bluedevils

BUFC 2023 Trials - NPL and BUDS, NPLG and BUDS and NPLW

Mon, 17 Oct 2022 06:47:08 GMT

Trial dates for our U13, U14, U16, U18 and 13BUDS male squads are scheduled for October 2022. Registration prior to trials is essential, with all existing and new players to the club welcome to attend.

For information on times, venues and to register, please visit our Trials page.

NPLW representative selections, 2022

Thu, 15 Sep 2022 09:32:23 GMT

Belconnen United would like to congratulate NPLW players who have been selected in representative squads for upcoming tournaments. Our emphasis on player development continues to achieve success and provide quality football opportunities.

We wish these players all the best for their upcoming representative duties.

The representative squads are for:

ACT Primary Schools (October – Perth tournament)
ACT Secondary Schools (September – Perth tournament)
NYC U14 (September – Coffs Harbour Nationals)
NYC U16 (September – Coffs Harbour Nationals)
NTC U18 (October – Canberra tournament).

Girls BUDS

ACT Primary Schools

Tahli Robertson
Emily Greig (shadow)

Girls NPL U14

ACT Primary Schools

Miley Hartig
Isla Murphy
Isabella Kane
Elianne Lum
Elliette Tate
Rachel Cooper

NYC U14

Liliana Altamore (shadow)

Girls NPL U15

NYC U16

Tara Howarth (shadow)

NYC U14

Gemma Toseland
Leila Billington
Eden Rodda (selected but injured)
Holly Conlon (shadow)
Natalia Cerne (shadow)

Girls NPL U17

NTC U18

Emily Daniel

Women’s NPL First and Reserve Grade

NYC U16

Pearl Tein
Tatum Mazis
Tia Burridge
Maddie Steinacker
Nina Zarevac
Sofia Palywoda
Reilly Yuen

NTC U18

Sophia Doumos
Jayla Murphy

ACT Secondary Schools

Ella Palframan (selected but injured)
Reilly Yuen (selected but will play in NYC instead)

We also like to recognise the achievements of our coaches who play such a huge role in our Club, developing our players as great people and excellent footballers.

NYC ACT U16s Head Coach: Matty Moore.
NYC ACT U14s Head Coach: Ahmed Ugool.

Thank you to all of our coaches for supporting our teams and congratulations to these twenty-six players.

NPL Round 19, 2022: Belconnen United FC v's Canberra Croatia FC

Thu, 15 Sep 2022 08:57:15 GMT

27 August, 2022

Belconnen returned to their home base of McKellar Park off the back of a frustrating drudging in their away trip to Canberra Olympic last weekend, which undid the boost that the side’s big win against 2 ^nd place Gungahlin United did for their hopes of getting out of the bottom echelon of the ladder.

With time becoming a very low resource in the final stage of the competition, the home side needed to keep their heads and feed off the home ground energy that led them to five straight unbeaten games at McKellar but with the foreboding task of playing host to a Canberra Croatia who has all but guaranteed the championship and have proven near impossible to secure three points against, only being bested once in eighteen match weekends.

The Blue Devils were looking to improve from the result when these two teams met last, succumbing to a 4–0 away loss, so an opportunity was present for Belconnen to make a point of their progress.

With a fully fit side to pick from, including inform Alex Connell, who would be hoping to replicate the immense performance between the sticks that earned him man of the match two weeks ago against Gungahlin and a frontline that has been showing a keen eye for goal when playing at home, the ball was in the Blue Devils court to showcase what they can do and maybe clinch a surprise result that would mean so much in the grand scheme of their campaign.

With the home side also providing two debuts to the pair of right back Jack Gallagher and midfielder Nate Tokley, there were some fresh faces to get excited about as well.

Croatia had a sizable share of control of the ball in the opening minutes of the half but Belconnen’s back four were showing some great composure to limit chances to strike.

The debuting Gallagher was subject to a lot of the early testing but was holding his own and would have been feeling reassured with how quickly the center-halves were shifting into aid.

The first real chance for a goal fell the way of the home side, too, with a nice play by Christian Kreskas to get past the defenders and drag the keeper up, before playing a cross in that saw the chance for a shot to be swung in but the keeper had stayed alert and got back into position to keep it out.

Croatia showed some great vision from a free kick just beyond halfway that they sent into the box, with someone there to head it across goal and very nearly directly into the feet of a lurking poacher, though it was sent for a corner. Croatia continued to press the attack, requiring skipper Izach Clements to reel out a very impressive challenge to stave off the threat, where he did extremely well not to give away a free kick in a very dangerous position and then, for good measure, Connell also had to show caution as he punched it away from danger, with one of the Croatia frontline taking the chance to at least ask a question regarding a penalty.

The game took a big turn and rather quickly. Belconnen managed to find the first goal when a breakaway run down the right flank gave Maxx Green the chance to go one on one with the goalkeeper and tuck it away into the opposite corner.

Tensions were palpable in the air and deteriorated fast. Christian Kreskas was given a red card for making contact with a Croatia player with his elbow in the aftermath of a challenge and, after a short while where the referee was unsure how to respond and let play run on, eventually called it back and under the advice of his sideline official issued the straight send off.

This decision brought an onslaught of very vocal disagreement between players, coaches, and even the supporters in the stands, where for a few minutes the atmosphere in the ground was boiling out of control.

After the game managed to get back underway, Croatia switched their preferred area of attack to definitely make use of the overlap. Belconnen put in a brave effort to try and hold off the onslaught, but couldn’t hang on long enough with the extensive list of things that had added together to form a lengthy stoppage time. Croatia received a penalty for contact in the box, although Belconnen were confused as the touchline referee had raised his flag for offside which seemed to get superseded in place for the penalty, which Canberra Croatia managed to tuck away from an equalizer before half time, sending the keeper the wrong way and slotting it into the right side of goal.

