Canberra United’s search for a win extended to six matches as they were held to a goalless draw by Newcastle Jets at McKellar Park on a warm Sunday afternoon in the National Capital.
United Head Coach Antoni made two changes to the team that had been beaten by Melbourne Victory, Holly Murray given the nod in the middle of the park instead of Darcey Malone, whilst Bethany Gordon was given a first start of the season, Mary Stanic-Floody making her way to the bench alongside Malone.
An open encounter began with both sides playing some neat and tidy football, constructing through the middle third but unable to breach the respective defensive strongholds. Former Canberra winger Deven Jackson had the first shot in anger, a hit from twenty metres that stung the palms of James.
At the other end Maja Markovski drilled a low effort that made sure Jets ‘keeper Tiahna Robertson was alert. Tegan Bertolissio followed up with a half-volley that flashed narrowly wide of the Jets goal.
Bethany Gordon was pulling the strings in the engine room and, from her slide-rule pass, Sofia Christopherson forced a save from Robertson, and from the resultant corner Gordon hammered a shot across goal and wide.
Both teams were struggling to break through though, defences very much on top in the first stanza, as the teams entered the changing rooms all-square at 0-0 and the game very much in the balance.
United almost broke the deadlock three minutes after the resumption, Hayley Taylor-Young floating over a tantalising cross which Heyman laid off for Markovski. The hit as good, but Robertson was equal to it, the diminutive custodian diving full-length to her right to push the shot around the post.
Almost immediately there was another chance. Jets were guilty if overplaying from the back, the ball breaking to Heyman who couldn’t find the target from an acute angle, her lob drifting agonisingly the wrong side of the near upright.
Jagarinec turned to his bench in the 54th minute, replacing Emma Robers with Darcey Malone, Alex McKenzie following suit ten minutes later as she was thrown into the match, coming on for midfielder Murray.
Moments later, Canberra had their best chance of the match as Heyman challenged Robertson out wide, winning her duel but scuffing the shot at the open goal, allowing the recovering defenders time to retreat and clear.
Canberra were pressing forward and looking the more likely as Mary Stanic-Floody and Lillian Skelly were thrust into action with twelve minutes to play, but Skelly’s involvement was short-lived, the substitute forced off within minutes of coming on leaving Canberra to finish the match with ten players. Try as they might they could not break down a resolute Jets defence and had to settle for a point.
ROUND 8
Sunday 29 December 2024
Canberra United 0 Newcastle Jets 0
(McKellar Park, Canberra, 17:00)
Canberra United: 1. Sally JAMES, 3. Elizabeth ANTON, 4. Holly MURRAY (2. Alex MCKENZIE 64’), 5. Madison AYSON, 11. Emma ROBERS (25. Darcey MALONE 54’),12. Hayley TAYLOR-YOUNG, 13. Sofia CHRISTOPHERSON (20. Lilian SKELLY 78’), 17. Maja MARKOVSKI, 23 Michelle HEYMAN, 28. Tegan BERTOLISSIO (10. Mary STANIC-FLOODY 78’), 32. Bethany GORDON
Substitutes not used: 18. Coco MAJSTOROVIC
