Belconnen United v CU Academy | Saturday, 5:15pm @ McKellar Park – LIVE on BarTV Sports

Belconnen United will host the Academy on Saturday evening in a massive clash at McKellar Park and LIVE on BarTV Sports. United will be looking to keep their perfect run going after a 3-0 victory over Tuggeranong last weekend, and this first clash against the Academy will give them a good barometer of where their fellow finals contenders are at. All three league meetings between these two last year resulted in blowout victories for the Blue Devils, but performances so far have indicated that there might not be quite so much daylight between the sides this year. United have already made a statement against Canberra FC in Round one though, and Antoni Jagarinec would be happy if his side can make another one here.

For the Academy, they were desperately unlucky at times against Canberra FC last weekend and will be out to make amends here. The frame of goal denied them on more than one occasion as did some scrambling defence, but the game also saw the Academy lose Jaide Trewin to a serious knee injury. They now sit six points behind Belconnen and three behind last week’s opponents, meaning the result of this game could have big ramifications for the ladder through six rounds. Relying on Belconnen to lose matches and help you in this competition is akin to relying on your rent to pay itself, and the Academy will need to do the work here themselves this week to close the gap on the table.

 

Tuggeranong United v Canberra FC | Sunday, 2pm @ Kambah

Tuggeranong United face another tough test in the league on Sunday as they welcome Canberra FC to Kambah following losses to Canberra Olympic and Belconnen United in recent weeks. Michael Aldred’s side gave a good account of themselves last Saturday but were unable to break through the disciplined Belconnen backline, and will not have an easier task this week against the 2017 Champions. With only one goal to their name in the first five rounds and having shipped 13 at the other end the outlook needs to change, and change fast. Holding out against a talented and experienced Canberra FC will be tough here but United may take solace from the fact they are playing at home.

Mark Risteski’s team pulled out a tight win over the Academy thanks to Brigette Wright’s last gasp winner, and that made it four straight victories for them since their Round one loss to Belconnen. The two goals scored by the Academy also were the first that FC conceded since that round, and the defence has tightened up significantly moving forward. That will be a tough nut for Tuggeranong to crack, and with a number of threats in attack, they look the side to beat in this matchup. Lily Bardsley has fired out of the blocks to begin the season with four goals in five matches, and she will look to continue that against the second-leakiest backline in the competition.

 

Canberra Olympic v Monaro Panthers | Sunday, 2pm @ O’Connor

It is bounce back time for two sides this Sunday at O’Connor, with both Canberra Olympic and Monaro reeling from heavy losses, or multiple in the visitors case. A 3-0 defeat at the hands of Woden-Weston kept Monaro winless through five rounds, and they will need a marked improvement to beat Eddie Senatore’s Olympic outfit this weekend. The Panthers played well in patches, particularly the first half of that outing but will need a more complete, 90-minute performance in this one. Shoring up at the back should be the first port of call for Ian Worthington going into this, with the Panthers currently conceding over four goals per game on average.

Olympic struggled in their first match without Grace Maher as they were beaten 4-2 by Gungahlin United last weekend and a bounce back is important to keep touch with the sides above and around them. Bec Kiting had a stint in midfield but may well be pushed back to the defensive line to shore it up here, but it remains to be seen if any other changes will be made. Olympic should still be able to see off a challenge from this Monaro team, but the outlook appears slightly different than it did a few weeks ago in their strong patch of form.

 

Woden-Weston v Gungahlin United | Sunday, 3pm @ Woden Park

Gungahlin United snapped a two-game losing streak last weekend with an emphatic victory over Canberra Olympic and will want to back that up when they visit Woden-Weston on Sunday. Freyja Jacobson blew that game wide open with a hat-trick and United had too much pressure for Olympic to handle as they ran over the top of them. That was a good sign for Diego Iglesias who had seen his team stall to some degree in losses against the Academy and Canberra FC. But this match gives them the chance to build momentum heading into a massive meeting next week with Belconnen United. They must first see off a Woden-Weston side fresh from a much needed 3-0 win over Monaro.

Diego Elmoudawar’s team struck the frame of goal a number of times in the first half before opening up the game in the second but weren’t without their frights as the Panthers took the game to them. It was an important rebound after a humbling at the hands of Canberra FC the week prior, and Elmoudawar will have been happy with the response. Cassia McGlashan netted a double and she will be important here, but with both sides holding nearly identical for-and-against records this clash will be won in the backline. Goalscorers are present on both teams but whether they can knuckle down at the back and keep out the other side remains to be seen.