Tuggeranong United extended their lead at the top of the table as they defeated closest challengers Queanbeyan City 2-0 at Kambah to move seven points clear at the halfway mark of the campaign.
United, who are aiming to bounce back at the first attempt to the top tier, won a corking battle between two highly motivated teams with a brace of second half goals after failing to take opportunities that came their way inside the opening forty-five minutes of the encounter.
Awarded a penalty in the first-half the usually reliable Sam Walker saw his spot-kick brilliantly saved by City custodian Mahmoud Halawani, but Walker was to make amends just prior to the hour as he crucially broke the deadlock, netting his eleventh league goal of what has been a productive first season in green and white.
City responded, as they often do, but were killed off nine minutes from time when the hosts were awarded a second penalty of the afternoon. Luke Stevens took responsibility on this occasion, rifling home to reach double figures for league goals and make the game safe. To rub salt into the wound, Queanbeyan substitute Nik Noveski was dismissed for his reaction to the penalty decision.
White Eagles moved into third place in the Capital Premier League competition table as they despatched the bottom-of-the-table Weston-Molonglo FC 6-2 in an away game played at their own home venue of Woden Park, also known as ‘The Nest’, when the Eagles are in residence.
There were six different scorers for the Eagles across the afternoon with Kenrick Beuth giving them the lead in the first-half, although it did take the Eagles over half-an-hour to break down the Magpies resilience. Cuneyt Caglar gave them breathing space with his 13th league goal of the season just before the interval.
A goal from Lee Hynes a minute after the resumption increased the advantage so that when Foti Sgouros pulled one back for Weston it was of little consequence. Indeed, it poked the bear and quickfire goals from Arden Law and Martin Deng made sure of the points. Tremane Castillo pulled another back for the Magpies before Aaron Cashman made it six.
Brindabella Blues pulled themselves right back into contention for a place in the top four after their recent resurgence of good form continued as they defeated ANU FC 3-2 at Ipan Park in Calwell.
The win brings the Blues level on points with ANU who stay in the top four courtesy of goal difference. Chase Deans put ANU in the lead early only for Jayden Deighan-Smith to equalise two minutes before the half-time break.
A brace of goals within the space of five minutes gave the Blues the advantage where an own goal from Jan Wojna was added to by a first in the CPL from Jack Marjoribanks and, despite a second of the afternoon from Deans with ten minutes remaining, ANU were unable to draw level and the Blues were home and dry and back in the race.
Wagga City Wanderers will also fancy their chances of gaining a place in that coveted finals series as they moved to within a couple of points of the leading pack with a narrow, yet ultimately crucial, come from behind win in the Riverina derby, holding off Yoogali SC to win 2-1 at Gissing Oval.
Mason Donadel had given the visitors the leas as early as the eighth minute of the contest and yet, in a fast and frenetic opening to the encounter, the Wanderers were able to pull themselves level as Morris Kadzola was on target a mere ten minutes after Yoogali had broken the deadlock.
It always seemed like one more goal might be the difference and it was the home side that found it with seventeen minutes to play as Jacob Ochieng found the net to secure a derby win and three vital points for Wagga City.
RESULTS
Saturday 18 June
Wagga City Wanderers 2 (Kadzola 18’, Ochieng 73’) Yoogali SC 1 (M. Donadel 8’)
Brindabella Blues 3 (Deighan-Smith 43’, Wojna 53’ (og), Marjoribanks 58’) ANU FC 2 (Deans 9’, 80’)
Weston-Molonglo FC 2 (Sgouros 53’, Castillo 71’) White Eagles 6 (Beuth 34’, Caglar 42’, Hynes 46’, Law 56’, Deng 58’, Cashman 78’)
Sunday 19 June
Tuggeranong United 2 (Walker 59’, Stevens 81’ (p)) Queanbeyan City 0
TABLE
| P | W | D | L | GD | PTS | ||
| 1 | Tuggeranong United | 10 | 9 | 0 | 1 | +36 | 27 |
| 2 | Queanbeyan City | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | +9 | 20 |
| 3 | White Eagles | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | +18 | 17 |
| 4 | ANU FC | 10 | 5 | 0 | 5 | +5 | 15 |
| 5 | Brindabella Blues | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 15 |
| 6 | Wagga City Wanderers | 10 | 4 | 1 | 5 | -11 | 13 |
| 7 | Yoogali SC | 10 | 2 | 2 | 6 | -10 | 8 |
| 8 | Weston-Molonglo FC | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 | -42 | 0 |
