The four teams in the bottom half of the table are hosting the top four on Sunday in Round 12 of the Women’s National Premier League competition, each hoping for a much-needed upset.
The action will start soon after noon at Wanderers Park, where West Canberra Wanderers hosts Canberra Olympic. The team coached by Rey Castro is on a three-game losing streak after getting four points against Tuggeranong United and ANU WFC.
Kate Walker’s goal last Sunday was most welcome after conceding thirteen in fourteen days, but the Wanderers were not able to hold the result. They are back facing a heavy hitter at home and will need to show improvement, both defensively and offensively, against the league leaders if they want an unexpected result.
Canberra Olympic arrive at Wanderers Park full of confidence. The best defence in the league scored five goals past an in-form Canberra United Academy last week, while, for the third consecutive game, keeping their net untouched. A win early on Sunday for Nicole Begg’s squad would put pressure on the three teams trying to steal the top spot.
At 3pm, ANU WFC hosts one of these contenders, Canberra Croatia. The University outfit got their second win of the season last weekend, for once the ones coming from behind to get the three points.
Once again their ability to play as a team was on display, both offensively and defensively. It was only the second time Rob Illingworth’s troops scored more than once this season, something they will want to do more of, starting this weekend, if they want to add points to their tally.
The Deakin side plays away again after their solid performance at Gungahlin Enclosed Oval. Chloe Lincoln has already made an impression in her first game in her new colours, single-handedly crushing Gungahlin’s hopes of a result last weekend.
Another player who had a major effect on the game was Tatum Mazis, the attacking midfielder in great form with three goals in the last two games, the former Blue Devil is adapting well to her new life in red. She will be a constant threat for ANU to watch on Sunday.
Canberra United Academy and Belconnen United will face each other at Hawker Football Centre. Matthew Moore’s team did enjoy the high of the success over the Gunners for long, conceded four times in the first half alone against top of the table Olympic.
This weekend it is the runners-up that are visiting the Academy, and the task will not be any easier. The players in green could not score against the Blue Devils the first time around (0-4), but they have since grown into their own and shown their ability to compete. They will need a serious performance if they want to get anything against a title contender.
Belconnen United uncharacteristically barely managed to see Tuggeranong off last Sunday, a week after their ten goals at Wanderers Park. Whether it was a bit of complaisance against the team at the bottom of the table or the few changes made in the squad, better displays are expected from this year’s Cup winners.
Anything else than a success this week could give the other teams of the top three a real opportunity to put pressure on the Blue Devils.
Tuggeranong United hosts Gungahlin United to wrap up the round. Paulo Romero’s troops thought the hard job was done when they equalised against Belconnen in the last round but were not able to keep the point.
The performance remains commendable, with the team of the South fighting for the whole 90 minutes. Abbey Hurman’s goal was only the second her team scored in the last five games, clearly showing where the work needs to be done for the Tuggies. Against one of the best goalkeepers in the competition this Sunday, the task won’t be easy.
The Gunners have lost two in a row after being undefeated for weeks. Michelle Heyman’s first appearance in black and white this season was not enough to get a result against the reigning premiers, but they will still enter Kambah as favourites this weekend.
Darby Whiteley had found the net within seven minutes against Tuggeranong in Round 6. A similar fast start is just what the Gunners hope for in Round 12.
FIXTURES ROUND 12
Sunday 2 July
West Canberra Wanderers v Canberra Olympic (Melrose Synthetic, 12:45)
ANU WFC v Canberra Croatia (ANU South, 15:00)
Canberra United Academy v Belconnen United (Hawker Football Centre, 15:00)
Tuggeranong United v Gungahlin United (Kambah 2, 15:00)