Woden-Weston v Canberra FC – Sunday, 2pm @ Woden Park

An important win over Olympic was Canberra FC’s ninth in a row for the season, and they will be looking to stretch it to double digits this weekend. Belconnen United’s bye last weekend means the two sides are now neck and neck in terms of points, and Mark Risteski’s side have a real opportunity to match it with them through the back part of the season. By this time in 2017 Canberra FC had already fallen nine points behind United and surrendered a shot at the Premiership, but they have gotten into a rhythm much earlier this season. Canberra FC pulled off a convincing win when they faced Woden-Weston at Woden Park back in round four and have arguably improved since then, and will back themselves here.

For Woden-Weston, they got back into some form with a narrow win over Tuggeranong United last weekend that helped them keep in touch with the top four, but will need a bigger effort this week against one of the top teams in the league. In 2017 the Wanderers won one of these matchups and drew twice, but it is hard to see them taking too many points off a stronger Canberra FC team. They have shown glimpses of solid play so far this season including against Olympic a few weeks ago where they were unable to take chances to capitalise, but if they are able to create those chances again they must be efficient to give themselves a fighting chance.

 

Monaro Panthers v Canberra United Academy – Sunday, 3pm @ Duncan Fields

The Academy will resume after their NTC break when they take on Monaro in Googong for round 11. The first time these sides met the Academy cleaned house with a 7-1 despite the Panthers getting on the board first, and recent form suggests they will be hard to beat on this occasion too. They sit nine points behind Belconnen United and Canberra FC on the table, and will be hoping one or both can drop points this weekend. With Canberra Olympic and United facing each other, the Academy will be able to decrease the gap to United or widen the gap to Olympic if they can win, so expect the young side to come out firing for a result.

Monaro fell narrowly to Gungahlin last weekend courtesy of an 89^th minute goal in a game where they were happy to sit back and wait for chances to counter. They will likely have to do more of the same this weekend against the attacking-minded Academy side, but need to make sure they keep their structure when they do play out. Panthers were susceptible to the Academy’s energetic press last game and avoiding mistakes will be crucial. They do have forwards who can make a chance count if it presents so good use of the ball will be key when the Academy turn it over. It is hard to see the Panthers winning this one but they can certainly look to make a game of it.

 

 

Tuggeranong United v Gungahlin United – Sunday, 3pm @ Kambah

Gungahlin United will look to keep touch with, and maybe break into the top four when they take on Tuggeranong United at Kambah on Sunday afternoon. This will be the first meeting between the two sides for the season after their earlier clash was postponed due to the field, and the visitors should back themselves on form through the first part of the season. Diego Iglesias’ side got back to winning ways last weekend with a late victory over Monaro but will want to be a bit more ruthless with their chances this time. United seem to have improved their starts to matches after a couple of occasions where they dug themselves a hole too deep, and are putting in 90-minute performances. Iglesias said after last week’s win that we was proud of the way his side fought on to grab a winner when not all was going right, and against an unpredictable Tuggeranong side on a tough surface they will need more of the same.

Tuggeranong continue to chase their first win of the season and put in a decent showing for it last weekend against Woden-Weston but eventually came unstuck. They sit in last place, six points behind Monaro and two weeks into the second round of games time is beginning to run out for them to catch up. Barring a miraculous run from here on their finals hopes appear to be shot, but the desire should still be there to finish the season strong. Barring heavy losses to Canberra Olympic on two occasions, United have held their own for large parts of games. If they can start fast here and be involved from the outset then they can go a long way to taking points from this clash.

 

Canberra Olympic v Belconnen United – Sunday, 3pm @ O’Connor

Belconnen United travel to O’Connor on Sunday afternoon to take on Olympic for the second time this year and maintain the pace at the top of the table. United’s game against the Academy last weekend was postponed due to NTC so the league leaders will come into this matchup fresh, rested and looking to repeat their 3-1 win from earlier in the season. Their last outing was the enormous 16-0 win over Monaro with 10 individual scorers, so their form going forward will be of no concern. They still have conceded only three goals, one of which came from Olympic in their last outing, but their opponents have the in-form Meg McLaughlin this time around and she will prove a big test for their backline.

Olympic pushed Canberra FC all the way last weekend before going down 2-1 and will enter this match 15 points behind their opponents and on the edge of the top four. A loss here could give two teams the opportunity to jump them into fourth, so expect Olympic to come out firing. They are not short of talent, particularly through the middle of the par and firepower has also not been an issue so far this season. The two goals that beat them last week were brilliant strikes from Grace Gill; hardly lapses of the defense that they should be concerned about. The last meeting between these sides was a thoroughly entertaining clash and this one shapes to be the same.