LAYSTATION 4 NATIONAL PREMIER LEAGUES: CANBERRA
MATCHDAY 9

Saturday 28th May
Belconnen United 1 (Jason Ugrinic 28’) FFA COE 1 (Louis D’Arrigo 75’)
(McKellar Park)

By William Bremner

On a cool crisp late autumn evening the Belconnen Blue Devils and FFA COE fought out an entertaining 1-1 draw at McKellar Park. Both teams pride themselves on playing a fast proactive game but on this occasion it was the youngsters from the FFA who had the better of the encounter. The visitors where looking to end a string of defeats while their hosts hoped to build on their encouraging result against the Tigers the week before. 

The game started well with both teams looking to penetrate after smart build up play. Belconnen through the good work of Dustin Wells, playing a withdrawn 'false 9' role and through the industry of captain Taylor Beaton used their possession well but did not create anything more than one or two decent half chances. FFA were constantly able to break the Blue Devils lines and their quick ball movement created plenty of headaches for Belconnen. They might have taken the lead twice as breaks into the left of the Devils area resulted in wild efforts blasted wide of the near post. In fact for all their intricate lead up play they did not unduly bother Adam Perakovic in the Belconnen goal as most of their finishing failed to hit the target. 

On 28 minutes the breakthrough came and although not entirely against the run of play Jason Ugrinic’s left foot curled finish would have been the source of some frustration in the visitors’ camp. Wells picked up the ball deep in the COE half and picked out the perfect cross field pass that Ugrinic controlled neatly and then cut in onto his left foot and finished smartly in the bottom left hand corner. Perhaps it was the absences of both Matt Grbesa and Goran Mukevski, both starting from the bench, or maybe conceding lifted the FFA to greater effort but whatever the reason the game shifted decidedly in favour of the visitors. 

Belconnen were being well served down their right hand side as Zac Maybury's marauding runs made some in roads but by and large the FFA might have been at least level at the break and with some luck may well have gone to the sheds with a healthy lead. As it was Belconnen saw out the half and maintained their slender advantage. 

The second half saw unrelenting pressure from the visitors for almost the full 45 or so minutes. Quick to the second ball, comfortable and precise on the ball, the movement and incisive passing from the visitors had Belconnen well and truly on the back foot. Belconnen coach Dean Ugrinic, perhaps sensing the need for reinforcements sent on both Grbesa and Mukevski but in truth the changes did little to stem the tide. The equaliser when it came was well taken but hardly surprising. 

On 75 minutes the FFA got the ball into a wide position on their left. Maybury, among the Blue Devils best, slipped at the most inopportune moment allowing the FFA to attack deep into the Bells area. A neat cut back found Louis D'Arrigo, who had only joined the fray as a substitute five minutes previously, at the top of the box and his precise right foot finish found the bottom corner of the net for his second goal of the season.

From there on in the visitors should have won the game. Some sloppy passing in the final third coupled with some poor decisions and the sheer resolve demonstrated by their hosts, conspired to keep them out. In fact they may well have lost it in the final few minutes when Mukevski was put through by Wells but his left foot strike was well wide. All in all an entertaining game but one that might have got away from the visitors. 

Belconnen United: 1. Adam PERAKOVIC, 2. Zac MAYBURY, 3. Dustin WELLS, 5. Cameron REINHART, 6. David KEMP, 7. Taylor BEATON, 8. Conor NOLAN, 9. Sam SMITH, 10. Jason UGRINIC, 13. Jonathan REIS, 16. Matt VALERI
Substitutes used: 4. Matt GRBESA, 11. Goran MUKEVSKI, 12. Aisosa IHEGIE
FFA COE: 1. Matthew SUTTON, 2. James FLETCHER, 4. Kaleb COX, 5. Joel KING, 6. Kai TREWIN, 10. Lachlan BROOK, 11. Mirza MURATOVIC, 14. Rahmat AKBARI, 16. Ben OBST, 19. Mark MORIC, 20. Bryce BAFFORD
Substitutes used: 9. John ROBERTS, 17. Louis D’ARRIGO
YELLOW CARDS: 4. Matt GRBESA (Belconnen United), 9. John ROBERTS, 19. Mark MORIC (FFA COE)
RED CARDS: Nil

