Twenty-one glorious rounds await Capital Football NPLW fans and the eight teams contesting the competition in 2021.

Keen to check in once again on the Wagga City Wanderers, and hopeful of witnessing Michelle Heyman‘s first run for Gungahlin United, Beyond 90 headed to a cold and blustery Gungahlin Enclosed Oval on Sunday afternoon to witness the Round 10 meeting between the two teams.

Other Round 10 games that were held this weekend included:

Belconnen United vs Canberra Olympic
West Canberra Wanderers vs Canberra United Academy
Canberra Croatia vs Tuggeranong United

Match of the Round: Gungahlin United vs Wagga City Wanderers

A little down on troops in last week’s narrow loss to Canberra Olympic, it would have been a real boost to the Gunners to see not only a full match card this week, but also Canberra United icon Michelle Heyman listed among the substitutes for her first run with the team. Striker Elke Aitolu had managed half a game last round but was unable to back up this week.

Coming off a 3-0 win against Tuggeranong United, the Wagga City Wanderers also had some key outs this week. Christina Grauer-Kompos netted twice last week but was absent, as was midfielder Kirrilee Cameron, with the talented Piper Lockley also still on the mend since the Round 6 meeting with Canberra Croatia. Normally a fixture in the backline, Captain Suze Waia lined up at right midfield for the start of the game. Goalkeeper Samantha Emms’ confidence would have been high after selection for a Young Matildas camp; congratulations Samantha!

One thing that Diego Iglesias’ Gungahlin team works hard at is versatility. On each occasion that Beyond 90 has witnessed them live this season, Ella-Rose Brown, Erika Pennyfield, and Stefi Lejins have not occupied the same position (from memory). In this game Brown partnered Jade Brown in attack, Pennyfield was at right midfield, and Lejins shared the central midfield role with Stella De Marco.

The early stages of the game showed a pattern of play that was to be prevalent, with the home side moving the ball around in their opponents’ half, and Wagga City working hard in their 4-5-1 formation to repel them. For the most part they were successful, but on 14 minutes Nat De Marco played Jade Brown into the visitors’ penalty area, only to be brought down by the onrushing keeper.

With little fuss, Brown stepped up and converted her own penalty to take the lead.

Wagga striker Megan Castle was left isolated with her team under pressure, and lacked support when the ball did manage to reach her.

Lejins enjoyed some good moments around the 25-minute mark, first driving a low ball across the Wagga City box just beyond the reach of Nat De Marco, then leaping for a volley off a Pennyfield corner which brushed a defender on the way past the goal.

Pennyfield corners were to be the bane of the visitors, especially in the first half, and Wagga City struggled to assert themselves defending them. The next was delivered straight onto captain Maddie Perceval’s head, and the Gunners were celebrating their second goal.

Keeper Emms pulled off a remarkable save half an hour into the game, somehow pushing Ella-Rose Brown’s shot wide. Another Pennyfield bomb was delivered from the corner flag again, with Jade Brown finding the net after a moment of confusion when the ball came off the underside of the crossbar.

Wagga City’s first shot on goal came three minutes before halftime, with Bronte Buik striking the ball beautifully but just wide, and the visitors walked into the sheds three goals down.

Waia resumed the second half at right back for Wagga City, swapping with right half Bree Lyons. With coach Sam Gray’s encouragement ringing in their ears, the team came out with an improved level of defensive resoluteness.

The half began comically when keeper Emms accidentally threw the ball onto the retreating Jade Brown’s head (Emms was very apologetic). Five minutes later, Brown’s shot was spilled by Emms but she managed to regain it just before two attackers arrived.

Both coaches started bringing on substitutes after the hour, and there was warm applause for Heyman as she took up a role in central midfield, replacing Lejins who had played a fine game. Heyman initially looked to be playing a little within herself, concentrating on steering the team around.

Lyons found space down the right Wagga flank moments later, but her shot from the edge of the penalty area went straight to Gunners keeper Kailey Tonini.    

The attacking pressure from the Gunners didn’t let up and the Wagga City midfield and defence worked hard to contain it. The job didn’t get easier when Heyman switched into the attack with ten minutes to go and the game finished with two pieces of Heyman magic. The first occurred with five minutes to go, fittingly from another Pennyfield corner to the back post where an unattended Heyman volleyed the ball into the net for Gungahlin’s fourth.

The match ended with Heyman’s confidence growing in a sight pleasing to the Gunners faithful, as she skirted past defenders with the ball and unleashed a left-foot drive just over the goal in the 90th minute. In a lovely moment after the game, Heyman addressed the Wagga City squad; a moment they will likely never forget.

A good win for the home side but some Wagga City players should be mentioned for their efforts today: youngsters Madalyn Emms and Lyons both in their second game this season; Castle for her efforts up top; and the midfield contingent of Buik, Ashley Holder, Abbey Nolan-Hodges and Hannah Stevens, up against a team who are traditionally very strong in those areas and who reduced avenues today for Wanderers attacking link-up play.    

Final score:

Gungahlin United 4 (Jade Brown 14′ 30′, Perceval 27′, Heyman 85′)

Wagga City Wanderers 0 

Teams:

Gungahlin United – Coach: Diego Iglesias

Kailey Tonini, Brigitte Sander, Ruby Gambale, Maddie Perceval (c), Courtney McCann, Erika Pennyfield, Stefi Lejins, Stella De Marco, Nat De Marco, Ella Brown, Jade Brown

Subs: Emily Davidson, Michelle Heyman (60′ => Lejins), Gabrielle O’Brien, Ayla Robertson (60′ => McCann), Cameron Jackson (83′ => N. De Marco)

Yellow card: Nil

Wagga City Wanderers – Coach: Sam Gray

Samantha Emms, Bree Lyons, Ava Tuksar, Sophie Cary, Madalyn Emms, Suze Waia (c), Ashley Holder, Abbey Nolan-Hodges, Bronte Buik, Hannah Stevens, Megan Castle

Subs: Tootsie Lamb, Kimberly Morgan (83′ => Stevens), Rennae Sillett (73′ => M. Emms), Amanda Armstrong (88′ => Holder), Ashley Garrett (89′ => Lyons)

Yellow/Red cards: Nil

Around The Grounds:

Belconnen United 4 – 2 Canberra Olympic
West Canberra Wanderers 1 – 0 Canberra United Academy
Canberra Croatia 12 – 1 Tuggeranong United

Ladder:

Next week:

Belconnen United vs Gungahlin United, McKellar Park, Saturday 26 June, 3:00pm
Wagga City vs West Canberra, Gissing Oval, Sunday 27 June, 2:30pm
Canberra Olympic vs Canberra Croatia, O’Connor Enclosed, Sunday 27 June, 2:30pm
Tuggeranong United vs Canberra United Academy, Kambah 201, Sunday 27 June, 3:10pm

Follow all our ACT NPLW coverage here.

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