Involved in the first goal, Madelyn Whittall scored the second to give her team all three points against Gungahlin United, offering Olympic room to breathe on the table. Belconnen United and Canberra Croatia in the meantime lived up to their favourite status this weekend, to keep the status quo on the table.
A brace from Bella Barac and Megan Castle’s goal offered Canberra Croatia three important points against Tuggeranong United on Saturday, with Ellie Summers at the other end celebrating the second clean sheet of the Deakin side this season.
The home team displayed their intention from the whistle onwards. They would press high and try to smother Tuggeranong in their half. The reward came fast. At the fourth minute, a double-press from Ella Palframan and Bella Barac ended with the second getting the ball 25 meters from goal on the right.
In a split second, the forward realised Emily Pearce was off her line and sent a precise and inspired right footed effort in the top right corner, her first goal in WNPL this season.
The early goal could have meant the flood gates were open, but the Tuggeranong keeper and her defence have proven this season their solidity, on display again on Saturday.
Despite a flurry of chances, and a couple of them ending on the woodwork, Croatia would not find the solution until after the hour mark. The individual brilliance of the first goal was at least matched by the flawless teamwork of the second.
It is the 67th minute, Amy Bongiorno recovered a ball high on a left wing, and left it to Tatum Mazis. The winger switched play for Brittany Palombi, who served Barac in the box. A rapid one-two with Megan Castle and the forward finished from up close, doubling her season tally.
The game was put to bed with five minutes left to play, when Castle volleyed in a corner kick taken by Palombi. The three points bring Canberra Croatia closer to the podium, only trailing Gungahlin United by three points.
Whittall was instrumental on Sunday at O’Connor, involved in the two goals Canberra Olympic scored to earn three points by the thinnest of margins against Gungahlin United. The clash of this game week held all its promises, with two top-of-the-table outfits showcasing all their talent on a sunny afternoon.
The home team had the better first half, installing a literal siege around the area of the Gunners’ latest signing, Sammy Emms. After a few warnings, Olympic found the opening, courtesy of a former Gungahlin player, at the 25th minute.
The goal stemmed from a great work by Whittall in the box, and a cross that Natalie De Marco could only head away directly at Ella-Rose Brown. The forward did not hesitate and slammed a powerful shot past Emms.
Olympic tried to take advantage of the momentum and kept pushing. Their enthusiasm was cooled down three minutes later, when Ginger Oliver’s corner kick was headed by Madeleine Perceval towards Alex Martens, happy to equalize from close range.
Not discouraged, Olympic kept pushing for a second goal, unsuccessfully until the break. They would punish their opponents early in the second half. Gungahlin seemed to have taken the better start, back from the locker room, but three minutes in, Sienna Birnie deflected a Stella De Marco pass straight in the feet of Whittall.
In the box, the Canberra United player did not hesitate, winning her duel against Emms. Olympic would manage to keep their lead until the final whistle. If at first they stayed on the front foot and looked for the third goal, the last five minutes tested the nerves of Frank Cachia and his team.
The Gunners managed a couple of dangerous opportunities, and that 90th minute shot from Ginger Oliver, that travel along Janet King’s goal line but failed the wrong side of the post, almost cost the home team two points.
Belconnen United trailed on the scoreboard for the first time this season, at home against West Canberra Wanderers, but an equaliser just before the break and four goals in second half saw the Blue Devils keep their record of invincibility in WNPL.
The Wanderers have made a habit of causing upsets in recent years, often against the league leaders. When Alex Gidis launched Sarah Whitfield in space, and the striker put the ball in the back of the net despite a good first save from Monique Pinkiewicz, West Canberra fans were hoping for another page of West Canberra’s story.
Unfortunately for Steve Rohan-Jones and his team, the 2024 Blue Devils are simply too strong. The Wanderers held their lead for 20 minutes, until an attempt from distance from Isabella Hindmarsh that rattled the crossbar, and Pascale La Hei, the quickest to get the rebound, was fouled in the box. The leveller from the spot kick was former West Canberra winger Hattie Cram’s doing, seconds before the break.
Belconnen United always backed themselves to get all three points, and they hit the ground running early in the second half. Four minutes in, Reilly Yuen and La Hei combined, and the former’s cross led Olivia Hicks to an unfortunate own goal.
Yuen went on to score her eighth and ninth goal of the season past the hour mark. She first used her strength and power to finish from up close at the 65th minute, before one of the goals of the weekend eight minutes later. A free kick, 35 meters away and on the left wing, saw the striker having her usual fun seconds before hitting a superb swerving effort in the top right corner.
Another former Wanderers came to close Sunday’s tally five minutes from time. Alyse Jensen inherited the ball at the edge of the box after a corner kick, and her shot seem to take a deflection before wrong footing Amy Wiggan.
RESULTS
ROUND 8
Saturday 25 May
Canberra Croatia 3 (Barac 5’, 67’, Castle 81’) Tuggeranong United 0
Sunday 26 May
Belconnen United 5 (Cram 45+3’ (p), Hicks 49’ (og), Yuen 65’, 73’, Jensen 84’) West Canberra Wanderers 1 (Whitfield 26’)
Canberra Olympic 2 (Brown 25’, Whittall 48’) Gungahlin United 1 (Martens 28’)
TABLE
| P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS | ||
| 1 | Belconnen United | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 5 | +29 | 21 |
| 2 | Canberra Olympic | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 5 | +10 | 18 |
| 3 | Gungahlin United | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 22 | 13 | +9 | 12 |
| 4 | Canberra Croatia | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 12 | +2 | 9 |
| 5 | West Canberra Wanderers | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 15 | -11 | 4 |
| 6 | ANU WFC | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 25 | -21 | 2 |
| 7 | Tuggeranong United | 7 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 19 | -18 | 1 |
TOP SCORERS
9: Reilly YUEN (Belconnen United)
8: Alyssa DI-CAMPLI (Belconnen United)
6: Alex MARTENS (Gungahlin United)
5: Darby WHITELEY (Gungahlin United)
4: Ginger OLIVER (Gungahlin United), Brittany PALOMBI (Canberra Croatia), Sarah WHITFIELD (West Canberra Wanderers)
3: Keira BOBBIN (Belconnen United), Madison CACHIA (Canberra Olympic), Katrina PERIC (Canberra Olympic)
2: Isabella BARAC (Canberra Croatia), Ella BROWN (Canberra Olympic), Arusha CHEW (Canberra Croatia), Hattie CRAM (Belconnen United), Isabella HINDMARSH (Belconnen United), Nicole JALOCHA (Canberra Olympic), Pascale LA HEI (Belconnen United), Sheridan MCELLIGOTT (ANU WFC), Sofia PALYWODA (Belconnen United), Own GOALS
1: Jamie BERKELEY (Canberra Croatia), Leila BILLINGTON (Belconnen United), Jaya BOWMAN (Canberra Olympic), Olivia BUYTEWEG (Gungahlin United), Megan CASTLE (Canberra Croatia), Sofia CHAVERRA (ANU WFC), Natalie DE MARCO (Gungahlin United), Corinne DENTON (Gungahlin United), Jade EMMS (Belconnen United), Alyse JENSEN (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), Madelyn WHITTALL (Canberra Olympic), Kayla WRIGHT (Gungahlin United), Nadia ZAKMAN (Canberra Croatia)
Words: Jeremy Magan
