NPL CF Men's Round 10 Review

Russ Gibbs / Capital Football 1687300124,1687300553

Goalkeeper Adam Stevens saved two penalties as Tuggeranong United held title-chasing Canberra Olympic to a 2-2 draw at O’Connor Enclosed to move onto four points and create a cushion ahead of bottom club West Canberra Wanderers, ensconced in the relegation zone.

The United custodian stood strong twice, firstly denying Thomas James from the spot, and then saving from Nik Popovich, only for Alen James to react fastest, reaching the ball before the defence, to slot into the net.

That goal put Olympic 2-1 ahead after they had got off to a great start as Popovich ghosted in behind the Tuggeranong defence to slide a finish past Stevens in goal, only for the visitors to level three minutes later when Sam Walker confidently finished from a penalty for his fourth of the campaign.

United drew level for a second time in the 33^rd minute as Luke Stevens arrived unchecked at the back post to sweep home a cross beyond Sebastian Usai, a goal that ultimately earned them what might be a crucial point.

West Canberra Wanderers suffered late heartbreak as a double from substitute Noah Vanderpol helped Canberra Croatia to a 4-2 win at Melrose Synthetic, a result that allows the Australia Cup Round of 32 representatives to keep in touch with the top four and a potential finals place.

There was a sense of relief as the League Champions broke down a stubborn Wanderers defence with five minutes to play as Lukman Ahmed-Shaibu found Vanderpol in front of goal and the young forward steered home.

Vanderpol sealed the result three minutes later, sitting down Kristian Nel in the home goal to confidently strike home the fourth, but Wanderers will be aggrieved they weren’t able to hold onto the point that looked within their grasp after Joshua Young had powered home a 56^th minute header.

That added to Harry Truman’s expertly taken first equaliser, the Wanderers striker finishing well to cancel out Daniel Barac’s header. An Ahmed-Shaibu free-kick in first-half stoppage time edged Croatia ahead, but Wanderers were back on terms before Vanderpol saved the day.

The dismissal of goalkeeper Jamie-Lee Guo after only four minutes left Gungahlin United up against it as they welcomed Tigers FC to the Australian Institute of Sport, only for two goals in the space of three minutes allow the ten-men to overturn an early deficit to claim a sensational 2-1 victory.

Joshua Gulevski was the man hauled down by Guo, after the disposed the Gunners number one and was certain to score, the Tigers hit-man lashing in the resulting free-kick for his tenth goal of the campaign.

Tigers were unable to build on that though as debutant ‘keeper Noah Cross, on for Misko Naumoski, was relatively untroubled enjoying a solid hit-out after the initial shock of picking the ball out of his net with his first touch.

A sublime hit from Tom McLachlan levelled matters, the midfielder thumping an effort from outside the box that flashed past Jakob Cole in the Tigers net in the 32^nd minute, only for that goal to be bettered moments later as Josh Gaspari put Gunners ahead with a quite magnificent free-kick.

At the Riverside Stadium it was a penalty that settled the destination of the points as Micheal Adams confidently sent goalkeeper Joran Thurtell the wrong way as O’Connor Knights claimed an important 1-0 win over the Monaro Panthers.

Adams was the beneficiary after Aisosa Ihegie was upended inside the penalty area at the end of a lung-bursting, and typically penetrative run, there being little doubt that a spot-kick would be the outcome.

Knights were reduced to ten-men for the last half-hour as centre-back Connor Bill was dismissed for a second bookable offence, but Monaro struggled to break down a disciplined and well organised Knights outfit.

Roko Strika hit the post with a header for the Panthers following a Gabe Cole corner, whilst Thurtell was forced to make a decent save from close range as Adams and Niko Kresic tip-toed their way through the Panthers defence, but in the end, it was Adams dead-eyed accuracy that was the difference.