Canberra FC 4 (Ivan Pavlak 34’, Thomas James 48', Izach Clements 55’, Misko Naumoski 59’) CU Academy 0
(Deakin Stadium)

A depleted Canberra FC cruised to a 4-0 win over the CU Academy at Deakin Stadium to move back into contention near the top of the PS4 NPL league table. Missing a plethora of regular first grade players, including Robbie Deeley, James Field, Nathan Evans, Josip Jadric, Ryan Keir and Ian Graham, FC shook off any notions that they were ripe for the taking with a committed and determined performance.

The Academy, featuring former FC players Sam Brown, Niko Kresic and Daniel Subasic in the starting line-up, and with Thomas Milicevic coming off the bench, there was certainly a real feel to the match and the visiting side provided a number of scares to the title-chasers in the early stages. When FC settled though they started to open up the Academy defence utilising the pace of Ivan Pavlak to great effect with Thomas James again in fine form. 

And it was Pavlak, who returned to the club after a stint in the PS4 NPL Victoria, a fortnight ago who capped his returned to Deakin Stadium with the opening goal of the game in the 34th minute. That strike was the difference between the sides at the interval with the Academy still very much in the match.

Crucially for the destination of the points, FC struck for a second time early in the second half of the contest. Striker James was on hand to notch his seventh goal of the season and move into third place in the race for the Golden Boot. With the Academy searching for a way back into the match Canberra FC secured the win with a brace of goals within four minutes of each other. First Izach Clements netted his first goal of the season before Misko Naumoski bagged his fiftieth career goal at the senior level to finish off any outside hopes the Academy had of clawing their way back into the match. FC finished the weekend within four points of league leaders Tigers FC, and only two points behind second placed Canberra Olympic. 

Canberra FC: 1. Rory LARKIN, 4. Marko VRKIC, 5. Izach CLEMENTS, 9. Thomas JAMES, 10. Nikola BARISIC, 11. Ivan PAVLAK, 13. Kye EDWARDS, 15. Jordan LAMB, 17. Aidan BRUNSKILL, 18. Misko NAUMOSKI, 19. Michael MENSAH
Substitutes used: 3. Alex PIZZANO, 20. Ned POVEL, 21. Alec MATHIAS
CU Academy: 1. Sam BROWN, 3. Ridwan HANNAN, 4. Antoni TIMOTHEOU, 5. Niko KRESIC, 7. Joshua GULEVSKI, 9. Sam WHITHEAR, 10. Daniel FABRIZIO, 11. Tomas KRKLEC, 13. Daniel SUBASIC, 14. Niko UJDUR, 20. David CARDER
Substitutes used: 6. Thomas MILICEVIC, 15. Lachlan GRIFFITHS, 18. Jonathan TUREK
YELLOW CARDS: 4. Marko VRKIC, 11. Ivan PAVLAK, 19. Michael MENSAH (Canberra FC), 
RED CARDS: Nil

Sunday 29th May
Tuggeranong United 2 (Nikolaos Kalfas 14’, Emilio Kista 37’ (pen)) Tigers FC 6 (Nicolas Abot 6’, Daniel Barac 36’, Dejan Santrac 55’, 81’, Stephen Domenici 57’, 90+3’)
(Kambah 2)

Tigers FC regained the leadership of the PS4 NPL competition with a 6-2 success away at Tuggeranong United on Sunday afternoon. The Tigers were worth their victory but the final scoreline certainly had a touch of gloss on it as Tuggeranong more than matched their opponents for large parts of the game but lacked the ruthless, clinical efficiency that the title chasing Tigers possessed in the final third.

In an even opening half it was the visiting team that took the lead in the sixth minute. Former Tiger Liam Highmore under hit a back pass towards Tom Barton in the Tuggeranong goal and Argentinean forward Nicolas Abot read it perfectly to intercept and roll his finish into the net for a composed opener. Tuggeranong’s reply was emphatic as Nikolaos Kalfas beat his man and rammed a finish beyond the diving Francois Bangweni.