The atmosphere quickly deteriorated and the players surely frustrated, worked up and confused by the events of the last ten minutes, so it would be crucial for both teams to get ahead of the situation and keep composure. Both dressing rooms would likely have been dejected.

Despite the numbers disadvantage, the home side should have been keeping a positive mindset that they had managed to stage a very competitive first half, even taking the lead and forcing Croatia to play off the back foot and even though it would be frustrating to be tied in the interval, being level at half time is something to be pleased about.

The second half got back underway with both teams looking at the very least more composed and focused on the game instead of the atmosphere.

With the Belconnen defense once again proving quite stalwart and measuring up to the challenge, it was noticeable that Croatia were growing more desperate for a goal as time went on and the draw seemed more and more a possibility.

Belconnen injected substitutes Riley Brown and Bo Harvey into the mix as the game entered into the 60 ^th minute, hoping to inject some fresh legs into the attacking runs to maybe get another goal to regain the lead.

Harvey had some very promising touches that were looking like they could break the game open, but couldn’t find his way past the last ditch defense that was scrambling back to meet him.

Belconnen were being tested in the wide positions of the pitch but the fullbacks of Harry Menham and Jack Gallagher were holding strong, dealing with all tests more than adequately.

There was a moment where the home side could have gotten the goal to go ahead when Bo Harvey held the ball up well and then played a perfectly timed and weighted through ball to his opposite winger, Luke Velone, to get a run in behind and match up with the goalkeeper, who this time rose to the occasion and brought the ball to his clutches.

Belconnen continued this strong defensive showing into injury time, where the side made one final change, rewarding debutant Jack Gallagher with a bit of an early break after a very calm and composed performance in the back.

Despite a big late push from the away side to try and grab a goal late to go ahead and secure the three points, the game came to a close with the scores still level, Belconnen securing a point that will go a long way to keep themselves in the fight to rise up the table and secure a more secure position.

NPLW Round 18, 2022: Belconnen United FC v's Canberra United Academy

Thu, 15 Sep 2022 08:38:37 GMT

20 August, 2022

Belconnen’s women’s side returned home to McKellar Park with clear hopes for a quick recovery from last week’s loss away to 2 ^nd placed Canberra Olympic, which accentuated the gap to a 9-point deficit. A fair share of luck was required to run down this deficit, with the amount of games available to run that gap down becoming worryingly low with each passing match day.

With a big crowd showing and a good cause to promote with Pink Sports day, the opportunity to build some momentum arrived in the form of this week’s visiting opposition, a Canberra United Academy outfit hoping to make their way into the top half of the ladder before the season’s end, currently sitting sixth and facing a four point deficit to move up, so picking three points up in an upset would go a long way.

Goalkeeper Jayla Murphy got the chance to wear the captain’s armband for this match, as a reward for some very stable and reliable performances between the sticks this season.

Canberra United employed some nice passing play to get themselves an early dominant presence on the ball but with the defense keeping their shape well and the midfield coming to their aid, there were very few passes that weren’t being met by a wave of blue shirts to keep it under a watchful eye.

Belconnen worked their possession through the middle of the park, trying to find a gap between the Centre-halves to not much avail, though there was excitement early when the in-form Tia Burridge found some space for a run but the last-ditch defender managed to pry the ball away from her feet before a shot could be let loose.

Belconnen managed to get a goal to the good when some lovely patient passing play in the final third gave midfielder Sophia Palywoda the opportunity to turn and lose her defender, before sending a lovely weighted curled shot that got the best of the keeper and sunk just fast enough to sneak into the net, sending the home side into the lead 11 minutes into proceedings, the assist going to fullback Leah Carnegie.

Academy nearly closed this deficit immediately, quickly finding an opportunity to flood the box with players and finding a pass across goal that allowed the ball to be nudged home but the referee decided that a foul had been committed by the visitors in the build-up and called the play back.

Once again, they nearly had the goal to break even when they got the ball into a dangerous area and while someone got on the way of the cross and blocked it, there were some big questions asked about a potential handball in the box.

Academy were pressing high and putting the Blue Devils back four under an immense amount of pressure on the ball, managing to pry the ball away from their feet several times but electing to try and beat Murphy with shots from long range, which fortunately for the home side were fading off target.

Putting the backline through rigorous testing from all areas of the pitch, Academy were sending Belconnen into isolated corners of the pitch and then following through with some lethal pressing to win the ball back high but the defensive unit were doing a great job to get back in numbers and clean up.

Belconnen slowly built off of the back of their stable defense and worked their way back into an even split of possession and chances.

Academy almost found the goal they needed to level the game just before halftime, when a clever ball into the box gave one of their frontline the chance to get to the ball before Murphy, turning her back to keep Murphy out of the equation before going for a pass to a support player but, thankfully, Belconnen’s midfield once again got back to provide enough numbers that the pass was cut out and they got it away from the danger area.

Halftime was called with the one goal lead still intact but with ample work left to hold onto the three points against a team that is noticeably capable of breaking this game open with one well-timed play.

The defensive effort in particular was something the home side should feel pleased with from the opening 45 minutes, with the back four and midfield working well together to stay on track and not feel too threatened. In attack they would be able to see promising signs but in a game where a second goal could go a long way to alleviate any doubt from the contest, turning more of their possession into clear chances would be something to work on in the second half of the game.

In other fixtures across the city at the halftime interval, Gungahlin and West Canberra Wanderers were looking at a 1 goal apiece stalemate that would almost certainly guarantee Belconnen would not be finishing any lower than a podium finish and there were some worrying signs in the NPL Men’s competition with Belconnen trailing a strong looking Canberra Olympic side by two goals, meaning there would need to be a big effort if the Blue Devils were to build off the back of their massive win in round 17 against 2 ^nd place Gungahlin United FC.

