Three second-half goals in sixteen minutes gave Belconnen United Charity Shield glory as the cup holders defeated the League Champions Canberra Olympic 3-0 in a match played in changeable conditions at Melrose Synthetic.
Having kicked off in sweltering heat, the heavens opened for ten minutes during the first-half, the cooling rain probably a blessing for the players, making the pitch faster and zippier, something that almost caught out both goalkeepers Jelena Josipovic for Olympic and Matilde Laurel-Tighe for Belconnen.
Chances were rare in the opening half, but it was the Blue Devils who delivered a double sucker-punch on the hour. Firstly, Bronte Pyke burst past a couple of challenges and crossed into the area where Lisa Cary arrived to finish competently into the bottom corner
Just two minutes later and it was 2-0. Keira Bobbin, introduced as a first-half substitute for the stricken Hattie Cram, broke the Olympic defence in similar fashion to Pyke, her ball across the penalty-area swept into the net by 2024 Golden Boot winner Alyssa Di-Campli
Olympic made a raft of changes to try and get back into the game, however Belconnen was able to seal the victory with a third goal fourteen minutes from time as Isabella Hindmarsh struck from distance.
MATCH STATISTICS
Canberra Olympic 0 Belconnen United 3 (Cary 60’, Di-Campli 62’, Hindmarsh 76’)
Canberra Olympic: 40. Jelena JOSIPOVIC, 3. Sienna BIRNIE (16. Alyse JENSEN), 5. Madelyn WHITTALL 6. Jane VANZINO, 8. Teyha ASPLAND, 9. Elke AITOLU (19. Leah CARNEGIE), 10. Katrina PERIC (22. Anna BENNETT), 13. Corinne DENTON, 23. Victoria JAMIESON (2. Liana ALVES), 33. Tatum MAZIS, 44. Ella BROWN (4. Olivia GURNEY)
Belconnen United: 1. Matilde LAUREL-TIGHE, 2. Ailish MCDONAGH, 3. Lauren PRESTON (9. Marija RATHOUSKI), 4. Bronte PYKE (7. Stefi LEJINS), 6. Maddie STEINACKER, 8. Anneke CORRY, 10. Hattie CRAM (11. Keira BOBBIN), 13. Lisa CARY, 17. Alyssa DI-CAMPLI (28. Alina ROBERTS), 18. Isabella HINDMARSH, 19. Alex MARTENS (23. Leila BILLINGTON)
REFEREE: Aisha STRUTT
ASSISTANT REFEREES: Lara SMITH, Tom LOVE
