A statement win for Canberra Olympic against Belconnen United on Sunday increased their advantage on the table to six points on their opponents of the day. The feat is even more remarkable that the Blue Devils never conceded four goals in a regular season games in the NPL era. Elsewhere, Canberra Croatia won by the thinnest of margins against ANU WFC and West Canberra could only bring a point back from Tuggeranong
The winning streak continued for Canberra Olympic, with an emphatic 4-0 success against their main rivals on the table, Belconnen United. Frank Cachia’s team executed their game plan perfectly, and two goals either side of the break gave them a crucial success in the race to defend their premiership.
Madelyn Whittall put her team on the right track eight minutes in, pouncing quickest after Monique Pinkiewicz parried away a powerful shot from Madison Cachia. Belconnen’s attempts at answering by Alyssa Di-Campli and Reilly Yuen were unsuccessful, the first deflected by Victoria Jamieson, removing any danger for Janet King, and the second uncharacteristically off target.
The second goal came fifteen minutes later, courtesy of Tianah Miro and all her talent. The mercurial forward dribbled past two defender in a pocket of space before striking a superb right footed effort from the edge of the box that came dipping under the crossbar.
The home team kept their two-goal advantage and domination for the remainder of the first half. Some call it the champions’ luck, and Olympic happily enjoyed some of it, two minutes into the second act. A cross from Cachia surprised Pinkiewicz and dipped behind the keeper, and the teenager could celebrate what felt like the end of the encounter already.
The final dagger hit just after the hour mark. A combined press of Whittall and Cara Ceruti forced an error from Ailish McDonagh, and the speed of the former did the rest. The Canberra United forward faced Pinkiewicz alone seconds later and was composed enough to find the back of the net.
Canberra Croatia are back on their winning ways thanks a single goal scored at home against ANU WFC. The Deakin outfit is now on level terms with Gungahlin United at the table, albeit with an extra game played.
The home team was expected to dominate at home and started the game on the front foot. As has become a habit the past few weeks, the ANU defence stole the spotlight, by their determination and solidity.
After twenty minutes of hitting a literal wall, Croatia finally broke the deadlock thanks to Megan Castle. A cross from Jamie Berkeley landed fell to Amy McLachlan on the far post, the defender’s touch sent the ball wandering in the six-yard box, where Castle pounced and finished with a tap under Georgia Ritchie.
Ritchie and the dense defensive unit in front of her, made sure this would be the only ball in the back of their net. Despite numerous corner kick, Brittany Palombi crosses flirting with the goal line, attempts from Castle, Tatum Mazis or Arusha Chew, the scoreboard would not bulge.
Seeing their host unable to add to their tally, the University club could have tried and steal a point from Deakin, however they rarely even threatened Ellie Summers.
Until the final whistle, the best opportunities would be Canberra Croatia’s, like this duel, lost by Mazis twice against Ritchie in injury time.
Tuggeranong United and the West Canberra Wanderers shared a point apiece at Kambah on Sunday afternoon, with two goals scored in the first 20 minutes. It is the hosts’ second point earned in 2024.
The goal for Tuggies almost happened against the grain. After a couple of even minutes, the Wanderers started pushing forward, without really threatening Emily Pearce.
They would be surprised at the 7th minute. A scramble in the middle of the park ended in Ashlee Smith-Roberts launching Elvein Ibrahim behind the defence with ball perfectly whipped with her left foot. The pacey forward toe-tapped the ball within the box, surprising Amy Wiggan, who saw the ball slowly rolling in the back of her net.
The visitors tried to respond instantly, but Sarah West’s midfield and defence remained solid. Instead, it was Jyotika Singh who was inches away to her team’s second goal, with a ball rising high and dipping just above Wiggan, who needed two attempts to grab it.
The equaliser did come at the 19th minute. A good effort from Alex Gidis ended in a free-kick meters away from the corner kick spot. Set piece specialist Lauren Hall sent the ball at the far post, where her captain Sarah Whitfield jumped higher than everyone, and smashed a towering header in past Pearce.
The goal reenergized the visitors, who stayed on the front foot immediately afterwards. Within the next three minutes, Pearce had to make two important saves to keep them at bay. West Canberra kept pushing right until the break without being able to take the lead. Tuggeranong at the other would only be dangerous from distance.
