Canberra United and Adelaide United played out a goalless draw in the Westfield W-League encounter on a wet Canberra afternoon at McKellar Park.
The home side played 80 minutes with only 10 players but Adelaide failed to take advantage as Canberra lifted to be the more dominant of the two sides.
Strikers Ashleigh Sykes, of Canberra, and Sharon Black, of Adelaide, seemed the most likely to score, with Sykes, in particular, guilty of missing excellent chances she had created for herself.
The result sees both sides level on seven points from five games, keeping them in touch with the top four.
The match started slowly with both sides testing each other but a red card incident in the 10th minute opened it up when Canberra defender Thea Slatyer was dismissed by referee Casey Reibelt for raising her studs on Adelaide striker Stephanie Tokich.
Minutes later, a messy clearance by Canberra allowed Adelaide midfielder Donna Cockayne a chance to open the scoring but she hit the post with Canberra keeper Lydia Williams stranded.
Sykes had an opportunity for Canberra in the 26th minute after Cian Maciejewski put her through but she scuffed her shot with only Emma Wirkus in the Adelaide goal to beat.
Sykes’ pace was causing Adelaide a few headaches on the break and she burst through on goal for a second time but shot straight at Wirkus with 12 minutes remaining in the first half.
Adelaide should have opened the scoring just after half time when Canberra failed to deal with a hopeful long ball from Dianne Alagich, but Williams had the measure of Black’s attempted finish.
Canberra started shooting from range but efforts from Sasha McDonnell and Maciejewski were both off target.
An exciting break from Sykes on the hour mark almost gave Canberra the lead but her shot struck the near post, and minutes later her cross was desperately cleared by the Adelaide defence.
The game was opening up and Black raced away down the other end but Williams flicked her delicate chip over the bar.
Sykes had another chance with 15 minutes left on the clock but Wirkus was again the victor, saving low with her feet, in what was developed into an interesting duel throughout the match.
A snap shot from Black went inches wide with six minutes remaining, and it was becoming clear that the match would end in a stalemate.
Black took a free kick with the clock ticking down but her effort went over as Adelaide pushed for a goal, to no avail.
Canberra captain Ellie Brush headed over right at the death and the match ended 0-0.
After the match, Adelaide coach Mike Barnett was happy with a draw.
“I see that as a point gained, given we were the away team,” he said.
“These days teams that go down to ten normally respond because they have to make up the extra number and at the end of the day there were chances at both ends and it was an entertaining game.”
Canberra coach Robbie Hooker was pleased with a point but regretted his side’s inability to convert valuable chances, claiming that his side was in control of the match despite the numerical disadvantage.
“There was only one team that was going to win that game,” he said.
“I don-t know what Adelaide are doing, but they didn-t make a game of it to be honest – the only team that made a game of this was us.”
Match Details
Canberra United 0
Adelaide United 0
McKellar Park, Canberra
Crowd: 804
Saturday 22 November 2008
Referee: Casey Reibelt
Assistant Referees: Brett Woodford, Gary Vandeburgt
Fourth Official: Amelia Morris
Canberra United line-up: 1.Lydia WILLIAMS (gk), 2.Rhian DAVIES (8.Rebecca KITING 60-), 3.Amy CHAPMAN, 4.Bronwyn STUDMAN, 5.Sasha McDONNELL, 7.Ellie BRUSH, 9.Grace GILL, 11.Cian MACIEJEWSKI, 12.Kara MOWBRAY (19.Jennifer BISSET 92-), 13.Thea SLATYER, 14.Ashleigh SYKES (15.Nicole YKES 90-)
Substitutes not used: 20.Maja BLASCH (gk)
Yellow cards: Bronwyn Studman 22-, Sasha McDonnell 62-, Cian Maciejewski 86-
Red Cards: Thea Slatyer 8-
Adelaide United line-up: 1.Emma WIRKUS (gk), 3.Sarah AMORIM, 4.Dianne ALAGICH (c), 6.Kristyn SWAFFER, 9.Stephanie TOKICH, 11.Sharon BLACK (16.Leanne SLATER 87-), 12.Tanya HARRISON (5.Angela FIMMANO 75-), 13.Leah ROBINSON, 14.Donna COCKAYNE (7.Racheal QUIGLEY 68-), 15.Lauren CHILVERS, 17.April MANN
Substitutes not used: 20.Sian McLAREN (gk)
Yellow cards: Sharon Black 78-, Kristyn Swaffer 82-, Leanne Slater 90-
Red Cards: Nil
