Nothing could separate the high-flying Gungahlin United and O’Connor Knights in their Round 6 catch-up match at the Australian institute of Sport, as the game played on a cold Wednesday evening ended 0-0.
The home side did strike the top of the crossbar twice, the first through a tremendous header from Daniel Olaoye that skimmed off the woodwork, and the second from midfielder Jeremy Habtemariam, who collected a rebound after Seb Arranz had parried away an Antoni Timotheou free-kick.
By contrast, the Knights openings in the first forty-five minutes were restricted to a couple of medium-range efforts from winger Jackson Paesler and central midfielder Regan Walsh, both of which were off target.
Riley Brown, playing his fiftieth NPL match, was busy in midfield, part of the engine room battle that ended, much like the fixture, with honours very much even and little to choose between the respective areas.
The best chance of the contest fell to Gungahlin three minutes after the restart as Olaoye broke down the right flank and delivered a perfect cross into Romeo at the far post. A hesitation from Arranz in the Knights goal appeared to present a clear chance for the forward, but the goalkeeper recovered magnificently to make the save.
At the other end the Knights saw a big shout for a penalty waved away by the match officials and they ought to have scored when substitute Niko Perinovic found himself unmarked in the box by Patrick O’Rourke, but the young forward was unable to keep his shot down, steering his effort over the bar.
Meanwhile, the Gunners might have stolen all three points as Lukman Ahmed-Shaibu went in search of his nineteenth goal of the season in all competitions but, when well placed at the top of the six-yard box, mistimed his header, diverting the ball into his own shoulder and up over the bar.
In the end the draw was perhaps the fairest result, both teams evenly matched in the key areas of the pitch, tactically nullifying the threats of their opponent, and unable to convert the half-chances that came their way.
Wednesday 12 June
ROUND 6
Gungahlin United 0 O’Connor Knights 0
TABLE
| P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS | ||
| 1 | Gungahlin United* | 9 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 21 | 10 | +11 | 19 |
| 2 | Monaro Panthers | 9 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 16 | 7 | +9 | 17 |
| 3 | O’Connor Knights | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 14 | 8 | +6 | 17 |
| 4 | Tigers FC** | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 18 | 7 | +11 | 15 |
| 5 | Canberra Croatia | 9 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 18 | 14 | +4 | 14 |
| 6 | Tuggeranong United | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 16 | 19 | -3 | 11 |
| 7 | Canberra Olympic | 9 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 18 | 25 | -7 | 6 |
| 8 | Yoogali SC | 9 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 6 | 36 | -30 | 0 |
TOP SCORERS
13: Lukman AHMED-SHAIBU (Gungahlin United)
5: Archie MCGREGOR (Tigers FC), Nick PRATEZINA (Canberra Croatia), Roko STRIKA (Monaro Panthers)
4: Jenno CERUTI (Monaro Panthers), Luca FLOREZ (Canberra Olympic), Aisosa IHEGIE (O’Connor Knights), Davaadelger OKTYABRI (Tuggeranong United)
3: Micheal ADAMS (O’Connor Knights), Ben BASSER-SILK (Monaro Panthers), Stephen DOMENICI (Canberra Olympic), Alen JAMES (Canberra Olympic/O’Connor Knights), Amilio KISTA (Tigers FC), Niko KRESIC (O’Connor Knights), Sam WALKER (Tuggeranong United), Own GOALS
2: Augustine BANGURA (Gungahlin United), Daniel BARAC (Canberra Croatia), Joshua DE ROSSI (Yoogali SC), Nic EMANUEL (Tuggeranong United), Michael JOHN (Canberra Olympic), Michael KATSOULIS (Gungahlin United), Tyson LIVERMORE (Monaro Panthers), Joshua PEDERSEN (Tuggeranong United), Niko PERINOVIC (O’Connor Knights), Michael PICCOLO (Canberra Croatia), Jordan REZEK (Tuggeranong United), Daniel SPARROW (Canberra Croatia), Daniel SUBASIC (Canberra Croatia), Nik TANESKI (Tigers FC), Harry TRUMAN (Canberra Olympic)
1: Jack BITANI (Tigers FC), Samson CARR (Tigers FC), Izach CLEMENTS (Canberra Olympic), Elie DARWICH (Canberra Olympic), Adam DE FRANCESCHI (Monaro Panthers), Axel GARBIN (Yoogali SC), Jack GREEN (Gungahlin United), Jeremy HABTEMARIAM (Gungahlin United), Thomas JAMES (Canberra Croatia), Nikos KALFAS (Tigers FC), Jack LEVERETT (Tuggeranong United), Zac MCLAREN (Monaro Panthers), Marko MILUTINOVIC (Tigers FC), Shinzaburo NAKAYAMA (Canberra Olympic), Steve NEALON (Tuggeranong United), Daniel OLAOYE (Gungahlin United), Jackson PAESLER (O’Connor Knights), Alessandro PENA (Tigers FC), Euan PETERKIN (Tuggeranong United), Sam ROESTBAKKEN (Canberra Olympic), ROMEO (Gungahlin United), David SESELJA (Canberra Croatia), Patrick SHORE (Canberra Olympic), Julian SMITH (Gungahlin United), Tony SPASESKI (Canberra Croatia), Keegan VUCETIC (Canberra Croatia), Atiya WARAGA (Canberra Croatia), Shandon WHITEHEAD (Gungahlin United), Ryan ZANATTA (Yoogali SC)
*Gungahlin United deducted three points for field an ineligible player in the 3-0 win against Tigers FC
**Tigers FC awarded a 3-0 win, and three points, for Gungahlin United fielding an ineligible player
