Another massive weekend of NPL action sees points at a premium at both ends of the table with the relegation battle entering its final throes, the race for the title turning red, and the allocation of the top four places still very much in the balance. In short, its likely to be another action-packed set of fixtures.

Focus on the bottom will no doubt see eyes on both McKellar Park and on O’Connor Enclosed with the former seeing bottom of the table Belconnen United welcoming title-chasing Gungahlin United in the ‘Battle of the North’ and, for both teams, a victory is of paramount importance.

For the Blue Devils this is uncharted territory. Sitting last following their disappointing loss to West Canberra Wanderers at Melrose Synthetic, Michael Zakoski and his team need points and how they get them doesn’t matter. Performances are secondary to the importance of the points, and this will heap pressure on the group.

The manner of the defeat to relegation rivals the Wanderers, conceding two goals with a man advantage, the latter from a late penalty, will have hurt and they need to find a response. The Gunners looked sharp in parts against Monaro Panthers at Hawker Football Centre and will be favoured to win.

Some of their football was in keeping with what we have come to expect from a Marcial Munoz team, slick passing, rapid movement, and constant attack. Yet they took their eye off the ball in the last fortnight and defeat to Tigers and a point against the Panthers means they are falling off the chase. A win here will help to steady the ship.

Should Belconnen fall to defeat, both Canberra Olympic and West Canberra Wanderers are in pole position to extend their lead with the pair meeting at O’Connor Enclosed knowing that a loss would keep them within touching distance of the Blue Devils. A win, coupled with a Belconnen defeat, would see the gap between the victors and the relegation trapdoor move to a more manageable four points.

Delve a little deeper and it’s the Wanderers who would probably be favourites to claim the victory here. Their back-to-back wins over O’Connor Knights and Belconnen United have given them momentum and a belief that they can haul themselves to safety, away from the dangers of the drop.

That both those wins came at Melrose Synthetic might be pertinent, but Wanderers will enter this contest full of confidence that they can make it three wins in three against a team that dismissed their coach a fortnight ago and were heavily beaten at home by Canberra Croatia in their last outing and are seeking a form streak of their own.

This might be a nervous afternoon for supporters of both teams as the scrap for the prize intensifies and eyes cast on phones for updates elsewhere.

There’s a critical match in the race for the top four at Hawker Football Centre as Tigers FC, the beleaguered league champions, meet O’Connor Knights, the Knights holding a four-point cushion over the Tigers and seeking to extend that to seven in this head-to-head.

Tigers were bereft in their 0-7 walloping by Canberra Croatia in Round 16, the league leaders in imperious form and ripping the Tigers apart at will, and Head Coach Ryan Grogan will be well aware that a return to some semblance of form is imperative if they are to sneak into the final’s places. There is enough quality in the Tigers ranks to do so, but they need to click here to keep their hopes alive.

The Knights already have a game in hand on their opponents, their Round 16 match with Canberra Olympic was postponed, so a victory perhaps isn’t as critical for Miro Trninic and his group in the quest for a place in the top four upon their return to NPL action this season. And yet, they will certainly not be taking a backseat here. We expect goals in this fixture!

The final match of the weekend takes place on Sunday at Deakin Stadium as Canberra Croatia, in simply stunning form in the last few weeks, roll out the red carpet to the Monaro Panthers with one thing in mind – three more points towards what appears to be an inexorable march to the crown.

Since losing to Gungahlin United at Deakin Stadium Croatia have been in magnificent form and showcased that with aplomb last time out as they crushed Tigers FC playing a vibrant, attacking brand of football that utilised the full gamut of quality that Dean Ugrinic has at his disposal.

Goals have been shared around and scored with increasing regularity, Daniel Barac leading the way with a league-high eleven, but ably assisted by Stephen Domenici, Matej Busek and Nik Taneski who are also in red-hot form.

The Panthers have been scoring some crackers of late as well, Gabe Cole adding his name to the growing list of Panthers players to have struck a wondergoal in 2022, but the club who were defeated in the Australia Cup Round of 32 by Sydney United 58, have struggled to turn draws into points recently.

If they can do so here, they will put a dent in Croatia’s title charge and, maybe, open the door slightly ajar for the chasers. It will take a monumental effort though and Croatia will start, quite rightly, as the favourites.

FIXTURES

ROUND 17

Saturday 13 August

Belconnen United v Gungahlin United (McKellar Park, 15:00)

Canberra Olympic v West Canberra Wanderers (O’Connor Enclosed, 15:00)

Tigers FC v O’Connor Knights (Hawker Football Centre, 15:00)

Sunday 14 August

Canberra Croatia v Monaro Panthers (Deakin Stadium, 17:00)

TABLE

		P	W	D	L	GD	PTS
1	Canberra Croatia	16	12	3	1	+35	39
2	Gungahlin United	16	9	4	3	+14	31
3	Monaro Panthers	16	7	7	2	+15	28
4	O’Connor Knights	15	6	2	7	-7	20
5	Tigers FC	16	6	7	6	-12	16
6	West Canberra Wanderers	16	3	4	9	-9	13
7	Canberra Olympic	15	3	4	8	-17	13
8	Belconnen United	16	3	3	10	-19	12