Back from the break, the duel was a bit more even, although at times, the Wanderers would push Tuggeranong in their own half for minutes at a time. The score remained unchanged, largely due to the goalkeepers. The main bad news for Tuggeranong might be Singh’s injury. The midfielder seemed to be hitting their stride in that game but had to walk out at the hour mark.
RESULTS
ROUND 12
Sunday 30 June
Canberra Croatia 1 (Castle 20’) ANU WFC 0
Canberra Olympic 4 (Whittall 8’, 65’, Miro 23’, Cachia 48’) Belconnen United 0
Tuggeranong United 1(Ibrahim 7’) West Canberra Wanderers 1 (Whitfield 19’)
TABLE
| P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS | ||
| 1 | Canberra Olympic | 11 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 31 | 8 | +23 | 30 |
| 2 | Belconnen United | 10 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 43 | 11 | +32 | 24 |
| 3 | Gungahlin United | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 28 | 15 | +13 | 19 |
| 4 | Canberra Croatia | 11 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 26 | 20 | +6 | 19 |
| 5 | West Canberra Wanderers | 10 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 10 | 25 | -15 | 8 |
| 6 | Tuggeranong United | 10 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 3 | 31 | -28 | 2 |
| 7 | ANU WFC | 10 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 5 | 36 | -31 | 2 |
TOP SCORERS
10: Reilly YUEN (Belconnen United)
9: Alyssa DI-CAMPLI (Belconnen United)
8: Madelyn WHITTALL (Canberra Olympic)
7: Brittany PALOMBI (Canberra Croatia)
6: Madison CACHIA (Canberra Olympic), Hattie CRAM (Belconnen United), Alex MARTENS (Gungahlin United), Ginger OLIVER (Gungahlin United)
5: Darby WHITELEY (Gungahlin United), Sarah WHITFIELD (West Canberra Wanderers)
4: Arusha CHEW (Canberra Croatia), Katrina PERIC (Canberra Olympic)
3: Keira BOBBIN (Belconnen United), Megan CASTLE (Canberra Croatia), Isabella HINDMARSH (Belconnen United), Tianah MIRO (Canberra Olympic), Alex NEALAND (Gungahlin United)
2: Isabella BARAC (Canberra Croatia), Jamie BERKELEY (Canberra Croatia), Jaya BOWMAN (Canberra Olympic), Ella BROWN (Canberra Olympic), Olivia HICKS (West Canberra Wanderers), Nicole JALOCHA (Canberra Olympic), Alyse JENSEN (Belconnen United), Pascale LA HEI (Belconnen United), Tatum MAZIS (Canberra Croatia), Sheridan MCELLIGOTT (ANU WFC), Ella PALFRAMAN (Canberra Croatia), Sofia PALYWODA (Belconnen United), Madeliene PERCEVAL (Gungahlin United), Own GOALS
1: Tehya ASPLAND (Canberra Olympic), Eliza BAKER (ANU WFC), Leila BILLINGTON (Belconnen United), Amy BONGIORNO (Canberra Croatia), Olivia BUYTEWEG (Gungahlin United), Sofia CHAVERRA (ANU WFC), Sharon CHAO (Gungahlin United), Natalie DE MARCO (Gungahlin United), Corinne DENTON (Gungahlin United), Jade EMMS (Belconnen United), Rhiannon FENSOM (Canberra Croatia), Alexandra GIDIS (West Canberra Wanderers), Lauren HALL (West Canberra Wanderers), Elvein IBRHAIM (Tuggeranong United), Sarah MATTHEWS (Tuggeranong United), Amy MOORE (Gungahlin United), Saskia NEWMAN (ANU WFC), Lauren PRESTON (Belconnen United), Bessie RIETHMULLER (Canberra Olympic), Alina ROBERTS (Belconnen United), Allegra SENTI (West Canberra Wanderers), Pearl TEIN (Belconnen United), Michaela THORNTON (Canberra Olympic), Jane VANZINO (Canberra Olympic), Matylda WELLS-SHEATHER (Tuggeranong United), Kayla WRIGHT (Gungahlin United), Nadia ZAKMAN (Canberra Croatia)
Words: Jeremy Magan
