Game. On. 2017. The official matchday program of the PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues Capital Football Season 2017
Cover Photo: Lawrence Atkin It’s a huge weekend of football we have on, as the PlayStation4 National Premier League Women’s reaches its peak with Grand Final days on Saturday and Sunday. The young guns take to the field on Saturday at Deakin Stadium as they finish off their season, before senior Grand Final day gets underway with the U/17’s at 11am on Sunday at McKellar Park. That match will be followed by the Reserves and First Grade, and if you can’t get to the ground, never fear! All three matches on Sunday will be streamed LIVE thanks to BarTV Sports, and you can catch the action on both YouTube and Facebook.
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Gritty win sends Canberra FC into Grand Final Gungahlin United 0 def. by Canberra FC 1 (Grace Gill 17’) By Mitchell Keenan Canberra FC progressed to a third straight PS4 National Premier League Women’s grand final with a 1-0 win in the preliminary final against Gungahlin United on Sunday. United came into the game with confidence, having challenged favourites Belconnen United right to the final whistle last week. Diego Iglesias’ looked hungry for an early opener as they worked the ball well in the front third, but a poor touch from Grace Field ultimately let her down after a silky back-heel pass from Ashleigh Palombi. Canberra FC’s all-important goal came against the run of play, when Grace Gill spotted Diarna Genovesi in yards of space down the line, and the winger delivered back to Gill perfectly and the veteran slotted home after 17 minutes. Gungahlin forged a great opportunity on the cusp of half time, as Palombi found space and whipped a brilliant ball towards Alex Lawrence, but the forward simply couldn’t bring the ball under control as it skewed wide of the goal. Canberra FC continued to press forward into the second half, and Gungahlin started to struggle as Palombi found herself isolated up front. As the game past the hour mark, Gungahlin’s urgency began to show with Iglesias’ side switching to a back three and throwing players forward. The switch nearly payed off, as Pennyfield sent in a well-weighted ball to Lawrence at the back post, but again the forward just couldn’t get the contact needed to test Jones, fumbling the ball wide of the far post. Gungahlin persisted to the final whistle with an onslaught of attacking pressure, but they remained fruitless in Deakin as they were eliminated out of the competition after an incredibly strong year.
Playstation4 NPL Women’s Grand Final Sunday 17th September - 4:30pm Kickoff McKellar Park
Belconnen United Catherine BROWN Jordan BUCHANAN Chloe CALLAGHAN Karen CLARKE Cara CUTAIA Michaela DAY Jessica GIOVINAZZO Nicole JALOCHA Lauren KEIR Cian MACIEWSKI Jasmine MAGUIRE Klara MANENICA Caitlin MUNOZ Samantha PRICE Ellie RAYMOND Amy SPENCE Madelyn WHITTALL Jessie WILLIAMS Katie WOODMAN
Canberra FC
Alice CHURCHILL Ivana GALIC Diarna GENOVESI Grace GILL Racheal GOLDSTEIN Kassandra GUGLIELMAN Krista HAGAN Hiwot JOHNSTONE Chantel JONES Millie MALLINSON Amy MCLACHLAN Hayley MCLACHLAN Gabrielle RISTESKA Georgia STEWART Kate THORNTON Marcia WALLIS Bridget WRIGHT Coach: Mark RISTESKI
Coach: Antoni JAGARINEC
Centre Referee: Angela Gray Assistant Referees: Carlina Mullett, Lashan Perera Fourth Official: Mitch Weeden
It’s that time of year! It’s here! Finally, we reach the zenith of the Playstation4 National Premier Leagues Women’s season! A rematch of the big dance in both 2015 & 2016 will see Belconnen United and Canberra FC meet at McKellar Park, and it is set to be a belter. So far this season United have proved themselves the stronger team, but their league contests have not been blowouts. Two 3-0 scorelines belied the flavour of the match, while the 1-0 win that saw Belconnen clinch the Premiership was an arm wrestled merely punctured by Nicole Jalocha’s first half goal. One must remember the Federation Cup quarter-final though, where a clinical night from United saw them finish 8-0 winners in a completely unexpected rout. That was a setback for Mark Risteski’s side and an outlier result. Canberra FC have being a side that ekes it out against the league’s stronger teams, but have at times played down to weaker sides. While they will undoubtedly be the underdogs heading into this clash, you only need to remember the sensational battle of last year’s Grand Final to know that this will be close. For United, it has just been another superb season for Antoni Jagarinec and his side. They are