An exciting match awaits Adamstown Oval and Newcastle as Canberra United look to continue their unbeaten run whilst the Newcastle Jets will be hoping to find form going into the back end of the season.
An exciting match awaits Adamstown Oval and Newcastle as Canberra United look to continue their unbeaten run whilst the Newcastle Jets will be hoping to find form going into the back end of the season.
Last time they met was late November, Canberra United winning convincingly 3-1 on the day. Canberra United have since drawn their last two matches against two of the competition favourites – Sydney FC and Brisbane Roar – but this week they will be eager to grab their sixth win of the season as Jitka Klimkova looks to edge closer to United-s first bit of silverware.
The 0-0 draw with Sydney FC was the first time this season Canberra United failed to find the back of the net but with Ellie Brush back from suspension, Tarryn Hemmings will vacate centre-back and push back to the wide right forward position she has managed to dominate this season. Hemmings this season has threatened the defence with a number of dangerous runs which so often lead to goals for United.
Canberra last week showed that they can match the physical game that Sydney FC went out to play with their precision passing and fast breaks. This week will be no different. Newcastle will try and use their strength in the backline, lead by captain Arianne Hingst, contrasted with Lisa De Vana whose speed and strength is a threat to any defence.
For the Jets this season has been a bag of mixed results, having won their first two matches, Newcastle find themselves now on the back of a three game losing streak. Newcastle did have the week off last week but it would have been all hands on deck as they now have to play two matches in five days with a mid-week clash against Perth Glory. The pressure is on Clayton Zane-s side to get points out of these next two matches and with fresh legs and the return of former Canberra United midfielder Emily van Egmond they will prove to be a tough opposition to beat.
The match will also be the second time Australia-s top two goalkeepers face off. Lydia Williams will want to make it two from two in Season Four of the Westfield W-League but as Melissa Barbieri has shown so many times before, she is not easy to beat.
Canberra is only missing Chrissy Walters this week leaving Klimkova with a near full squad to pick from and with Christmas just over a week away the Canberra United girls will want to make sure they grab a win and stay on top of the Westfield W-League
Previous Meetings
19/11/2011: Canberra United 3 (Shipard 29-, Heyman 64-, 80-) Newcastle Jets (Simon 77-)
15/01/2011: Canberra United 4 (Munoz 3-, 78-, Heyman 19-, van Egmond 88-) Newcastle Jets 1 (Andrews 44-)
11/12/2010: Newcastle Jets 0 Canberra United 1 (Heyman 36-)
22/11/2009: Newcastle Jets 1 (Neilson 55-) Canberra United 3 (Maciejewski 10-, Tseng 78-, Hogg 80-)
25/10/2008: Newcastle Jets 2 (Gill 24-, 82-) Canberra United 1 (McDonnell 2-)
CUFC: 1. Lydia WILLIAMS (gk), 2. Caitlin COOPER, 3. Georgia YEOMAN-DALE, 5. Kahlia HOGG, 6. Caitlin MUNOZ, 7. Ellie BRUSH, 8. Hayley RASO, 9. Grace GILL, 10. Snez VELJANOVSKA, 11. Michelle HEYMAN, 12. Sally ROJAHN, 13. Nicole SYKES, 14. Ashleigh SYKES, 15. Sally SHIPARD, 16. Ellyse PERRY, 18. Taryn HEMMINGS, 19. Jennifer BISSET, 20. Aroon CLANSEY (gk)
*three to be omitted
Unavailable: 4. Christine WALTERS, 17. Leah BLAYNEY (both injured)
