ACT WOMEN’S PREMIER LEAGUE
MATCHDAY 9
Sunday 12th June
Gungahlin United 0 Belconnen United 2 (Madelyn Whittall 19’, 42’)
(Gungahlin Enclosed)
By Nick Amies
Belconnen United extended their lead atop the ACT Women’s Premier League with a 2-0 win over second-placed Gungahlin United thanks to a brace of goals from young forward Madelyn Whittall before half-time. Belconnen started the brightest and almost took the lead early on. Michaela Day broke down the right and lofted in a delightful cross onto the head of Caitlin Munoz. However, the glancing header struck the crossbar and although Chloe Callaghan was able to put her side’s second attempt on target Gungahlin ‘keeper Gill Raymond made a fantastic save to keep the scores level.
Alex Martens earned a starting spot for Gungahlin this week after a brace against Tuggeranong in the previous round and won a corner for her side in the 16th minute. Brittany Palombi’s delivery found the run of Ilahna Atchison at the near post, but Maja Blasch was able to grab hold of the midfielder’s goal bound effort. Despite both sides enjoying early chances, it was Belconnen who found the lead in the 19th minute. Caitlin Munoz lofted the ball over the Gungahlin defence to pick out the run of Madelyn Whittall in from the right wing. After shaking off the covering Alex Paterson, the Belconnen attacker rounded the lunging Gill Raymond and passed the ball into the empty net.
The pace of Belconnen’s forward line was creating a myriad of problems for the Gungahlin defence. Cara Cutaia slipped Caitlin Munoz in behind the defensive line, and the Canberra United midfielder squared the ball to Chloe Callaghan. Gungahlin’s Madeline Perceval dispossessed Callaghan, but the loose ball fell to Munoz for the shot. However, once again Gill Raymond was on hand to deny the away side with a fine save.
A second goal was certainly on its way for Belconnen and it arrived just minutes before half time. Caitlin Munoz once again found herself in behind the Gunners defence and delivered a pinpoint cross in from the left to find Whittall for a simple finish. Gungahlin were intent on fighting back for a result, but were struck a blow early in the second half as midfielder Ilahna Atchison was sent off for two bookable offences. Minutes after hauling back Whittall on the break, Atchison’s altercation with Belconnen midfielder Cara Cutaia gave the referee no choice but give out a second yellow.
Brittany Palombi would strike the crossbar with a free-kick, but high-quality chances were difficult to find for both sides in the final 30 minutes of play. A series of substitutions robbed the Belconnen attack of the fluency that troubled Gungahlin so much in the first half, while the home side struggled to create with their lesser numbers. Grace Field would create the final chance of the match, linking up with Brittany Palombi to get in behind the Belconnen defensive line, but once again defender Lauren Keir was on hand to clear the danger and seal her side’s third clean sheet of the season.
Gungahlin United: 1. Gill RAYMOND, 8. Ilahna AITCHISON, 10. Ashleigh PALOMBI, 11. Brittany PALOMBI, 12. Grace FIELD, 13. Natalie DE MARCO, 16. Alex PATTERSON, 17. Sally ROJAHN, 18. May BAILEY, 20. Madeleine PERCEVAL, 25. Alex MARTENS
Substitutes used: 27. Darby WHITELEY
Belconnen United: 1. Maja BLASCH, 2. Katie WOODMAN, 3. Lauren KEIR, 4. Amy SPENCE, 5. Sofia MERKOUREAS, 6. Caitlin MUNOZ, 8. Michaela DAY, 10. Chloe CALLAGHAN, 11. Madelyn WHITTALL, 15. Sam ROFF, 16. Cara CUTAIA
Substitutes used: 7. Jessie WILLIAMS, 12. Nicole JALOCHA, 14. Ellie RAYMOND
YELLOW CARDS: 8. Michaela DAY, 10. Chloe CALLAGHAN, 16. Cara CUTAIA (Belconnen United)
RED CARDS: 8. Ilahna AITCHISON (Gungahlin United)
Tuggeranong United 0 Canberra FC 4 (Jennifer Bisset 13’, 46’, Chantel Jones 15’, Grace Gill 20’)
(Kambah 2)
By Isaac Norwoozi
Canberra FC kept in touch with the leading pair with a 4-0 win over Tuggeranong United at Kambah 2 on Sunday afternoon. Tuggeranong kicked off to start the match, however it was Canberra FC that was nearly took the lead right way as a defensive mistake nearly cost the hosts straight away. Tuggeranong then found their feet, moving the ball around nicely in both halves. It was a similar story for Canberra FC, who also did well to keep possession on the ball. Both sides created chances, however the best one early on came via Meg McLaughlin, who took the ball 40 meters only to shoot just wide from close range.
