The 2023 ACT NPL (Capital Football) competition has had its own winter solstice moment, with the greater part of the season now behind us. We headed to Gungahlin Enclosed Oval to witness the Round 12 game between Gungahlin United and Canberra Croatia. Coming into the game the teams were equal third on 20 points, so this fixture was an important one in shaping the top four. 

Other Round 12 games were:
Canberra Olympic vs Canberra United Academy
Belconnen United vs Tuggeranong United
ANU vs West Canberra Wanderers

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

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

Some high-profile team selection surprises greeted spectators taking their seats. Guest stints have been negotiated with Canberra United goalkeeper Chloe Lincoln (for Canberra Croatia) and captain Michelle Heyman (Gungahlin United) who is returning for her third guest stint. Lincoln started the game, while Heyman came on as a second-half substitute. Karen Clarke was also listed as a bench option for the Gunners, having made her first-grade appearance for them two weeks ago when she played half a game against the ANU. Clarke was a key figure in Belconnen United’s ten successive Grand Finals under Ant Jagarinec.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Both teams had important outs as well. Gungahlin United’s evergreen Erika Pennyfield looked a little sore walking around the field’s perimeter, while CCFC centre-back Rhiannon Fensom was also absent. Perhaps in response to last round’s loss to Canberra United Academy, Gungahlin United coach Andrew Woodman made an interesting positional change for US College import Michelle Wienecke from midfield to left back, a change in which she excelled. In attack, Jade Brown was preferred to Ella-Rose Brown. 

The visitors would end up 2-0 victors thanks to two clear-cut short-range chances, but the game was closer than the scoreline suggests. Lincoln pulled off some important saves to ensure her team retains third position. It’s surprising to look back and realise that Gunners keeper Emily Kelly – probably the keeper of the season so far – had less to do than Lincoln given the final score.

Woodman’s team pose a threat to any opponent – we’ve already seen them defeat Belconnen at McKellar Park – and it will be interesting to see whether they can attain the consistency required to separate the top three come season’s end. 

The game started with a minute’s silence for the passing of referee Cam Shelton.

Brittany Palombi’s terrific through ball to Tatum Mazis and the subsequent finish threatened to open the scoring in the 11th minute, but Mazis was judged offside. Lincoln pulled off the first of her fine saves at the other end just five minutes later, as Jade Brown found room in the CCFC box to volley with venom.

A quality interchange between Mazis and Bella Barac took place in the Gunners’ box in the 18th minute, with Mazis neatly laying the ball off for Barac to finish with authority in the roof of the Gunners’ net.

Left flanker Darby Whitely and right-sided striker Ginger Oliver both had strong games for the home side. Whitely covered enormous territory down the left and contributed well to the attack, while Oliver was effective whether delivering from the right wing or popping up more centrally in dangerous areas. Whitely and Wienecke (as defender) looks like a useful left-sided combination for Gungahlin on this first showing.

Gunners captain Maddie Perceval ended the half well, first chasing down Charli Mitchell on the break, and then heading a Ginger Oliver corner over the bar. The visitors went into the break 1-0 up.

The second half began with another great save by Lincoln, this time denying Oliver after Stella De Marco’s incisive through ball opened up the centre of the CCFC defence. Heyman entered the game at the hour mark, replacing Jade Brown. It has to be said that for a first outing in a while, Heyman looked like she picked up right from where she left off at the end of the ALeague Women’s season. When floating back as a number ten, she used hard-earnt composure to release her fellow attackers, and her pressing game on the CCFC defence was as deadly as ever.

Yet the second Canberra Croatia goal arrived in the 65th minute. A Brittany Palombi corner was only cleared as far as Barac on the edge of the area, and while her drive was blocked, the ball fell kindly to Mazis-on-the-spot to double the lead.

The best move of the game occurred in the 70th minute (a must-see Bar TV Sports moment) when Heyman flicked the ball over her defender in her own half, regathered, and drove forward to release Sharon Chao sprinting into space on the right. Chao’s shot at the edge of the area was a little high and wide and didn’t match the quality of the build-up or of her own run.

Perhaps inspired, a deep-lying Mitchell fed a wonderful ball moments later for Sienna Birnie for a run onto goal, but her shot was directed towards Kelly’s gloves.

The teams traded opportunities in the remaining minutes but none were to bear fruit. Mitchell’s footrace with Ayla Robertson from halfway in the 92nd minute must have been difficult to watch from the CCFC bench. Having done the hard work of winning the race and turning her defender, Mitchell shot just wide.

The 2-0 CCFC win leaves the top four as they were, but you feel in your bones that there’s far more to be played out this season for both these sides. The new additions to both squads have been ever so impressive (e.g. Zoe Sobczak, Charli Mitchell, Brandy Nicholson for CCFC, and Ginger Oliver, Michelle Wienecke, and Emily Kelly for the Gunners) and with the temporary addition of two ALeague Women’s players, you really can’t go wrong venturing out to see these teams play.       

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

A reminder that there is a ParaMatildas fundraising event that will take place at the Royal Hotel Queanbeyan as the Matildas play their World Cup lead-in game against France.

Finally, the Play On exhibition launches on July 11th, chronicling the history of women’s football in the ACT. Tour bookings are recommended!

While you’re at the Uni of Canberra checking out the Women’s World Cup Trophy in early August, why not take a tour at the Uni for the Play On exhibition showcasing Women’s Football History in Canberra? 👇https://t.co/4c8ogjVvFLhttps://t.co/D93AH9VOBb

— MobyOne (Steffen) (@ShmobyOne) June 24, 2023

Final score:

Gungahlin United 0
Canberra Croatia 2 (Bella Barac 18′, Tatum Mazis 66′) 

Around The Grounds:

Canberra Olympic 5-0 Canberra United Academy
ANU 2-1 West Canberra Wanderers
Belconnen United 2-1 Tuggeranong United

Ladder:

Next Round:

 
Follow all our ACT NPLW coverage here.