12 February 2018

RiotACT's Tuggeranong United bounce back with a big win! Eat that Canberra City

| johnboy
Join the conversation
1

RiotACT’s Tuggeranong United have clawed their way off the mat and recorded a massive thrasing of Canberra City 4-1.

Here’s Capital Football’s take on the round:

Loop Premier League
Round 4

Belconnen United has taken over top spot in the loop Premier League with a thrilling 5-4 victory over Canberra FC at a chilly McKellar Park. An 88th minute winner, sublimely clipped over the head of Canberra FC goalkeeper Ben Klug by Misko Naumoski ensured that the home support would go home happy at the end of an absorbing contest that ebbed and flowed.

The Blue Devils fired an early warning of their intent when Dustin Wells showed superb composure to control a flick on and cut inside before slamming the ball into the net to give Belconnen the lead. That seemed to upset the champions who equalised via a fantastic Michael Spaleta volley in the 32nd minute before heading in front when Danai Gapare headed past Rowan Shepherd in the Belconnen goal to give Matt Grbesa a tap-in. A brain-snap by Elliot Zwangobani, the veteran defender stepping over a scuffed cross, allowed Adam Spaleta to hammer home the third on the cusp of half-time and extend the visitors lead to 3-1.

Belconnen though refused to falter and hit back through Wells before Taylor Beaton thumped home from the edge of the penalty box for 3-3. Canberra FC’s response was to re-take the lead when Gapare finished when clean through before Naumoski fired a fierce shot across Ben Klug and into the far corner for a blinding equaliser. Naumoski had the last laugh as well hitting the winner with time running out, firing in a sublime effort that caressed the under-side of the crossbar to give the Blue Devils their first win over Canberra FC since the 2008 Grand Final.

Tuggeranong United stunned the loop Premier League on Saturday afternoon when they recorded their maiden points of the 2012 season with a 4-1 win over Canberra City that few would have predicted. With City having seen off Cooma Tigers a fortnight ago and come within four minutes of a surprise when at league champions Canberra FC in Round 2, many were assuming that the home team would have too much for the South Side battlers. But that couldn’t have been further from the truth as Jeremy Butler’s team tore into City and took a critical lead minutes before the interval wen Mark Shields scored his second goal of the season.

That had United in good stead and when Matt Menser doubled the lead ten minutes after the break the visitors were in dreamland. Adam Dobell reduced the deficit for Canberra City to give them hope of a comeback but that was quelled when Alex Weber ended his barren run with Tuggeranong’s third goal. Tim Stewart rounded off a convincing performance in the final minute with the fourth to finally get United off the mark for 2012.

Cooma Tigers moved into second place on the ladder with an expected 4-1 win over Monaro Panthers at Nijong Oval. The loop Premier League’s leading scorer, Alex Oloriegbe, starred for the Tigers banging in a hat-trick to take his season total to eight. Stephen Domenici added the other Cooma goal but the Tigers were left reeling at one stage when Aitamoit Mon scored for the Panthers to give them a glimmer of hope at 2-1. Oloriegbe had other ideas though and a late brace saw the Tigers home.

Finally, Woden Valley surprised Canberra Olympic at O’Connor Enclosed with a 2-0 win. Two goals in the space of a minute did for the home team with Simon Hinde and Peter Marlette scoring within sixty seconds of each other midway through the first half. The victory moves Woden into fourth place on the ladder after four rounds, level on points with 2011 champions Canberra FC, and only three behind the league leaders Belconnen United.

MATCH STATISTICS

Canberra City 1 (Adam Dobell 70’) Tuggeranong United 4 (Mark Shields 44’, Matt Menser 55’, Alex Weber 73’, Tim Stewart 89’)

Belconnen United 5 (Dustin Wells 23’, 51’, Taylor Beaton 59’, Misko Naumoski 72’, 88’) Canberra FC 4 (Michael Spaleta 32’, Matt Grbesa 42’, Adam Spaleta 45’, Danai Gapare 63’)

Cooma Tigers 4 (Alex Oloriegbe 12’, 79’, 83’, Stephen Domenici 34’) Monaro Panthers 1 (Aitamoit Mon 65’)

Canberra Olympic 0 Woden Valley 2 (Simon Hinde 25’, Peter Marlette 26’)

table

Join the conversation

1
All Comments
  • All Comments
  • Website Comments
LatestOldest

Great work Tuggies! Next week it’s Monaro at Riverside in Queanbeyan on Sunday. Thanks for the plug RiotACT!

Daily Digest

Want the best Canberra news delivered daily? Every day we package the most popular Riotact stories and send them straight to your inbox. Sign-up now for trusted local news that will never be behind a paywall.

By submitting your email address you are agreeing to Region Group's terms and conditions and privacy policy.