Midfielder Grace Gill is under no illusions about the toughness of the task facing Canberra United this weekend despite the fact that opponents, the Newcastle Jets, remain winless in season 2 of the Westfield W-League.
Midfielder Grace Gill is under no illusions about the toughness of the task facing Canberra United this weekend despite the fact that opponents, the Newcastle Jets, remain winless in season 2 of the Westfield W-League.
Canberra travels to Energy Australia Stadium for Sunday-s fixture on the back of a record 4-0 victory over Perth Glory last weekend, a result that has revitalised the team-s finals chances.
The Jets meanwhile sit seventh on the ladder and are yet to claim a victory this season suggesting United will be favourites heading into what is looming as a must-win clash.
Gill however believes that the team-s attitude will be the key to success this weekend.
“I think the real danger is us under-estimating them as a side. And we are not going to go into this game half-heartedly.” Gill said.
“Although they haven-t won a game yet, we are just going to go in and focus on our game and hopefully come away with a win.”
Canberra have fond memories of Energy Australia Stadium having won their semi-final clash there last season when a Kara Mowbray goal was enough to see off Newcastle and, after seeing off Perth in such style, a repeat visit to the top four is firmly within their grasp.
“It does make a difference (the win over Perth) as we are now a viable chance to get into the top four, so this weekend-s result is pretty important so that we can creep up on Melbourne and hopefully get in there,” Gill said.
“We were very happy to come away with a win from last weekend and a few goals as well so we are looking forward to this weekend-s game.
“When we-ve had the chances in previous games we just haven-t been able to find the back of the net, but in last week-s game we had four different goal scorers so we are very confident in that department at the moment.”
United saw Ashleigh Sykes, Ellie Raymond and Ellie Brush find the target last week, aided by a Perth own goal, but it was perhaps Raymond-s strike which was most well-received showcasing the strength in depth of the talented Canberra squad.
“It-s a great credit to our team and we have a lot of depth and to show that we can come away with a 4-0 win with a bit of a depleted side is very good.”
Canberra United travel north to take on the Newcastle Jets in Round Eight of the Westfield W-League to kick off a double header at EnergyAustralia Stadium on Sunday with tickets available through Ticketek.
Canberra United Squad: 1. Lydia WILLIAMS, 2. Rebecca KITING, 3. Bronwyn STUDMAN, 5. Kahlia HOGG, 6. Ellie RAYMOND, 7. Ellie BRUSH, 8. Emily VAN EGMOND, 9. Grace GILL, 10. TSENG Shu O, 11. Cian MACIEJEWSKI, 12. Snez VELJANOVSKA, 14. Ashleigh SYKES, 15. Nicole SYKES, 16. Ellyse PERRY, 19. Jen BISSET, 20. Jocelyn MARA, 22. Lucy ALLAN
IN: 8. Emily VAN EGMOND (returning from international duty), 22. Lucy ALLAN (promoted)
OUT: Nil
UNAVAILABLE: 4. LIN Chiung Ying (injury – knee – season), 17. Christine WALTERS (injury – calf – indefinitely), 18. Sally SHIPARD (awaiting international clearance)
