A perfect sunny autumn day at ANU South Oval set the scene for an early season 2023 ACT NPL (Capital Football) clash between ANU and Gungahlin United.

Other games included:
West Canberra Wanderers vs Canberra United Academy
Canberra Croatia vs Belconnen United
Canberra Olympic vs Tuggeranong United

For an alternate review of the round, check out Jeremy Magan’s article for Capital Football.

Match of the Round: ANU vs Gungahlin United (Bar TV)

With last-start wins for both sides, the teams came into this one with eyes on the points and different defensive formations. The home side opted for two central defenders and two fullbacks with an attacking remit, while the visitors set up with a back three and,  unusually, captain Maddie Perceval at right back.

Personnel-wise, Gungahlin was without last-round scorer Darby Whitely, while this was our first live look at College footballer Michelle Wienecke, who enjoyed a physical, territory-covering afternoon. There was still no sign of important signing Karen Clarke but otherwise the Gunners fielded a familiar lineup. Emily Kelly continued on in goals from her second-half stint last round, while Ginger Oliver earned a start as part of a two-woman forward line with Ella-Rose Brown.

The home side opted to move captain Roxie Swart to the bench and start with Sofia Chaverra at the point of the attack, perhaps a little surprising given Swart’s goal-scoring record. Winger Pascale La Hei, who impressed in their 2023 ACT NPL Round 1 game, came back into the starting lineup but this time as one of the wingbacks.

Honours were to be shared each half but it is fair to say that the first stanza belonged to the visitors. A preview came when Brown’s goal in the 16th minute was ruled out for offside, while there was also ANU keeper Claire Joseph’s sweeper-keeper effort to deny Oliver six minutes later. 

Insightful through balls were to be the students’ Achilles heel in the first half and Oliver made them pay on two occasions, tormenting their flat-at-times defensive line. In the 26th minute, Perceval released Erika Pennyfield down the right flank. Pennyfield’s delivery into the ANU six-yard box got caught under a defender’s foot, and Oliver was there to put it away for a 1-0 Gungahlin lead.

An almost immediate reply for La Hei at the other end brought a sigh of relief to the Gunners faithful when it narrowly missed the mark.

Under ten minutes later, Oliver timed her run beautifully from just inside her own half, latching onto Brown’s well-weighted through ball. Oliver dribbled round Joseph and tucked away a second Gunners goal.

Oliver had two more chances in the last five minutes of the half, with the first called offside following yet another through ball. The second narrowly eluded the top left corner of the ANU goal after a delightful midfield passing move that must have gone through five sets of feet – a Gunners’ trademark.

The second half saw a reinvigorated ANU take the field. Intensity was increased and their press on the Gunners back three – knowing that they had a preference for playing out of defence – did not let up. ANU outplayed their opponents in the second half but fell just short of taking the spoils.

It was right winger Juliet Williams who brought her team within reach after six minutes of the second stanza, as her low left-foot shot from within the six-yard box at the back post found the net. While Perceval threatened with headers at corners and Wienecke brought the Gunners fight, two well-timed substitutions at the hour mark served once again to lift the students. Regular captain Swart took the field along with Alex Serras for the final 30 minutes. 

ANU right midfielder Isabella Tobiano took a lead role at this point, releasing Chaverra for a shot that sailed just left of Emily Kelly’s goal at 63 minutes. Seven minutes later Tobiano was on the spot to receive La Hei’s cross from the right flank, delicately spooning the ball over Kelly’s crossbar. A solo effort resulting in a low shot to the keeper at 78 minutes highlighted Tobiano’s influence at this point, and she was proving an excellent foil for fellow midfielder Edith Fordyce-Croker. 

The Gunners rallied in the last ten minutes with defenders Perceval and Ayla Robertson directing efforts off corners over Joseph’s bar. The late possession swing would prove crucial in the visitors’ ability to close the match out, having withstood ANU dominance for much of the second half.

While there were satisfying, commendable periods of play by both teams, the challenge for their coaches on this showing is to get full 90-minute performances at the required level. Until ANU and Gungahlin show they are capable of maintaining concentration for whole games, they will both be susceptible to the teams above them during the 2023 ACT NPL campaign.

>>> Full match time-line and team line-ups can be found here <<< 

Final score:

ANU FC 1 (Juliet Williams 51′)
Gungahlin United 2 (Ginger Oliver 26′ 34′)

Around The Grounds:

West Canberra Wanderers 0-2 Canberra United Academy
Canberra Croatia 1-0 Belconnen United 
Canberra Olympic 4-0 Tuggeranong United

Ladder:

Next Round:

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