After that, both sides upped the intensity, constantly piling on pressure both on and off the ball. It was Canberra FC that struck first blood, as Marcia Wallis found the net from close range after the goal keeper fumbled the first shot. Just two minutes later, Canberra found the net again, as Chantel Jones found space to shoot and score from range. Moments later, Canberra got their third goal in ten minutes as Grace Gill found the net from close range. Canberra FC continuing to push forward looking for a fourth, but a desperate Tuggeranong defence managed to keep them out. Tuggeranong then went on to build a head of steam, causing trouble for Canberra with long balls. However, why were unable to get one back, as the half ended 3-nil in favour of Canberra FC.
Canberra FC kicked off the second half looking to add to their tally right away, and were rewarded for their early dominance as Jenni Bisset scored just thirty seconds in. From there, Tuggeranong pushed forward desperately looking to get one back as Canberra let their feet off the pedal. Despite constant pressure, Tuggeranong would go so far yet so close time and time again. Canberra were able to absorb the pressure, but failed to turn defence into attack, having to reset every time they got the ball out of the danger area, and giving away silly fouls in the middle of the pitch. The pace of the game slowed down dramatically in the last 15 minutes, as both sides seemed to be playing for the full time whistle. Canberra FC were in cruise control for the rest of game but Tuggeranong’s woes did not end there, as M. McLaughlin went down with an injury at the end of the game. Shortly afterward, the referee finally blew for full time.
Tuggeranong United: 1. Claudia EXPOSITO, 2. Sonja SHEEDY, 3. Kristy HELMERS, 8. Meg MCLAUGHLIN, 10. Miranda SUMMERSBY-MITCHELL, 11. Hayley MCLACHLAN, 12. Sophie EVANS, 13. Sandra HILL, 15. Stephanie COATES, 20. Sarah DAISLEY, 24. Jamie BERKELEY
Substitutes used: 6. Rachael CORBETT, 7. Rhiannon DAISLEY, 14. Kimberly MORGAN
Canberra FC: 1. Georgia STEWART, 2. Alice CHURCHILL, 5. Kate THORNTON, 6. Amy MCLACHLAN, 9. Grace GILL, 10. Jennifer BISSET, 11. Ella-Jane RILEY, 18. Chantel JONES, 19. Eden STODDARD, 33. Hiwot JOHNSTONE, 34. Marcia WALLIS
Substitutes used: 12. Sheridan MCELLIGOTT, 14. Rachael GOLDSTEIN, 22. Milli MALLINSON
YELLOW CARDS: Nil
RED CARDS: Nil
Woden-Weston FC 3 (Sarah Crittenden 71’, Erika Pennyfield 82’, 85’) CU Academy 0
(Woden Park)
By David Jordan
Canberra United Academy remain winless in the Women’s National Premier Leagues: Canberra after a flurry of second-half goals helped Woden-Weston FC to a 3-0 win on Sunday. A fortunate strike from Sarah Crittenden and a brace from Erika Pennyfield within the last half-hour saw Woden-Weston take all the spoils at Woden Park.
The home side posed the majority of the attacking threat in the first half, as some great play down the wings led to multiple Woden-Weston chances. A great cross from Crittenden was unable to be met well by Georgie Thomson, before Edith Meli cut inside 25 yards out and forced a great save in the United goal. Woden-Weston continued to threaten primarily down the right as they pressed the Academy side in their own half. Sarah Whitfield turned Paula Van Dommelen’s great cross wide after half an hour, before Pennyfield spurned the best chance of the half five minutes before the break.
