Academy captain Annie Grove with her eyes on the prize. Photo: @KaiMoebus

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

Round 11 saw all teams separated by no more than a single goal; a surprise move by Tiana Jaber from West Canberra Wanderers to Belconnen United; and a celebration for Alice Churchill, who has become one of Canberra football’s ornaments with 200 games over 13 seasons for Canberra Croatia.

With all games played on synthetic pitches after the midweek deluge, Beyond 90 headed to Melrose Synthetic to see Tuggeranong United take on the Canberra United Academy team. 

Other Round 11 games that were held this weekend included:

Belconnen United vs Gungahlin United
Canberra Olympic vs Canberra Croatia
Wagga City Wanderers vs West Canberra Wanderers

Match of the Round: Tuggeranong United vs Canberra United Academy

On paper, this game was Canberra United Academy’s to lose. Third-placed on the ladder and at home on artificial surfaces, their opponents didn’t have a single point to their name after ten rounds. Displaying a fortitude that belies Tuggeranong United’s ladder position, that particular statistic was no longer the case after this contest. 

When Academy captain Annie Grove released strike Anna Hunt for a run into the Tuggeranong box in the 8th minute, the crowd could have been forgiven that this may have been a taste of what was to come. But Hunt placed her left foot shot wide of goal, and for the next half hour or so, the game was fought in midfield with lots of turnovers and the very occasional set-piece at either end. Central to Tuggeranong’s ability to match their opponents in midfield were the efforts of Jacquelyn Freeman and Steph Coates, and they were ably supported by centre back Ashley-Lea Condon’s organisational nous and strength.

Ashley-Lea Condon looks to tackle Academy’s Sofia Christopherson. Photo: @KaiMoebus

In the 34th minute, Academy wingback Tayla Hampson fired a ball across the Tuggeranong penalty area but there was no fellow attacker to meet it, a scene that was to also play out more than once later in the game, especially courtesy of Sofia Christopherson’s service from wide.

In earlier Tuggeranong United games this season witnessed by Beyond 90, they have struggled for attacking outlets, with Zoe Terry at right wingback proving the most likely with her powerful turn of speed and ability to attack from deep. Today her willingness to make offensive runs was matched by left half Madeleine Magee, and the Academy defence had two threats to deal with instead of one, or none … and that made a world of difference.

The young Academy side can trouble any team in the competition with their mobility and sharp passing moves, but in the first half this sharpness of movement just wasn’t there to the degree seen in other games.

With no goals scored in the first half, Academy coach Vicki Linton urged her charges to be sharper in all areas of the park and to get forward in numbers, also subbing on a midfielder for a defender (Tara Cannon for Stephanie Nikias).

The changes almost paid off immediately with Academy players streaming forward in waves, and only Tuggeranong United keeper Sophie Rolfe’s brave effort denied Hunt at close range just two minutes into the half.

Tuggeranong’s Zoe Terry vies with Academy’s Anna Hunt for the ball. Photo: @KaiMoebus

On the hour with both teams still scoreless, Linton called for another attacking move to a 4-3-3 formation as Sasha Grove moved from attacking central midfielder into the forward line at right wing. Yet it was Tuggeranong’s Magee who forged the next attack as her ball from left half found Terry streaming into space on the right flank, but Terry blazed her shot over Chloe Lincoln’s crossbar.

Just two minutes later the scene was to be repeated but this time Magee centred to Terry from the byline into the middle of the six-yard box, with Terry unbelievably scuffing her shot right in front of goal.

This was Tuggeranong’s best period of the game with Lincoln seeing some action in the Academy goal; in the 69th minute a wall pass between Terry and Sophie Bui resulted in a Terry shot into Lincoln’s safe hands.

Academy midfielder Nadia Zakman shrugged off the attention of Terry with a downfield run with 16 minutes remaining, her cross finding the head of Christopherson but the header going just over.

Tuggeranong’s pressure bore fruit just a minute later as Bui’s left-footed through ball expertly found Magee, who rounded Lincoln and tapped in for the lead.

