Canberra United will be keen to get back to winning ways as they head to Newcastle to tackle the win-less Jets in Round 5 of the Westfield W-League this weekend.
Following their narrow one-goal home defeat by Brisbane Roar last weekend, Canberra United will be keen to get back to winning ways as they head to Newcastle to tackle the win-less Jets in Round 5 of the Westfield W-League this weekend.
United suffered their first set back of the season at McKellar Park in Round 4 when an early goal from Elise Kellond-Knight consigned Canberra to a home defeat and their first loss of the 2013/14 campaign. Indeed, Kellond-Knight-s eighth minute goal, sweetly converted after telling inroads were made by former United ace Hayley Raso, was the first goal conceded by Elisabeth Migchelsen-s team this term.
The hosts had plenty of chances to get back into the match, not the least of which saw Lori Lindsey hit the post with a penalty, but the overall performance was lacklustre and was missing the spark and drive that had characterized United-s early season form. The bad news for the Jets is that Canberra will be champing at the bit in order to rectify these wrongs when they head to the steel city this weekend.
And for the Jets, struggling at the wrong end of the ladder, this fixture could not have come at a worse time. Trounced 6-0 on the road by Melbourne Victory in their last outing, the home team will be acutely aware that their record against the team from the national capital is, to put it simply, abysmal. One win in nine attempts, and that was in the first ever meeting between the two clubs back in October 2008 hardly instills confidence that they can stop the rot.
The last time United ventured North to face Newcastle they came away with a terrific 5-0 victory, their best ever away performance, the score-line blown out with four goals coming in the last six minutes plus stoppage time after Raso had opened the account in the 74th minute. The Jets put in a much better effort at Deakin Stadium in the return fixture in December when a goal from Nicole Sykes, her first and to date only goal for the club, securing a vital win for Canberra.
Goals have been plentiful for Canberra in their matches against Newcastle, although usually in the home fixture, but it-s a trip that the club enjoys having won the last four meetings played in the city. However, tempering that enthusiasm somewhat will be the knowledge that despite this positive record, games between the two are normally hard-fought with Canberra having to pull out all the stops in order to win.
This is a young Jets team in transition and the logical conclusion would be that Canberra should bounce back from their loss to Brisbane and claim the three points to keep them in touch at the right end of the ladder. An early goal would do wonders for Canberra momentum and may put fear into the minds of the Jets. Elisabeth Migchelsen and her coaching staff will demand a response from their team and the players will be out to prove that the Roar loss was nothing more than a hiccup.
CANBERRA UNITED SQUAD
1. Lydia WILLIAMS, 2. Catherine BROWN, 3. Georgia YEOMAN-DALE, 4. Kendall FLETCHER, 5. Grace FIELD, 6. Caitlin MUNOZ, 7. Ellie BRUSH, 8. Meg McLAUGHLIN, 9. Grace GILL, 11. Michelle HEYMAN, 12. Sally ROJAHN, 13. Nicole SYKES, 14. Ashleigh SYKES, 16. Lori LINDSEY, 17. Holly HOUSTON, 19. Jennifer BISSET, 20. Trudy BURKE, 22. Stephanie OCHS
Unavailable: 15. Sally SHIPARD (injured)
LAST TIME OUT
Saturday 8th December 2012
Canberra United 1 (Nicole Sykes 35-) Newcastle Jets 0
COMPLETE RECORD
26/10/08: Newcastle Jets 2 Canberra United 1
10/01/09: Semi-Final – Newcastle Jets 0 Canberra United 1
22/11/09: Newcastle Jets 1 Canberra United 3
11/12/10: Newcastle Jets 0 Canberra United 1
15/01/11: Canberra United 4 Newcastle Jets 1
19/11/11: Canberra United 3 Newcastle Jets 1
18/12/11: Newcastle Jets 1 Canberra United 2
27/10/12: Newcastle Jets 0 Canberra United 5
08/12/12: Canberra United 1 Newcastle Jets 0
OVERALL: Played 9, Won 8, Drawn 0, Lost 1
HOME: Played 3, Won 3, Drawn 0, Lost 0
AWAY: Played 6, Won 5, Drawn 0, Lost 1
