NPL Capital Football: Pre-Season Wrap

With the first round of the newly branded National Premier League: Capital Football set for 10th March the ACT’s elite Premier League teams were in action across Canberra and beyond over the weekend as pre-season continued at pace and preparations of the new campaign ramped up a gear.

All the National Premier League: Capital Football squads with the exception of Monaro Panthers played friendly matches on Saturday.

The Australian Institute of Sport looked like securing only their second win of the National Youth League season at the AIS Track on a warm afternoon as they coasted into a 3-0 half-time lead against Brisbane Roar with, arguably, their most complete forty-five minutes of the season. Marc Marino continued his recent run of good form with a brace of goals before Dylan Smith tapped in the third.

The dismissal of defender Marc Ochieng on the cusp of the break proved the turning point though as the Roar regrouped at the break and emerged full of fire and determination. A backs to the wall defensive effort followed but the AIS couldn’t stem the tide and four goals in the second stanza saw the Roar to a heart-breaking win.

Canberra FC travelled interstate to tackle Dapto Dandaloo Fury, one of the top sides from the Wollongong area, and came away satisfied with their performance in a 3-2 loss. This Canberra FC side had a very youthful look to it and goals were scored by top prospects Aaron Evans, recently returned from the Australian Schoolboys tour to Brazil and Daniel Bennett. Coach Miro Trninic would have been buoyed by the display and the former champions are looking in good shape ahead of their season opener against Tuggeranong United in three weeks.

In-form striker Lukas Cole was at it again for his new club Canberra Olympic as Leo Exarhos’ team made it three wins from three in their pre-season matches. Cole scored twice for the exciting looking Olympic line-up as they won away at Warwilla Wanderers, 3-1. Experienced campaigner Robbie Schroder added the other, making it two in two weeks having netted against Wollongong Olympic last time out and with their Premier League under-20 and under-18 sides also claiming a victory 2013 promises to be a good one for Olympic.

Belconnen United looked in good form themselves on Saturday afternoon following up their 11-0 demolition job last week with a hard-fought 2-0 win over a highly regarded Tarrawanna outfit at McKellar Park. Youngster Michael Reeve staked his place for a regular first team start in 2013 by scoring a well-taken brace of goals for Steve Forshaw’s team who aim to go one better than their Grand Final runners-up spot last season. With a strong looking squad and a balanced free-scoring front line, the Blue Devils appear to be in very good shape.

Over at the University of Canberra it was Cooma Tigers who worked their way to a 3-1 win over Tuggeranong United on a difficult pitch with a thick covering of grass that made sharp-passing almost impossible. Daniel Beaumont struck for Tuggeranong, who welcomed back skipper Tim Ireson from injury, but last season’s Grand Final winners proved too good in the long run as the Tigers struck three times to take out the win. Jair Wilk hit two for the Tigers and Stephen Domenici, fresh from playing his part in the ACT Senior Men’s Futsal success at the FFA Futsal National Championships, added the other as Cooma moved slickly through the gears.

Over at Hawker Football Centre on Saturday evening Canberra City continued their excellent start to their pre-season with a highly creditable 1-0 victory over Granville Rage. City was in good form the majority of the match and thoroughly deserved their narrow victory, achieved courtesy of a goal from Sam McDonald who had struck a brace that saw off Picton Rangers a week earlier. City has yet to concede a goal in two matches and look like they are developing nicely.

The proposed double-header for Woden Valley away to Albury United and Wodonga Diamonds was unfortunately cancelled with the majority of the Woden squad unable to make the trip due to their pre-arranged Futsal commitments.

RESULTS

Dapto Dandaloo Fury 3 Canberra FC 2 (Aaron Evans, Daniel Bennett)

Canberra City 1 (Sam McDonald) Granville Rage 0

Belconnen United 2 (Michael Reeve (2)) Tarrawanna 0

Cooma Tigers 3 (Jair Wilk (2), Stephen Domenici) Tuggeranong United 1 (Daniel Beaumont)

Warwilla Wanderers 1 Canberra Olympic 3 (Lukas Cole (2), Robbie Schroder)

Albury United v Woden Valley – Postponed
Wodonga Diamonds v Woden Valley – Postponed

NYL: AIS 3 (Marc Marino (2), Dylan Smith) Brisbane Roar 4

OTHER RESULTS

Premier League Under-20
Dapto Dandaloo Fury 5 Canberra FC 1
Belconnen United 6 Tarrawanna 0
Cooma Tigers 1 Tuggeranong United 1
Canberra City 2 Granville Rage 4
Warwilla Wanderers 1 Canberra Olympic 5

Premier League Under-18
Canberra City 2 Granville Rage 4
Cooma Tigers 2 Tuggeranong United 2
Warwilla Wanderers 2 Canberra Olympic 3

Premier League Under-16
Canberra City 0 Granville Rage 2