With Canberra Olympic on the bye this weekend, the Blue Devils have a chance to perhaps temporarily take top spot with a win against Canberra Croatia. Gungahlin United plays to confirm their place against West Canberra Wanderers, while a bottom of the table duel takes place at Hawker.
Belconnen United and Canberra Croatia facing each other is always a must-see encounter in the capital, and this one could have important implications on the table.
The Blue Devils trail Olympic by three points but have a significantly better goal difference (+41 against +25 for Olympic).
Before it is their turn to take a rest next weekend, they can take advantage of their rivals resting this game week to take the lead. Of course, it is never a small affair to beat Canberra Croatia.
The two teams met only two weeks ago, and despite coming back from a goal down to lead with 20 minutes left to play, the Blue Devils could not prevent Brittany Palombi from finding an equaliser.
Croatia will want to bounce back this week too, after a defeat to Olympic last Sunday that interrupted a good series. Third place is not out of the question for Zoran Glavinic’s team.
That third place currently belongs to Gungahlin United, and they have all intentions of keeping it, as they host West Canberra Wanderers at Ainslie.
The Gunners are still reeling from the severe defeat they conceded at the hands of Belconnen last Sunday that interrupted their ascension on the table. It was the first time this season that a team kept a clean sheet against Gungahlin.
The Wanderers arrive in the North full of confidence, with a dominant five goal win last Sunday. Steve Rohan-Jones’ team scored in a game almost half of their tally of the first thirteen rounds.
Although the finals are out of reach, getting that one upset this season would be a just reward for a young team that has shown a lot of strength and character in 2024.
ANU WFC and Tuggeranong United will battle it out at Hawker Football Centre to end the day. The two teams at the tail end of the league are both trying to avoid being wooden spoon come game week 21.
The University Club has the high grounds, three points ahead, with their only success of the season against Tuggies mid-July. That day, two goals were scored in eight minutes, either side of the break. They will need a similar performance to keep their foe at distance, as well as putting their defeat to West Canberra behind them.
Tuggeranong were left sore two weeks ago after a heavy defeat conceded to Croatia. The rest must have done the team in the South a world of good, and they will need to be at their best to finally get their first success of the season.
With such a tight goal difference with the ANU, a success would actually see Sarah West’s team overtaking their opponents for the 7th spot
FIXTURES
ROUND 17
Sunday 4 August
Canberra Croatia v Belconnen United (Deakin Stadium, 12:15)
Gungahlin United v West Canberra Wanderers (Gungahlin Enclosed, 14:00)
ANU WFC v Tuggeranong United (Hawker Football Centre, 15:00)
All matches are streamed live on BarTV Sports.
TABLE
P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS | ||
1 | Canberra Olympic | 14 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 36 | 11 | +25 | 37 |
2 | Belconnen United | 14 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 55 | 14 | +41 | 34 |
3 | Gungahlin United | 15 | 9 | 2 | 4 | 35 | 21 | +14 | 29 |
4 | Canberra Croatia | 15 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 36 | 26 | +10 | 23 |
5 | West Canberra Wanderers | 14 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 16 | 31 | -15 | 11 |
6 | ANU WFC | 13 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 8 | 45 | -37 | 5 |
7 | Tuggeranong United | 13 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 3 | 41 | -38 | 2 |
TOP SCORERS
13: Alyssa DI-CAMPLI (Belconnen United)
11: Brittany PALOMBI (Canberra Croatia)
10: Madelyn WHITTALL (Canberra Olympic), Reilly YUEN (Belconnen United)
7: Hattie CRAM (Belconnen United), Ginger OLIVER (Gungahlin United)
6: Madison CACHIA (Canberra Olympic), Alex MARTENS (Gungahlin United)
5: Keira BOBBIN (Belconnen United), Megan CASTLE (Canberra Croatia), Arusha CHEW (Canberra Croatia), Katrina PERIC (Canberra Olympic), Darby WHITELEY (Gungahlin United), Sarah WHITFIELD (West Canberra Wanderers)
4: Alyse JENSEN (Belconnen United), Tatum MAZIS (Canberra Croatia), Tianah MIRO (Canberra Olympic), Alex NEALAND (Gungahlin United)
3: Ella BROWN (Canberra Olympic), Isabella HINDMARSH (Belconnen United), Madeliene PERCEVAL (Gungahlin United), Alina ROBERTS (Belconnen United), Own GOALS
2: Isabella BARAC (Canberra Croatia), Jamie BERKELEY (Canberra Croatia), Jaya BOWMAN (Canberra Olympic), Olivia BUYTEWEG (Gungahlin United), Sharon CHAO (Gungahlin United), Natalie DE MARCO (Gungahlin United), Alexandra GIDIS (West Canberra Wanderers), Olivia HICKS (West Canberra Wanderers), Nicole JALOCHA (Canberra Olympic), Pascale LA HEI (Belconnen United), Sheridan MCELLIGOTT (ANU WFC), Saskia NEWMAN (ANU WFC), Ella PALFRAMAN (Canberra Croatia), Sofia PALYWODA (Belconnen United), Allegra SENTI (West Canberra Wanderers)
1: Tehya ASPLAND (Canberra Olympic), Angelina BABIC (ANU WFC), Eliza BAKER (ANU WFC), Leila BILLINGTON (Belconnen United), Amy BONGIORNO (Canberra Croatia), Sofia CHAVERRA (ANU WFC), Stella DE MARCO (Gungahlin United), Corinne DENTON (Gungahlin United), Jade EMMS (Belconnen United), Rhiannon FENSOM (Canberra Croatia), Edith FORDYCE-CROKER (ANU WFC), Lauren HALL (West Canberra Wanderers), Zoe HALPIN (West Canberra Wanderers), Elvein IBRHAIM (Tuggeranong United), Sarah MATTHEWS (Tuggeranong United), Amy MOORE (Gungahlin United), Demi NIKIAS (West Canberra Wanderers), Lauren PRESTON (Belconnen United), Bronte PYKE (Belconnen United), Bessie RIETHMULLER (Canberra Olympic), Pearl TEIN (Belconnen United), Michaela THORNTON (Canberra Olympic), Jane VANZINO (Canberra Olympic), Audrey WARD (West Canberra Wanderers), Matylda WELLS-SHEATHER (Tuggeranong United), Kayla WRIGHT (Gungahlin United), Nadia ZAKMAN (Canberra Croatia)
Words: Jeremy Magan