Gungahlin United challenges Canberra Olympic at O’Connor on Sunday in a bid to steal their second spot, a clash Belconnen United, who hosts West Canberra Wanderers later that afternoon will keep a close eye on, while Tuggeranong United has another go at their first win of the season at Deakin Stadium against Canberra Croatia on Saturday.
Canberra Croatia had time to celebrate their qualification for the Federation Cup final with their bye last weekend. At Deakin Stadium on Saturday, they face Tuggeranong United, one of the two teams still without a win in 2024.
Zoran Glavinic’s team watched as the three teams above them on the table increased their advantage, so success this Saturday feels imperative if they want to stay in reach. At home, they will also try to finally get a clean sheet, a feat they have not achieved since Round 1 also against Tuggeranong.
Sarah West’s team has scored a single goal since the season started. It was against ANU WFC and this was also the one game they earned points from. Tuggeranong United’s games are much closer encounters this season than what they have been in the past, yet their inefficiency upfront is what holds them back.
The talent and spirit shown by the front line – and the rest of the team – deserves better than the single goal scored. Doing it at Deakin is no easy feat, but it would boost their confidence immensely, and potentially get them out of last place.
The game of the weekend takes place at O’Connor Enclosed on Sunday, between the 2nd and 3rd best team so far. Canberra Olympic and Gungahlin United meet for the second time this season, with the first duel won by the former.
Frank Cachia’s team battled to get the result last week, but as has been the case all the season, looked more than comfortable defensively. Janet King has only conceded four goals in NPLW, all of them against teams in the top four. A real test is waiting for the backline against a Gunners’ armada that is picking up pace in 2024.
Gungahlin United had started the season with two consecutive defeats, against Olympic and Belconnen. They have since taken flight, both defensively and offensively.
They scored eighteen and conceded only three in the next four games, with Ginger Oliver, Alex Martens and Darby Whiteley firing on all cylinders. The game at O’Connor on Sunday will be a chance for the Gunners to show just how much they have improved.
The weekend will end at McKellar Park, where Belconnen United hosts the West Canberra Wanderers. The Blue Devils are soaring over the competition, and the eight goals scored against ANU last week has done nothing to slow down their confidence.
Alyssa Di-Campli and Reilly Yuen combine for more goals than any team not named Gungahlin this season, and Belconnen have also been solid at the other end of the pitch. The Blue Devils expect success on Sunday, and any result at O’Connor will feel like a good result if they take the three points.
The Wanderers have their work cut out for them against the league leaders. The performances of Amy Wiggan and her backline this season have often been heroic, but facing the best offense in the league will be a real challenge.
West Canberra has not been able to score against the top four this season. A result at McKellar this weekend would start with breaking that series, and it seems as hard as keeping the Blue Devils quiet.
FIXTURES
ROUND 8
Saturday 25 May
Canberra Croatia v Tuggeranong United (Deakin Stadium, 14:30)
Sunday 26 May
Belconnen United v West Canberra Wanderers (McKellar Park, 15:00)
Canberra Olympic v Gungahlin United (O’Connor Enclosed, 14:30)
All matches are streamed live on BarTV Sports.
TABLE
| P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS | ||
| 1 | Belconnen United | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 4 | +25 | 18 |
| 2 | Canberra Olympic | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 4 | +9 | 15 |
| 3 | Gungahlin United | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 21 | 11 | +10 | 12 |
| 4 | Canberra Croatia | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 12 | -1 | 6 |
| 5 | West Canberra Wanderers | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 10 | -7 | 4 |
| 6 | ANU WFC | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 25 | -21 | 2 |
| 7 | Tuggeranong United | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 16 | -15 | 1 |
TOP SCORERS
8: Alyssa DI-CAMPLI (Belconnen United)
7: Reilly YUEN (Belconnen United)
5: Alex MARTENS (Gungahlin United), Darby WHITELEY (Gungahlin United)
4: Ginger OLIVER (Gungahlin United), Brittany PALOMBI (Canberra Croatia)
3: Keira BOBBIN (Belconnen United), Madison CACHIA (Canberra Olympic), Katrina PERIC (Canberra Olympic), Sarah WHITFIELD (West Canberra Wanderers)
2: Arusha CHEW (Canberra Croatia), Isabella HINDMARSH (Belconnen United), Nicole JALOCHA (Canberra Olympic), Pascale LA HEI (Belconnen United), Sheridan MCELLIGOTT (ANU WFC), Sofia PALYWODA (Belconnen United)
1: Jamie BERKELEY (Canberra Croatia), Leila BILLINGTON (Belconnen United), Jaya BOWMAN (Canberra Olympic), Ella BROWN (Canberra Olympic), Olivia BUYTEWEG (Gungahlin United), Sofia CHAVERRA (ANU WFC), Hattie CRAM (Belconnen United), Natalie DE MARCO (Gungahlin United), Corinne DENTON (Gungahlin United), Jade EMMS (Belconnen United), Tatum MAZIS (Canberra Croatia), Amy MOORE (Gungahlin United), Alex NEALAND (Gungahlin United), Saskia NEWMAN (ANU WFC), Ella PALFRAMAN (Canberra Croatia), Madeliene PERCEVAL (Gungahlin United), Lauren PRESTON (Belconnen United), Bessie RIETHMULLER (Canberra Olympic), Alina ROBERTS (Belconnen United), Michaela THORNTON (Canberra Olympic), Jane VANZINO (Canberra Olympic), Matylda WELLS-SHEATHER (Tuggeranong United), Kayla WRIGHT (Gungahlin United), Nadia ZAKMAN (Canberra Croatia), Own GOALS
