The NPL Boys program continued apace with goals aplenty across the four age groups, and some sides continuing an unbeaten start to the season. With derby matches including Gungahlin United and Belconnen United, and Tuggeranong United and Woden Valley, there was plenty to digest after a superb weekend of football.
NPL14
Wagga City Wanderers roared to the top of the NPL14 League table on goal difference as they proved far too strong for a gallant Radford College helping themselves to a dozen goals in a big victory. Ryan Jose led the way with a five-goal haulm followed closely by Elvis Conteh who netted four. Liam Charlton was on target twice for Croatia who downed West Canberra Wanderers by five without reply, Gungahlin United saw off Belconnen United with Alec Latta, William Oh, and Sanjak Pathak amongst the goals, and Tigers defeated Majura FC 4-2 to record a second win in succession. Four different players found the net for O’Connor Knights as they shut-out Canberra Olympic, a pair of first-half goals from Frederick Hempenstall allowed Monaro Panthers to win away at Brindabella Blues, and Tuggeranong struck twice after half-time to squeeze past Woden Valley in the derby.
RESULTS
Brindabella Blues 0 Monaro Panthers 2, Gungahlin United 3 Belconnen United 1, West Canberra Wanderers 0 Canberra Croatia 5, Canberra Olympic 0 O’Connor Knights 4, Wagga City Wanderers 12 Radford College 0, Tuggeranong United 2 Woden Valley 1, Majura FC 2 Tigers FC 4
NPL15
A sensational match between Gungahlin United and Belconnen United saw the visitors claim the spoils by the odd-goal in nine in an exhilarating contest. In the wash-up the goal scored by Tallan Evatt in the 73rd minute for the Blue Devils proved to be the deciding moment in the match despite Narthhanan Sayathan scoring twice for Gunners. Canberra Croatia have the early league lead on goal difference following their six-goal without reply win over West Canberra Wanderers, Leon McLean scoring two goals as Croatia scored three in each half. Despite being reduced to ten men, Wagga City Wanderers were still too good for Radford College in their 4-1 win, whereas O’Connor Knights overturned a 2-0 half-time deficit to win 5-2 against Canberra Olympic, five different players scoring in a sensational comeback success. Woden Valley defeated Tuggeranong 2-1 with Nicholas Lutnant and Timothy Lutnant scoring for the visitors, Majura won a seven-goal match against Tigers FC, and a Ciaran Lau double, one from the penalty spot, allowed Brindabella Blues to see off Monaro Panthers.
RESULTS
Brindabella Blues 2 Monaro Panthers 0, Gungahlin United 4 Belconnen United 5, West Canberra Wanderers 0 Canberra Croatia 6, Canberra Olympic 2 O’Connor Knights 5, Wagga City Wanderers 4 Radford College 1, Tuggeranong United 1 Woden Valley 2, Majura FC 4 Tigers FC 3
NPL16
Five teams remain undefeated after two rounds of action in the NPL16 competition with Tigers FC leading the way on goal difference following a 9-1 success over Majura FC at Downer. Anthony Grgic and Sean Singh netted two apiece in the big Tigers win as the orange and black continued their goal-laden start to 2025. Gungahlin United came from 0-2 down to claim a 3-2 win in the ‘Battle of the North’ against Belconnen United, an 89th minute winner from Andreas Kaskoutas, his second of the match, claiming the points in a thriller. Canberra Croatia are yet to concede a goal this season, another clean sheet recorded in defeating West Canberra Wanderers 4-0 away, whilst Wagga City Wanderers eased to a 4-1 win over Radford College. Giles Kennedy scored twice in two minutes as Monaro Panthers established a 3-0 half-time lead over Brindabella Blues, holding on despite a late Blues revival to win 3-2, while two goal in the final seven minutes from Andrej Vasilic ensured Canberra Olympic edged out O’Connor Knights by the odd goal in seven. Meanwhile, Tuggeranong had four different goalscorers in their 4-0 Southside derby win over Woden Valley.
RESULTS
Brindabella Blues 2 Monaro Panthers 3, Gungahlin United 3 Belconnen United 2, West Canberra Wanderers 0 Canberra Croatia 4, Canberra Olympic 4 O’Connor Knights 3, Wagga City Wanderers 4 Radford College 1, Tuggeranong United 4 Woden Valley 0, Majura FC 1 Tigers FC 9
NPL18
The youth Charity Shield match featuring Canberra Olympic and Canberra Croatia meant a truncated NPL18 program in Round 2, both teams who won their season opener sitting out this matchday. That allowed Gungahlin United to head to the table-top after they won for the second time in 2025 with a 2-0 win over Belconnen United, Esmail Zahar and Noah Hewitt scoring the goals. Tigers FC are second as they hit five in a win over Majura FC, Maswa Josue scoring a first-half hat-trick, Majura unable to trouble the scorers. Wagga City Wanderers recorded a second 3-0 win in a row as they saw off Radford College, Brindabella Blues romped to a 6-0 win over Monaro Panthers with Duot Mabior scoring a treble, including a first-half penalty, while Tuggeranong United took the Southside derby bragging rights, Zac Oyston helping himself to a hat-trick in the 8-1 win.
RESULTS
Brindabella Blues 6 Monaro Panthers 0, Gungahlin United 2 Belconnen United 0, West Canberra Wanderers P Canberra Croatia P, Canberra Olympic P O’Connor Knights P, Wagga City Wanderers 3 Radford College 0, Tuggeranong United 8 Woden Valley 1, Majura FC 0 Tigers FC 5
Image: D N Smith