Belconnen started the first half looking very promising in attack, showing a keen desire for a second goal to double their lead. They won themselves some early corners and got to test the waters of how Academy’s defense will respond. They managed to get their goal after one of the corners put the defenders in the box under a lot of pressure, the ball rebounding from a few mis-timed attempts to clear it from danger before fullback Reilly Yuen managed to get her head to it to nudge it goalward, doubling the home side’s advantage in the 55 ^th minute.

Belconnen’s attacking prowess was now on full display, with a lot more attacking focused passing and some strong runs into the final third. Yuen continued to be a thorn in the side of the visitors when she made one of these runs into the 18-yard-box and though she got beaten to the ball, managed to win it back with a lovely tackle, forcing the defense to try and stop her and giving away a penalty, which winger Keira Bobbin tucked away with a calm demeanor to extend the lead to what is likely an unassailable three goals.

Bobbin almost grabbed a double in nearly as many minutes when she managed to get rid of her defender in the box and get herself one on one with the keeper, though she tried to go for placement over power into the bottom corner and the ball couldn’t sneak into the goal.

As the second half dragged on, the defensive efforts of the home side were still providing a stable and secure control over the score line, not giving CUA too many chances where they could really put Murphy under pressure in goal.

Both sides injected some fresh players into the action, with Academy bringing on Angelina Babic and Belconnen bringing winger Nina Zarevac and the debuting fullback, Alice Holdom, into the action for Keira Bobbin and Reilly Yuen, respectively.

Academy had a free kick late in the game in a good spot for a chance to notch back at least some of the deficit and it was met with a very well-weighted strike, though Murphy was confidently waiting at the end of the shot to catch it without too much stress.

The game came to a close soon after, securing a comfortable and strong 3–0 victory to get their momentum fully back on track, ahead of a busy week where they will play their catchup game for round 16 on Thursday night, before playing again on Sunday.

In the other games, Gungahlin managed to get the three points against West Canberra and Belconnen’s men’s team fell to a 4–0 defeat that means that next week’s match back at home will be crucial.

The Belconnen United player of the match for this week, brought to you by the Cook Grocer, was awarded to midfielder Sophia Palywoda for her efforts in midfield, including her very stylish long-range strike to open the game’s scoring.

NPL Round 17, 2022: Belconnen United FC v's Gungahlin United FC

Mon, 15 Aug 2022 08:55:13 GMT

13 August 2022

The Blue Devils made their return to McKellar Park after a forced break due to the weather and, with one goal in mind for the final third of the season, to get themselves up the ladder and avoid ending the campaign in bottom position.

Playing with an almost full-strength side and only one point behind the two teams lying ahead of them and only four points behind fifth place, Cooma Tigers, Belconnen were in a position where it was relatively achievable to climb to a more respectable position but they would need to be rallying together as a side and coming away with several big results in the coming fixtures. The first team in their sights to get this uprising underway was a foreboding Gungahlin side in a desperate search for every single point they can get, to make up for the 8 point chase they need to steal the championship away from Canberra Croatia.

Gungahlin started the half with a clear intention to control the game early, putting some quick pressure on the Belconnen backline to stay alert and aware to a variety of different attacking approaches. Belconnen did well to stave off the early assault, and managed to get a counter-attack happening after five minutes of play, when Christian Kreskas managed to put the keeper under a lot of pressure, who could only punch the ball away and not clear his line, leaving the ball for Kreskas to connect with a second time and nudge home from close range for the opening goal of the game, to a huge reaction of support by the home fans and his teammates.

Belconnen was showing some great skill in passing the ball around and getting into attacking areas, piecing together some nice touches in a play that almost saw them double their lead in the 12 ^th minute, if not for a sharp save.

Belconnen keeper Alex Connell was having little difficulty rising to the occasion of keeping the visitors out early, picking up a lot of saves and overall touches early on in the proceedings.

The game was forced into a brief stop in the 14 ^th after striker Nicholas Abbott sustained an ankle injury that looked quite concerning, being subbed off.

Belconnen remained the side on the offensive as the game got back underway, with elusive winger Bo Harvey creating plenty of exciting opportunities that earned Belconnen multiple rolls of the dice from corners. Gungahlin pieced together a strong counter-attack that nearly brought an equaliser but Belconnen’s defense brought the run to an end through a foul just beyond the 18-yard box that earned captain Izach Clements a yellow card, though the visitors raised the question of whether that was sufficient. The result was a very well taken free kick that Blue Devils Keeper Alex Connell was once again quick on his feet to meet and keep out. Gungahlin continued to try their luck from long range, swinging in some very powerful shots that just faded away to the side of goal.

With the shots from out wide not proving effective, Gungahlin began trying to burn the Belconnen defense with pace but the two fullbacks were up the challenge defensively and were doing well to close them down.

Kreskas was still proving a handful for Gungahlin’s defenders at the other end, nearly snagging a second goal just before the half hour mark but struggling to add elevation to the shot, dragging across the ground and making it an easy save for the goalkeeper.

Harvey was also continuing to be a thorn in the side of the visitors, forcing them into giving away several free kicks to keep him under watchful surveillance.

Tensions were boiling over quickly, with another bad challenge on Kreskas that brought out a yellow card but the visiting coach was not at all impressed with the reaction after the foul, eventually earning a card himself after a heated exchange with the officials. Belconnen were looking the far more composed team as the half entered its dying embers, with the Belco midfield finding multiple moments to get possession back sharply, and their passes finding the mark at a more accurate rate.

The first half came to a close with the blue Devils still a goal to the good and, most likely, feeling the more confident of the two sides heading into the sheds. They managed to grab the goal they needed early and then focus on a very sound and solid defensive effort from all areas of the field but Connell in particular would have surely been feeling good about his first half effort.

In a live ladder, Belconnen were set to be moving up to 7 ^th if results stayed the same, with West Canberra Wanderers currently trailing Canberra Olympic but, for a perfect result, Belconnen would still be hoping for tides to change between Cooma and O’Connor, preferably into a draw.

