A late goal from William Piva earned Yoogali SC a 2-2 draw at Queanbeyan City, denying their hosts the chance to close the gap on league leaders Tuggeranong United at High Street in Round 14 of the Capital Premier League.
In an entertaining match, City knew a win would bring them to within two points of the inactive Tuggeranong, the leaders match with White Eagle having been postponed twenty-four hours earlier, yet they were unable to take advantage and had to settle for a solitary point.
Earlier, David Ramos had given Queanbeyan a 12th minute lead with his fourth league goal of the season only for Dean Armanini to draw the visitors level just past the thirty minute mark. Parity only lasted two minutes however as Michael Piccolo restored Queanbeyan’s lead.
That might have been enough, but Yoogali, who harbour top four hopes of their own, struck back with time running out as Piva earned them a point to celebrate on the long trek back to Griffith.
Wagga City Wanderers recent resurgence continued with a 1-0 win over Brindabella Blues at Gissing Oval to move the Riverina club up into fourth place and into the finals reckoning, taking their winning run to three games in succession.
Remarkably, the Wanderers were awarded a fourth penalty in two matches and, as against Tuggeranong at Kambah in Round 13, it was to prove decisive. Jacob Ochieng took over penalty duties and coolly slotted in his fifth goal of the season in the 21st minute from the spot.
The travelling Blues had been on a good run of form themselves but were unable to respond and Wagga ended the weekend in the finals spot, a point ahead of the Blues and two clear of White Eagles who have the game in hand.
Bottom of the table Weston-Molonglo FC put in their best display of the season, but it wasn’t enough to secure a point against finals chasing ANU FC, the visitors taking the spoils by a narrow 2-1 margin.
The University side weren’t at their best, but credit must go to the Magpies who claim closer to obtaining an elusive first point then they have at any other stage of what has been a miserable campaign for them.
They were behind after only two minutes in this one, and must have feared the worst, when Carl Hynes put ANU into an early lead, but it wouldn’t be until twenty minutes from time that ANU FC would add their second, Isaac Ellis netting for the second time in the 2022 season, his last goal having come against Brindabella Blues in Round 3.
There was to be a consolation for the Magpies, reward for their hard work and endeavour as Tom Pagett scored in the final minute, but it was too late to mount any sort of late rally.
RESULTS
ROUND 14
Saturday 23 July
Wagga City Wanderers 1 (Ochieng 21’ (p)) Brindabella Blues 0
Weston-Molonglo FC 1 (Pagett 89’) ANU FC 2 (C. Hynes 2’, Ellis 70’)
Queanbeyan City 2 (Ramos 12’ Piccolo 34’) Yoogali SC 2 (Armanini 32’, Piva 87’)
White Eagles v Tuggeranong United – Match Postponed
TABLE
P | W | D | L | GD | PTS | ||
1 | Tuggeranong United | 13 | 10 | 1 | 2 | +38 | 31 |
2 | Queanbeyan City | 14 | 8 | 3 | 3 | +13 | 27 |
3 | ANU FC | 14 | 7 | 1 | 6 | +7 | 22 |
4 | Wagga City Wanderers | 14 | 7 | 1 | 6 | -9 | 22 |
5 | Brindabella Blues | 14 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 21 |
6 | White Eagles | 13 | 6 | 2 | 5 | +18 | 20 |
7 | Yoogali SC | 14 | 4 | 3 | 7 | -8 | 15 |
8 | Weston-Molonglo FC | 14 | 0 | 0 | 14 | -53 | 0 |