Palerang United Men took on Gungahlin United in Braidwood and a tough game was played out. Palerang United have had several injuries that have kept some of our experienced players out for the last couple of games but the younger players in the squad are stepping up and putting in some excellent performances to provide the team with some real backbone and heart. The game started with the more physical Gungahlin team creating some strong phases of possession. However Ben Pritchard and Mitchell Roberts provided some tenacity in the centre of midfield which led to Gungahlin United becoming frustrated with their inability to control the play. Troy Clark Keith Acheson Jai Gulia and Ian Raynor were awesome in defence with some excellent reads of general play that thwarted Gungahlin’s attack. Tristan Neate and Mitch Moon were starting to cause the Gungahlin defence some headaches midway through the first half with some breakaway runs towards goal. Mitch Roberts put Palerang United in the lead after a scrambled Gungahlin defence could clear the ball far enough and Mitch slammed the ball into the net from 20 metres out. Palerang United were excited to hit the lead after absorbing a lot of pressure in defence but Gungahlin started to bicker amongst themselves at the inability to get a decent strike on goal.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Second half was a torrid affair with Gungahlin getting a little rough at times but Palerang United younger team members didn’t take a backward step with Angus Bunn and Tim Corcoran making significant tackles to take down much stronger opponents. Midway through the second half a long throw from Ben Pritchard was launched toward the Gungahlin keeper and a fumble and missed clearance landed in front of Tim Corcoran and he had no hesitation in slotting the ball past the outstretched hand of the Gungahlin keeper and the score was 2-0. Gungahlin United were even more fired up in the final 20 minutes and the game kicked up a gear as some end to end moves provided the crowd with plenty of entertainment. Gungahlin managed to squeeze in a goal with 15 minutes to go and the horror of 3 weeks ago was firmly in the minds of Palerang United when leading 2-0 against ANU Blue and lost it 3-2 in the dying stages of that game lingered in their minds. This time round though Palerang United dug deep to hang on and take the victory 2-1. Awesome effort boys and one of your best performances over the last couple of years.
Next week the men head to Canberra to take on Weston Molonglo in what should be an entertaining game.
Palerang United Women Score Brilliant Win
Palerang United Div 3 women took on Belnorth in wet and rainy conditions at Hawker in what was an amazing game. Belnorth had a full squad of 16 players and our Palerang United ladies were suffering 4 absences. So our team started with just 7 players as a few ladies got lost on the way but rocked up midway through the first half. The Game plan was simple. Play within ourselves and mark up tight in defence. Palerang United executed the plan to perfection frustrating the Belnorth attack as they found it impossible to get a decent shot on goal. Unfortunately, Belnorth managed to hit the lead with 15 minutes to go to half time with a long shot that skidded off the greasy surface and accelerated away from our keepers outstretched hands. That fired the ladies up and Emily Malone managed to break away against the run of play and with 10 minutes to go until half time managed to score to level the game up 1-1. The ladies were buoyed going into the halftime break knowing that with the same effort in the second half some points were on offer. An excellent start to the second half saw Tamika Murphy give Palerang United the lead after a brilliant solo run taking on the Belnorth defence and squeezing the ball past the Belnorth keeper. Palerang United were ecstatic with hitting the lead and were pumped to make an improbable win possible. Belnorth started to take a little more control of the game in midfield as Palerang united started to tire and with only a couple of minutes to go Belnorth managed to slot in an equaliser to take the score to 2-2. A draw would be a great result under the circumstances and with a minute to go Belnorth made another determined run forward but Courtney Doyle took the ball off the Belnorth attacking player near our goalbox. Courtney then proceeded to take on the entire Belnorth squad up the right side of the field and after a 70 metre run dribbling past 7 players slotted in the winner with only seconds left in the game. WOW!! What an awesome and inspiring effort from all our players to play short 2 players and come away with a 3-2 win. Next week the ladies have the bye and a well deserved rest.
Our Palerang United div 4 team were also missing some players with injury and illness as they took on Queanbeyan City but an awesome effort from this new squad saw them compete really well. In deteriorating conditions as the rain pelted down our ladies put in a sterling effort to frustrate the Opposition into plenty of mistakes. The game went from end to end in the first half with Queanbeyan having the better field position but Palerang’s defence holding on. 0-0 at halftime and our ladies were looking for their first points of the season. Queanbeyan City squeezed in an early goal in the second half to take the lead but Palerang United managed to have several excellent chances on goal. Unluckily for us though, the ball squirted past the post on several occasions and refused to get into the goal no matter how hard we tried. Queanbeyan were neater in general play but Palerang United were determined in defence and a draw would have been a fair result however a last minute own goal from a tired defence saw Queanbeyan take the win 2-0. Some excellent performance from Matilda Corby Jaye Coble Kirsty Mendham Helen Davys Courtney Doyle and Neridah McMinn in a tight game. Next week the ladies have a well deserved rest with the Bye.