Tigers FC shaded the next ten minutes and duly re-took the lead nine minutes before the interval as Daniel Barac, on the occasion of his fiftieth performance at this level, was on hand to collect a cut-back and finish well past Barton. But the lead was temporary. United immediately went to the other end off of the kick-off and Marco Gayer drew a clumsy challenge from Osman Fofanah to win a penalty from which Emilio Kista levelled the scores.

At 2-2 it was anyone’s game but Tuggeranong were punished for a couple of defensive errors early in the second stanza. Firstly the back four failed to deal effectively with a high hanging ball and Tigers FC playmaker Dejan Santrac casually placed a perfect shot beyond Barton and into the bottom corner. Moments Later Stephen Domenici got to a through ball ahead of his marker, beat him with a deft touch, and lifted the ball beyond the ‘keeper and into the net.

Tuggeranong had chances to get back into the game seeing a Sam Shadbolt header nodded off the line by Fofanah and a shot cannon back off the base of the post with Bangweni beaten as they turned the screw. But it was Tigers, playing an effective counter-attacking game, which struck the killer blow. With nine minutes to play Santrac was given the freedom on the edge of the box to curl a shot in off the underside of the bar to make it 5-2.

Domenici brought up the half-dozen three minutes into stoppage time, getting on the end of another high octane rapid break from defence, as Tigers claimed the three points but not, perhaps, in quite a comfortable manner as the final score suggested. 

Tuggeranong United: 1. Tom BARTON, 2. Cameron DOHERTY, 3. Domenic COLUCCIELLO, 4. Sam SHADBOLT, 5. Nick FAUST, 7. Nikoloas KALFAS, 8. Daniel ROBERTS, 10. Emilio KISTA, 11. Marco GAYER, 13. Tim ANDERSON, 15. Liam HIGHMORE
Substitutes used: 9. Aaron CASHMAN, 14. Andrew SLAVICH
Tigers FC: 1. Francois BANGWENI, 2. Nahuel GUERREO, 3. Hussein FUREJE 4. Osman FOFANAH, 5. Dejan SANTRAC, 7. Goran JOSIFOVSKI, 8. Julian BORGNA, 9. Daniel BARAC, 12. Alan GASTON, 14. Nicolas ABOT, 17. Stephen DOMENICI 
Substitutes used: 6. Milan POPOVICH, 10. Alex OLORIEGBE, 11. Jeremias IBARRA
YELLOW CARDS: 8. Daniel ROBERTS, 10. Emilio KISTA (Tuggeranong United), 4. Osman FOFANAH, 9. Daniel BARAC, 12. Alan GASTON, 17. Stephen DOMENICI (Tigers FC)
RED CARDS: Nil

Canberra Olympic 1 (Victor Yanes 69’) Monaro Panthers 3 (Martin Deng 15’, Ed McCarthy 16’, Daniel Felizzi 76’)
(O’Connor Enclosed)

Monaro Panthers claimed the surprise result of the round, and perhaps the season to date, with a 3-1 victory away to Canberra Olympic at O’Connor Enclosed. In doing so the Panthers knocked Olympic off the top of the table and pushed themselves into fifth place, six points off a top four spot but, perhaps more significantly, at the head of the chasing pack of six clubs currently outside the finals placing.

The key to the unlikely success was a hard-working determined group of players who followed their coach’s game-plan to perfection. Defending stoutly, and with less of the ball than the title-chasing Olympic, the Panthers relied on a speedy counter-attacking game and it worked wonders inside the opening quarter of the match in which they gave themselves the platform for their ultimate success.

Two goals in the space of a minute around the quarter hour proved to be just what the Panthers required as firstly Martin Deng struck his first goal of the season before Ed McCarthy followed suit, seconds later, with what was his fourth of the campaign. A 2-0 lead gave the Panthers, without the industrious Alan Murphy who was suspended, something on which to hold.

