Belconnen United hosts Canberra Olympic in a rematch of last season’s Grand Final at McKellar Park on Saturday afternoon to kick-off Round 16 in the Women’s National Premier League. Fourth and first respectively on the ladder, the two WNPL powerhouses need the three points in what promises to be a thrilling encounter.
The Blue Devils conceded their third defeat this season last weekend, the second against Gungahlin. Bouncing back straight away would be huge for Scott Conlon and his troops: four points behind Olympic but with a game in hand, a success at home could bolster their chance at more silverware, come Round 21.
Canberra Olympic did the job at Deakin Stadium on Sunday, making Canberra Croatia one of their favourite victims of the past twelve months. Back on the throne, they face another challenge away on Saturday.
Olympic have put on two professional performances since losing to West Canberra Wanderers at the start of the month. The best defence of the league will be tested again this weekend. A strong performance at this end could be the key to success for Nicole Begg’s outfit.
Canberra Croatia plays home again this weekend, facing Canberra United Academy at Deakin Stadium on Sunday. The reigning Premiers have a lot to gain with two of their rivals facing each other, should they triumph against the young players in Green.
Zoran Glavinic’s team faced their season’s nemesis last week, unable once again to beat Olympic. They want to bounce back this Sunday and keep close to that first place – or take it – depending on Saturday’s result.
When the teams met earlier this month, in Deakin, Isabella Barac’s goal after half an hour was the difference in an even contest. The forward will need to showcase her talents again this Sunday.
The Academy’s truncated schedule these past three weeks did not prevent them from winning an important game against the ANU last week, courtesy of a special goal from Riley McQueenie. Unable to score this season against Canberra Croatia, the team coached by Matt Moore knows where to start if they want to cause an upset – and get even closer to the top four.
Tuggeranong United and ANU WFC meet at Kambah 2 on Sunday, two weeks after Paulo Romero’s team scored a convincing win in Greenway. The Tuggers have since earned a point against West Canberra but conceded a heavy defeat to Gungahlin United.
The Southside team shows every week the talent in their ranks yet has been inconsistent with their results. Zoe Terry’s two recent goals have helped her team, but it is more their collective performance that helped them get the three points against ANU last time around. More of that could see Tuggeranong finally get off the bottom spot this weekend.
The University Club has impressed at times this season yet failed to demonstrate it on the ladder. Their defeat at the hands of the Academy last week was the third in as many weeks. Conceding four goals against Tuggeranong was surprise for a team who had until then only let Canberra Croatia score more than three goals against them.
Rob Illingworth will want to tidy this up on the weekend and put some space between his team and the bottom of the table.
Gungahlin United hosts West Canberra Wanderers at Gungahlin Oval Enclosed to end the weekend and will be hoping to get a positive result to keep their positive streak alive.
The success over Tuggeranong midweek was a superb back-up to last Sunday’s similar result over Belconnen for the Gunners. Anything else than a success against the Wanderers would feel like a missed opportunity for Andrew Woodman.
The Gunners play their following two games against two other teams in the bottom four and could continue their momentum which might have real consequence on the table.
The Wanderers had lost twice after their upset victory against Olympic but managed to hang on to a point last week despite conceding first against Tuggeranong. A similar fighting spirit had seen them trying to come back on the Gunners last time the two teams faced each other, before conceding three goals in the second half.
Led by Alyse Jensen in form, the Wanderers would not be against another underdog win to get to the final stretch with some momentum.
FIXTURES ROUND 16
Saturday 29 July
Belconnen United v Canberra Olympic (McKellar Park, 15:00)
Sunday 30 July
Canberra Croatia v Canberra United Academy (Deakin Stadium, 14:30)
Gungahlin United v West Canberra Wanderers (Gungahlin Enclosed, 15:00)
Tuggeranong United v ANU WFC (Kambah 2, 15:00)