The last weekend of regular season football is upon us, and the three best teams in the league face the three at the bottom. While Canberra Olympic and Belconnen United might use this Sunday to rest some players before another duel next week, Gungahlin will try and get some rhythm back in after three weekends without competitive football.
Newly crowned League Champions Canberra Olympic face West Canberra Wanderers at O’Connor, the opportunity to present yet another trophy to their fans.
Frank Cachia’s team has had a close to perfect season, only dropping points on two occasions to Belconnen and Gungahlin respectively, with the best defence and the second-best attack in the league.
They finished the season strong, with 18 goals scored, and none conceded in the last three games. Sunday is a chance to celebrate at home, as well as finding the right balance, between giving players a breather and accumulating confidence before the qualifying next week.
The Wanderers arrive at O’Connor hoping to spoil the celebrations. Boosted by three successes in their last four outings, and a complete offensive performance last weekend, West Canberra will try and get the scalp of another big team of the league, after Croatia three weeks ago.
ANU WFC host Belconnen United at their home ground of McKellar at 3pm. The University Club have just faced the other three teams at the top of the table, for three defeats, a single goal scored and a 13 conceded. Last week against Canberra Croatia, they were in the lead for an hour after a solid start.
Facing the Blue Devils on their turf will not be an easy last game of the season, but it could be the opportunity to get a result against a team in doubt after failing to secure the league championship.
Scott Conlon’s players will not have time to think last week’s loss for too long. Sunday’s game “at home” is the occasion to prepare to face Olympic again the following week. After winning the Federation Cup this season, the Blue Devils have their minds set on getting a second trophy. Before the challenge for the championship starts, they will want to close the 2024 regular season on a positive note.
Tuggeranong United play Gungahlin United at Kambah with a last chance to get a win this season. Sarah West’s players have gotten points against ANU and West Canberra but have been unable to claim maximum points. They have lost their first two encounters with Gungahlin 2-0 and 3-0 and will need a strong display on Sunday if they are to get a result.
Scoring a goal this weekend would also make it the first time this season that Tuggeranong finds the back of the net in two consecutive weeks. The Gunners have been sitting in the sidelines for the past three weeks, while Olympic and Belconnen were fighting for success.
Nick Van Aalst’s team has an important Elimination Final against Croatia coming next week. The trip to Kambah will be a chance to close out a successful season, while keeping their confidence up after two consecutive clean sheets in their last two games.
FIXTURES
ROUND 21
Sunday 1 September
Canberra Olympic v West Canberra Wanderers (O’Connor Enclosed, 14:00)
ANU WFC v Belconnen United (McKellar Park, 15:00)
Tuggeranong United v Gungahlin United (Kambah 2, 16:15)
All matches are streamed live on BarTV Sports.
TABLE
| P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS | ||
| 1 | Canberra Olympic (C) | 17 | 15 | 1 | 1 | 54 | 11 | +43 | 46 |
| 2 | Belconnen United | 17 | 13 | 1 | 3 | 63 | 19 | +44 | 40 |
| 3 | Gungahlin United | 17 | 11 | 2 | 4 | 40 | 21 | +19 | 35 |
| 4 | Canberra Croatia | 18 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 41 | 32 | +9 | 28 |
| 5 | West Canberra Wanderers | 17 | 5 | 2 | 10 | 23 | 34 | -11 | 17 |
| 6 | ANU WFC | 17 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 10 | 59 | -49 | 6 |
| 7 | Tuggeranong United | 17 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 5 | 60 | -55 | 3 |
TOP SCORERS
14: Alyssa DI-CAMPLI (Belconnen United)
13: Madelyn WHITTALL (Canberra Olympic)
11: Brittany PALOMBI (Canberra Croatia)
10: Ginger OLIVER (Gungahlin United), Reilly YUEN (Belconnen United)
9: Hattie CRAM (Belconnen United)
8: Keira BOBBIN (Belconnen United)
7: Megan CASTLE (Canberra Croatia), Katrina PERIC (Canberra Olympic)
6: Ella BROWN (Canberra Olympic), Madison CACHIA (Canberra Olympic), Arusha CHEW (Canberra Croatia), Alex MARTENS (Gungahlin United), Tatum MAZIS (Canberra Croatia), Darby WHITELEY (Gungahlin United), Sarah WHITFIELD (West Canberra Wanderers)
5: Tehya ASPLAND (Canberra Olympic),
4: Alexandra GIDIS (West Canberra Wanderers), Lauren HALL (West Canberra Wanderers), Alyse JENSEN (Belconnen United), Tianah MIRO (Canberra Olympic), Alex NEALAND (Gungahlin United), Alina ROBERTS (Belconnen United)
3: Cara CERUTI (Canberra Olympic), Natalie DE MARCO (Gungahlin United), Zoe HALPIN (West Canberra Wanderers), Isabella HINDMARSH (Belconnen United), Nicole JALOCHA (Canberra Olympic), Sheridan MCELLIGOTT (ANU WFC), Madeliene PERCEVAL (Gungahlin United), Own GOALS
2: Isabella BARAC (Canberra Croatia), Jamie BERKELEY (Canberra Croatia), Jaya BOWMAN (Canberra Olympic), Olivia BUYTEWEG (Gungahlin United), Sharon CHAO (Gungahlin United), Olivia HICKS (West Canberra Wanderers), Pascale LA HEI (Belconnen United), Saskia NEWMAN (ANU WFC), Ella PALFRAMAN (Canberra Croatia), Sofia PALYWODA (Belconnen United), Allegra SENTI (West Canberra Wanderers)
1: Angelina BABIC (ANU WFC), Eliza BAKER (ANU WFC), Leila BILLINGTON (Belconnen United), Amy BONGIORNO (Canberra Croatia), Leah CARNEGIE (Canberra Olympic), Sofia CHAVERRA (ANU WFC), Luella COLEMAN (Belconnen United), Stella DE MARCO (Gungahlin United), Corinne DENTON (Gungahlin United), Jade EMMS (Belconnen United), Rhiannon FENSOM (Canberra Croatia), Edith FORDYCE-CROKER (ANU WFC), Julia HOGAN (ANU WFC), Elvein IBRHAIM (Tuggeranong United), Tarah MANTHONGSY (Tuggeranong United), Sarah MATTHEWS (Tuggeranong United), Amy MOORE (Gungahlin United), Demi NIKIAS (West Canberra Wanderers), Tiana PHILLIPS-MAYNARD (Tuggeranong United), Sienna NESS (Canberra Olympic), 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)
