The week of the last regular round of the 2023 ACT NPL (Capital Football) season had a bit of everything: catch-up games, drama, and triumphs. We arrived at the Hawker Football Centre on Sunday afternoon to take in the final game, between Canberra United Academy and Tuggeranong United.
The other games played this week available to view are:
(Tuesday 29/8) Canberra Olympic vs Belconnen United
(Thursday 31/8) Canberra Olympic vs Tuggeranong United
(Thursday 31/8) ANU vs Belconnen United
(Sunday 3/9) West Canberra Wanderers vs Canberra Croatia
For an alternate review of the round, check out the Capital Football article.
Match of the Round: Canberra United Academy vs Tuggeranong United (Bar TV)
Attention was naturally drawn to either end of the ladder in the last week before finals. As it turned out, the first day of action (Tuesday) saw the premiership decided, after Canberra Olympic defeated Belconnen United 2-0 at Riverside Stadium to take out their first-ever NPL premiership.
The last day of action (Sunday) was one of high drama, with a focus on the bottom end of the ladder. The early game saw West Canberra Wanderers needing a win at home against Canberra Croatia to overtake seventh-placed Tuggeranong United. The visitors raced to a three-goal lead by the 21st minute, before the Wanderers staged a remarkable comeback, taking the lead 4-3 with seven minutes remaining. Canberra Croatia’s Tatum Mazis equalised the game at 4-4 three minutes later and that was how the result stayed, meaning that Tuggeranong United walked onto the Hawker synthetic pitch minutes later knowing that they would be competing in NPL in 2024.
Gentle reader, perhaps the last two paragraphs provided enough excitement for one NPL Wrap article, but more was to come as Tuggeranong United upset the Canberra United Academy 1-0, finishing their season on a high. The changeroom song was all the louder for knowing that they had played just three days earlier, while the higher placed Academy had fresh legs and were on their home ground.
The Academy kicked the game off with neither of their Canberra United squad members from last season available (Sofia Christopherson and Holly Murray). The Tuggeranong United starting lineup was recognisable from the previous weekend, with Casey Smith in for Olivia Hicks at left-back, while captain Zoe Terry reverted to right-back.
Academy right-winger (and 2021 Junior Matilda training camp member) Ash Carty may have only been on the field for the first half but left a strong impression. Her athleticism ensured that she was able to carry the ball into advanced positions, delivering a number of dangerous crosses, none of which were able to be capitalised upon. Jaya Bowman was also influential for the home side from her holding midfield position. Occasionally caught in possession, Bowman helped steer the team around, as she has all season.
While the Academy side may have occupied their opponents’ front third for longer periods of the game, Tuggeranong were unfailing in their efforts and had attacking moments of their own. Centre midfielders Sammie Wood and Rainey Niles were the embodiment of that effort, while Smith also had a strong game in defence and Amy Wiggan had an error-free outing in goals.
The second half commenced with no goals on the board but with early attacking opportunities for both sides. Zippy Tamara Cochrane had an early shot for Academy but wasn’t able to direct her shot away from Wiggan, while Sarah Matthews burst down her wing moments later but placed her shot under pressure onto Eliza Evans’ right post.
The deadlock was broken on the hour. Winning a challenge near halfway, Wood looked up and played a ball through the centre of the Academy defence for Rainey, who calmly slotted her goal into the bottom left corner.
The quick feet of Academy talents Maddie Sawkins, Angeline Babic, and Alyssa Di Campli always looked dangerous but this was a day in which Academy combinations just didn’t click as well as we have seen in other outings. If the visitors didn’t look quite as threatening going forward, their persistence and consistency saw them take the last points of the season.
>>> Full match timeline and team line-ups can be found here <<<
Final score:
Canberra United Academy 0
Tuggeranong United 1 (Rainey Niles 60′)
Around The Grounds:
Ladder:
Capital Football updated details of the 2023 Finals series format this week. Due to the number of players taking part in a futsal tournament, there are no finals games this week (the week of Monday, September 4th). Three separate days of finals action are scheduled for the week following (see below).
Best of luck to our team headed over to Thailand for the NSDF Women’s Futsal Tournament!#GameOn pic.twitter.com/04AAN9zIOY
— CapitalFootball (@CapitalFootball) September 1, 2023
First week of Finals:
Game 1: Canberra Olympic vs Belconnen United – 7pm Wed 13/9 – Deakin Stadium
Game 2: Canberra Croatia vs Gungahlin United – 7pm Thu 14/9 – Deakin Stadium
Game 3: Loser Game 1 vs Winner Game 2 – 4pm Sun 17/9 – Greenway Oval
