An action-packed game week is upon us, with the four teams in the lead at the top of the competition facing each other on Sunday in Round 15 of the Women’s Premier League.
As often, Wanderers Park will kick us off, with the West Canberra Wanderers hosting Tuggeranong United in a game that could well decide the wooden spoon. The two teams at the bottom are even this season, each winning away from home.
It could be a good sign for Tuggeranong United, freshly boosted from their second win of the season, away as well, against ANU WFC. Paulo Romero’s team has momentum and will want to keep it going to get off the eighth spot. They have won the two times they scored first this season, so the recipe is there for success.
The Wanderers had to wait until the final minutes to beat Tuggeranong in Round 8 and came from behind against Olympic for the upset of the season, scoring their three goals in the second half too. Rey Castro’s team seems to love adversity and hosting the only team behind them on the table seems the perfect opportunity to change the habit and make some room between them and the bottom of the league.
First and second place Canberra Croatia and Canberra Olympic will face each other in what can only be a thrilling encounter at Deakin. The home side happily made the most of the postponed games to take the reins, but the reigning champions still have their eyes on the prize.
Brittany Palombi is hitting her stride in time for the final stretch, the leading goal scoring recording a brace over the weekend. Her talent will be needed against Olympic. The Deakin captain has not scored against Janet King this season, and breaking this streak could help her team put their opponents six points behind and take a serious option on the Premiership.
Nicole Begg saw her players displaying a true champions’ performance against the Gunners last week, as they have done when it matters most this season. They were able to come from behind to beat Canberra Croatia in Round 1 but could not keep their advantage when they scored first in round eight.
With most of their aces back and in form, Olympic would be inspired to get a result at Deakin on Sunday, if they want to be crowned League Champions for the first time in club history in a few weeks.
An entertaining duel is on the cards at ANU South Oval, where ANU WFC hosts Canberra United Academy. Respectively sixth and fifth on the ladder, the two teams fighting for best of the rest have both lost their last two league games.
The University players shot themselves in the foot last week against Tuggeranong and were not able to come back from two goals down. They have not had more luck against the Academy this season, leading in both games, yet in the end only tallying a single point against the youngsters. The last stretch of the season starting this weekend will be a real test for Rob Illingworth’s players, and a good indicator of what the ANU can expect in the near future.
The Academy has had close to two weeks without playing since their narrow defeat to title contender Croatia. Matthew Moore’s players seem to have gone from strength to strength this season, albeit without showing any result against the best teams in the league.
They have not lost to the ANU however, a series they will want to keep alive on Sunday. All hope of a finals’ appearance is not lost for the Academy, but they would need a near-perfect record to invite themselves in the top four.
The weekend ends at Gungahlin Enclosed Oval where Belconnen United will challenge Gungahlin United. The Blue Devils and Gunners have split the spoils so far in the WNPL, but the Cup Final win is what put Belconnen ahead of their duel so far.
The Gunners have a chance to rectify that and reduce the gap with their opponents in the meantime this Sunday. Five points behind Belconnen, Maddie Perceval’s teammates surely remember they hit form when they last faced them, keeping a clean sheet and starting a series of three successes. A repeat would see Gungahlin securing their finals spot.
Talia Backhouse and her troops will have something to say in the matter of course. With two games in hand, the Blue Devils are only four points behind Canberra Croatia, meaning they could virtually sit at the top of the table once all is realigned.
They punished the Gunners on their home soil at the start of the season but were surprised at home in Round 8. A success on Sunday would keep Belconnen close to a crown they have been chasing for four years.
ROUND 15 FIXTURES
Sunday 23 July
West Canberra Wanderers v Tuggeranong United (Melrose Synthetic, 12:45)
Canberra Croatia v Canberra Olympic (Deakin Stadium, 14:30)
ANU WFC v Canberra United Academy (ANU South, 15:00)
Gungahlin United v Belconnen United (Gungahlin Enclosed, 15:00)