Olympic, missing a number of players themselves, struggled to find a way past the packed ranks of Panthers stationed in front of Nathan Alferink’s goal and could find no way through inside the opening forty-five minutes. Eventually, you felt, that Monaro’s stubbornness would crack and, with twenty-two minutes to play, experienced substitute Victor Yanes reduced the deficit to breathe new hope into Olympic. Again however Monaro refused to panic and sticking to their game-plan they struck again with just fourteen minutes remaining. 

Daniel Felizzi, waiting on the half-way line for exactly this moment, collected a clearance and raced away before executing a delicious chip over Angelo Konstantinou from an acute angle for the match-sealing third goal. That left Olympic with too much to do and they could not find a way back much to the delight of the Panthers’ supporters at the final whistle. 

Canberra Olympic: 1. Angelo KONSTANTINOU, 3. Josh CALABRIA, 4. Daniel COLBERTALDO, 5. Phil YARNOLD, 8. Bernard RENE, 9. Philippe BERNABO-MADRID, 12. Adam ROGIC, 15. Tom MCLACHLAN, 18. Jordan TSEKENIS, 23. Nathen MEGIC, 99. Victor YANES
Substitutes used: 7. Pat ROSS-MAGEE, 11. Michael REEVE, 13. Ben BASSER-SILK
Monaro Panthers: 21. Nathan ALFERINK, 3. Daniel HEARLE, 4. Luka MARKULIN, 5. Chris RUIZ, 7. Daniel FELLIZZI, 8. Sam ROESTBAKKEN, 11. Darian MCGARRY-WATSON, 12. Tony SPASESKI, 13. Ed MCCARTHY, 14. Martin DENG, 20. Caleb CULLEN-RUA
Substitutes used: 10. Amanzie KESSIE, 17. Tom HEWITT
YELLOW CARDS: 3. Josh CALABRIA (Canberra Olympic), 3. Daniel HEARLE, 5. Chris RUIZ, 20. Caleb CULLEN-RUA (Monaro Panthers)
RED CARDS: Nil

Gungahlin United 0 Woden-Weston FC 0
(Gungahlin Enclosed)

By William Bremner

Gungahlin Enclosed oval is not the most pleasant venue when the wind blows icy cold and the spectators, few as they were, are forced into the open spaces to view the event. The event in this instance was a football match between the hosts, Gungahlin United, and their opponents Woden-Weston FC. Both teams would have been hoping for better positions in the table at the half way point than they currently occupy and indeed a win to the Gunners would have moved them into a healthy fifth spot. Sadly the performance from both teams was in keeping with the climatic conditions and the end result, a scrappy 0-0 draw, did little to improve either side’s lot. 

In fairness Woden-Weston, presently sitting last on the table, shaded the match for the first sixty minutes. Their game plan was to apply as much pressure as possible high up the pitch with a view to capitalising on any mistakes made by Gungahlin. Gungahlin duly obliged and as a result possession swapped hands on a regular basis. Woden-Weston created good chances for Bensah Afiabo and for Goran Milutinovic but Jason Denham in the home goal was not unduly troubled. 

For their part Gungahlin relied on getting the ball to Jason O’Dwyer and Mitch Steenbergen but the usual supply lines through the Walsh's, Regan and Liam, as well as through the technically gifted Christian Junna, failed to deliver and time and again attacking moves broke down before they could threaten. 

There is no doubt a hard bumpy pitch did little to add to the quality of football on display but the second half began with all concerned hoping for improvement in the entertainment on offer. It was not to be although in the last fifteen minutes Gunners came into the match with some determination and might have pinched it on more than one occasion. Up until that point Woden-Weston again shaded it without really looking like taking all three points. 

As the match approached its final moments Gunners belatedly looked like winning. Junna hit a post and the rebound was safely cleared; Alex Moscaritolo had chances as did Steenbergen and Frano Blazevic on as a second half substitute. Woden-Weston scrambled well and occasionally broke to threaten at the other end but ultimately 0-0 summed up what was a disappointing match.