Madeleine Magee taking the ball past keeper Chloe Lincoln just before scoring. Photo: @KaiMoebus

The lead would last just six minutes as Sasha Grove imposed herself on the game. Her considerable efforts thus far had not paid off but this changed when she steadied and chipped Rolfe from 20 yards out, equalising at 1-1.

Academy celebrate Sasha Grove’s goal. Photo: @KaiMoebus

A lob by the goalscorer not long after almost found Christopherson in the Tuggeranong six-yard box but the chance was not to be realised, with the game’s final few minutes played in and around the Academy penalty area.

This draw represents Tuggeranong’s first point of the season – the team and coach Paulo Romero should be satisfied with the levels of desire and consistency on show in this outing. The memory of this performance will hopefully steel their resolve for the balance of the campaign.

Canberra United Academy may have edged out their opponents in terms of possession and field position but this game continues a minor downturn after some terrific performances when Linton returned as coach a few rounds ago. Although they maintain their third place on the ladder, they will be keen to recapture that form in the near future.

Other results this round see more movement in the volatile 4th-through-6th mid-table positions, as West Canberra Wanderers leap into fourth place off the back of their away win against Wagga City Wanderers, while Canberra Olympic drops to fifth and Gungahlin United to sixth.

 

Final score:

Tuggeranong United 1 (Magee 75′)

Canberra United Academy 1 (Sasha Grove 82′)

 

Teams:

Tuggeranong United – Coach: Paulo Romero

Sophie Rolfe, Zoe Terry, Lara Mustaine (c), Ashley-Lea Condon, Alyssa Bozinovska, Rhiannon Daisley, Steph Coates, Sarah Daisley, Madeleine Magee, Jacquelyn Freeman, Sophie Bui

Subs: Mackenzie Alcock (60′ => S. Daisley), Claire Falls (70′ => Condon), Katelyn Hewen, Kenzie Osfield (88′ => Bui)  

Yellow/Red cards: Nil

Canberra United Academy – Coach: Vicki Linton

Chloe Lincoln, Stephanie Nikias, Alyse Jensen, Annie Grove (c), Tayla Hampson, Nadia Zakman, Meg Roden, Maia Cameron, Sasha Grove, Sofia Christopherson, Anna Hunt 

Subs: Tara Cannon (45′ => Nikias), Luella Coleman, Maya Osmond (75′ => Zakman), Jayla Murphy, Bessie Riethmuller (75′ => Hunt)

Yellow/Red cards: Nil


Around The Grounds:

Belconnen United 3 – 2 Gungahlin United
Canberra Olympic 0 – 1 Canberra Croatia
Wagga City Wanderers 0 – 1 West Canberra Wanderers


Ladder:

Pos Team P W D L For Against GD Pts
1 Canberra Croatia FC 11 9 1 1 49 11 38 28
2 Belconnen United FC 11 9 1 1 43 10 33 28
3 Canberra United Academy 11 5 3 3 24 23 1 18
4 West Canberra Wanderers FC 11 5 1 5 17 16 1 16
5 Canberra Olympic FC 11 5 1 5 25 27 -2 16
6 Gungahlin United FC 11 5 0 6 26 17 9 15
7 Wagga City Wanderers FC 11 2 0 9 12 43 -31 6
8 Tuggeranong United FC 11 0 1 10 4 53 -49 1

 

Next week:

Round 12

Canberra Croatia vs Belconnen United, Deakin Stadium, Saturday 3 July, 4:50pm
Canberra Olympic vs Wagga City, O’Connor Enclosed, Sunday 4 July, 2:30pm
Gungahlin United vs Canberra United Academy, Gungahlin Enclosed, Sunday 4 July, 3pm
Tuggeranong United vs West Canberra, Kambah 201, Sunday 4 July, 3:10pm  


Follow all our ACT NPLW coverage here.

Steffen Moebus
Steffen Moebus
Steffen is a life-long Canberra resident and enjoys covering football in and around his home town, as well as Aussies participating in the Nordic leagues (Norway, Sweden, Iceland, Denmark).
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