Gungahlin United proved ruthless in front of goal as they claimed a 3-0 victory over Canberra United Academy at Gungahlin Enclosed Oval as they moved up into second place in the Women’s National Premier League in the Round 4 catch-up fixture that was postponed earlier in the season.
Fittingly, on her 200th NPLW appearance, it was Erika Pennyfield who opened the scoring midway through the first-half. Having led her team out through a guard of honour from the Gunners junior section and the Academy players, closely followed by 50-cap Ayla Robertson also celebrating a personal milestone, Pennyfield bagged her 50th career league goal.
A corner in the Academy penalty area caused consternation amongst the defence and Pennyfield reacted sharpest to crash a shot from just outside the six-yard box past Eliza Evans in the visitor’s goal.
It was somewhat against the run of play as the Academy had started well, the pace of the front trio comprising Sofia Christopherson, Ash Carty, and Alyssa Di-Campli stretching the Gunners three-player back-line and only the final ball lacking the care required to really test Gungahlin custodian, Kailey Tonini.
With the score only 1-0 at the interval, Academy Head Coach Matt Moore swapped the industrious Madison Sawkins for Canberra United Liberty A-League midfielder Holly Murray in a bid to stifle the Gungahlin midfield which, led by the continuous movement of Natalie De Marco, had taken control of the contest.
For a while it appeared to work, however the Academy was hit by a sucker punch sixteen minutes from the full-time whistle. A loose pass across goal by goalkeeper Evans was seized upon by the in-form Ginger Oliver, and the player that netted twice in defeat in the Federation Cup Final, was never going to pass up the opportunity to slide a shot into the gaping goal.
Oliver’s fourth goal of the season gave Gungahlin the cushion they craved as they chased down Canberra Olympic in top spot and their evening was signed off in spectacular fashion with a stunning third.
Evans came a long way to clear a through ball only for the clearance to fall to Gungahlin substitute Jade Brown. Brown assessed her options and sent a delicious chip on the perfect trajectory up and over the retreating ‘keeper to nestle into the back of the net and secure all three points for Andrew Woodman and his team.
RESULT
Thursday 15 June
Gungahlin United 3 (Pennyfield 22’, Oliver 74’, J. Brown 83’) Canberra United Academy 0
TABLE
P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS | ||
1 | Canberra Olympic | 9 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 25 | 5 | +20 | 20 |
2 | Gungahlin United | 9 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 20 | 11 | +9 | 20 |
3 | Belconnen United | 9 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 25 | 8 | +17 | 19 |
4 | Canberra Croatia | 9 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 23 | 11 | +12 | 17 |
5 | Canberra United Academy | 9 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 11 | 15 | -4 | 13 |
6 | ANU WFC | 9 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 9 | 19 | -10 | 6 |
7 | West Canberra Wanderers | 9 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 24 | -18 | 4 |
8 | Tuggeranong United | 9 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 5 | 31 | -26 | 3 |
TOP SCORERS
8 Bessie RIETHMULLER (Belconnen United)
7 Charli MITCHELL (Canberra Croatia), Brittany PALOMBI (Canberra Croatia)
5 Kiera BOBBIN (Belconnen United), Michaela THORNTON (Canberra Olympic)
4 Olivia GURNEY (Canberra Olympic), Nicole JALOCHA (Canberra Olympic), Tatum MAZIS (Canberra Croatia), Ginger OLIVER (Gungahlin United), Roxie SWART (ANU WFC)
3 Tia BURRIDGE (Canberra Olympic), Maddison CACHIA (Canberra Olympic), Sharon CHAO (Gungahlin United), Hattie CRAM (Belconnen United), Erika PENNYFIELD (Gungahlin United), Darby WHITELEY (Gungahlin United)
2 Talia BACKHOUSE (Belconnen United), Isabella BARAC (Canberra Croatia), Ella-Rose BROWN (Gungahlin United), Rachael CORBETT (Gungahlin United), Alyssa DI-CAMPLI (Canberra United Academy), Rhiannon FENSOM (Canberra Croatia), Sheridan MCELLIGOTT (ANU WFC), Alexandra NEALAND (Canberra United Academy), Rainey NILES (Tuggeranong United), Nikita PERRY (West Canberra Wanderers), Marija RATHOUSKI (Belconnen United), Sarah WHITFIELD (West Canberra Wanderers)
1 Elke AITOLU (Canberra Olympic), Tehya ASPLAND (Canberra Olympic), Latisha BABIC (Canberra United Academy), Amy BONGIORNO (Canberra Croatia), Jaya BOWMAN (Canberra United Academy), Jade BROWN (Gungahlin United), Cara CERUTI (West Canberra Wanderers), Sofia CHRISTOPHERSON (Canberra United Academy), Tamara COCHRANE (Canberra United Academy), Alexandra COOK (Canberra Olympic), Natalie DE MARCO (Gungahlin United), Emma DOULAS-OLIVEIRA (ANU WFC), Charli GREGSON (Tuggeranong United), Lauren HALL (West Canberra Wanderers), Isabella HINDMARSH (Belconnen United), Isabella HOPKINS (ANU WFC), Sarah MATTHEWS (Tuggeranong United), Riley MCQUEENIE (Canberra United Academy), Madeleine PERCEVAL (Gungahlin United), Katrina PERIC (Canberra Olympic), Alina ROBERTS (Belconnen United), Vanessa RYAN (Canberra Olympic), Madeleine STEINACKER (Belconnen United), Pearl TEIN (Belconnen United), Kate WALKER (West Canberra Wanderers), Madelyn WHITTALL (Canberra Olympic), Elisha WILD (Canberra United Academy), Juliet WILLIAMS (ANU WFC), Zoe WILLIAMS (Tuggeranong United), Reilly YUEN (Belconnen United), Jasmine ZABEL (Canberra Olympic), Own GOALS