A hat-trick to new signing Michelle Heyman was the highlight as Canberra United kicked off their Westfield W-League Season Three campaign with a thrilling 4-1 victory over Perth Glory at 6PR Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
A hat-trick to new signing Michelle Heyman was the highlight as Canberra United kicked off their Westfield W-League Season Three campaign with a thrilling 4-1 victory over Perth Glory at 6PR Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The 2009 Julie Dolan Medal Winner and Westfield W-League Golden Boot continued where she left off last season with a devastating display of clinical finishing to which the home team simply had no answer as United got their season off to a wonderful start. The margin of victory means that Ray Junna and his team lead the way after the first round of action in the national women-s competition and will head into next weekend-s blockbuster showdown with Brisbane Roar in confident mood.
Having played twice in Western Australia before, both matches ending in 2-2 draws, United thus recorded a first-ever win on Glory-s home turf and the manner in which the points were secured would have pleased Junna. After an initial period where both teams traded long distance blows United was able to take the lead in the 34th minute when Heyman struck the first of her treble.
Perth have plenty of talent in their ranks however and hit back within six minutes with a goal to Matildas striker Katie Gill to send the teams into the sheds at the interval all square at one each.
It didn-t take United long to regain the ascendancy with midfield powerhouse Cian Maciejewski brilliantly converting a sublime cross from Emily Van Egmond in the 57th minute for her third Canberra United goal.
With a 2-1 lead United was able to dictate the tempo of the game and it was little surprise when the visitors extended their advantage with Heyman-s second goal in the 70th minute. The prolific striker then made sure she was packing the match-ball in her hand luggage for the flight home by completing her treble three minutes from time to secure all three points.
Whilst happy with the three points Ray Junna confirmed it took a while for his charges to settle into the game plan.
“We were a bit shaky in the first half but we shook out the cobwebs by half-time and in the second half we really played well,” Junna said.
“We were limited with space in the first half with our midfield being quite crowded but later we dropped deeper to open out the field and they were able to play. It-s an encouraging start and to come away with that result is fantastic.
“It really was a game of two halves. In the first half we were average, perhaps a bit too anxious on the ball and nervous but eventually we settled down. The second half was a lot better and we could have had more goals. Michelle (Heyman) could have had at least another two! We are looking forward to the home match with Brisbane Roar next week and are hoping to build on this start.”
Hat-trick heroine Heyman echoed her coach-s comments.
“It was a great start and it was really good to get the three goals so I-m pretty happy,” Heyman said.
“The service today was excellent and, to be honest, I could have had one more but my touch let me down. However, all the players stepped up and we had this fantastic start to the season. Before the kick off I was a bit nervous but after the first goal went in I got my confidence back and just went on from there. Now we-re looking ahead to the Brisbane game which should be another tough match.”
Sunday 7th November 2011
6PR Stadium, Perth, Western Australia
PERTH GLORY 1 (Katie Gill 41-) CANBERRA UNITED 4 (Michelle Heyman 34-, 70-, 87-, Cian Maciejewski 57-)
Half-time: 1-1
Perth Glory: 1. Tine Cederkvist (gk), 2. Stacey Learmont (15. Jaymee Gibbons 77-), 3. Carys Hawkins, 4. Sam Kerr, 5. Shannon May, 6. Alexandra Singer 7. Alexandra Nilsson, 8. Tanya Oxtoby (c), 12. Kate Gill, 13. Elissa D-Ovidio, 17. Marianna Tabain (11. Lara Filocamo 79-)
Substitutes not used: 16. Sadie Lawrence, 20. Kathleen Waycott (gk)
Canberra United: 1. Lydia Williams (gk), 2. Caitlin Cooper, 3. Lyndsay Glohe, 4. Michelle Heyman, Caitlin Munoz (5. Kahlia Hogg 70-), 7. Ellie Brush, 10. Emily Van Egmond, 11. Cian Maciejewski, 15. Sally Shipard, 16. Ellyse Perry, 19. Jennifer Bisset (8. Tseng Shu-O 63-)
Substitutes not used: 9. Grace Gill, 20. Jocelyn Mara (gk)
