Preseason games are fun; a chance to see new faces on the field, new tactics, and new combinations. Envelop all that with a new prestigious event on the Canberra NPLW football calendar in support of a good cause, and everyone’s a winner.
The Capital Football Charity Shield has been contested since 2016, but last weekend marked the first time that the event has featured both a men’s and women’s game. The 2020 season was planned to be the first such doubleheader but those plans were scuttled when it coincided with the Covid-19 outbreak.
The event raises money each year for an organisation prominent in helping the community. This year, the chosen charity is Fortem Australia, a not-for-profit organisation providing mental health support to first responder families. We found out as we left that around 280 spectators had attended the two games and contributed to the Fortem cause.
The inaugural NPLW Charity Shield match was held between Belconnen United and Canberra Croatia FC. Normally this game would feature last year’s Champions and last year’s Federation Cup winners. However, as there was no Federation Cup in 2020, last year’s Championship Runners Up (CCFC) were invited to play Belconnen.
📸 from the Women’s Charity Shield 2021
Thanks to Soccer Snaps by Sal for capturing the action! pic.twitter.com/GCovU60obF
— CapitalFootball (@CapitalFootball) March 28, 2021
At kickoff the Blue Devils started with what looked to be a strong lineup, while Canberra Croatia held back a couple of their big guns (notably Brittany Palombi and Grace Gill) for late in the game.
Without wanting to pre-empt too much of the forthcoming Beyond 90 season previews for both these teams, here’s what was observed personnel-wise for this fixture:
Belconnen United
- New coach Michael Zakoski at the helm.
- 2020 Woden-Weston keeper Cristina Esposito in goals.
- No Mia McGovern, Catherine Brown, or Jessie Rasschaert. Lexi Forner was in attendance but perhaps not quite ready for match minutes after her injury last season.
- A backline oozing experience with Jaz Zabel and Leah Carnegie joining Karen Clarke and Beyond 90 2020 Team of the Year wingback Vanessa Ryan.
- New outfield players Reilly Yuen (midfield, Belconnen juniors), Olivia Bomford (attacking midfield, Tasmania), and Sarah Johnston (midfield, Illawarra Stingrays). Ex-Woden-Weston captain Cassia McGlashan came on late as an attacking substitute.
Belconnen looked dynamic through midfield and linking up in attack, with new additions Johnston, Yuen and Bomford impressing. The backline has decision-making smarts in abundance but will look to wingback Vanessa Ryan to foot it with more nimble opponents.
Canberra Croatia
- A stable squad showcasing three new additions at kickoff.
- An unchanged backline from 2020.
- No Grace Field in attack.
- New players Renae Junna (midfield, Brindabella Blues NPL U18 boys), Jen Bisset (attack and then midfield, APIA Leichhardt), Olivia Fogarty (attack, returning after a hiatus).
- Brittany Palombi and Grace Gill started the game on the bench.
Coach Nik Brozinic knows that the 2021 season will be a long one and took the opportunity in this game to give solid hit-outs to new but well-credentialled players Junna, Bisset and Fogarty.
Not quite as sharp as their opponents in this contest, the home side grew into the game, and looked a different side for the last 30 minutes when first Palombi and then Gill joined the fray, with the industrious Bisset dropping back into midfield.
Belconnen United were the more enterprising of the two sides in the first half, and went into the break 1-0 up after young right midfielder Reilly Yuen was the recipient of a Nicole Jalocha pass inside the Canberra Croatia penalty box near the half-hour mark. Defender Lara Agnew managed to block Yuen’s first shot, but the rebound fell kindly and gave Yuen sufficient time to place a composed low left-footed finish under keeper Ally Hinson.
GOAL to @BLUE_DEVILSFC in the NPL Women – 1st Grade – Capital Football ! They lead @Canberra_FC 1 – 0 after 29′.#football #growthegame #autoclip @CapitalFootball @NPLAustralia #NPL #NPLCF pic.twitter.com/nwrW595gQa
— BarTV Goals (@BarTVGoals) March 27, 2021
Belconnen’s Keira Bobbin had a fine game in both attack and defence, covering lots of box-to-box territory along the way. She was rewarded for her endeavours with a second goal for her team seven minutes into the second half, cutting in from the left touchline and sliding past defenders outside the Canberra Croatia penalty box, before placing a low drive perfectly to Esposito’s right.
A brace came Yuen’s way for Belconnen’s third goal on the hour, as Carnegie’s deep corner was headed goalwards by Michaela Thornton but cleared off the line by Alice Churchill. The headed clearance only got as far as the head of Yuen, who drove the ball into the net for her brace.
Canberra Croatia looked more fluent in the last third of the game as Palombi and Gill made their presences felt. It was an entertaining final 30 minutes, with the game opening up after Gill’s trademark back-to-goal shuffle and pass to Fogarty, who took a touch to make room and finish delightfully in the bottom right corner, leaving Esposito stranded. Several more substitutions occurred, which is to be expected with the season just two weeks away and quality opposition on the park.
Despite the upswing in the Canberra Croatia game from this point, Belconnen United impressed with their willingness, desire, and determination not to let Canberra Croatia have it all their way as the game wound down.
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Final score
Canberra Croatia FC 1 (Fogarty 63′)
Belconnen United 3 (Yuen 30′ 61′, Bobbin 53′)
A BarTV Sports highlights package of the game is available here, and the full game is available here.
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