First, Belconnen would need to hold on to the lead they had in the second half, against a Gungahlin United side who would surely be feeling the heat as their title hopes look to be slipping further away if the result remained the same. Belconnen would need to stand strong and put in a very resilient and tough defensive display in the second half to keep the clean sheet and three points within their control.

Belconnen were looking eager to build an even bigger deficit early in the second half, with Kreskas continuing to be the leading man in attack, creating two moments where it looked likely, but just couldn’t quite find the right execution. Gungahlin were pushing heavily in attack, finding a way to slowly build up more and more momentum, but Belconnen were staying in the fight in what was proving to be a very intense, back and forth half.

Belconnen managed to get a crucial second goal to double their advantage when a lovely ball played Bo Harvey into space, who dragged the keeper out of the box to meet him and then snuck the ball in underneath the keeper’s reach to creep into the net, with 23 minutes left to play. Gungahlin nearly got a goal a few moments later but the ball faded to the side once more.

As the half dragged on into the final ten minutes it was looking very promising for the home side, with the rewards of a very well-oiled defensive effort keeping the score at 2 goals to nil with time beginning to wind down very quickly. Gungahlin once again managed to get close to getting a goal but Connell was simply not letting up late, stalwartly holding onto to the clean sheet.

The game came to close with the scores remaining the same, Belconnen making a huge statement to the rest of the table as they grabbed three points in a big upset, and climbing from the cellar into a one position cushion.

Goalkeeper Alex Connell was rewarded for his efforts with this week’s Player of the Match, sponsored by the Cook Grocer.

The Blue Devils continue their campaign to climb up the ladder next weekend traveling on the road to face off with the team just above them on the ladder, Canberra Olympic, and if they can pick up another three points there, the final few weeks will seem all the more brighter.

NPL Round 13, 2022: Belconnen United FC v's Cooma Tigers FC

Mon, 15 Aug 2022 08:45:48 GMT

16 July, 2022

Belconnen’s side returned home to McKellar in round 13, to continue their campaign to slowly build a steady run of form and climb up the ladder. After succumbing to a late comeback that saw them drop two crucial points in their last home game in round 11 and after a resounding defeat away to the league leaders in round 12, the Blue Devils would have doubtlessly spent the midseason break working hard towards kicking the second stage of proceedings with a positive restart and a home game against fellow mid-table side Cooma Tigers was going to be a perfect opportunity to show what they are capable of.

With the weather being surprisingly clear and without too much wind for a fixture played in the middle of July and a decent crowd in the stands to show their support, there were high hopes that this would turn out to be a great game.

Belconnen showed off early with some impressive vision and creativity in their passes, while Cooma focused on attacking down one of the wings but full back Harry Menham was very confident in dealing with the early attention.

Midfielder Chris Fayers was showing a lot of confidence on the ball now that he has settled into the side since his mid-season transfer, providing a lot of leadership and creative control over the team, sending the ball past the defense several times and giving Belconnen time to play on the front foot. One of these passes sent Menham away but his cross could not find the target, although it did lead to a corner, albeit one that went to the keeper quite easily.

Tigers nearly managed to get a breakaway goal in the 14 ^th minute, with skillful striker Kofi Danning showing some quick footwork to draw in several defenders in the 18-yard box and then send the ball into space for the lurking winger Josh Gulevski, who struck the ball but couldn’t control it enough to keep it down, the ball sailing over the top of the bar and away for a goal-kick.

As the half dragged on, the visitors got themselves more and more of the possession but neither side were finding it easy to translate a play into a real chance. There was a chance for Kreskas to turn a run into a goal but the shot was well wide from the target and the visitors were showing that they were quite happy to slow the pace down and let patient passing play define the half more than anything. Kreskas had the chance for another barnstorming run where the defense was staggering to keep up. Kreskas moved into the middle and took a strike from just beyond 22 yards and, while the defender was able to stand tall and block the shot, there were very strong appeals for a handball that were not given any merit from the officials.

Tigers had the better of the chances as the half continued, giving the Belconnen back four and keeper some work to do but most of their attacking play did not result in much more than a save from Belconnen’s Zac Pagan.

The breakthrough nearly happened when Gulevski managed to get away from Menham and run the ball into the box, showing some nice feet to get past the centre-back and draw Pagan’s attention, before squaring it for his other winger who got a clean strike at it but the ball crashed into the cross-bar and over for another goal kick, by far the clearest chance for a opening goal all half.

Belconnen had one final play before the halftime break, where they had their own chance to try and get the first goal of the game before the halftime team talks, with Maxx Green getting a clean strike and trying his luck from range and while the crowd got excited by the shot, it was wayward to the left and sailed off target.

With no goals in the first half of proceedings and few chances that stood out as great opportunities for said breakthrough, both teams would be reevaluating their strategy and making changes in the short time they had to reconvene in the sheds. While both teams could boast some positive passing play and strong defense that for the most part was proving infallible, attacking wise both teams would surely have more to offer. It would either be a matter of showing a great deal of patience while they wait for a mistake, or a change in game plan, to properly break this game into a more exciting one. With bottom of the table West Canberra seemingly holding their own and in a position of a possible upset victory over 2 ^nd placed Gungahlin, both sides in this matchup would have to be worried that that could go a long way in helping the Wanderers catch up and potentially leap-frog both sides, so a draw or even loss would mean a lot of trouble for a desired surge up table.

The visitors had a few chances very early into the second half where they could have broken this game open, with the attacking intensity noticeably ramped up from the break. Surviving a few shots on target in quick succession and a few corners that attackers managed to get their head to but couldn’t keep down low enough to be on target, Belconnen did well to not concede, but were finding it difficult to hit back with counter-attacks.

After a few minutes of positive attack, the game once again came to a much slower pace. Belconnen won a free kick, which they delivered well into the box and, although it went to a Tigers defender, he couldn’t control the ball and it deflected away and snuck into the net, providing the opening goal as the Blue Devils went a goal to the good.

