Gungahlin United 2 (Jason O’Dwyer 59’, Augustine Bangura 61’) def. FFA Centre of Excellence 0

By Matt Nicoletti

Gungahlin United claimed a crucial three points on Sunday as they defeated the FFA Centre of Excellence at home to remain in finals contention. 

The first half played out as a back and forth forty-five minutes, with neither side able to fully gain the upper hand or create many chances. 

United had the best chance of the opening stages as a low cross found Jason O’Dwyer with the goal looming, but the forward’s foot was just shy of the ball as it came to him. 

The hosts looked to use their physicality to their advantage against the younger Centre of Excellence side, but the visitors held up well under the body pressure and matched United across the ground. 

The remainder of the half continued in the same fashion, and the two sides went into the break goalless ahead of an important second half for both sides. 

The second half began in a similar vein to the first, but after 14 minutes of the period the hosts found the opener to take a crucial lead.

This time it was through a well weighted cross to O’Dwyer again, and he made no mistake this time as he leapt up to direct a towering header into the bottom corner of Jordan Griffiths’ goal.

And it took just a further two minutes for United to double their advantage through 18-year old Augustine Bangura. The youngster collected an errant pass from the defence, turned sharply and then fired straight past Griffiths into the bottom corner to extend the lead with 30 minutes to play.

The visitors pushed ahead in search of a way back into the match, but were largely held at bay by a determined Gungahlin outfit seeking to keep their finals hopes alive.

The half ran out with both sides trading half chances, but neither could make any more changes to the scoreline as the match finished in a 2-0 home win.

The result adds weight to Gungahlin's already big clash with Canberra Olympic next weekend, while the COE look to keep in touch with Olympic and jump back over Belconnen when they host the Rhinos at the AIS.