An 88th minute goal by Kayla Wright, perfectly set up by Michelle Heyman, gave Gungahlin United an unexpected win over title-chasing Canberra Olympic, and one last hope to make it to the post-season.
Wright, on as a later substitute, struck the match-winner to cap an impressive Gunners display in the second stanza, and open the door for Canberra Croatia to claim the League Championship with a win against West Canberra Wanderers.
At Gungahlin Enclosed Oval things had started on a high note for Nicole Begg’s team. A powerful shot by Michaela Thornton from the edge of the box put her Blues ahead after merely 13 minutes.
Olympic, with the three points, would sit on top the table, and put pressure on Canberra Croatia before their game on Monday night. But this was only the case for 17 minutes. At the half hour mark, Cassia McGlashan had the last word after a scramble in the visitors’ defence and headed the ball in the back of Janet King’s net.
The status quo was not beneficial to either team. The Gunners needed a win to stay in touch with the West Canberra Wanderers. That left foot effort by Wright at the 88th minute gave them just that. If Andrew Woodman’s team can beat Canberra Croatia next weekend, and if the Wanderers lose to the reigning champions on Monday, and to Belconnen next week, they will end fourth on the table. This is a lot of “ifs”. But where there’s hope…
It was the O’Connor residents’ second game of the week. Greenway Oval was the centre stage of the round 17 catch-up game between Canberra Olympic and Tuggeranong United on Wednesday.
Despite a strong defensive performance, and more saves for Sammy Emms’ season highlights’ reel, the away team could not hold Olympic more than an hour. A corner kick perfectly taken by Thornton offered Jasmine Zabel the opening goal after just ten minutes, but Begg’s team would not find the back of the net for the rest of the first half.
Just after the hour mark, Sarah Johnston finally doubled her side’s advantage, the quickest to the rebound after yet another Emms’ save. The goal freed Olympic, who attacked with more flow from there on.
Meg Roden (70’), Olivia Gurney (75’) and Emma Croker (87’) added their names to the scoresheet to allow their team to come back two points behind Canberra Croatia, where they still sit today.
On Saturday, the battle of the Wanderers, another round 17 postponed encounter, took place in the Riverina. West Canberra did the job, defeating Wagga City 3-1. All the scoring action happened in the second half. Seconds after kick-off, Kaitlyn Colwill took her chance from the edge of the box, and her shot proved too powerful for Ebony Walker to parry away.
Three minutes later, Sarah Whitfield showcased her technique to double her team’s advantage from close range. With 15 minutes left to play, Ginger Oliver added her name on the scoresheet with another shot Walker could not keep in her gloves.
The goal of the afternoon was the work of the home team, two minutes later, Paula Mitchell’s left footer ended in the top corner, out of reach of Ally Hinson. It is a crucial win for West Canberra, who are still master of their destiny and need only a point from either of their last two games to punch their ticket to off-season.
The Wagga City Wanderers were playing back-to-back game this weekend, and hosted Belconnen United on Sunday at Gissing Oval. If the Blue Devils wasted no time, scoring at the fifth minute, courtesy of Tatum Mazis, they then failed to break the deadlock for over an hour.
Despite having the better opportunities, Scott Conlon’s team had to wait until the 74th minutes to Talia Backhouse speeding away from the Wanderers’ defence to beat the keeper from up close with her 16th goal of the season.
Wagga City ended their season at home in style, with a screamer from Tamara Cochrane dipping just under the crossbar eight minutes after Belconnen’s second goal. The Wanderers deserve credit for keeping the Blue Devils at bay most of the game, despite playing twice in 24 hours.
The three points for the Blue Devils put them three points behind Canberra Olympic with a game left to play, although the goal difference is likely too much to make up for even with favourable results (+42 for Belconnen, +61 for Olympic).
The other game played on Sunday was a duel between Canberra United Academy and Tuggeranong United. The game ended with a goalless draw, only the second of the season in WNPL.
RESULTS
ROUND 16
Wednesday 31 August
Canberra Olympic 5 (Zabel 9’, Johnston 62’, Roden 69’, Croker 76’, Jalocha 87’) Tuggeranong United 0
ROUND 20
Saturday 3 September
Wagga City Wanderers 1 (Mitchell 76’) West Canberra Wanderers 3 (Colwill 46’, Whitfield 49’, Oliver 75’)
Sunday 4 September
Wagga City Wanderers 1 (Cochrane 81’) Belconnen United 2 (Mazis 5’, Backhouse 73’)
Gungahlin United 2 (McGlashan 32’, Wright 88’) Canberra Olympic 1 (Thornton 13’)
Canberra United Academy 0 Tuggeranong United 0
Monday 5 September
West Canberra Wanderers v Canberra Croatia
TABLE
| P | W | D | L | GD | PTS | ||
| 1 | Canberra Croatia | 19 | 15 | 3 | 1 | +72 | 48 |
| 2 | Canberra Olympic | 20 | 14 | 4 | 2 | +60 | 46 |
| 3 | Belconnen United | 20 | 14 | 1 | 5 | +42 | 43 |
| 4 | West Canberra Wanderers | 19 | 9 | 3 | 7 | -11 | 30 |
| 5 | Gungahlin United | 20 | 8 | 3 | 9 | -6 | 27 |
| 6 | Canberra United Academy | 20 | 5 | 3 | 12 | -16 | 18 |
| 7 | Tuggeranong United | 20 | 2 | 4 | 14 | -51 | 10 |
| 8 | Wagga City Wanderers | 20 | 1 | 1 | 18 | -89 | 4 |
Words: Jeremy Magan
