By Matt Nicoletti

Gungahlin United 1 (Jack Green 32’) def. Canberra FC 0

A first half header from Jack Green has given Gungahlin United a final round win over Canberra FC and a boost into fourth on the Playstation4 National Premier Leagues table. 

The visitors already had a finals spot sewn up, but this was set to be a make or break game for Gungahlin’s finals spot until Tuggeranong’s shock loss to Monaro the day before. 

With both sides already secure the only thing riding on the game was fourth spot but the teams still came out of the blocks determined to get a result. Gungahlin looked to hold on the ball and force their opponents back, and Canberra FC initially seemed happy to sit deep and play out on the counter. 

Kofi Danning had the first real chance of the game after 12 minute for Canberra FC as he cut inside and cracked a shot over Jason Denham that grazed the crossbar, before he had another 10 minutes later. The forward turned his marked and fired at goal but Denham was equal to the task and saved brilliantly to keep scores level. 

While they continued to pressure, the visitors were unable to find a way through, and they were punished for some lacklustre defending just after the half hour mark. A United corner was swung in from the left and Green ghosted in criminally unmarked from the back post to head home emphatically.

That goal took the hosts into the break a goal up and cruising, while Marko Vrkic’s side were left to rue a number of missed chances. The second half saw much of the same as Canberra FC began the search for an equaliser, pushing forward in numbers to pressure the United defence.

They came close too, denied only by the woodwork and an outstanding performance from Denham in goals. United threatened on the break a number of times as the clock wound down, trying to expose a stretched visiting defence but they also could not find a way through.

The result means that United jump Canberra FC into the third finals spot, and complete the double over Canberra FC for the regular season.