Cooma managed to get a equalizer a few minutes later, however, when a nice cross to their striker gave him a chance to show some nice control and a simple shot to poke it home past Pagan and get it in the net. A few minutes later Belconnen pieced together some very positive passing play to create a chance, with a great cross into the center, where MaxxGreen was waiting. There were big calls for a penalty when he got some very heavy contact from the centre-backs, causing the header to go wayward, but the officials were not interested,

New signing Bo Harvey was injected into the game as the time passed beyond the 60 minute mark, with both teams now playing much more open, expansive and attacking play. Tensions were also beginning to rise, with several bookings handed out as both teams got more aggressive in their pressing.

The visitors almost found a second when a misguided pass from Zach Maybury gave them time to set themselves, however they took too many touches before backing themselves to shoot and Zac Pagan was able to get to the ball and punch it away for a corner which didn’t amount to much.

Tigers had their own opportunity where they had strong appeals for a penalty, getting a corner that they could have potentially turned into a match winner but the Belconnen defenders were in position to block a bicycle kick and then stand strong to also be there as a wall against the follow-up shot. They had another corner in the 78 ^th minute that went too deep to get a clean shot, however the player the cross did fall to let loose with a shot that looked like it could have been a handball from the Belconnen defense, which wasn’t given.

Belconnen tried to inject one last breath of life into their attack, bringing on Juan Sebastian Ospina into the fray to close out proceedings and he showed an immediate effect when he did some nice hold-up play and good awareness to draw a foul in a promising position. Although the initial delivery of the freekick was not particularly promising, Belconnen did well to retain possession and send another cross into the box, where Ospina was waiting and got down low to make a header that managed to sneak past every defender and even the keeper, sneaking into the bottom left corner for a crucial and surely match-winning, goal in the 86 ^th minute, causing McKellar Park to erupt in cheers.

With Tigers pressing very heavily for a chance, Fayers conceded a foul and a yellow card from just beyond halfway. The Tigers sent the free kick long and straight into the box, where Alex Wilson was able to get a head to it and nudge it into the net, Belconnen left with no option but to watch it fall, and two of their points slip away.

Having to settle for a 2–2 draw, both sides stay stuck in place and, with Belconnen having to go on the road to face Canberra Olympic next week, those two points are bound to crucial as the season progresses.

Harry Southam picked up this week’s Belconnen United Player of the match, courtesy of the Cook Grocer.

WNPL Round 12, 2022: Belconnen United FC v's Canberra Croatia FC

Mon, 15 Aug 2022 08:32:23 GMT

2 July, 2022

Belconnen United’s womens side returned home to McKellar Park for an important match up against the top of the ladder and currently unbeaten, Canberra Croatia side. With the clouds offering a foreboding atmosphere the stands were filled regardless and the Blue Devils entered into a game where three points could spark a shake-up in the pecking order at the top of the ladder at the halfway mark of the campaign.

However, the visiting Canberra Croatia side had a near perfect record in the league so far this season and would certainly not be aiming to allow one of their closest competitors put a blemish on it now, so the stakes were set for a very crucial game for both squads.

The sides traded shot to shot in the opening stages, giving both defenses some early work but Belconnen’s efforts in winning the ball high up the pitch was noticeably giving them time on the ball to consider their options.

Croatia’s defensive back four were up the challenge however, making sure that whenever the home side considered a drive into the box they were met with an ample abundance of traffic to struggle to move through. There was a moment in the 10 ^th minute where a nice breakaway run by Belconnen's winger gave the opportunity to link up with fellow winger Reilly Yuen but some contact from the last ditch defense prevented Yuen from having a clear chance and the ref cleared it as clean contact.

Croatia managed to get the first goal of proceedings when they won a corner in the 14 ^th minute which fullback Rebecca Kiting managed to get a decisive header to, knocking it into the net from around 7 metres out. The goal sparked a mountain of possession and pressure from the visiting side that started to take full control of the pace of the game. While during the first 10 minutes Belconnen were winning the ball in midfield and getting themselves time to set themselves, now they were being marked out and possession stolen away with much more authority. In the moments where they could mount a moment of pressure, it seemed the Croatia defense were having a difficult time.

Belconnen won a series of consecutive throw-ins deep in the attacking half in the 25 ^th minute, which were nearly turned into a goal, after two very nice looking long throw-ins gave the home side a glimpse. The breakthrough nearly came after one of these moments resulted in a corner that the keeper got hands to but the pressure from the nearest Belconnen player, center back Karen Clarke, caused her to let it go, rebounding back into play for Zaravac, the keeper reacting fast enough to get her hands to it again, this time carrying it away and snuffing out the chance.

Belconnen were getting more and more confident in their go forward from this moment on, though, continuing to ask several questions of the defense.

Croatia very nearly diminished this comeback fire a few minutes later, however, when a long shot from beyond the 18 yard box threatened to go in but couldn’t sink back down, sailing over the bar. Belconnen responded with a long range effort themselves, with the added flair of the shot coming from out wide as well as from distance and the shot had more than effort curl to be on target but the ball wasn’t flying with nearly enough pace for the keeper to have any concerns getting into position to wait for it.

Croatia did manage to double their lead soon, however, when the already on the scoresheet Kiting managed to time a through ball past the defense perfectly for her winger Brittany Palombi and, while the home side and many of the supporters had initially had questions the winger might have been offside, the linesman had noticed she was not and the winger managed to square it for her opposite winger, Anna Ross, to poke it home to extend the lead to two goals in the 36 ^th minute. They very nearly turned it into three just before stoppage time, when another corner led to a golden strike but Belconnen keeper Jayla Murphy rose above all traffic and got a hand to it to guide it over the bar.

Belco striker, Tahlia Backhouse, had a chance to try and get one of these goals back with Belconnen’s best opportunity of the half during stoppage time but, while she managed to get the ball past the last ditch defense, the officials deemed there was enough contact to warrant a free kick, ending the move before she could take a shot on goal.

