After missing out on game-time in week one of the Westfield W-League United midfielder Grace Gill is determined to win back her starting position in the Canberra United team during the 2010/11 season.
After missing out on game-time in week one of the Westfield W-League United midfielder Grace Gill is determined to win back her starting position in the Canberra United team during the 2010/11 season.
Gill, who was a mainstay of the United engine room over the course of the first two seasons of Westfield W-League action, had to watch from the bench last weekend as her team mates defeated Perth Glory 4-1 to start the season in super fashion and saw, at first hand, the quality that Coach Ray Junna has at his disposal.
“It was obviously a decent result against Perth and while it wasn-t the prettiest game to watch we improved over the course of the match and will look to take that improvement into this week-s match with Brisbane Roar,” Gill said.
The elegant ball-playing midfielder looked in fine shape during the pre-season victory over Illawarra Stingrays at Hawker Football Centre and told www.can-beta.keepup.com.au that she-s in good form heading into the new season.
“I feel as if I am playing quite well in training and am pretty confident with how I have been going so it was a bit disappointing not to get a run and I am hopeful that I will get an opportunity to get a spot in the starting eleven,” Gill said.
“I definitely play a different game to the players that are in the midfield spots at the moment but it is, of course, the coaches preference but in saying that I feel I am quite versatile and can play in defence or midfield, pretty much anywhere across the field so hopefully that versatility will get me a run.”
This weekend sees United taking on Brisbane Roar and the challenge is to replicate the type of football shown in the win at Perth. The Roar tasted defeat in their first match of the season against Sydney FC last week but Gill is under no illusions about the task ahead of the team at McKellar Park on Saturday.
“We can-t afford to go in half-heartedly against Brisbane this weekend as they are always a very strong side,” Gill commented.
“They will be very competitive and will be aiming to win after coming into the match off a loss to Sydney. If we continue where we left off against Perth it should be a very good match.”
The squad has seen a few changes for 2010/11 with the three newcomers from the Central Coast Mariners joining a roster that saw young locals Grace Field and Sally Rojahn added to it in recent weeks. In her opinion Gill is confident that the squad is in good shape for the challenges ahead.
“It-s really good to have the youngsters with us in the squad and they have improved tremendously in the last month and they definitely deserve to be in the squad. The former Mariners players have done excellently as well with Michelle, Caitlin and Lyndsay all settling into our squad very well. We have the most competitive squad that we have had in the three seasons of the Westfield W-League and we are hoping to prove a point this season. We have gone close on the last couple of occasions and this season we are determined to go all the way,” Gill said.
Canberra United plays its first home match of the season this weekend as Brisbane Roar visit McKellar Park for Week Two of the Westfield W-League. Kick off is at 5pm and tickets are available on the gate priced at $10 adults, $5 concessions, with children under-12 admitted free.
