A large crowd was in attendance for the ACT NPL (Capital Football) Round 6 game between Canberra United Academy and Belconnen United. Was it because of the first fine weekend weather in three weeks? Or because it was the only game the day before Mother’s Day? Or because both teams are full of inspirational young talent that draws family and friends along? Who can say?

Other Round 6 games were:
Canberra Croatia vs ANU
Canberra Olympic vs West Canberra Wanderers
Gungahlin United vs Tuggeranong United  

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

Match of the Round: Belconnen United vs Canberra United Academy (Bar TV)

An early and somewhat contentious red card to stand-in Blue Devils keeper Reilly Yuen couldn’t stop her team from coming away with the points on Saturday after a 4-0 victory over the Canberra United Academy. The loss – at least for now – drops the Academy out of the top four in favour of Gungahlin United.

Perhaps with an eye to a heavy catch-up schedule, with three games in seven days, Blue Devils captain Talia Backhouse watched from the sideline as Keira Bobbin took the armband. Coach Scott Conlon learnt plenty about his 2023 squad team from this game. Not only did he see their belief under adversity (the team didn’t alter their attacking game at all) but also how they performed without the guidance of Backhouse. 

For this repeat of the Federation Cup semi-final game a fortnight ago, the news out from the Academy squad was that Sofia Christopherson was listed on the bench, the first of the Canberra United season 15 cohort to make her way to the local competition.

The red card moment came just seven minutes in as Yuen and defender Lauren Preston were involved in an outfield tangle with Alyssa Di Campli. Rather than enlist Under 17’s keeper Tara Howarth from the bench, midfielder Pearl Tein put on the keeper jersey and gloves and proceeded to put on a faultless display. Winger Hattie Cram was asked to drop back into more of a midfield role to help even up the numbers there.  

Leading Blue Devils striker Bessie Riethmuller scored the only goal of the first half in the 17th minute, turning a defender on a dime and firing a blistering shot by Academy keeper Georgia Ritchie. The contribution of Belconnen’s player of the match Marija Rathouski in the lead-up to the goal cannot be ignored. Playing as a central defensive midfielder, Rathouski skirted by defenders with the ball in a gut-busting run that started on the right flank and ended under pressure on the left Academy by-line. It was Rathouski’s cross on the end of the run that found Riethmuller. Perhaps an under-rated player, Rathouski’s versatility means she can play in any area of the field. She is also direct, physical, and whole-hearted in approach – qualities that have been in evidence since her Gungahlin United days.

The Academy performance was somewhat similar in nature to last week’s effort: plenty of midfield toil with moments of sheer class, but unable to build many clear-cut attacking chances. As far as class, Alex Nealand’s 42nd-minute through ball to Di Campli comes to mind, as does the many interchanges between the Babic sisters (Latisha and Angelina). Jaya Bowman was also in the mood, putting in a controlled, mature shift in the middle of the park. Maia Cameron tested Tein with a 30-yard dead ball effort that didn’t overly trouble her, and Di Campli was unable to make the most of a misdirected Tein clearance. The team in green headed into the sheds at half-time the one goal down.

Credit must go to the Belconnen defensive effort. If Academy spoke at halftime about unlocking the ten-player Blue Devils then their second-half efforts were in vain as the blue jerseys worked hard in defensive transition, participating in attack when able. Three second-half goals were to follow. 

A penalty was awarded to Belconnen after Cameron took more of Cram’s leg than ball in the penalty area in the 52nd minute. Ritchie – who enjoyed a solid game – guessed the right way but Bobbin had enough on it to double the lead.

The dynamic Christopherson entered the game in the 55th minute and gave the Belconnen defence more to think about, but it was perhaps a hard ask for her in her first appearance of the season to expect an instant connection.    

Riethmuller’s harrying of the Academy backline was rewarded with 25 minutes to go as she was able to get a toe onto Tiana Boots’ backpass. The ricochet off Ritchie ended up in the net for a third Blue Devils goal, so it was good to see Boots’ confidence minutes later in her strike from distance towards Tein’s goal.

Bobbin sealed the game with a goal with five minutes remaining as Riethmuller showed she can set up a goal as well as score them. Her lovely little ball in the six-yard box was finished on the turn with authority by Bobbin into the top left corner.

Four teams are playing in Wednesday night catchup fixtures, with Belconnen taking on ANU in Round 7 as both come off a midweek fixture. Canberra United Academy doesn’t have a mid-week game to contend with as they look to a Round 7 game against Tuggeranong United, who will also have played midweek.   

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

Final score:

Belconnen United 4 (Bessie Riethmuller 17′ 65′, Keira Bobbin 53′ 85′) 
Canberra United Academy 0

Around The Grounds:

Canberra Olympic 6-1 West Canberra Wanderers
Canberra Croatia 5-0 ANU
Gungahlin United 5-1 Tuggeranong United

Ladder:

Next Round:

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