With some nice passing plays when they had the opportunity to and some nice high pressing defense at times as well, the home side must have been feeling very frustrated by the score line in the interval. With only one shot on target and the high pressing defense creating a moment of disjointed defense that the visiting front line took full advantage of, this first half could also serve as evidence that you simply cannot afford to make mistakes, as the league-leading Croatia can turn them into a nightmare.

Heading back into the second half, the home side were looking far more confident on the ball. This improvement was almost completely side tracked when Palombi almost bagged a goal of her own in the 49 ^th , forcing a good save out of Jayla Murphy and winning Croatia a few consecutive corners.

With opportunities to get more control over the pace and tempo, the Blue Devils started to break through the pressure and begin making inroads towards closing the deficit. With the wind now at their behest, Belconnen saw a major increase in opportunities to take a strike on goal and had several moments where the opposing keeper was left with a lot of work to do to keep it out.

Murphy was still required to be at the top of her game, however, as another moment once again nearly saw Croatia extend their lead to three, with a chance that saw Murphy needing to make three consecutive saves and the ball still crept towards goal but by this time one of the fullbacks had gotten back and could clear it away for a corner, which came to nothing.

Belco midfielder, Olivia Bomford, nearly secured the home side their first goal of proceedings, having to settle for a corner but the home side took this corner for full advantage, supplying a well-weighted cross into the box that floated in the air long enough to give Belconnen time to get there, with center back Karen Clarke nudging it goalwards and getting a very important first goal of the game for Belconnen, cutting the deficit in half with 22 more minutes on the clock.

With a clear boost to confidence once more, Belconnen continued to push, now eclipsing Croatia in regards to shots on target but none could manage to sneak their way past a keeper that was very determined to not see the lead disintegrate completely.

Not only were the home side able to see more golden chances to equalize, they were a wide variety of different opportunities, as well. They won a free kick in a very advantageous position which striker Tahlia Backhouse very nearly turned into the leveler, but the keeper once again brought a top tier save to the table to deny it. The wind picking up was having a noticeable effect on the ball, with Croatia struggling to utilize the aerial passes they were using to full effect in the first half. A cross from out wide very nearly ended up turning into the equalizer as the wind took it off course and nearly dragged it all the way into the net, but once again the keeper was not going to let the lead go. Despite a very positive attacking onslaught, the goal simply never arrived, as the game entered into stoppage time and then to a end, the league leaders managing to hold on to that crucial second goal and secure the three points.

After a first half that was frustrating, a positive to take away was that the home side proved in the second half that they clearly have the ability to match it with the best of the competition, very nearly clawing their way back in to proceedings and simply being bested by bad luck by the end of the half.

Heading back onto the road in round 13 now looking to make up for the three lost points here, the Blue Devils prepare to face off against a struggling Wagga City side, desperate to turn their season around, and with both Croatia and 2 ^nd placed Canberra Olympic with difficult games in round 13, Belconnen could potentially set themselves back on track with a strong win.

Fullback Stephenie Leijins was awarded this week’s Belconnen United Player of the Match, securing a $50 voucher to Belconnen United sponsor the Cook Grocer.

NPL Round 11, 2022: Belconnen United FC v's Canberra Olympic FC

Mon, 15 Aug 2022 07:56:10 GMT

25 June, 2022

Belconnen return back to McKellar looking positive, and hoping to build off of the three points they secured at home two weeks ago in round 9, where they put some distance between themselves and the bottom of the table. Although succumbing to a convincing defeat in between games when they fell to a red-hot Gungahlin United side, The Blue Devils entered into this game with hopes high that they could make further ground on their opponents Canberra Olympic FC, with only point to split them. With fourth placed O’Conner Knights set to play a Monaro side they could struggle with, the opportunity is ripe in this round for any of the pursuing three sides to take the spot and rocket into the top half of the league, so both Belconnen and Olympic entered into the matchup well aware that three points could be a even further statement that their season was back on track.

Belconnen pushed a very early advantage to start the game, creating themselves a ample selection of different ways they could have scored an early lead, but for the most part the visiting defense were being stalwart early.

Belconnen’s method of choice in these moments were the aerial balls in behind the defensive line that worked so well for them against West Canberra in round 9, and the wingers were finding plenty of space from these plays. Olympic were not starved for chances, but Belconnen’s defense were just as strong.

Belconnen had a fantastic opportunity just past 22 minutes played when fullback Harry Menham showed some great feet in the box to clear away from his marker and give himself time to squeeze the ball past the keeper, where habitual goal-scorer Max Green lied in waiting to poke it through for another for the campaign.

Belconnen built of the back of this goal with some very positive attacking play, creating a few chances they could have extended it to a two-goal lead but couldn’t find the end result.

The in-form duo of Chrisitan Kreskas and Chris Reay were turning any turn of possession into a threat on goal, while the back four and new recruit midfielder Chris Fayers were proving a stable force at the back. Max Green almost bagged a second for the game when a good team move won the side a corner, where Kreskas managed to win the header and square it for Green who went for flair with an over the head volley that just crept over the bar.

Kreskas continued to be a thorn in Gungahlin's side, creating a chance for himself to strike but mis-timing the connection, and earning the side some corners to assert control of possession and momentum. Both sides were animated late in the half, with Olympic showing frustration when a yellow card was issued just before stoppage time.

Belconnen managed to capitalize on this frustration a minute later, when a ball out wide gave Kreskas enough time to put in a very good cross that managed to get away from the keeper and find Max Green, who once again poked it home to grab his second of the game and give the home side a big lead heading into the second half.

With a very solid performance from the Blue Devils across the park, they entered into the break with a firm grip on the game and a promising lead. The usual standouts were in top form, strong performances across the pitch where every player was chiming in with promising additions to both attack and defense, Belco would certainly have been hoping to just maintain their composure and continue the effort shown and the three points could put them in the prime position to move to at least fifth on the table, if not up into the top half of the ladder into fourth. In other games, Western Canberra were holding onto a surprising 2:1 lead over the other team in pursuit for fourth spot, Cooma Tigers, and O’Conner Knights and Monaro were locked in a goalless stalemate, so if Belconnen could hang on to the two goal lead and lock in the three points, they could go as high as fourth place by the end of the afternoon.

