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

The Round 3 matchup between Canberra United Academy and West Canberra Wanderers at Hawker Enclosed Oval was a drawcard this round, with both teams accustomed to playing on artificial surfaces and looking to challenge for a top four position in 2021, yet neither registering a win in the opening two rounds.

Other Round 3 games that were held this weekend included:

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

Match of the Round: Canberra United Academy vs West Canberra Wanderers

Canberra United Academy season preview
West Canberra Wanderers season preview

Canberra United Academy could not have asked for a tougher start to the season with first up games against two powerhouses in 2020 champions Canberra Croatia (a 2-2 draw against a side that has shown a penchant for growing into their seasons) followed by runners-up Belconnen United (a 7-1 loss, with Belconnen bursting out of their 2021 blocks).

In those games as in this Round 3 fixture, attacking livewire Sasha Grove was unavailable due to coming off the back of the W-League season with Canberra United.  

Respect goes to Annie Grove for leading her team thus far this season, having been a leader in their defensive line the last couple of seasons with outstanding and often fearless performances.

The 2021 CUA squad is undoubtedly talented, with the likes of Jaya Bowman (recently selected for a Young Matildas train-on squad), Chloe Lincoln (Sydney University and Football NSW Institute junior), and Maya Osmond (Belconnen United 2020 grand final starter) on the bench.

The West Canberra Wanderers have been forging a new path in 2021 under head coach Emma Stanbury. A midweek Federation Cup outing saw them run out as winners against Tuggeranong United, but was perhaps the reason for a bit of a different look to the Round 3 starting eleven on the weekend with Stanbury, captain Sarah Whitfield, and promising wide defender Bella Stone all sitting on the bench, and Tiana Jaber moving into right back.

The changes initially had the look of a masterstroke, with the West Canberra defence able to repel some early Academy attacking moments led by Sofia Christoferson down the right wing. In the 10th minute, young West Canberra right winger Kilkie Leten – also a Round 1 scorer – picked up the ball in space 25 yards from Jayla Murphy in the Academy goal, rounded left-back Tayla Hampsen, and chipped sublimely over Murphy to open the scoring.

For the next 20 minutes it was all Academy, with Anna Hunt and Meg Roden on the end of several attacks. The pressure was rewarded at the half-hour mark with Hunt on the receiving end of a fantastic ball from right-back Nadia Zakman. Hunt controlled the ball, shielded it, turned and shot into the bottom left corner of the goal, giving Wanderers keeper Janet King no chance of stopping the equaliser.

The Academy retained the upper hand for the remainder of the half as the light faded, and the second half commenced in gloomy conditions as the floodlights struggled to take hold.

Stanbury began to ring in the changes early in the second half, attempting to shift momentum back to the team in red and black, with all five substitutes (including herself) entering the fray from the half-hour following the 50 minute mark.

Grove managed to deny an early Stanbury attack soon after as Stanbury seemed determined to almost single-handedly take on the Academy defence, but she was to be repeatedly frustrated in her efforts.

For their part, Canberra United Academy maintained a level of consistency in their determination to control proceedings, and it was only some staunch defending by the athletic Jaber and her fellow defenders that were keeping the Academy at bay.

In the 68th minute, it was Academy left winger Nikita Perry who reacted first in the Wanderers penalty area to another cross from the right by Christopherson, getting in front of both her defender and the keeper to finish at close range for a 2-1 Academy lead.

Bowman entered the game for the Academy in the final quarter of an hour and impressed with her energy and skill in the middle of the park. Not even the entry of regular Wanderers captain Sarah Whitfield in the late stages of the game was able to bring her team back into the contest as the Academy closed out the game, deservedly taking home their first three pointer for the season.
  

Final score:

Canberra United Academy 2 (Hunt 30′, Perry 67′)

West Canberra Wanderers 1 (Leten 10′)

Teams:

Canberra United Academy – Coach: Eddie Senatore

Jayla Murphy, Nadia Zakman, Stephanie Nikias, Annie Grove (c), Tayla Hampsen, Alyse Jensen, Meg Roden, Latisha Babic, Sofia Christopherson, Anna Hunt, Nikita Perry

Subs: Eliza-Jane Norris, Jaya Bowman (76′ => Babic), Chloe Lincoln, Maya Osmond

Yellow/Red cards: Nil

West Canberra Wanderers – Coach: Emma Stanbury

Janet King, Tiana Jaber, Samantha Briggs (c), Olivia Nolan, Melinda O’Callaghan, Karen Milewska, Briana Maguire, Demi Nikias, Ana Chaverra Calle, Kilkie Leten, Ashleigh Clarke 

Subs: Ellen Brown (76′ => Clarke), Isabella Stone (52′ => Briggs), Elizabeth Edwards (72′ => Milewska), Emma Stanbury (52′ => Chaverra Calle), Sarah Whitfield (81′ => O’Callaghan)

Yellow/Red cards: Nil

Around The Grounds:

Canberra Olympic 0 – 5 Belconnen United
Tuggeranong United 0 – 6 Canberra Croatia
Wagga City Wanderers 0 – 4 Gungahlin United

…and Federation Cup Round 2:
Belconnen United 6 – 0 ANU
Canberra Olympic 0 – 3 Gungahlin United
West Canberra 3 – 0 Tuggeranong United

Ladder:

Next week:

Canberra FC vs Canberra Olympic, Deakin Stadium, Saturday 1 May, 4:50pm
West Canberra vs Wagga City, Melrose Synthetic, Sunday 2 May, 12:45pm
Gungahlin United vs Belconnen United, Gungahlin Enclosed, Sunday 2 May, 3:00pm
Canberra United Academy vs Tuggeranong United, Hawker Enclosed, Sunday 2 May, 4:20 

Follow all our ACT NPLW coverage here.