Article: Jeremy Magan
Photos: Anthony Caffery Photography

Monaro Panthers FC 1 (Raechel Hardwicke, 30’) draw with Tuggeranong United FC 1 (R. Daisley, 24’)

Tuggeranong came back from Riverside with a point, a result that will not satisfy either team. In a fairly even game, each team had their moments, as Tuggeranong had the most opportunities in the first half while the Panthers finished the game in their opponents' half.

Both goals happened in the first half hour. Rhiannon Daisley opened the score at the 24th minute with an opportunistic strike from 40 meters away that Monaro's keeper Janet King let slip between her gloves. Raechel Hardwicke responded 6 minutes later, scoring a beautiful free kick from the edge of the box.

Both teams came back from the locker room with offensive intentions, and after 15 intense minutes, fatigue started to show and the game became more open. Hardwicke had opportunities to score with several shots from long range but could not find the back of net. In the end, the 1-1 draw seemed a fair result.

Tuggeranong's back four showed a lot of composure and determination despite their young age, led by an excellent Ann-Marie Symms, who is only 14-years-old!

Tough games are expected for both teams next Sunday, as Monaro will travel to Gungahlin while Tuggeranong hosts Belconnen.

Canberra Olympic FC 5 (Nicole Begg 3’, 14’, Emily Hoffman 19’, Ashleigh Sykes 41’, Emma Guo 78’) defeat Woden Weston FC 1 (Jemima Millar-Carton, 83’)

A lot was expected of the Sykes sister when they joined Canberra Olympic during the off-season, and we have officially witnessed what they can bring on Saturday. Ashleigh Sykes' pace and Nicole Begg's clinical finishing were a constant problem for Woden Weston.

The Wanderers barely had time to get in the game, before Begg opened the scoring. She doubled the score 10 minutes later, served by her twin sister in the box.

In the 19^th minute, Sykes used her pace on the right side once again, this time serving Emily Hoffman at the penalty spot for the third goal. Sykes scored her goal give minutes before half time, winning her duel with Esposito after a great solo run.

Woden Weston found their way back into the game in the second half, as the side gained more possession and proved to be a threat going forward. But Emma Guo showed no mercy when she received the ball outside the box and scored a screamer in the top left corner in the 78^th minute.

Jemima Millar-Carton's goal five minutes later was too little too late for the Wanderers, who now have two losses in as many games. The comfortable victory is a statement for Canberra Olympic against a team known for their strong defence.

The rest of the league is warned; Olympic is in it to win it.

Wagga City Wanderers FC 3 (Lisa Cary 41’, 69’, Tess Vaccari, 44’) def. by Canberra Croatia FC 4 (Sharon Chao, 7’, 43’, 51’, 56’)

High scoring thriller in Wagga! Canberra Croatia FC visited the Wanderers for the home team’s first game in of the season, after a BYE in week 1. The Deakin team came back from New South Wales with the three points thanks to a one-woman-show by Sharon Chao who scored four goals on Sunday.

The now NPLW leading goal-scorer needed only seven minutes to put her name on the scoresheet, receiving a ball the Wanderer struggled to clear in the box. She left no chance to goalkeeper Samantha Emms from close range. The first half was at the advantage of Canberra Croatia, who got the best opportunity and most of the ball possession.

The game went into ping pong mode five minutes before half time. At the 41^st minute, Lisa Cary levelled the game with a left strike from the edge of the box in the top left corner, before Chao, full of composure, put Canberra Croatia ahead a minute later. Tess Vaccari immediately responded for the Wanderers with a lobbed shot from 15 meters that barely crossed the goal line after hitting the crossbar.

The fun did not end there for the Deakin side. Six minutes into the second half, Samantha Emms denied a powerful free kick by Grace Gill, only to see a subsequent cross reaching Chao, who pushed the ball just above the Wanderers’ goalkeeper to put her team ahead one more time. She was at it again five minutes later, volleying from the far post into the side netting to get her fourth goal of the day.

With just over 20 minutes left to play, Wagga City reduced their deficit to one when Lisa Cary pushed the ball in the net after Canberra Croatia failed to clear a corner. The NSW side unfortunately would not get another clear opportunity to equalize, leaving the three points to Nik Brozinic’s team.

Mission accomplished for Canberra Croatia, who have six points in two games before a BYE next week. The Wanderers will have another tough game next week, hosting the in-form Canberra Olympic on Sunday.

Canberra United Academy 0 def. by Gungahlin United FC 1 (Ella-Rose Brown, 45’)

The game of the week was played under British weather at Hawker between two teams playing great passing football. The rematch of last year’s Elimination Final did not disappoint, and Gungahlin happily took all three points thanks to Ella-Rose Brown goal just before the half time whistle. The Academy will have some regrets, given they hit the posts three times in 10 minutes in the second half!

The Gunners showed their coach’s beloved tiki-taka style of play from the get-go, and could count on a very inspired Elke Aitolu, whose technique and passes illuminated the first half. Most of these 45 minutes were in the Academy’s half, who used the pace of their counter attacks to bring the danger in Kailey Tonini’s box on a couple of occasions.

Unfortunately for the home team, after a couple of attempts landing in Isobel Davy’s gloves, Ella-Rose Brown finally found the back of the net just before half time, with a precise shot from the edge of the box.

The second half started in the same rhythm, with the Academy weathering the Gunners storm in the first 15 minutes. Coach O’Donnell then asked his players to press up higher and they started taking control of the ball. The last 20 minutes were a succession of waves of green shirts going for Tonini’s box, who deflected a couple of attempts on her posts after Anna Hunt had already found the crossbar with a shot from the edge of the box.

Tonini recorded a second clean sheet in as many games, helping Gungahlin getting six points to start the season. They will host Monaro Panthers FC next Sunday, while CUA travels to Woden Weston.