West Canberra Wanderers will play their first post-season games since 2017 after the favourable results of Saturday despite going down to a heavy defeat against Belconnen United at McKellar Park.
The Blue Devils started the game with the foot on the pedal, suffocating the visitors for most of the first half. Scott Conlon’s well executed high press and his players’ talent was simply too much for the Wanderers, seven days before the two squads meet again for the Elimination Final.
Within 15 minutes, Belconnen United was already up 3-0: Talia Backhouse recorded the first of the three home team’s braces, using her speed to find space behind the defence before beating Ally Hinson both times.
Olivia Bomford imitated her at the 13th and 28th minute, first by dribbling her way into the defence, and then by being the quickest to pounce to tap the ball in after an inspired save by Hinson.
Reilly Yuen was the other player to put her name on the score sheet twice, at the 54th and 60th minute, using her strength and athleticism to overcome the Wanderer’s defence.
Rey Castro tried changing tactics throughout the game to help his player contain the Blue Devils’ raids, but that was not enough.
The Wanderers can thank Canberra Croatia for their trip to the finals. At Deakin Stadium, Zoran Glavinic’s players celebrated their league title win with a serious win over Gungahlin United, 5-1.
Jamie Berkeley broke the deadlock first 20 minutes in, with a perfect chipped ball over Kailey Tonini from the edge the box. Berkeley went to take the assisting role later, first for Isabella Barac six minutes before the break, with a rare headed goal for the pocket playmaker. Then at the 52nd minute, it was Rhiannon Fensom’s at the receiving end of Berkeley’s cross.
The pair combined again at the hour mark, and if Fensom’s shot was deflected, Sienna Birnie was at the right place at the right time to tap it in the empty net. Shania Settin made it 5-0 with a beautiful left footed effort from range minutes later.
Breea Waters’ 1st career WNPL goal came too little too late for Gungahlin, who could not take advantage of West Canberra’s loss to try and steal that fourth spot.
All eyes are now on the Qualifying Final for Canberra Croatia, Grace Gill and her teammates will face Canberra Olympic next weekend. The team coached by Nicole Begg only needed half an hour to see off Canberra United Academy on Sunday at O’Connor Enclosed.
Ashleigh Sykes’ speed made the difference on the left wing 18 minutes in, and her cross was perfectly tapped in by Olivia Fogarty, leaving Chloe Lincoln no chance.
Olivia Gurney’s strength made the difference seven minutes later. Launched by Meg Roden behind the defence, the forward resisted Tayla Hampson before finding Lincoln’s top corner.
The A-League Women’s keeper was beaten a third time at the half hour mark. She was able to make contact with the ball after Fogarty’s acrobatic volley, but not enough to push it away from the net.
The scoreboard would not change for the remaining hour, allowing Olympic to boost the confidence of both their offence and defence before next week’s thriller.
The last game of the weekend was played in Greenway between 7th and 8th place, Tuggeranong United and Wagga City Wanderers. The two young squads shared the spoils to end the season, thanks to a last second goal for the visitors.
The Tuggies had started positively and saw their effort rewarded just after the 20th minute. A clumsy tackle by Anisa Rees in the box offered Lauren Hall an opportunity from the spot kick she would not miss.
Despite their fair share of opportunities, the home team were not able to wrap up the game, leaving themselves open for a comeback. It came in the form of a superb volley, courtesy of Tamara Cochrane, with seconds left on the clock.
RESULTS
ROUND 21
Saturday 10 September
Belconnen United 6 (Backhouse 6’, 11’, Bomford 14’, 59’, Yuen 54’, 60’) West Canberra Wanderers 0
Gungahlin United 1 (Waters 88’) Canberra Croatia 5 (Berkeley 22’, Barac 39’, Fensom 55’, Birnie 60’, Settin 67’)
Sunday 11 September
Canberra Olympic 3 (Fogarty 18’, 30’, Gurney 25’) Canberra United Academy 0
Tuggeranong United 1 (Hall 22’ (p)) Wagga City Wanderers 1 (Cochrane 90’)
TABLE
| P | W | D | L | GD | PTS | ||
| 1 | Canberra Croatia (c) | 21 | 17 | 3 | 1 | +82 | 54 |
| 2 | Canberra Olympic | 21 | 15 | 4 | 2 | +63 | 49 |
| 3 | Belconnen United | 21 | 15 | 1 | 5 | +48 | 46 |
| 4 | West Canberra Wanderers | 21 | 9 | 3 | 9 | -23 | 30 |
| 5 | Gungahlin United | 21 | 8 | 3 | 10 | -10 | 27 |
| 6 | Canberra United Academy | 21 | 5 | 3 | 13 | -19 | 18 |
| 7 | Tuggeranong United | 21 | 2 | 5 | 14 | -51 | 11 |
| 8 | Wagga City Wanderers | 21 | 1 | 2 | 18 | -89 | 5 |
Words: Jeremy Magan
