Canberra United Academy were at the wrong end of the upset of the day in Round 12 of the Women’s National Premier League as Wagga City Wanderers stunned their hosts with a 2-1 win at Hawker Football Centre.

Piper Scott started the party early for the players from the Riverina. The midfielder took advantage of a ball the Academy defence could not clear to wrong Eliza Evans from close range. Unable to level before half time, Canberra United conceded again within the first five minutes of the second half.

Megan Castle celebrated her 50^th WNPL appearance with a free kick expertly taken and lodged in the top right corner to give her team a two-goal advantage, her 20^th goal at this level.

Bessie Riethmuller’s goal minutes later woke the home team up, but the Academy would not find the back of the net again. The last win for the Wanderers was 385 days ago, justifying the joy and celebrations at the final whistle. The Academy missed the opportunity to close the gap with the top four, despite West Canberra and Belconnen’s defeat.

Round 12 of WNPL in the Capital also confirmed the pre-season predictions that Canberra Croatia and Canberra Olympic are the best teams in the competition. In a weekend that saw the four teams in the top four battling it out, the reigning champions struck first, seeing off historic rivals Belconnen United.

At McKellar Park, the two historical rivals battled it out for the whole ninety minutes, and as it is now almost becoming the norm, the defending champions took all three points. Just like in Round 5, the team coached by Zoran Glavinic scored their goals in the first half.

Rebecca Kiting headed in a corner kick taken by Jamie Berkeley fifteen minutes in, before Brittany Palombi gave Anna Ross her first goal on a platter after the half hour mark.

And just like earlier in the season the Blue Devils responded with 20 minutes left. Karen Clarke was at a receiving end of a corner kick from Olivia Bomford to score her second goal in three games.

The experienced defender tried to get the equalizer with attempts from long range at the tail end of the game but found a focused Angelica Pahina on her way every time. Canberra Croatia keep their comfortable advantage in the driver seat, but Belconnen see the top two going away with this loss.

On Sunday, West Canberra Wanderers were hosting Canberra Olympic at Melrose and were unable to stop the Blue armada, the visitors winning 3-0. After two consecutive draws, Nicole Begg’s players were eager to win again, and had done the job within the first 20 minutes.

Olivia Fogarty’s corner kick at the 12^th minute was followed by a scramble in the six-yard box, ending with a half-volley from Nicole Jalocha under the crossbar. Two minutes later, Meg Roden was found by Sarah Johnston alone at the spot kick, with ample time to arm a glancing left footed effort out of reach of Ally Hinson.

Ashleigh Sykes added a third goal five minutes into the second half after another assist by Johnston ended in another duel with the keeper won by an Olympic player.

Gungahlin United closed the round with a win over Tuggeranong United on a windy Sunday afternoon at Gungahlin Enclosed Oval. Erika Pennyfield struck first, at the end of a good sequence of football on the left side of the pitch only for Lauren Hall took advantage of the wind to launch a missile from 25 meters that dipped just before the crossbar and equalised seconds later.

The team coached by Paulo Romero brought their usual intensity to the Northernmost pitch and made life difficult for Gungahlin United. The two teams were sent back to the locker room on an even score, and the wind blowing behind Gungahlin United in the second half promised a difficult moment for Tuggeranong.

The game became a cagey affair, the Gunners less comfortable with the ball than they were against the wing, but Piper Lockley, alone in the six-yard box ten minutes into the second half, left former teammate Sammy Emms little chance.

Down 2-1, the visitors pushed for an equaliser but were punished in the dying moments of the game by Ella Brown and her perfect shot that nestled into the top right corner to seal the three points.

RESULTS

ROUND 12

Saturday 2 July

Belconnen United 1 (Clarke 69’) Canberra Croatia 2 (Kiting 14’, Ross 38’)

Sunday 3 July

West Canberra Wanderers 0 Canberra Olympic 3 (Jalocha 16’, Roden 18’, Sykes 49’)

Canberra United Academy 1 (Riethmuller 54’) Wagga City Wanderers 2 (Scott 4’, Castle 48’)

Gungahlin United 3 (Pennyfield 13’, Lockley 56’, Brown 90’) Tuggeranong United 1 (Hall 15’)

TABLE

		P	W	D	L	GD	PTS
1	Canberra Croatia	12	10	2	0	+55	32
2	Canberra Olympic	12	8	4	0	+43	28
3	Belconnen United	12	7	1	4	+21	22
4	West Canberra Wanderers	12	6	3	3	-3	21
2	Gungahlin United	12	3	3	5	-6	12
6	Canberra United Academy	12	3	2	7	-9	11
7	Tuggeranong United	12	1	2	9	-36	5
8	Wagga City Wanderers	12	1	1	10	-65	4

 

Words: Jeremy Magan