Canberra United provided the highlight performance of Round 5 in the Westfield W-League, despite only drawing with Adelaide United at McKellar Park in Canberra.
Results – Round 5
Canberra United 0 drew Adelaide United 0
QUEENSLAND ROAR 2 beat Melbourne Victory 0
SYDNEY FC 2 beat Central Coast Mariners 0
NEWCASTLE JETS 4 beat Perth Glory 1
Game Wraps
Canberra United has turned in a fabulous performance to gain a point with Adelaide United in an entertaining clash at McKellar Park in Canberra. Canberra had to survive all but 9 minutes of the match with just 10 women, after defender Thea Slatyer was given a straight red card for a dangerous tackle on Stephanie Tokich. The Canberra players dug deep and while they survived a few anxious moments, they themselves went close to securing all three points. Adelaide-s Sharon Black was proving a handful for the Canberra defence throughout and had several clear chances on goal but found Lydia Williams too hard to beat. Up the other end, young striking sensation Ashleigh Sykes was also proving a handful for Adelaide-s defence, with her pace getting her through on goal several times. She too found it difficult to beat the keeper with Emma Wirkus, excellent between the posts, although Sykes did beat her once, but couldn-t beat the woodwork. In the end both sides were thankful to get a point.
Queensland Roar put in another dominant performance to dismiss the challenge of a gallant Melbourne Victory side. The Roar forced the pace for most of the game and had numerous chances, before opening the scoring after 33 minutes when Courtney Beutel headed home a cross from Brooke Spence. It was pretty much one-way traffic in the second half as Queensland created numerous chances, but it took a special strike from Tameka Butt to seal the points. Butt smashed a corner clearance into the top corner that brought the house down. Butt then won her team a penalty in the 73rd minute, but for the second time this season, Victory and Westfield Matildas keeper Melissa Barbieri saved the spot kick to keep the score at 2-0. The win keeps Queensland at the top of the table at the half way mark of the season.
The local derby match between Sydney FC and Central Coast Mariners at Campbelltown Stadium saw Sydney come out on top 2-0. With most of the players from the two teams, all training at the NSW Institute of Sport program, bragging rights were certainly up for grabs. Aided by a strong wind in the first half, Sydney took the initiative in the 23rd minute, when the competitions leading goalscorer Leena Khamis was on the spot to poke home after Lisa Gilbert-s header was blocked on the line. Shortly after from another corner, Gilbert was not to be denied, her header proving too strong for Mariners keeper Lisa Hartley. The Mariners though showed spirit in the second half and went close on several occasions, with Theresa Polias going close right at the death when he shot from a long way out, hit the crossbar.
The final match of the round, saw bottom side Perth Glory, buoyed by last week-s first up win, get off to a blistering start when Samantha Kerr showed her skills to get into the box, before setting up Marianna Tabian to finish from close range after just six minutes. But that was about as good as it got for Glory, as Newcastle hit back with three quick goals, the first to Kirstyn Pearce in the 17th minute with a cross that beat everybody. Six minutes later it was 2-1 when Kate Gill showed her aerial superiority heading home from a corner and within a few minutes it was 3-1, when Nicole Jones also heading home from a corner. To make worse for Perth star striker Lisa De Vanna was forced off the field shortly. Perth came out on the attack after the break with Collette McCallum forcing a good save from Alison Logue, but after weathering that storm it was Amber Neilson that sealed the points when she converted from the penalty spot after Swedish international Sanna Frostevall was brought down in the box.
Weekend Goals Tally: 9
Card Count: 18 yellows – 1 red
Leading Goalscorers
6- Leena Khamis (SFC)
4- Katie Gill (NJ)
3- Sandra Scalzi (AU), Sharon Black (AU), Lana Harch (QR), Lauren Colthorpe (QR)
2- Renee Rollason (CCM), Kyah Simon (CCM), Sasha McDonnell (CU), Courtney Beutel (QR)
