Canberra United have defeated rivals Perth Glory in a tight battle at McKellar Park, winning one-nil in front of a bumper crowd.
Maja Markovksi and Alex McKenzie returned to the starting eleven, with Aideen Keane making her return from injury via the bench.
The visitors had the first real opportunity of the afternoon with a free-kick ten minutes in, but made it too easy for United ‘keeper Sally James.
United tried their luck with a long ball over the top, as Markovski and Christopherson put the perth backline under pressure but could not capitalise.
There were few chances in the half with both keepers relatively untested. Neither could really take control of the ball and dominate proceedings either, in a physical first opening stanza.
United shot out of the block to start the second half, with some brilliant build up play. The pressure on Perth was evident as United took the lead from a corner.
Crossed into the middle by Emma Robers, the ball bounced around the front of the goal before being bundled over the line by Elizabeth Anton for her first goal in green.
Perth had chances of their own, but did little to challenge Sally James, sending everything straight at the keeper.
Coming in off the bench, Michelle Heyman provided a welcome boost up front, letting off a thunderous shot inside the final 10 minutes that sailed narrowly over the bar.
The visitors started to build and created plenty of opportunities in the final third. An injury time free-kick from Perth was launched into the box, with James rising highest to claim the ball, and help seal the three points for Canberra.
