National Premier League Women’s action gets back underway in Round 5 with ANU WFC hosting undefeated Belconnen United at ANU South Oval.
The University side will be dreading the arrival of Scott Conlon’s side, particularly after defeat to bottom of the table rivals Tuggeranong United, in a match that continued their goalless start to 2025.
ANU have shipped 19 goals in four games, while failing to pick up a single point this season and will be facing a Belconnen United side who are scoring six goals per match on average, making their meeting a daunting prospect.
The Blue Devils scored 22 goals in three meetings with ANU in 2024 and will be looking to maintain a three-point gap on the chasing pack, having defeated title rivals Gungahlin United 4-2 in the previous round.
Over at Gungahlin Enclosed, Gungahlin United will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing defeat to Belconnen United in Round 4, with a match against Tuggeranong United, a side off the back of their first win of the season against ANU WFC at Kambah.
Travelling this time, Tuggeranong have had a more positive spell of late, causing issues for Canberra Olympic one week, and claiming their first three points since 2023 in the NPLW the next.
Gungahlin, having started the season positively are winless in their last two, including a midweek loss to Olympic in the cup, however the fight Marcial Munoz’s side showed to claw back from 3-0 down to 3-2 in Round 4, will give them optimism heading into Sunday’s match.
A win for the home side would ensure they keep place in the top four, while three points for Tuggeranong could propel them closer to a finals position, and six points clear of the bottom of the table.
In an intriguing clash at Melrose Synthetic, second-placed West Canberra Wanderers take on Canberra Olympic at home, with a second difficult match in a row having tasted defeat away at Canberra Croatia in the previous round.
Steve Rohan-Jones’ side fell for the first time in 2025 in that match at Deakin Stadium, however their opponents’ narrow winning margin gives an indication of West Canberra’s ability to match it with the best sides in the league.
Opponents Olympic scraped by 2-1 in their match versus Majura, relying on long-range efforts to claim a second three points of the season against a dogged defensive unit, and will no doubt have a tougher task on their hands against a quality opponent on Sunday.
Despite winning two of their three meetings last campaign, alongside a goalless stalemate, Frank Cachia’s side only ever emerged with three points by fine margins and will have to be on top of their game if they are to jump into a finals position for the first time this season.
The final match of the round takes place at Deakin Stadium, as Canberra Croatia look to back up an important win against then equal-first West Canberra with a second home victory of the season, against Majura FC.
The absence of a recognised goalkeeper in the net for the Wanderers for much of the contest did play a part in handing Croatia the three points, however the start to 2025 from Musie Elongo’s team overall has been of high quality, even performing well in their only loss this season, which came at the hands of a fortunate Belconnen United.
Despite Majura FC being winless in three league matches, Davide Ruberto’s side backed up a hammering at the hands of Gungahlin United by giving a good account of themselves against Canberra Olympic last week, in a match that saw them take the lead and hold out the champions for 74 minutes, before eventually losing narrowly.
The defensive resilience shown in that game for Majura may be a crucial factor in potentially upsetting an in-form Croatia, who will be looking to maintain their position in the top four with a win at home.