Gungahlin United: 1. Jason DENHAM, 2. Alex MOSCARITOLO, 3. David DEXTER, 5. Jason O’DWYER, 6. Justin RANKINE, 7. Regan WALSH, 8. Christian JUNNA, 12. Mitch STEENBERGEN, 14. Liam WALSH, 15. David JENKINS, 16. Jack GREEN
Substitutes used: 17. Frano BLAZEVIC
Woden-Weston FC: 1. Josh WADE, 2. Bradley OLIVERA, 5. Jean-Baptiste BLAISE, 6. Ben GRIEG, 7. Matthew WATERS, 8. Adam DE FRANCESCHI, 9. Daniel DI-SALVATORE, 11. Bensah AFIABO, 12. Tim DEHELEAN, 16. Goran MILUTINOVIC, 24. Christopher MCEWAN
Substitutes used: 10. Caleb BROWN, 14. Roy ROMEO, 18. Jarryd CLIFTON
YELLOW CARDS: 6. Justin RANKINE, 8. Christian JUNNA, 14. Liam WALSH (Gungahlin United), 11. Bensah AFIABO, 18. Jarryd CLIFTON, 24. Christopher MCEWAN (Woden-Weston FC)
RED CARDS: Nil

TABLE

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LEADING SCORERS 
11 Stephen DOMENICI (Tigers FC)
10 Jason UGRINIC (Belconnen United), 
7 Thomas JAMES (Canberra FC)
6 Sam SMITH (Belconnen United), John ROBERTS (FFA COE), Nicolas ABOT (Tigers FC)
5 Philippe BERNABO-MADRID, Jordan TSEKENIS (Canberra Olympic), Daniel BARAC (Tigers FC)
4 Domenic GIAMPAOLO, Josip JADRIC (Canberra FC), Ed MCCARTHY (Monaro Panthers), Jaidon SELDON (FFA COE)
3 Tomas KRKLEC (CU Academy), Mitch STEENBERGEN (Gungahlin United), Darian MCGARRY-WATSON, Mark SHIELDS (Monaro Panthers), Alex OLORIEGBE, Dejan SANTRAC (Tigers FC), Marco GAYER, Nikolaos KALFAS, Andrew SLAVICH (Tuggeranong United), Own GOALS
2 Aisosa IHEGIE, Jonathan REIS, Dustin WELLS (Belconnen United)*, Nikola BARISIC (Canberra FC), Daniel COLBERTALDO, Jeremy HABETMARIAM, Nathen MEGIC (Canberra Olympic), Joshua GULEVSKI, Sam WHITHEAR (CU Academy), Bryce BAFFORD, Louis D’ARRIGO, Ben OBST (FFA COE), Alex MOSCARITOLO (Gungahlin United), Nahuel GUERRERO (Tigers FC), Domenic COLUCCIELLO, Emilio KISTA (Tuggeranong United), Goran MILUTNOVIC (Woden-Weston FC)
1 Matt GRBESA, David KEMP, Goran MUKEVSKI, Cameron REINHART, Toby RICHTER (Belconnen United), Aidan BRUNSKILL, Izach CLEMENTS, Robbie DEELEY, Ryan KEIR, Misko NAUMOSKI, Ivan PAVLAK (Canberra FC), Tim BOBOLAS, Robbie CATTANACH, Angelo KONSTANTINOU, Michael REEVE, Victor YANES (Canberra Olympic), Daniel FABRIZIO (CU Academy), Rahmat AKBARI, Lachlan BROOK, Mark MORIC, Mirza MURATOVIC, Marc TOKICH (FFA COE), Nathan DUCK, Jack GREEN, Marcial  MUNOZ, Jason O’DWYER, Liam WALSH (Gungahlin United), Martin DENG, Daniel FELIZZI (Monaro Panthers), Julian BORGNA, Osman FOFANAH, Alan GASTON, Milan POPOVICH (Tigers FC), Sam SHADBOLT Tuggeranong United), Bensah AFIABO, Daniel DI-SALVATORE, Ben GRIEG, Tom HIRST, Matthew WATERS (Woden-Weston FC)

*1 goal for Tuggeranong United