Canberra United Academy v Canberra FC | Saturday, 5pm @ Hawker Football Centre

A crunch clash looms at Hawker on Saturday evening as the Canberra United Academy get set to host Canberra FC in a second v third matchup. The two sides are level on points, almost level on goal difference and both come in off the back of convincing wins in their previous matches. The Academy went behind early before turning on the jets and racing to a 7-1 win, but are set for a far more even matchup this week against the 2017 Grand Final winners. Karly Roestbakken and Laura Hughes have impressed all season and they will have their work cut out against an experienced Canberra FC midfield, while the defence will be tested by an in-form attack.

The visitors will be gunning for their fourth straight win following a five-goal shellacking of Woden-Weston last weekend but Mark Risteski will know it won’t be so easy. The Academy will be on their favoured synthetic pitch at home and that will suit their pacey style of play, and it will be up to Risteski’s side to stymie that movement and momentum. Lily Bardsley will prove dangerous up front having scored braces in her last two outings, while Grace Gill is playing herself into form after missing the loss to Belconnen in the first game of the season. With both sides set to be there or thereabouts as the season goes on, this battle will be a great insight into what we can expect come the pointy end.

 

Belconnen United v Tuggeranong United | Saturday, 5:15pm @ McKellar Park

Belconnen United’s perfect record is on the line and Antoni Jagarinec will be expecting his side to extend it this weekend against a struggling Tuggeranong United team. Belconnen broke away from Canberra Olympic last week in the second half to record a 3-1 win, and Jagarinec will be encouraged by their resolve after being challenged two weeks in a row. A win here would push his side 15 points clear of their opponents, ahead of an important meeting with the Academy next week in round six. With no injury concerns heading into this one the hosts will be clear favourites to continue their momentum at the head of the competition.

For Tuggeranong this will be a tough test against the defending Premiers and Grand Finalists, but will come in with fresh legs after Sunday’s scheduled clash with Gungahlin United was postponed. Before that they were humbled by five goals at the hands of Canberra Olympic, and a change is needed to try and reset their season. United started off last year with surprise victories over Canberra FC and this week’s opponents but they have had no such luck thus far. A match with Canberra FC looms next week as well and the beginning of the season could get very ugly for Tuggeranong if they lose heavily in both matches.

 

Monaro Panthers v Woden-Weston FC | Sunday, 2pm @ Riverside Stadium LIVE on BarTV Sports

Woden-Weston will be out to snap a two-match losing streak when they face Monaro Panthers at Riverside Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Since their round two clash with Olympic was rescheduled, the Wanderers have been dealt defeat by Belconnen United and Canberra FC, which while not normally concerning was amplified in the latter match by a 5-0 scoreline. That will worry Diego Elmoudawar and his young side needs to respond this weekend against the still winless Monaro outfit. Changes at the back will be needed after Canberra FC seemed to do what they wanted last week although Monaro may be more forgiving, having not exactly lit up the scoreboard so far. Woden-Weston have scored only four so far in their three matches, and Elmoudawar will be looking for more from his forwards this weekend.

For Monaro, they have had trouble at both ends of the pitch with a swelling goal difference of -17 already. A thumping 7-1 defeat at the hands of the Academy in their last outing was a harsh lesson in reality after they scored first, Zoe Szeremet capitalising on a defensive mistake to open the account. Scoring only two goals in their first four games is a big worry for this side, but the Panthers have a good chance to change that this week against another side that has struggled defensively so far. If the hosts can create enough chances for the likes of Zoe Szeremet and Alicia Meuronen then those two can do plenty of damage, but getting to the point of that chance creation is what they must work on this week.

 

Gungahlin United v Canberra Olympic | Sunday, 3pm @ Gungahlin Enclosed

Canberra Olympic will begin life without Grace Maher on Sunday when they take on Gungahlin United at Gungahlin Enclosed oval in a key clash for both teams. Maher is sidelined for what is likely to be the rest of the season after surgery for compartment syndrome, and Eddie Senatore will need to make significant adjustments to cover the playmaking gap in midfield. Olympic took the fight to Belconnen United last week but fell away at the end, and will look for a complete 90-minute performance this time out. Grace Field will come up against former teammates in the middle of the park and she had been exemplary so far this year, so a strong performance from her will go a long way to providing the spark Olympic need sans Maher.

United will be fresh after their non-clash with Tuggeranong, but have struggled thus far against the better sides in the competition. Losses to Canberra FC and the Academy in their two prior clashes have left United outside the top four, and Diego Iglesias will be eager for his team to get back to winning ways. They outscored the Academy in the second half of that match but the damage had been done in a 3-0 first stanza, and avoiding a start like that will be key in this one. An Olympic win here would leave them six points behind United after four matches and in an awkward spot ahead of a three-week span where they face Woden-Weston, Belconnen United and the Academy.