Sunday at lunchtime, West Canberra Wanderers hosts Canberra Croatia with a clear goal in sight: taking fourth place from the Deakin side. The Wanderers’ second success of the season against ANU WFC a fortnight ago brought them within two points of their opponent this weekend.
More importantly, the three goals scored are a boost of confidence for a team that had not found the back of the net more than once per game in 2024.
The Deakin side travel to Wanderers Park after a tight defeat in the Federation Cup final, now fully focused on the league. Defeated four times already this season, Zoran Glavinic’s players know they must get maximum against any team below them on the table.
The return of Rhiannon Fensom against Belconnen United had an immediate impact, and it should show once again on Sunday. To add to the importance of this entertaining duel, the two teams are meeting again three days later, to play their postponed round four match. Whichever team wins both, will seriously stake their claim for a finals spot.
Tuggeranong United and Canberra Olympic will meet at Kambah 201 at 3pm, with the latter hoping to steal the top spot while Belconnen is watching from home. The success at Deakin two weeks ago was one of Olympic’s best performances since Frank Cachia took the reins of the side.
The players added in the off-season seem to have now settled and it shows at both ends of the pitch. Another solid display is expected for the upcoming trip down South, both to put pressure on the Blue Devils, and to keep getting closer to their rivals when it comes to goal difference.
Tuggeranong has had three weeks to prepare for the daunting encounter against the reigning champions. Still grounded to a single point on the table and a single goal scored, Tuggies would feel their performances deserve more.
Facing Olympic is not going to be an easy task for Sarah West’s players: even getting a draw would likely require a flawless performance and 90 minutes of uninterrupted high-intensity football. Count on them for always trying.
ANU WFC face Gungahlin United at possibly the worst time. The Gunners are as confident as ever after putting an end to Belconnen’s winning streak in the WNPL. Nick Van Aalst’s player also enjoyed facing the University club this season, with 14 goals scored – and none conceded – in two duels.
Another success this Sunday is a must for Gungahlin United and their simple agenda: continue to win to place themselves as the outsiders in what looks like a two-team race at the top.
ANU Women’s have improved week in week out this season and will hope for a better scoreline against Gungahlin this time around. The early goal scored against West Canberra before the Cup break was not enough to get a result, and it might start to feel like a curse for the University Club.
Every time ANU scored this season, they were the first team to find the back of the net, and always ended up conceding, even with the last kick of the game, like when they faced Tuggeranong. The team coached by Thomas Crossley will hope to put an end to that streak, as soon as possible.
FIXTURES
ROUND 10
Sunday 16 June
West Canberra Wanderers v Canberra Croatia (Melrose Synthetic, 12:45)
ANU WFC v Gungahlin United (Hawker Football Centre,
Tuggeranong United v Canberra Olympic (Kambah 2, 15:00)
All matches are streamed live on BarTV Sports.
TABLE
| P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS | ||
| 1 | Belconnen United | 8 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 35 | 7 | +28 | 21 |
| 2 | Canberra Olympic | 8 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 20 | 7 | +13 | 21 |
| 3 | Gungahlin United | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 24 | 14 | +10 | 15 |
| 4 | Canberra Croatia | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 16 | 17 | -1 | 9 |
| 5 | West Canberra Wanderers | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 16 | -9 | 7 |
| 6 | ANU WFC | 7 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 28 | -23 | 2 |
| 7 | Tuggeranong United | 7 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 19 | -18 | 1 |
TOP SCORERS
10: Reilly YUEN (Belconnen United)
8: Alyssa DI-CAMPLI (Belconnen United)
6: Alex MARTENS (Gungahlin United)
5: Madison CACHIA (Canberra Olympic), Darby WHITELEY (Gungahlin United)
4: Ginger OLIVER (Gungahlin United), Brittany PALOMBI (Canberra Croatia), Sarah WHITFIELD (West Canberra Wanderers)
3: Keira BOBBIN (Belconnen United), Katrina PERIC (Canberra Olympic), Madelyn WHITTALL (Canberra Olympic)
2: Isabella BARAC (Canberra Croatia), Ella BROWN (Canberra Olympic), Arusha CHEW (Canberra Croatia), Hattie CRAM (Belconnen United), Olivia HICKS (West Canberra Wanderers), Isabella HINDMARSH (Belconnen United), Nicole JALOCHA (Canberra Olympic), Pascale LA HEI (Belconnen United), Sheridan MCELLIGOTT (ANU WFC), Alex NEALAND (Gungahlin United), Ella PALFRAMAN (Canberra Croatia), Sofia PALYWODA (Belconnen United), Own GOALS
1: Eliza BAKER (ANU WFC), Jamie BERKELEY (Canberra Croatia), Leila BILLINGTON (Belconnen United), Amy BONGIORNO (Canberra Croatia), Jaya BOWMAN (Canberra Olympic), Olivia BUYTEWEG (Gungahlin United), Megan CASTLE (Canberra Croatia), Sofia CHAVERRA (ANU WFC), Sharon CHAO (Gungahlin United), Natalie DE MARCO (Gungahlin United), Corinne DENTON (Gungahlin United), Jade EMMS (Belconnen United), Alyse JENSEN (Belconnen United), Tatum MAZIS (Canberra Croatia), Tianah MIRO (Canberra Olympic), Amy MOORE (Gungahlin United), Saskia NEWMAN (ANU WFC), Madeliene PERCEVAL (Gungahlin United), Lauren PRESTON (Belconnen United), Bessie RIETHMULLER (Canberra Olympic), Alina ROBERTS (Belconnen United), Allegra SENTI (West Canberra Wanderers), Michaela THORNTON (Canberra Olympic), Jane VANZINO (Canberra Olympic), Matylda WELLS-SHEATHER (Tuggeranong United), Kayla WRIGHT (Gungahlin United), Nadia ZAKMAN (Canberra Croatia)
Words: Jeremy Magan