Green was showing very nice touches early in the second half, motivated to complete the hattrick in style, but Belconnen as a whole were continuing to look a very threatening side in front of goal. Menham nearly managed to get his second assist of the game in the 53 ^rd minute but the ball couldn’t quite find Chris Reay’s feet and the next Belconnen player couldn’t make a good enough connection with the ball to question the keeper.

Olympic were getting a few chances, including a very promising moment when winger, and former Belconnen player, Luca Florez tried a overhead volley of his own that got as close as hitting the cross bar.

As the game entered into the final third of proceedings the live ladder was showing Belconnen jumping into fourth spot, as Monaro had gone a goal to the good against O’Conner in their matchup between third and fourth.

Olympic had a alteration to their side as the time began to run out for a potential comeback, bringing in two substitutions to the mix.

Belconnen also made a substitution, bringing in new signing Bo Harvey into the game for his debut for the Blue Devils, recently acquired from Woden. The game was unfortunately brought to a halt a few moments later when recently subbed on Olympic player Mark Shields picked up an injury and had to be subbed back off for David Russell. Max Green had a chance where he could have made it three but couldn’t find the contact he was looking for, putting in a much heavier touch than required and making it a easy save for the goalkeeper.

New signing Bo Harvey nearly picked up a goal for himself, with the crowd very much behind him as he made a well-timed run that gave himself a 1v1 with the keeper, but the keeper held his nerve and managed to keep the shot out.

Olympic was awarded a penalty in the 77 ^th minute, when there was a push inside the box, which Alan James converted from the spot to give Olympic a real chance to get back into the game late.

The atmosphere around the stadium was a more nervous one as the game entered into the final ten minutes, as Olympic began creating several chances for an equalizer. Belconnen for the most part were up to the challenge defensively but there was still some concerns as Olympic managed to stay on the advantage.

Belconnen had a opportunity for a counterattack where they could have put the game to bed but Max Green couldn’t find a way to beat the scrambling defense, although he was also impacted what seemed to be a bout of cramps.

As the game entered into stoppage time Belconnen were looking to hold on, but unfortunately they just couldn’t manage to keep out an Olympic side determined to equalize, completing a comeback and balancing the game with a strike from Adrien Macor a corner that Belconnen keeper Alex Connell just couldn’t get a hand to.

The game came to a close two a piece, with Belconnen surely feeling the more frustrated of the two sides with the draw, rising to 6 ^th spot after it was looking so promising they could have moved into 4 ^th . However, despite only having a draw to take away from the game, the side can still look to a very solid first half performance as proof that they can definitely be a force to be reckoned with when they are all fit and firing.

NPL Round 9, 2002: Belconnen United FC vs West Canberra Wanderers FC

Wed, 15 Jun 2022 08:28:04 GMT

The Blue devils made their return to McKellar Park off the back of a definitive defeat in their last match up away to Monaro but with a bye last weekend to give extra time to reset themselves and returning to their home base after finally breaking through and getting a major result in their last game in McKellar, Belconnen were looking to make this game the day they start their climb back up the ladder.

They made their return with a fresh face to energize their forces, with the debut of exciting midfielder Chris Fayers getting his first start for the side, after making the move to the capital from Sydney.

Their opponents in this match up were surely also hoping to get some momentum heading into the second third of the season, currently sitting five points behind the Blue Devils at the bottom of the ladder and staring at a potential fifth loss in a row if they couldn’t turn their fortunes around in this fixture, so with both teams feeling the pressure to get a move on, it was an important game for both squads.

Belconnen were pushing the envelope very early into the first half, sending in a speculative shot that sailed over the goal and, in the ensuing counterattack, West Canberra showed some good team play to almost create a chance themselves.

West Canberra continued to be a threat within the box for a while, with several moments where Belco’s midfielders needed to drop back quickly to add more bodies to the defensive wall and there were reasonable calls for a handball that could have easily resulted in a penalty.

Only a minute or so later, the Wanderers did get the breakthrough goal, managing to nudge the ball in from close range after seven minutes played.

Now trailing in the match, Belconnen slowly managed to get some opportunities of their own to equalise but they couldn’t quite find the finish they needed, and West Canberra’s counterattack continued to cause problems.

Belconnen continued to try and find the goal from range, with Dustin Wells trying his luck and very nearly managing to get it to sink into the top corner. They also nearly saw an equaliser through a corner in the 14 ^th but were not able to get enough strength behind the ball from a header and the keeper dealt with it with comfort. They created another opportunity when striker Adam Forner found himself some space and had a head on goal but, once again, the keeper was able to deal with it.

Belconnen continued to see an ample selection of chances to find an equaliser but the chances were struggling to work the Wanderers keeper Jacob Wiseman. Explosive midfielder Christian Kreskas was putting in an immense shift to try and make things happen, showing some nice feet and awareness to create a chance to strike it low from far out but Wiseman was able to snaffle it up.

They finally managed to get the equalising goal, when a barnstorming run from Dustin Wells freed up some room for star winger Max Green to show some wonderful feet to beat two defenders and create a one on one with the keeper, which he delicately tucked away with a sublime finish to get the game back level 25 minutes into the half.

Kreskas continued to lead the charge as Belconnen were noticeably building confidence after the goal, taking the line on and adding a determined spark to the side’s attack.

New signing, Fayers, was having a mixed first forty-five minutes, showing some nice awareness in defense and doing a good job grabbing possession but several of his passes were slightly off the pace.

Belconnen nearly went a goal to the good when a short pass from a corner gave them a chance to run it into the box and send a powerful shot in but the Wanderers keeper once again showed great instinct to rise to meet it.

