Canberra United has moved to fifth place on the Westfield W-League ladder after a record 4-0 victory over Perth Glory at McKellar Park on Saturday.
The win – Canberra’s biggest in its short history – sees it maintain touch with the top four with three rounds remaining.
In hot conditions, the home side made a blistering start when almost immediately from the kick-off striker Ashleigh Sykes launched a quick shot at the Perth goal. Glory keeper Emma Wirkus was equal to the task, however, as she made an excellent save with her legs.
Canberra continued to make constructive forays forward during the first half but was unable to penetrate the Perth defence.
The hosts received a fright of their own in the 32nd minute when Perth striker Lisa De Vanna’s shot on target slipped through Lydia William’s hands and narrowly trickled past the right hand upright.
However, their dominance was rewarded minutes later when Sykes snared her third goal in as many games against Perth to put Canberra 1-0 up heading into half-time.
United doubled the lead straight after the break when co-captain Ellie Brush headed home in trademark fashion from an Ellyse Perry corner.
The Glory defenders had no answers to the speedy Canberra attack as substitute Ellie Raymond came off the bench to hand the hosts a 3-0 advantage in the 77th minute.
And there was further disappointment for Perth when, in the second minute of injury-time, a wicked deflection off substitute Jaymee Gibbons found its way into the back of the net.
Canberra coach Ray Junna was pleased with the effort to keep a second clean sheet at home and promised there was better to come from his side.
“Hopefully this will give us a bit of momentum,” Junna said.
“I think we’ve warranted enough football throughout the year to be in (the top four), we’ve played all the teams currently in the top four so far.”
“We’re not afraid of anyone, we’ve matched everyone, it’s just on the day we haven’t won the game, finals I think we are well positioned and I think we deserve to be there.”
Canberra United 4 (Sykes 41, Brush 52, Raymond 77, own goal 90+2)
Perth Glory 0
@ McKellar Park
