With Round 1 and Easter behind us, the Women’s National Premier League is back this weekend, kicking off with more Friday night action and three Sunday afternoon clashes to look forward to.
Tuggeranong United are back for a Friday evening encounter, this time at home against ANU WFC. The team coached by Paulo Romero enjoyed a deserved success over West Canberra Wanderers on the opening weekend, introducing a new and talented offensive trio.
hey were however unable to create a “cupset” at Kambah against Belconnen United last Wednesday (0-5 loss), very much like their opponents this coming round. ANU struck twice first in their first two games at NPL level, and twice they were beaten in the end.
Just like against the Canberra United Academy on their return to this level, and against Gungahlin United in the Federation Cup, Roxie Swart bagged the opener before the opposition were able to roll up their sleeves and edge out the University team.
Rob Illingworth and his players have shown some promise, and getting points back from Kambah would be an important statement for the Premier League newcomers.
Woden Park will have an air of Finals football on Sunday afternoon, when Belconnen United host Canberra Olympic. The two teams met in the Federation Cup Final and the WNPL Grand Final last season, and Scott Conlon and his Blue Devils conceded the defeat twice.
At “home” in Woden, the team led by Bessie Riethmuller upfront (5 goals in her first two games in sky blue) aims to turn the tables around by getting a result against the reigning champions. Both teams made it through to the Federation Cup semi-finals, but the task was much harder for the visitors.
Olympic can thank their player-coach Nicole Begg for her 97th minute winner against Canberra Croatia on Wednesday. Playing extra time under the midweek rain was far from ideal preparation, although Victoria Jamieson and co will find solace in a second consecutive success over the Deakin side. The fatigue accumulated however will certainly have a role to play on Sunday.
Canberra Croatia, on the wrong end of the two encounters, need to bounce back already. Away at Hawker Football Centre on Sunday afternoon, Zoran Glavinic is already looking for his troops to reassure themselves by getting the three points on a ground they are not always successful on.
Seeing off Canberra United Academy will not be a walk in the park though. Matty Moore’s squad showed spirit in the season opener, coming back from behind “away” at Hawker against ANU. They doubled down by winning their Federation Cup Quarter Final against West Canberra by the thinnest of margins (2-1). The young squad will hope to re-enact the upset of 2021 by beating the Premiers at home.
A complicated encounter awaits the West Canberra Wanderers on Sunday at Gungahlin Enclosed Oval. Rey Castro’s players are yet to meet success in 2023, despite solid performances and two goals already for new signing Nikita Perry.
Playing Andrew Woodman’s Gungahlin United will be a true test of what the Wanderers can achieve this year. The Gunners, surprised at home by Belconnen United in Round 1, recharged their batteries with a confident win in the Federation Cup against ANU WFC.
With two new signings coming from the US within the past 10 days, Gungahlin is looking to bolster up for the upcoming season. A success in round 2 would confirm they are on the right path.
FIXTURES
Friday 14 April
Tuggeranong United v ANU WFC (Kambah 2, 19:45)
Sunday 16 April
Gungahlin United v West Canberra Wanderers (Gungahlin Enclosed, 15:00)
Canberra United Academy v Canberra Croatia (Hawker Football Centre, 15:00)
Belconnen United v Canberra Olympic (Woden Park, 15:00)
TABLE
| P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS | ||
| 1 | Belconnen United | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | +4 | 3 |
| 2 | Canberra United Academy | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | +2 | 3 |
| 3 | Canberra Olympic | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 3 |
| 4 | Tuggeranong United | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 3 |
| 5 | Canberra Croatia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0 |
| 6 | West Canberra Wanderers | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0 |
| 7 | ANU WFC | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 0 |
| 8 | Gungahlin United | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | -4 | 0 |
TOP SCORERS
3 Bessie RIETHMULLER (Belconnen United)
2 Kiera BOBBIN (Belconnen United), Tia BURRIDGE (Canberra Olympic)
1 Latisha BABIC (Canberra United Academy), Isabella BARAC (Canberra Croatia), Ella-Rose BROWN (Gungahlin United) Sarah MATTHEWS (Tuggeranong United), Alexandra NEALAND (Canberra United Academy), Rainey NILES (Tuggeranong United), Nikita PERRY (West Canberra Wanderers), Roxie SWART (ANU WFC), Elisha WILD (Canberra United Academy)
