Second meets third at McKellar Park as Sydney FC travels to the National Capital to take on Canberra United in Round 9 of the Westfield W-League. And with matches fast running out a victory for either side would put them in pole position to clinch a top two place, cement their top four standing, and give them a potential home semi-final in the last four.
It’s a match that definitely has the ability to entertain what should be a bumper crowd at McKellar Park on Sunday afternoon with the fixture being the last match of the season at United’s traditional home ground, which is going off-line to undergo renovations ahead of its use as a training venue for the AFC Asian Cup. Canberra will play their final regular season match at Viking Park in Erindale, the stadium which hosted Tuggeranong United’s recent Westfield FFA Cup clash with Hyundai A-League giants Melbourne Victory.
With that in mind Canberra will be hoping to leave McKellar Park on a happy note. The ground has seen its fair share of topsy-turvy encounters during Season 7 of the Westfield W-League with United having won once, drawn once and lost twice at the ground this season. A win over the Brisbane Roar was bookended by defeats to Melbourne Victory and Adelaide United whilst a last-gasp leveller from Ellie Brush earned parity against the Western Sydney Wanderers seven days ago.
Brush’s goal was her second of the season and despite a relative lack of strikes from the green team in 2014, thirteen goals in the eight matches played thus far, it’s still more than the Sky Blues have managed to date. A stunner from star striker Jasmyne Spencer to earn a late 1-1 draw with cellar-dwellers Brisbane Roar [we’ve never had to use that term to describe the Roar before!] was only the tenth goal that Sydney FC has managed all term. Seven of those have come from the boost of the livewire Spencer suggesting just where their threat lies.
Canberra’s defence will need to be on guard against Spencer’s pace and mobility if they are to nullify the main source of attack for new Head Coach Daniel Barrett’s team. Barrett took over after Round 3 from Alen Stajcic who has, of course, moved on to lead the Matildas’ charge towards the 2015 FIA World Cup in Canada. It’s been a mixed bag of results for Barrett since his appointment in late-September. Five points from a potential fifteen is hardly championship form but in this, the most unpredictable of seasons, a win in this match could set the Sky Blues up nicely.
Westfield W-League Round 9
When: Sunday 9 November 2014
Where: McKellar Park, Kick-Off: 3pm
SQUAD
1. Chantel JONES, 2. Catherine BROWN, 3. Julia DE ANGELIS, 4. Kendall FLETCHER, 5. Grace FIELD, 6. Caitlin MUNOZ, 7. Ellie BRUSH, 9. Grace GILL, 10. Grace MAHER, 11. Michelle HEYMAN, 12. Sally ROJAHN, 13. Nicole BEGG, 14. Ashleigh SYKES, 15. Tegan RIDING, 16. Lori LINDSEY, 17. Holly HOUSTON, 18. Rebecca KITING, 20. Melissa MAIZELS, 22. Stephanie OCHS
UNAVAILABLE: 8. Meg McLAUGHLIN (injured – season), 9. Grace GILL (injured – 1 week)
(Capital Football Media Release)
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