Following a commanding 3-0 success over growing rivals Canberra Olympic, Belconnen United have kick-started their quest for success in 2025 by picking up the first piece of silverware on offer, in Sunday’s Charity Shield at Melrose Synthetic.
Fullback Bronte Pyke’s impressive display particularly, headlined a quality team performance, picking up Player of the Match after coming away with a piece of individual brilliance to create her side’s opening goal.
Anticipating the ball well, Pyke beat several Olympic players to an aerial ball, before shrugging off Tehya Aspland and firing a low cross to the back post where Lisa Cary tapped home to make it 1-0.
“It’s awesome to win it,” Pyke said, in reference to her Player of the Match award. “I think everyone kind of wants to get it, but it’s a team performance and the girls got me to that, so that should be for everyone.”
With the Charity Shield offering them a first competitive match of the season, it’s a result for Belconnen that sets the side up well for 2025, particularly with the victory coming against their perennial title rivals.
“It’s just good to get started for the season, to get a win under the [belt],” Pyke said. “Olympic are our biggest competitor, so it’s good to get a win over them as well, and good for charity.”
Having produced a quality first performance of the season, Pyke says that Head Coach Scott Conlon’s message to his side in the buildup was a straightforward one.
“It was our first big hit out, so I think it was just to remain calm,” Belconnen’s fullback said. “We’ve had a big preseason, so [it was] try and get the first one underway, just play our hearts out as per usual.”
Despite the scoreline reflecting a match of Blue Devils dominance, the contest remained tight throughout the ninety minutes, with the difference between the two teams in the end attributed by Pyke, to her side’s tenacity and overall command of the various individual battles across the pitch.
Belconnen’s ability to win these duels in their Charity Shield victory represents a potential blueprint for beating Olympic in their coming National Premier League Women’s (NPLW) clashes throughout 2025.
“Honestly most of the time it’s our 50/50 tackles, when we get them, we’re in it for the win I think,” she said, when asked what it takes to beat Olympic. “Being physically dominant and especially in the middle of the park in our midfield just getting to those balls first.”
“It was quite 50/50… We got them in the end just a little bit, I’m looking forward to playing them in the competition.”
Looking ahead to the new NPLW season, with the addition of some fresh faces, Pyke is confident that Belconnen are shaping up as a strong outfit ahead of their Round 1 kick-off against Canberra Olympic in two weeks’ time.
“We’ve got a good team,” she said. “We’ve got Anneke [Corry], she’s a good player, we got her from Bulls [FC Academy] in New South Wales and she’s been a big part of our midfield as well as Alex [Martens] from Gunners [Gungahlin United], and I think they’re going to be key for us this season.”
Words: Sam Watson
