Canberra FC 1 (Brittany Palombi 65’) drew. Gungahlin United 1 (Charlotte Lynch 27’)

Canberra FC and Gungahlin battled out an impressive draw on Sunday afternoon at Deakin in a match with importance for both sides.

Both sides had chances early on in the first half, Canberra FC’s Brigette Wright denied well by Kailey Tonini on a long-range effort before Melissa Bunker struck the woodwork for the visitors five minutes later as she drove forward.

It would be United who struck first though as they finished off a sweeping attacking move with a goal. A cross-field ball found Charlotte Lynch deep near the by-line and she chipped the ball back across Georgia Stewart in the home goal and into the net to give her side the lead.

Tonini continued to play well in goals and she made some important saves to keep Diego Iglesias’ side ahead after 45 minutes.

The second half began in a similar manner to the first, with both teams pushing forward and looking dangerous as they did it.

A tough battle continued for control of the middle of the park and neither side was prepared to give an inch, but Canberra FC eventually worked their way into a position to equalise.

The ball came to Brittany Palombi on the edge of the area and she swept it past Tonini with a great strike from 18 yards out to put her side on level terms with 25 minutes to go.

The match continued in end-to-end fashion as time wore on, but the hosts almost stole it in the dying minutes as Alice Churchill was first to the ball at a corner but her effort went over the bar to ensure that the two teams would share the points at the final whistle.

The result leaves Canberra FC four points ahead of the Canberra United Academy for second spot, while Gungahlin United remain two points ahead of Canberra Olympic in a tight tussle for fourth.