Tuggeranong United v Wagga City Wanderers | Saturday, 8^th June – 3pm @ Greenway Enclosed

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Tuggeranong United return from the bye this weekend as they host Wagga City and will be aiming to register their third win of the campaign. They took on Wagga City in round one way back in March and to this day remain the Wanderers’ only victim, and will want to avoid being their second as well. United may welcome back some key bodies this weekend for the fixture, and will play in front of a strong home crowd as part of a double header. They were far too open in the opening fixture of the season but have tightened at the back since then, improving as the season has gone on. This will be a test though and a win would put them in a strong position with another weekend off next week, while a loss would allow Wagga City to draw level on points with them.

Wagga City lost narrowly to Woden-Weston in the dying moments a few weeks ago and fell by a goal to Canberra Olympic last time out, and this week get another crack for their second win of the season against Tuggeranong United. They opened the campaign with a 4-1 win against this group, but both teams have had different runs since that outing. Last weekend they traded chances with Olympic but couldn’t find the back of the net after the hosts second go-ahead goal and were unlucky to fall in the Wanderers derby so late in the game. They have a talented midfield and players who can turn the game when they click, and Rachel Lyon is one in particular who will be key here.

 

Canberra FC v Belconnen United | Sunday, 9^th June – 2pm @ Deakin Stadium

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All eyes will be on Deakin come Sunday afternoon as Canberra FC host Belconnen United in a good old-fashioned Grand Final rematch. The hosts will know that they can pull within two points of their opponent’s with a win, which would be a big boost entering the second half of the season. They picked up all three points against Gungahlin United with a performance full of chance creation, but devoid of clinical finishing. Nik Brozinic knows his side wasted chances in that outing and will be hoping they are more clinical with any chances they can string together against the reigning champions.

Belconnen meanwhile saw off the Academy, and again face a big outing this weekend prior to the Federation Cup final next week. Bronte Pyke, Maddy Whittall and Michaela Day all returned for United in the 3-1 victory at Hawker and will be important here. These two are yet to be separated across 90 minutes of football, drawing without score in round one and then level at 2-2 in regulation in the Federation Cup semi-final. A win here for Belconnen would send them seven points clear of Gungahlin and eight clear of Canberra FC, which could prove to be a pivotal margin at this stage of the season.

 

Woden-Weston v Canberra United Academy | Sunday, 9^th June – 3pm @ Melrose Synthetic

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The Canberra United Academy became the first side to score against Belconnen United in the league last weekend but were unable to pull out a win, and will try to claw their way back into the top four against Woden-Weston. They were beaten 1-0 by this side back in round one and revenge will be on the Academy’s minds going into this matchup at Melrose synthetic. This will be their first match without Heather Garriock as she goes to work during the FIFA Women’s World Cup, and a win here would allow them to jump their opponents into the finals spots ahead of the Cup Final break. A loss though could leave them as many as five points outside the four dependent on other results, which could prove to be a tough deficit to overcome.

Woden-Weston kept rolling last weekend with a big win against Monaro and showed their mix of scoring with a number of players getting on the scoresheet. Sofia Christopherson continues to shine through as a key part of this outfit and will have a big role to play here on Sunday. Mark Boyd will want his side to carry momentum through ahead of a big cup final meeting with Belconnen United next Saturday, and they will need to stymie the Academy’s attack which has blossomed as the season has gone on. Multiple threats exist but Boyd will know that he was weapons that can do damage on the counter-attack, and it may be worth Woden-Weston looking to absorb the visitors pressure before getting out on the offensive.

 

Canberra Olympic v Monaro Panthers | Sunday, 9^th June – 3pm @ O’Connor

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Canberra Olympic will look for a third win in a row as they host the Monaro Panthers at O’Connor on Sunday afternoon. They saw off a fast-finishing Panthers outfit at Riverside last Thursday in their rescheduled round one clash and will look to grab all three points here again. Prior to last Thursday they didn’t have a point or goal in the league but beat Wagga City on the weekend to secure two wins in a number of days. Rose Wills was a key cog in both wins and is likely to play a role here too, but Olympic will be weakened by the departure of Natinah Skinner as she gets set to join this weekend’s opponents. A victory here would suddenly lift Olympic to nine points and put them firmly in fifth, but a loss would allow Monaro to draw level with them and keep them firmly in the group of middle ground teams.

Panthers almost completed a comeback against Olympic last week but were then humbled by Woden-Weston at Riverside on Saturday evening, and will be keen to hit back in this matchup. They have shown promise at times but consistency, or a lack of it, has arguably been their downfall across the campaign so far. The return of Darby Whiteley has helped provide a spark, and while Skinner is not available this weekend she will be a valuable addition for the rest of the season. A second win here would be a confidence booster and help them pull clear of the foot of the table, but if Wagga are to see off Tuggeranong earlier in the weekend then that will apply the pressure to Ian Worthington’s side.