An early Thursday encounter and three Sunday clashes, including the highly anticipated visit of Belconnen United to O’Connor Enclosed, are on the cards for Round 13 of the Women’s National Premier League
Canberra United Academy will have the daunting task of hosting Canberra Croatia on their own turf on Thursday night to kick off the festivities. The clash between two exciting football teams is a must-watch at Deakin Stadium.
The Academy’s form of late might not seem encouraging, with three clear-cut losses – on paper – in the last four games, during which they were not able to score, yet the team coached by Matthew Moore is going from strength to strength. The success against Gungahlin felt a long time coming, and the game against the Blue Devils last week could have been another story without Talia Backhouse’s stroke of genius. Against a Deakin team they used to love upsetting, it might be time for the Academy to shine again.
Canberra Croatia is playing like they mean it the past fortnight. The two performances against the Gunners and ANU were solid, the group looked focused, and the arrival of Chloe Lincoln already means two clean sheets for her team.
Add to that Brittany Palombi’s four goals on the weekend, and it is hard to imagine the Deakin side dropping points this week. A result “away” at home on Thursday night would be a real statement, and an opportunity to take the lead on the table, 3 days before the other two team at the helm face each other.
The West Canberra Wanderers are hosting Gungahlin United at Wanderers Park on Sunday, with the hopes to create an upset as unexpected as last weeks. Rey Castro finally reaped the fruits of his team’s hard labour against Canberra Olympic.
After so many near-wins against stronger teams on paper this season, the Wanderers were able to claim the scalp of the league leaders. They need now to ride the momentum and offer a similar performance, especially in the end product, against a team that had two weeks to rest and regroup.
The Gunners are 0 for 6 in the last two games and are looking for a way to bounce back. A trip to Wanderers Park seems a can’t miss opportunity. Andrew Woodman’s troops did not have the best of times in the first clash they met West Canberra, winning by the thinnest of margins.
The addition of Michelle Heyman can help with the finishing, but the midfield should be the focus on Sunday, against a Wanderers’ team hard to manoeuvre in that sector. It is not surprising Lauren Hall, Cara Ceruti and Alyse Jensen were the goal-scorers last weekend.
The game of the weekend surely takes place at O’Connor Enclosed, where Canberra Olympic faces Belconnen United. When the top two teams in the league meet, it is not only the best offence that challenges the best defence, but also a few old teammates on opposite side of a merciless battle.
Olympic were surprised at Wanderers Park last week, ending a run of three consecutive clean sheets. The absence of Janet King might have been a factor, but failing to get all three points after being up by two at half time must have been hard to digest for the whole team.
Against the Blue Devils and their 18 goals in the last four games, Nicole Begg and their troops can bounce back, and make a real statement. Belconnen United is in fine form, despite a few key players missing week in week out.
Scott Conlon shows his team has depth, while relying on the talent of his best players to make the difference. The Blue Devils will need a complete performance to get a result against Olympic, where Leah Carnegie signed last week, joining a long list of former McKellar alumni, starting with Michaela Thornton and Nicole Jalocha.
ANU WFC and Tuggeranong United battle it out at ANU South Oval to finish our weekend. The University Club, never able to threaten Canberra Croatia last week, will want to get points against the team sitting at the bottom of the table.
The first leg between these two teams gave Rob Illingworth’s team their only clean sheet this season. In round 3, the ANU WFC were confirming their arrival on the WNPL scene with a success at Kambah, thanks to an early Roxie Swart goal. A similar performance is just what the doctor prescribes after the complicated game last Sunday.
Tuggeranong had two weeks to prepare for this game, and Paulo Romero undoubtedly hopes to put an end to the negative spiral his team is in this season. The result against Belconnen United was full of promise, but getting points is the priority for the team of the South now.
Against the ANU, Tuggeranong will need to be on their A-game, technically and physically, while putting Rainey Niles, Sarah Matthews, and Abby Hurman in the best position to finish if they want to bring points back from the city.
FIXTURES
ROUND 13
Thursday 6 July
Canberra United Academy v Canberra Croatia (Deakin Stadium,18:30)
Sunday 9 July
West Canberra Wanderers v Gungahlin United (Melrose Synthetic, 12:45)
Canberra Olympic v Belconnen United (O’Connor Enclosed, 14:30)
ANU WFC v Tuggeranong United (ANU South, 15:00)