Canberra FC 8 (Shaquille Chong 5’, 63’, Chantel Jones 23’, 36’, 42’ 50’, Grace Gill 59’, 88’) def. Canberra Olympic 2 (Ashleigh Clarke 22’, Nat McCann 52’) 

Four goals from Chantel Jones helped Canberra FC confirm their spot in the finals race in a thumping 8-2 victory over Canberra Olympic at Deakin Fields on Sunday afternoon.

The home side got off to the perfect start after just five minutes as Jones played in Shaquille Chong who calmly put her shot away into the bottom corner. Jones was then called for offside as she raced through shortly after as they turned the screws on Olympic.

Kailey Tonini held up well in goals for Olympic, saving first from Alice Churchill and then Krista Hagen in quick succession. Those saves proved big for Olympic, as the visitors equalised in the 22^nd minute. 

A looping corner was not dealt with effectively by Madeline Morton in goals, and Ashleigh Clarke pounced on the loose ball to fire it home and restore parity for Olympic. That would last only seconds though, as Jones grabbed her first goal from the kick-off, catching Tonini off guard and lobbing her from the centre circle.

The first half continued as a back and forth affair, although the hosts had the upper hand, with Siena Senatore roving the midfield for Olympic mopping up loose balls and defending well. Bridget Wright had a good chance for Canberra FC only to see it well saved low by Tonini, but Jones gave her side the lead soon after as Grace Gill played her in and she cannoned her shot off the crossbar and in. 

Chong had another effort saved well too but it was in vain as Jones completed her hat trick minutes before the break, heading home a bouncing ball that was not dealt with in the Olympic box.

After leading 4-1 at half-time it took only four minutes to extend the advantage for Canberra FC, and it was Jones again as she scored her fourth with a lovely chip over Tonini as she raced through on goals.

Six minutes later Olympic pulled one back, this time again from a set-piece as Morton spilt the ball and Nat McCann was on hand to rifle it home and cut the margin to three.

From there though it was all Canberra FC for the final 35 minutes, as Gill grabbed a goal with a clean finish before Chong notched her brace four minutes later. With time winding down in the match Gill found space in the box to fire into the back of the net again and seal the score line at 8-2.

With a place now secure in the four Canberra FC turn their attentions to a heavyweight clash with Belconnen United at Deakin, and Canberra Olympic take on Gungahlin.