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

The Canberra United Academy will look to build on a massive round seven win when they welcome Gungahlin United to Hawker Football Centre on Saturday evening. The Academy thrashed Woden-Weston by six goals to help push their goal difference right up and trying to keep touch with the top two of Belconnen United and Canberra FC. They will be without key midfielder Karly Roestbakken through suspension this week, fresh off a brace in the outing last weekend. Aoife Colvill was on fire in that match with five goals, and Gungahlin will have their hands full with the multi-faceted attack of the Academy side.

Gungahlin started slow last week and it cost them as two early goals saw them down 2-0 inside 12 minutes at McKellar Park. That was always going to be hard to come back from, but Diego Iglesias’ side responded well and dug in to prevent any further damage. This week will again be a tough task but it is important the visitors begin on the front foot, and don’t let the Academy in early. A slow start in this same fixture a few weeks ago saw the game all but decided in the opening 45 as the Academy ran in three goals, and preventing that will give United a chance at Hawker.

 

Canberra FC v Monaro Panthers | Sunday, 2pm @ Deakin Stadium

A three-match winning streak beckons for Monaro this weekend but it will be a tough ask against in-form Canberra FC at Deakin. The Panthers picked up a 3-1 win over Tuggeranong last week to follow up their victory over Olympic and are carrying momentum into a clash for the first time in a while. Having struggled to score for a while, two three-goal performances have helped to shift that narrative a bit and that will be important here against the league’s second best defence. Zoe Szeremet is in good form at the moment and the Panthers have other attacking weapons to call upon including youngster Darby Whiteley, who appears to have settled in at Monaro after the opening rounds.

Canberra FC are seeking a seventh straight win though and have been in inspired form since getting the whole gang back together. After conceding four goals in round one the reigning champions have shipped only two in the time since and are six points ahead of third spot. They also have the second most potent attack in the league behind only the Academy and average over three goals a game, and will challenge Monaro’s leaky defence massively. The Panthers have still conceded 25 goals this year and the last time these sides met, Mark Risteski’s side came out on top 5-0 winners. They will be favourites but can expect more of a challenge this time out.

 

Tuggeranong United v Belconnen United | Sunday, 2pm @ Kambah

An eighth straight win is on the cards for Belconnen United when they travel to Tuggeranong on Sunday afternoon, and they will go in as heavy favourites. Belconnen picked up a 2-0 win over Gungahlin last weekend with a fast start, and their goal scoring record is one of the best in the competition. That will test a Tuggeranong defence that has conceded the second most goals in the competition and struggled to attack up the other end. This matchup and a clash with Monaro next weekend really give Belconnen a chance to build serious momentum before heading into a stretch of games against top four rivals.

For Tuggeranong, they are still searching for a first win on the season and will struggle to pick it up here. Last week’s defeat against Monaro came in a hard fought contest, but with the side struggling at both ends of the pitch Monaro eventually came out on top. United have scored just two goals in their six outings so far, and it is hard to see that changing here against the stingiest defence in the league. They are now six points off Monaro in second last spot and need to begin picking up points quickly, and while that looks unlikely in this outing, one only needs to cast their mind back to round two last season when they knocked off the defending treble winners by a goal at Kambah.

 

Canberra Olympic v Woden-Weston | Sunday, 3pm @ O’Connor – LIVE on BarTV Sports

Canberra Olympic and Woden-Weston will both be looking to get their campaigns back on track come Sunday when they face off at O’Connor Enclosed. Olympic have lost four straight matches in the league and have fallen outside the top four and lost any semblance of momentum. A loss last week to Canberra FC was not unexpected, but Olympic played well enough in the second half to prevent any further damage after a tough opening 45. Meg McLaughlin has joined the side and will provide some more firepower for Olympic, and they still possess a strong squad on paper. This will be the first meeting between the two sides after their earlier fixture was postponed and will give a good indication of where the two are really at with a cycle of matches complete.

Woden-Weston were knocked over heavily by the Academy last weekend, and Diego Elmoudawar will be looking for his side to rebound here. The damage came in waves last week and the Wanderers need to make sure they are more wary against a dangerous Olympic team. Woden-Weston sit a point ahead of this weekend’s opponents, and level with Gungahlin United in fourth, but their goal difference took a big hit with the loss last week. Improving that is a key here, but they need to improve at both ends of the field. Cassia McGlashan has had a good season up front so far with four goals in five games, and the Wanderers need to make sure they give her the chance to make an impact.