Thomson’s cross from the left beat everyone and fell to Pennyfield, but the forward could only beat her effort into the ground and over the crossbar; but atoned after the break. United came out a better side after the break, looking to work the ball out and forward more, but too often found themselves confronted by a Woden-Weston side shutting down the space. Thomson was one of the home side’s best as she controlled the ball around the pitch and directed traffic going forward.
Isabella Tammaro had one of the best chances of the half for the Academy, as she stole the ball off her defender down the right before firing her effort wide of goal. The half only got worse for Academy from there, as Crittenden’s speculative long-range strike snuck through the keeper’s legs and in after 71 minutes to give Woden-Weston the lead they deserved.
With just under eight to go, Pennyfield’s floated free-kick beat everyone including the keeper to sail into the net and double the advantage, with players in the area only able to watch the misguided cross. Pennyfield put the icing on the cake in the 82nd minute with another long-range effort, this one a rasping shot that nestled nicely in the corner of the net. Woden-Weston’s win cemented their Top Four status with their third maximum of the season, while the Academy remain rooted to the foot of the table, still chasing their first points of a trying season despite a terrific enterprising display.
Woden-Weston FC: 1. Georgia BORIC, 3. Edith MELI, 4. Rhianna GOLDSTEIN, 6. Sarah WHITFIELD, 7. Sarah CRITTENDEN, 8. Erika PENNYFIELD, 9. Paula VAN DOMMELEN, 11. Emma BEAUMONT, 14. Georgie THOMSON, 34. Cassandra WATSON, 52. Isobel D’AMICO
Substitutes used: 2. Celina GAYER, 17. Leah CARNEGIE
CU Academy: 1. Isabelle DAVY, 2. Bronte PYKE, 4. Sophie BARNSLEY, 5. Emily JENSEN, 6. Isabella TAMMARO, 7. Lily DAWSON, 8. Dimi NIKIAS, 9. Molly LAWLESS, 10. Georja DICKIE, 12. Mia GIORGI, 22. Dee SIDHU
Substitutes used: 3. Mikayla VIDMAR
YELLOW CARDS: Nil
RED CARDS: Nil
TABLE
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts |
1 | Belconnen United | 9 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 39 | 7 | +32 | 24 |
2 | Gungahlin United | 9 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 34 | 10 | +24 | 19 |
3 | Canberra FC | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 26 | 9 | +17 | 17 |
4 | Woden-Weston FC | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 13 | 12 | +1 | 10 |
5 | Tuggeranong United | 9 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 15 | 28 | -13 | 6 |
6 | CU Academy | 9 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 63 | -61 | 0 |
LEADING SCORERS
11 Brittany PALOMBI (Gungahlin United)
9 Ashleigh PALOMBI (Gungahlin United)
8 Meg MCLAUGHLIN (Tuggeranong United)
6 Michaela DAY (Belconnen United), Erika PENNYFIELD (Woden-Weston FC)
5 Ellie RAYMOND (Belconnen United)
4 Madelyn WHITTALL (Belconnen United), Emma BESTEK, Kate THORNTON (Canberra FC), Own GOALS
3 Chloe CALLAGHAN, Cara CUTAIA, Samantha PRICE, Jessie WILLIAMS, Katie WOODMAN (Belconnen United), Alice CHURCHILL, Grace GILL, Marcia WALLIS (Canberra FC), Alex LAWRENCE (Tuggeranong United), Karen CLARKE (Woden-Weston FC)
2 Talia BACKHOUSE, Aoife COLVILL, Caitlin MUNOZ (Belconnen United), Jennifer BISSET, Kat CONROY, Eden STODDARD (Canberra FC), Ilahna AITCHSION, Natalie DE MARCO, Alex MARTENS, Sally ROJAHN (Gungahlin United), Jamie BERKELEY (Tuggeranong United)
1 Adriana ILHEO, Amy SPENCE (Belconnen United), Chantel JONES, 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, Sarah CRITTENDEN, Rhianna GOLDSTEIN, Paul VAN DOMMELEN (Woden-Weston FC)