FIXTURES
ROUND 5
Sunday 11 May
Canberra Croatia v Majura FC (Deakin Stadium, 16:30)
ANU WFC v Belconnen United (ANU South Oval, 15:00)
Gungahlin United v Tuggeranong United (Gungahlin Enclosed, 15:00)
West Canberra Wanderers v Canberra Olympic (Melrose Synthetic, 15:00)
TABLE
| P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS | ||
| 1 | Belconnen United | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 6 | +18 | 12 |
| 2 | West Canberra | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 18 | 4 | +14 | 9 |
| 3 | Gungahlin United | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 5 | +8 | 6 |
| 4 | Canberra Croatia | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 5 | +4 | 6 |
| 5 | Canberra Olympic | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 6 |
| 6 | Majura FC | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 14 | -7 | 3 |
| 7 | Tuggeranong United | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 23 | -19 | 3 |
| 8 | ANU WFC | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 18 | -18 | 0 |
TOP SCORERS
10: Tamara COCHRANE (West Canberra Wanderers)
5: Keira BOBBIN (Belconnen United), Alyssa DI-CAMPLI (Belconnen United)
4: Megan CASTLE (Gungahlin United), Carmel LYNCH (Majura FC), Bonnie YOUNG (Gungahlin United)
3: Alexandra GIDIS (West Canberra Wanderers), Zoe HALPIN (West Canberra Wanderers), Alex MARTENS (Belconnen United), Own GOALS
2: Liliana ALTAMORE (Belconnen United), Acacia ARGENTO (Tuggeranong United), Isabella BARAC (Canberra Croatia), Tia BURRIDGE (Canberra Olympic), Arusha CHEW (Canberra Croatia), Sofia FURLANETTO (Majura FC), Alyse JENSEN (Canberra Olympic), Katrina PERIC (Canberra Olympic), Nikita PERRY (Canberra Olympic)
1: Elke AITOLU (Canberra Olympic), Jamie BERKELEY (Canberra Croatia), Sienna BIRNIE (Canberra Olympic), Leah CARNEGIE (Canberra Olympic), Lisa CARY (Belconnen United), Natalie DE MARCO (Gungahlin United), Stella DE MARCO (Gungahlin United), Elvein IBRAHIM (West Canberra Wanderers), Tarah MANTHONGSY (Tuggeranong United), Sofia MARTINIELO (Majura FC), Ailish MCDONAGH (Belconnen United), Sofia MERKOUREAS (Canberra Croatia), Jessica MITCHELL (Tuggeranong United), Perri NASH (West Canberra Wanderers), Eliza-Jane NORRIS (Canberra Croatia), Ginger OLIVER (Gungahlin United), Madeliene PERCEVAL (Gungahlin United), Lauren PRESTON (Belconnen United), Bronte PYKE (Belconnen United), Ellie RAYMOND (Canberra Croatia), Alina ROBERTS (Belconnen United), Maddie STEINACKER (Belconnen United), Michaela THORNTON (Canberra Croatia), Rachel VAN AALST (Gungahlin United)
TOP ASSISTS
5: Anneke CORRY (Belconnen United)
4: Keira BOBBIN (Belconnen United)
3: Zoe HALPIN (West Canberra Wanderers), Perri NASH (West Canberra Wanderers), Audrey WARD (West Canberra Wanderers)
2: Isabella BARAC (Canberra Croatia), Arusha CHEW (Canberra Croatia), Tamara COCHRANE (West Canberra Wanderers), Natalie DE MARCO (Gungahlin United), Stella DE MARCO (Gungahlin United), Chelsea HATELY (Gungahlin United), Isabella HINDMARSH (Belconnen United), Alex MARTENS (Belconnen United), Abigail RICHARDS (Majura FC), Alina ROBERTS (Belconnen United), Darby WHITELEY (Gungahlin United)
1: Elke AITOLU (Canberra Olympic), Esperance ANDERSON (Tuggeranong United), Eliza BAKER (Majura FC), Jamie BERKLEY (Canberra Croatia), Sienna BIRNIE (Canberra Olympic), Ella BROWN (Canberra Olympic), Olivia BUYTEWEG (Gungahlin United), Madison CACHIA (Canberra Olympic), Alyssa DI-CAMPLI (Belconnen United), Rhiannon DAVIS (Canberra Olympic), Olivia HICKS (West Canberra Wanderers, Isabella HINDMARSH (Belconnen United), Alyse JENSEN (Canberra Olympic), Ariana KASHAN (Majura FC), Claire KENNEDY-SPENCER (Tuggeranong United), Tarah MANTHONGSY (Tuggeranong United), Olivia MARTINIELLO (Majura FC), Amy MOORE (Gungahlin United), Demi NIKIAS (West Canberra Wanderers), Stephenie NIKIAS (West Canberra Wanderers), Ginger OLIVER (Gungahlin United), Nikita PERRY (Canberra Olympic), Lauren PRESTON (Belconnen United), Bronte PYKE (Belconnen United), Madison SAWKINS (Belconnen United), Allegra SENTI (West Canberra Wanderers), Bonnie YOUNG (Gungahlin United)
Words: Sam Watson
