa ALLEN, 7. Caitlin CANTRILL, 10. Ashleigh PALOMBI, 11. Brittany PALOMBI, 12. Grace FIELD, 13. Natalie DE MARCO, 15. Peta-Claire FOTHERGILL, 16. Alex PATTERSON, 17. Sally ROJAHN
Substitutes used: 2. Lorena BARBARO, 22. Madeline PERCEVAL, 25. Alex MARTENS
YELLOW CARDS: 13. Sandra HILL (Tuggeranong United)
RED CARDS: Nil
Canberra FC v Woden-Weston FC – Match Postponed
(Deakin Stadium)
TABLE
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts |
1 | Belconnen United | 8 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 37 | 7 | +30 | 21 |
2 | Gungahlin United | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 34 | 8 | +26 | 19 |
3 | Canberra FC | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 22 | 9 | +13 | 14 |
4 | Woden-Weston FC | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 12 | -2 | 7 |
5 | Tuggeranong United | 8 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 15 | 24 | -9 | 6 |
6 | CU Academy | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 60 | -58 | 0 |
LEADING SCORERS
11 Brittany PALOMBI (Gungahlin United)
9 Ashleigh PALOMBI (Gungahlin United)
8 Meg MCLAUGHLIN (Tuggeranong United)
6 Michaela DAY (Belconnen United)
5 Ellie RAYMOND (Belconnen United)
4 Emma BESTEK, Kate THORNTON (Canberra FC), Erika PENNYFIELD (Woden-Weston FC), Own GOALS
3 Chloe CALLAGHAN, Cara CUTAIA, Samantha PRICE, Jessie WILLIAMS, Katie WOODMAN (Belconnen United), Alice CHURCHILL, Marcia WALLIS (Canberra FC), Alex LAWRENCE (Tuggeranong United), Karen CLARKE (Woden-Weston FC)
2 Talia BACKHOUSE, Aoife COLVILL, Caitlin MUNOZ (Belconnen United), Kat CONROY, Grace GILL, Eden STODDARD (Canberra FC), Ilahna AITCHSION, Natalie DE MARCO, Alex MARTENS, Sally ROJAHN (Gungahlin United), Jamie BERKELEY (Tuggeranong United)
1 Adriana ILHEO, Amy SPENCE, Madelyn WHITTALL (Belconnen United), Rachael GOLDSTEIN, Brigitte WRIGHT (Canberra FC), Lily DAWSON, Karly ROESTBAKKEN (CU Academy), Caitlin CANTRILL, Grace FIELD, Georgia FOGARTY (Gungahlin United), Sandra HILL, Hayley MCLACHLAN (Tuggeranong United), Leah CARNEGIE, Rhianna GOLDSTEIN, Paul VAN DOMMELEN (Woden-Weston FC)