Gungahlin United put an end to Belconnen United ‘s perfect record in the WNPL, with two goals either side of the half despite conceding first. The Gunners have made a habit of causing trouble for the leaders in recent years and decided to go at it again in 2024 although they had to come from behind to do so.
A scramble in the midfield six minutes in ended with the ball in the feet of Alyssa Di Campli, who passed it to Reilly Yuen with her first touch. The league’s most prolific striker scored her tenth goal already with an effort from outside the box so powerful Emms could only slow it down.
The home team looked for an immediate response on set piece but Ginger Oliver, found at the far post, could not keep her half volley down. The Gunners kept trying for the equaliser, with Oliver, Alex Martens and Sharon Chao constant threats, but Belconnen United were dangerous at every opportunity.
The leveller would not come until after the half hour but was worth every minute the home fans had waited for. Pinkiewicz denied Chao, and the following corner taken by Oliver at first look to go too far. Natalie De Marco outside the box slipped the ball to Alexandra Nealand, who from 35 meters did not hesitate and armed a right footed effort that dipped behind the visitors’ keeper.
For the first time this season, Belconnen United seemed to struggle to create opportunities, even conceding more chances to the Gunners. Back from the break, it was Oliver again who threatened 20 seconds in. Both Pinkiewicz and Emms were kept busy, but the former would be the one to get the ball in her net past the hour mark.
A seemingly innocuous situation saw Pinkiewicz’ pass to Maddy Steinacker not precise enough, an offer Oliver was too glad to take. The selfless forward fixated Steinacker and passed the ball to Chao, who finished calmly. The Blue Devils spend the last half hour looking for a goal to keep their undefeated streak alive but were not eventually able to really threaten Emms until the final whistle.
This seven-goal thriller was not to be missed at Deakin on Sunday. Canberra Olympic´s 5-2 success against Canberra Croatia means Frank Cachia’s team is back level with Belconnen United, albeit far behind at the goal difference.
This highly expected match-up could not have started better for the visitors, with a two-goal lead at the eighth minute. Three minutes in, Nicole Jalocha’s superb through ball offered Madelyn Whittall a duel with Ellie Summers, and the Canberra United forward found the bottom corner to start the party. Five minutes later, a corner kick from Ella-Rose Brown was headed by Jalocha. Summers was able to put a hand on it, but Tianah Miro was the quickest to pounce and buried the ball in the back of the net.
The players in blue kept pushing, but conceded when Canberra Croatia had their first opportunity at the 20th minute. A low free-kick from the halfway line by Jamie Berkely found Megan Castle at the edge of the box. The striker turned around and saw her attempt stopped by Janet King, but Ella Palframan alone went for the rebound and brought her team back in the game.
The second half started with the same intensity. Chances at both ends, keepers and defenders putting their body on the line, and eventually, Olympic struck first. Just before the hour, another perfectly time ball in behind the defence, this time courtesy of Whittall, launched Maddison Cachia to face Summers. The teenager kept her cool and found the bottom corner to give back a two-goal advantage to the visitors.
Olympic kept their pressure up until the very end, and if Jane Vanzino came close to the fourth goal, hitting the post, the fans were made to wait until injury time to see three more goals.
The first came at the 90th minute: another great pass from Whittall sent Vanzino to challenge Summers. The keeper won the duel, but Cachia inherited the ball 30 meters from goal, and lobbed the shot-stopper who could only slow down the ball.
Three minutes later, a cross from Amy Buongiorno dipped at the far post for Canberra Croatia, but it was too little too late. The final nail in the coffin came from Whittall with the last kick of the game. Her left footed effort in the box finished the job, offering Olympic a spectacular and deserved victory.
The last game of the weekend at Hawker Centre ended in a 3-1 success for now fourth place West Canberra Wanderers against ANU WFC. The Wanderers for the first time this season scored more than one goal, and they also found an unexpected alternative to Sarah Whitfield to score goals in Olivia Hicks.
The game did not start the way they would have hoped. Three minutes in, Eliza Baker was faster than Hicks in the box, stole the ball and slotted the ball under Amy Wiggan’s legs to give ANU the lead.
The Wanderers’ defender would make up for it immediately. A minute later, Lauren Hall’s corner kick flew to the far post, where Hicks put her foot to finish from up close. Georgia Ritchie would be kept busy by the Wanderers, delaying the fate of her team on several occasions.
Then came the 25th minute an inspired pass by Cara Ceruti, between two ANU defender and in Allegra Senti’s run. The winger faced Ritchie and deftly glanced the ball in the back of the net.
The one goal advantage remained until the break, Ritchie again was the reason it had not increased, within a succession of saves when facing Senti, Ceruti, Alex Gidis or Raffaella Puli. She was also helped by her woodwork when Gidis’ powerful strike crashed on the angle of the crossbar.
The home team’s custodian was unfortunately unable to prevent the Wanderers’ third goal, fifteen minutes before the final whistle. Another corner kick taken by Hall, a scramble in the box, and Hicks could celebrate a brace after being once again at the right place at the right time.
The ANU WFC had not given up trying to come back in the game. Sofia Furlanetto was inches away from halving the deficit, but Amy Wiggan’s parry was at least as good as her opposing number. Jane Mahar came close too with three-minutes left but could not connect well enough.
The three points would go to West Canberra, as well the hope for a surprise when comes playoff time. If the Wanderers can play this way and be that threatening upfront consistently, they have a real chance at the top 4.
RESULTS
ROUND 9
Sunday 2 June
ANU WFC 1 (Baker 3’) West Canberra Wanderers 3 (Hicks 5’, 76’, Senti 26’)
Gungahlin United 2 (Nealand 35’, Chao 64’) Belconnen United 1 (Yuen 6’)
Canberra Croatia 2 (Palframan 21’, Bongiorno 90+4’) Canberra Olympic 5 (Whittall 3’, 90+7’, Miro 8’, Cachia 59’, 90+1’)
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