on track for the treble after taking out the Premiership and Federation Cup, and will be keen to make good on that here. They remain a strong side all across the park but particularly up front, where Maddy Whittall and Chloe Callaghan have turned into offensive masterminds, combining for over 50 goals this season. Stopping them is essential for Canberra FC, but Chantel Jones (if she plays in the middle) and Grace Gill will undoubtedly have their work cut out to stop the engine room of Belconnnen through the centre of the park. Belconnen United v Canberra FC in 2017 Round 4 Canberra FC 0 def. by Belconnen United 3 Round 13 Belconnnen United 3 def. Canberra FC 0 Round 18 Canberra FC 0 def. by Belconnen United 1
Playstation4 NPL Women’s Reserves Grand Final Sunday 17th September - 1:30pm Kickoff McKellar Park
Belconnen United
Grace BASSER-SILK Keira BOBBIN Jordan BUCHANAN Leah CARNEGIE Elouise FORD Olivia FORD Caitlin MUNOZ Sienna NOLAN Sam PRICE Madeleine SANFRANCESCO Marley SLATER Brittany SMALE Jessie WILLIAMS
Woden-Weston
Alana BAIN Jade BERNETT Ella BROWN Vanessa BURDETT Ari CASTLES Ash CLAYTON Jessie FOLKARD Freyja JACOBSON Nat LACEY Charlotte LYNCH Cassia MCGLASHAN Sarah MURCUTT Maddie PAULL Elena SCHOO Clare STEPHENS Susie WICKS
Playstation4 NPL U/17’s Grand Final Sunday 17th September - 11am Kickoff McKellar Park
Belconnen United
Gemma ALLISON Acacia ARGENTO Chloe BATE Grace BENNETT Alexis BOCKING Leila CRAEMER-BANKS Bailey CROWE Grace DAVEY Rhiannon DAVIS Krystal DOUMOS Felicity FUNNELL Daniella GASPARI Bella GIAMPAOLO Shannon HARRIOTT Steph HEDDITCH Emily HOFFMAN Clare MOLONEY Maria PACHI Anita PRINANGGOTO Chloe RUDD Bobbi SAYERS Anna WILKINSON
Canberra FC Team List not supplied
PlayStation4 NPL Men’s Grand Final Dustin Wells - 31st Minute
United clinch Grand Final win with first-half raid at McKellar
Belconnen United 2 (Dustin Wells 31’, Nick Dahl 45+’) def. Canberra Olympic 1 (Jordan Tsekenis 90+’) By Matt Nicoletti Belconnen United clinched the 2017 PlayStation4 NPL Grand Final infront of over 1000 people at McKellar Park on Saturday, with a 2-1 win over Canberra Olympic. Olympic came out of the blocks well and looked strong, but United had the first clear cut chance of the occasion. Jason Ugrinic got in behind the Olympic defence to latch onto a through ball but could only put his effort wide. Dustin Wells had a good chance as well shortly after as he threatened with a header, but Olympic held out and the match remained goalless. Daniel Fabrizio was brought down by Adrian Macor just after the 20-minute mark and the hosts were awarded a penalty, but Angelo Konstantinou did brilliantly to save Ugrinic’s spot kick with one hand. United took the lead just past the half hour mark though as they made good on their consistent pressure. Ugrinic made headway down the left wing as he tormented his defender, before cutting the ball back to Wells who calmly fired home to put his side up a goal. And in first half stoppage time Dean Ugrinic’s side delivered a sucker punch to double their advantage on the stroke of the break. A high ball in from the wing had Konstantinou rush off his line to clear, and Nick Dahl headed over the ‘keeper and into a vacant net as United took a strangle hold on the match. Both sides traded possession early in the second half and United appeared happier to sit back as Olympic pushed to get back into the match. Periods of sustained pressure saw them create chances, but nothing clear-cut enough to seriously threaten Finn Jurak in goals. Stephen Domenici was still causing trouble for the home defence as the half wore on but couldn’t make his pressure count. Olympic were thrown a lifeline in stoppage time though, as substitute Jordan Tsekenis powered home a strike from close range as the ball bounced around in the 18-yard area. A few nervous moments ensued as the ball hung around near United’s goal in the dying stages, but persistent defending saw them to the final whistle as McKellar Park erupted at the conclusion.
PlayStation4 National Premier Leagues Women’s Capital Football Finals Week 3 Fixtures 1st Grade Sunday 17th September Grand Final - Belconnen United v Canberra FC - McKellar Park- 4:30pm NPLW Reserves Sunday 17th September Grand Final - Belconnen United v Woden-Weston - McKellar Park- 1:30pm NPLW U/17’s Sunday 17th September Grand Final - Belconnen United v Canberra FC - McKellar Park- 11am NPLW U/15’s Saturday 16th September Grand Final - Canberra FC v Belconnen United - Deakin Stadium- 12:30pm NPLW U/13’s Saturday 16th September Grand Final - Woden-Weston v Canberra FC - Deakin Stadium- 10am