Another short weekend, with only two games played in the Women’s National Premier League, saw Canberra Croatia consolidating the top spot against West Canberra Wanderers, while Canberra Olympic was doing their job in the clash against Gungahlin United.
At Deakin, Canberra Croatia expectedly succeeded against West Canberra Wanderers, but not without the team coached by Rey Castro putting on a tremendous fight.
Brittany Palombi’s fingerprints were all over her team’s victory once again, an assist and two goals the sum total of her afternoon’s work. It was Palombi’s corner kick in the 25th minute that enabled the hosts to open the scoring.
The set-piece found Nikita Perry in the six-yard box and the former Wanderer was able to meet the cross to turn the ball home past Samantha Briggs in the West Canberra goal, scoring her first goal in her new outfit and third of the season.
Alyse Jensen came close to an instant equaliser when her free-kick from a distance was parried by Chloe Lincoln onto the crossbar. Down a goal at half time, the Wanderers fought as long as they could, but would end up conceding again, fifteen minutes before the final whistle.
Perry returned the favour to Palombi, serving her captain in the box, and Palombi finished with her “weaker” right foot. The same foot was at it again, in injury time, to seal the deal. After a run into the box, the league’s leading goal scorer picked the near post to record her brace and keep her team three points clear of the competition.
At O’Connor Enclosed, it was a clash of titans between two teams hoping to strip Canberra Croatia of a fourth consecutive League title. Canberra Olympiccame out on top against Gungahlin United, albeit by the thinnest of margins, winning 1-0.
The entertaining encounter kept all its promises, between two teams playing with three defenders and wing backs. The battle was, as usual, in the midfield, and Canberra Olympic’s press early proved more effective than their opponents.
As a consequence, the hosts were the most dangerous for most of the game, forcing Emily Kelly to show once again why she is one of the very best goalkeepers in the capital – and beyond. After several opportunities however, Olympic reaped the reward.
A corner kick and a minute long scrap in front of Kelly’s goal line ended in the back of the net, courtesy of a quick Nicole Jalocha reaction. The midfielder scored her third goal in 180 minutes, and this time the score remained final.
Gungahlin United kept pushing yet were vulnerable to Olympic’s counter-attacks. An attempt from Michelle Heyman at the near post which was blocked by Janet King, and an Ella Brown volley at the very last-minute hitting the post, were the best chances for Andrew Woodman’s team.
Nicole Begg and her troops bounced back after the disappointing result against West Canberra two weeks ago, and stayed in reach of the Deakin side, three points behind and level on goal difference, with a match in hand.
RESULTS
ROUND 14
Sunday 16 July
Canberra Croatia 3 (Perry 26’, Palombi 78’, 90+1’) West Canberra Wanderers 0
Canberra Olympic 1 (Jalocha 29’) Gungahlin United 0