Liz Anton has had a good week. She captained the side against her former club. She scored the winning goal. She was voted Player of the Match and was selected for the Football Ferns. Anton has become an important player for Canberra. She’s a key reason why Canberra’s defence has improved significantly this season. Her good form and leadership were there for all to see in this match.
Canberra were marginal favourites as the players marched onto the McDonald Jones Stadium. Canberra United have an excellent record against Newcastle Jets. In the past, Canberra have won 17 times to Newcastle’s 4. Michelle Heyman has scored 21 goals in 25 appearances against the Jets and the last time the Jets beat Canberra in Newcastle was in 2018, thanks to a Courtney Vine goal. Of course, previous matchups mean diddly-squat on the day
There’s a saying in football that the mark of a good side is if they can play well below their best but still pick up points. On this evidence Canberra United are a good side. Canberra is struggling with injuries to key players and are down to the bare bones of a young squad. A hard fought victory.
Canberra came into this match on a high after the 2-1 win away to Brisbane Roar a few days earlier. This was another match where Canberra lined up against old buddies, this time McKellar Park welcomed back Chloe Lincoln, Sasha Grove, Grace Maher and Emily Roach. There was tactical changes aplenty in an interesting and exciting game.
If you look up the meaning of the common football term ‘bogey team’ you’ll find that the term refers to a team that tends to habitually beat another specified team despite appearing to be a weaker side. Canberra appeared to be the weaker side going into this match. Do Brisbane Roar consider Canberra United their bogey team? Probably should do.
If you add up the scores from the previous four meetings between Canberra United and Newcastle Jets you have a score of Canberra United 14 Newcastle Jets 8. So, expectations for a goal rush were high. Both teams also needed to get a grip on their inconsistent seasons so far.
On the 28th January 2017 Canberra United beat Melbourne Victory 5-1 at McKellar Park. Ashleigh Sykes and Grace Maher scored that day along with Yakari Kinga, an international World Cup winner for Japan. Hayley Raso played centre defence for Canberra and was booked. A young Nikki Flannery came on as a substitute along with Lisa De Vanna and Ellie Brush. It was the last time Canberra United have beaten Melbourne Victory.
On paper, Melbourne City v Canberra United should be a very one-sided game. Melbourne City are league leaders, have international players across the park. Canberra are young. But as Brian Clough said ‘ We’re a good team on paper, unfortunately the game is played on grass’.
Watching Canberra United without Michelle Heyman is a bit like watching Vera, without Vera. Or watching Unforgotten without the brilliant Nicola Walker. You look for her when the ball moves forward. You expect her to be lurking in the box. Something’s wrong and disturbing when she’s not there. Could Canberra cope?
After four rounds of the A-League Women you start to get a picture of how the season is going to pan out. After the Unite round Canberra United lie 4th with 7 points from a possible 12. This was a game of two halves.
