We’ve reached the final round of the NPL Capital Football season!
While Canberra Croatia achieved premiership honours last round, the makeup of the top four was not yet finalised heading into Round 21, with fourth spot still up for grabs. Beyond 90 was at McKellar Park on Saturday to witness fourth-placed West Canberra Wanderers taking on the home side, third-placed Belconnen United. At exactly the same time, fellow contenders Gungahlin United lined up against the premiers at Deakin Stadium.
Other games included:
Gungahlin United vs Canberra Croatia
Canberra Olympic vs Canberra United Academy
Tuggeranong United vs West Canberra Wanderers
Jeremy Magan’s round wrap for Capital Football can be found here.
Match of the Round: Belconnen United vs West Canberra Wanderers
Four goals in the opening half-hour by the Blue Devils took the game away from West Canberra Wanderers, along with the Wanderers’ ability to be masters of their own finals destiny. As it transpired, and despite Gungahlin United’s recent strong form, the absence of several key Gunners and a Canberra Croatia side keen to set their ship aright meant that the result at McKellar Park would have no bearing on the Wanderers’ ability to take part in finals.
Top two teams aside, the Blue Devils’ record this season has been almost perfect, the one blemish being a Round 7 loss against the Wanderers. A memorable win against the Premiers in Round 19 at Deakin Stadium and the best run into finals of any team will give Belconnen every confidence coming into next week.
In contrast, a mid-season form slump and three recent losses against top three opponents have tested the fortitude and resolve of the Wanderers.
A flat West Canberra defence was twice caught on the hop by exquisite through balls for Talia Backhouse runs inside the first 12 minutes, and Backhouse provided classy finishes for both past Ally Hinson in goals. Returning long-serving Blue Devils defender Amy Spence supplied the first in the sixth minute for Backhouse’s left foot finish, while her right was used five minutes later from Sofia Palywoda’s equally fine delivery. It was to be a busy afternoon for Hinson, and despite the final scoreline, she acquitted herself well.
The Wanderers were floundering and finding it difficult to handle the Blue Devils’ early press. Striker Olivia Bomford added to the pain just three minutes later after another insightful ball in behind the defence – this time by Keira Bobbin – found Reilly Yuen. Yuen’s shot was saved by Hinson but pushed into the path of Bomford, who made no mistake from close range.
It was all Blue Devils but it was to take until close to the half-hour mark before Bomford would fashion her brace and her team’s fourth. Finding space to turn in the Wanderers box and dribble by two defenders, Bomford displayed composure in her easy finish.
Wanderers goals this season have come from four main sources: Hattie Cram’s pace, Tara Cannon’s midfield strikes, Sarah Whitfield’s headers and presence in the box, and Ginger Oliver’s dead ball precision and long-range shots. Blue Devils coach Scott Conlon had done his homework on the challenge posed by Cram, assigning Stefi Lejins to the speedster no matter which side she played. This effectively shut Cram out of the attack, with Lejins one of the major contributors to Belconnen’s success.
A high press is difficult to sustain and the Wanderers started finding room in the Blue Devils’ half of the field during the last 15 minutes of the first stanza. Daisy Canavan has had a fine season in central defence for the Wanderers, and her over-the-top ball found Cram in space, only to have the ever-present Lejins force a corner. Oliver’s corner found Whitfield but her header zinged just over the bar.
Belconnen keeper Jayla Murphy was finally called into real action with eight minutes left in the half, as Whitfield’s half volley, destined to arrive under the crossbar, was narrowly palmed away.
West Canberra started off the second half with a higher work rate and a press of their own. Shifting to a 3-5-2 formation, defender Mel O’Callaghan was instead employed in a wide midfield role.
One of the more unusual corners you’ll ever see came Belconnen’s way three minutes in. The Wanderers defended the corner with zonal marking in their six-yard box, except there was no one to initially mark, as five Blue Devils sprinted towards goal from deep when the ball was delivered. It made for great viewing but no goal on this occasion.
Yuen provided the Blue Devils with their fifth goal in the 53rd minute, her close-range volley giving Hinson no chance. A few short minutes later, Backhouse limped off the field showing obvious discomfort. She was to leave the ground shortly thereafter, and Belconnen will be sweating on her fitness for the first final on Saturday.
Yuen collected a double of her own at the hour mark, sprinting down the left side of the field past Sophie Medina and slotting the ball beyond Hinson’s reach for a 6-0 lead.
Substitutions arrived regularly now for both teams but Belconnen continued to attack, gaining a renewed lease of life as Marija Rathouski – normally a defender – came into right-wing, her speed and physicality worrying Cannon, now in the Wanderers defence. Yet the chances in the final period of the game fell more so to the visitors, with chances to Cram and Whitfield, but none were to get the Wanderers onto the score sheet.
Consecutive 6-0 losses mean it’s back to the drawing board for Wanderers coach Rey Castro, who will need a different approach come the first finals game against the same opponents at Deakin Stadium on Saturday, where a finals double bill is the weekend feature.
Final score:
Belconnen United 6 (Backhouse 6′ 11′, Bomford 13′ 28′, Yuen 54′ 60′)
West Canberra Wanderers 0
Teams:
Belconnen United – Coach: Scott Conlon
Jayla Murphy, Leah Carnegie, Sophia Doumos, Amy Spence, Stefi Lejins, Lauren Preston, Sofia Palywoda, Talia Backhouse (c), Keira Bobbin, Olivia Bomford, Reilly Yuen
Subs: Samantha Price (57′ => Backhouse), Katie Woodman (79′ => Preston), Marija Rathouski (72′ => Yuen), Tatum Mazis, Alys Holdom
West Canberra Wanderers – Coach: Rey Castro
Ally Hinson, Sophie Medina, Daisy Canavan, Steph Nikias, Mel O’Callaghan, Briana Maguire, Demi Nikias, Hattie Cram, Tara Cannon, Ginger Oliver, Sarah Whitfield
Subs: Samantha Briggs, Kaitlyn Colwill (60′ => Maguire), Caitlyn Skillicorn (79′ => Medina), Samantha Savanhu (72′ => O’Callaghan), Elisabeth Bartone (79′ => Steph Nikias)
Around The Grounds:
Gungahlin United 1-5 Canberra Croatia
Canberra Olympic 3-0 Canberra United Academy
Tuggeranong United 1-1 Wagga City Wanderers
Ladder:
Next week:
Finals week 1
- Elimination final – (3) Belconnen United vs (4) West Canberra, Deakin Stadium, Saturday 17 Sep, 4pm
- Qualifying final – (1) Canberra Croatia vs (2) Canberra Olympic, Deakin Stadium, Saturday 17 Sep, 7pm
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