By Mitchell Keenan

Monaro Panthers 0 def. by Gungahlin United 9 (Erika Pennyfield 8’, 17’, Alex Martens 10’, May Bailey 13’, Grace Field 60’, 83’, Natalie De Marco 66’, Sophie Bui 72’, Ruby Gambale 87’)

Gungahlin United eased past the Monaro Panthers with a dominant 9-0 win at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday.

Both sides came into round 13 of the PS4 NPLW off the back of close encounters, with Monaro narrowly losing out to the Canberra United Academy, and Gungahlin downing Tuggeranong last weekend, but Diego Iglesias’ side proved too strong for the hosts piling on the pressure as the goals followed.

The visitors looked the sharper side from the get-go, pressing high up the pitch and catching Monaro out with an early effort from Ilahna Aitchison beating Grace Lockard but only finding the post. Grace Field looked dangerous and found space in the box just minutes later, but struck the side netting with an effort from the left.

Gungahlin took the lead in the 8^th minute, as May Bailey found Erika Pennyfield down the line and the midfielders looping effort dipped over Lockard’s head and in. Just two minutes later they struck again, with a smartly positioned Alex Martens slotting home from close range.

After thirteen minutes, Bailey took matters into her own hands, sparking an elegant move through the middle of the pitch and slotting home a perfect finish into the top right corner.

Monaro struggled to respond to a quick start from Gungahlin, who continued to pile on the pressure with an all-out press and Pennyfield used her pace to beat Lockard to a through ball and put her side up by four within the first 20 minutes.

As the sides entered the second half, Monaro looked to explore the space in behind their high-pressing opponents but struggled once again against a compact Gungahlin. The home side’s best chance came after 55 minutes, when Alicia Meuronen went through on goal but was denied by the post.

Panthers goalkeeper Lockard looked determined to keep the score down, pulling off a number of excellent saves early in the second half, but there was no stopping Field from scoring her first for the afternoon, volleying home off a corner inside the box in the 60^th minute.

Gungahlin’s dominance continued, when substitute Sophie Bui was brought down in the box and De Marco stepped up to slot home the penalty. Bui continued to prove herself, finding some space up front and sweetly chipping Lockard from the right hand side of the box.

Late goals from Field and Ruby Gambale put the icing on the cake for Gungahlin, putting the side into second on the table as we pass the half-way mark for the season.

The two sides will face off again in the Federation Cup this Wednesday, before Monaro host Tuggeranong next round and Gungahlin face off with Canberra FC in a massive 2^nd v 3^rd matchup.