A weekend off has given all NPL Capital Football sides an opportunity to take stock and start thinking about the run home … which starts here, in Round 13 of 21.
With the Canberra United Academy vs Tuggeranong United fixture postponed, Beyond 90 arrived at Gungahlin Enclosed to witness sixth-placed Gungahlin United up against undefeated Canberra Olympic.
Other Round 13 games included the following:
Canberra Croatia vs West Canberra Wanderers
Wagga City Wanderers vs Belconnen United
As noted in this week’s Beyond 90 podcast episode, the game at Deakin Stadium saw Canberra Croatia’s Brittany Palombi notch her 150th NPL goal, astoundingly in just her 148th game. Congratulations Brittany!
Capital Football’s round review can be found here.
Match of the Round: Gungahlin United vs Canberra Olympic
Set against a backdrop of wind, rain, sun and rainbows, three Canberra Olympic goals in an eleven-minute first half period were sufficient to see off the Gungahlin United challenge.
View this post on Instagram
This was Gungahlin coach Andrew Woodman’s second outing in his new role and his first against former club Canberra Olympic. Just one starter in this Olympic side was there from his last stint – Ally Cook – although Victoria Jamieson would make an appearance from the bench towards the end of this game.
Olympic handed a debut to central midfielder Jane Vanzino, a long-time Manly United player who cracked their NSW NPLW first grade side in 2019. Vanzino lined up in Michaela Thornton’s position, with Thornton now absent for two rounds.
Defenders Annaliese Grove, Ruby Gambale and Brigitte Sander weren’t in the Gungahlin United matchday squad, while Michelle Heyman hasn’t been sighted since before the Julie Dolan Medal awards weeks ago. With all those defenders out, Woodman opted for a three-player backline, while both Rachael Corbett and Nat De Marco screened in front of them at times throughout the game.
Olympic looked to assert their authority early but there was an element of luck about their first goal just 12 minutes in. Left-back Renee Junna launched a shoulder-length missile from the left touchline which brushed Gunghalin centre back Maddie Perceval’s shoulder, wrong-footing keeper Kailey Tonini on the way into the goal.
Just over a quarter of an hour into her Canberra Olympic career, the unthinkable happened to Vanzino as she slipped while lining up a pass, hyper-extending her knee. In some distress, Vanzino had to be assisted off the park. It’s our hope that she is able to rejoin her team before the season’s end.
Five minutes later Olympic striker Liv Fogarty’s hard work harrying a passing interchange between Perceval and Ayla Robertson in the Gunners box paid off, as she stole the ball and rolled it into the bottom right corner of the goal, doubling Olympic’s lead.
A third goal just moments later after a Corbett handball in her own penalty box all but took the points away from the home side in under 25 minutes of play. Although Tonini did well to save Cook’s penalty, she could not prevent Ash Sykes’ sharp follow-up effort.
Talented Gunners midfielder Stella De Marco’s afternoon came to an end near the half-hour mark after a collision with Olympic’s Sarah Johnston. Thankfully De Marco was able to come off the field under her own steam, albeit with some form of foot injury.
An unsettling first half hour for the home side was capped off by Sykes’ second goal, driving through the gate that seemingly opened before her in the Gunners’ central defence and finishing in style. It wasn’t until after the four goals were conceded that Gungahlin managed their first corner (in the 33rd minute) and their first real shot on goal (ten minutes later).
The Gunners came out in the second half more determined but Tonini still had to see off early efforts by Sykes (tipped over the bar) and two strikes from distance by Fogarty. Substitute Kayla Wright restored some dignity to the Gunners’ game after a fine period of controlled possession – often a trademark of the Gunners’ style these last few years – leading up to the hour mark. Wright’s magnificent goal in open play from outside the Olympic penalty area was a real highlight during what was otherwise a difficult afternoon for them.
Both teams rang in the subs over the last half hour but Olympic looked content to see the game through to its conclusion. The Gunners were the more enterprising of the two sides late in the game, with a powerful dead ball strike by Wright not troubling keeper Janet King. A fine passing move stemming from the Gunners backline late on found substitute attacker Darby Whitely via Nat De Marco, but the chance was deflected for a corner.
A business-like Canberra Olympic remains undefeated. They’ll look to keep that record as they chase a Canberra Croatia side who is four points clear at the top.
Final score:
Gungahlin United 1 (Wright 63′)
Canberra Olympic 4 (Perceval (og) 12′, Fogarty 21′, Sykes 22′ 32′)
Teams:
Gungahlin United – Coach: Andrew Woodman
Kailey Tonini, Ayla Robertson, Maddie Perceval (c), Jada Lamond, Erika Pennyfield, Nat De Marco, Rachael Corbett, Stella De Marco, Piper Lockley, Sharon Chao, Ella-Rose Brown
Subs: Cassia McGlashan (29′ => Stella De Marco), Kayla Wright (55′ => Lockley), Darby Whitely (81′ => Chao), Adele Choy (81′ => Corbett), Gabrielle O’Brien
Canberra Olympic – Coach: Nicole Begg
Janet King, Vanessa Ryan, Ally Cook (c), Elke Aitolu, Renee Junna, Tianah Miro, Sarah Johnston, Jane Vanzino, Ash Sykes, Nicole Jalocha, Olivia Fogarty
Subs: Jaz Zabel (16′ => Vanzino), Arusha Chew (61′ => Sykes), Victoria Jamieson (63′ => Ryan), Isabella Wallace (63′ => Fogarty), Emma Croker (63′ => Zabel)
Around The Grounds:
Canberra Croatia 6-1 West Canberra Wanderers
Wagga City Wanderers 0-7 Belconnen United
Canberra United Academy vs Tuggeranong United – postponed
Ladder:
Next week:
Round 14
- Belconnen United vs West Canberra, McKellar Park, Saturday 23 July, 3pm
- Tuggeranong United vs Wagga City, Kambah 2, Sunday 24 July, 2:30pm
- Canberra Croatia vs Gungahlin United, Deakin Stadium, Sunday 24 July, 2:30pm
- Canberra Olympic vs Canberra United Academy, O’Connor Enclosed, Sunday 24 July, 2:30pm
Follow all our ACT NPLW coverage here