Fayers had a great moment late in the half when he showed some nice feet to hold the ball up and send his marker away, freeing him up to take a strike from just beyond 20 meters but just over the goal.

Green almost secured a second of the half when he nudged the ball in from a nice pass from winger Chris Reay, but the sideline official put a premature end to the celebrations after ruling the final pass as offside. He had another moment of magic when some nice team play sent him through into open space again and had the defense scrambling to catch him, only just managing to put a stop to the chance. There were also concerns however after the Blue Devils were forced into a late first half substitution, bringing Dustin Wells off from Luke Veron in the 42 ^nd minute.

Belconnen would not be denied for much longer, however, as midfielder Riley Brown made a jolting run to join the attack and get himself a shot which he managed to tuck into the back of the net, sending the home side into the lead just before halftime and completing a very good comeback after struggling in the opening stages.

Belconnen needed only to look at how promising they looked after that first goal added a breath of confidence to their attack. The visiting side had more than their fair share of moments where they showed that this game was far from over, as they were playing particularly well in defense and their counterattacks were proving lethal, already providing one goal, so this game was still all to play for in the second half.

Midfielder Christian Kreskas and winger Max Green were by far the standouts of the side in the first half, leading the way to the comeback and surely feeling happy that they managed to get the comeback completed by the interval but the whole side would need to stay busy in the second half, to keep the lead intact and keep the visitors with the sole goal.

With no changes to either side at halftime, West Canberra started the second half with a big effort to create as many chances as they could early. As the wind picked up, the visiting side proved a threat early, earning a corner that the Belco defense were able to take care of. The directive was definitely to hold on to the early pressure from the visitors, with several moments where the home side were forced to give up a foul to keep the attack at bay.

Belconnen nearly got a goal that would have certainly changed the shape of the game when Riley Brown won the ball very high up the pitch and very nearly sent it through, clashing with the post instead and Fayers nearly capped off his debut with a goal when he arrived to grab the deflected ball and take a strike himself but this time the keeper managed to throw himself in the way of the ball for a save, the ball once again deflecting finally to the feet of winger Chris Reay, who showed some quick feet to keep the ball alive but could not manage to square it in the traffic of a West Canberra defense that by that point all flocked back to lend a hand defensively.

Tensions were beginning to flare on the pitch as the game got more and more physical, including a moment where Belconnen were once again away and tucked the ball in the net only to find the officials had called it back for a quite narrow offside earlier in the play.

The home side nearly put it beyond doubt when Reay used his strength to get past the fullback and send the team on a three on two but the cross wasn’t enough to get past the lone defender, who managed to slow the ball down and, although it fell to another Belco player who had joined the attack in Forner, he couldn’t get his volley on target and it coasted just wide of the post.

They got expansive in their thinking in attack, once again opting to take a corner short and pass around the edge of the field until one of them sent a curling cross into the box that shifted away from all the players and almost curled all the way into the net, in what would have been an astonishing and, most likely, unplanned goal but Wanderers keeper Jacob Wiseman once again got to display a keen instinct to leap up and secure it in his hands, just before the ball fully crossed the line, proving to be one of the best on ground for either side by some distance.

The Wanderers nearly had a equaliser from a wonderful run that looked to get the best of the Belco defensive line but a fantastic last ditch tackle that expertly won the ball in a very risky move was enough to successfully put an end to the move.

Belconnen continued to be a real threat with passes into space, sending the front two into open field twice in as many minutes, the first the shot ending slightly too weak to get past the keeper and the second called back for an offside.

Belconnen made a change to their front line, bringing Forner out of the fray for Nick Zakoski but very nearly lost their advantage as the Wanderers continued to remind them that one counterattack could break this game even again.

Belconnen goalkeeper Alex Connell earned a few highlights of his own as the game entered its final fifteen minutes, coming up with multiple big saves that kept the lead intact against a visiting side that now very much believed that the equaliser they needed could come at any moment.

Belconnen continued to try the route that had been positive for them all game, sending balls through the air and into space to find winger Chris Reay on the end of it, who showed quick feet to get his defender away but as he tried to square it, the Wanderers fullback recovered his position and knocked the ball back down, admittedly looking close to being to a handball.

Belconnen were looking nervous in defense as the Wanderers continued to push for a crucial equalising goal for their season and morale but keeper, Connell, continued to be a stalwart in goal to maintain their lead as the game entered into stoppage time.

Late in the game Belconnen added another debutant to their list, with midfielder Hayden Tunny getting his debut for the first grade side to close out the final few minutes.

Belconnen almost managed a goal to put the game to bed early in stoppage time, with a tremendous strike that was once again just not able to get past Jacob Wiseman who had a great game despite the two goals that were conceded. The game boiled to one final attacking free kick for the visitors, even bringing Wiseman up to be a target and, while there were worries around the ground when it looked like there was a push, it was cleared and the final whistle sounded very soon after, putting an end to the nervous air for the home side and fans and securing the three points.

Belconnen secured a much needed three points to help kickstart a push to try and climb the ladder, while the visitors side were tremendously resilient and brave in this game but have to accept their fifth straight loss and the closest team to them at the bottom of the ladder getting another three points space between them.

While there were several players that deserved a lot of praise for the toughness of this win, including another very strong home showing from Belconnen’s front-line attackers and a very resilient and courageous effort from the defensive line and goalkeeper Alex Connell, the Cook Grocer voucher for Belconnen United Player of the Match was awarded to young midfielder Riley Brown, who put in an immense effort in defense and got the goal that sent the side into the lead just before the halftime interval.

Next weekend, Belconnen will be hoping they can keep this momentum going and secure some more points to further narrow the difference between them and the midtable but they have some difficult games ahead as they face a strong Gungahlin United side on the road in round 10, before they welcome the next team they will be looking to overtake in the league table, Canberra Olympic, in a massive game for the stakes of their season in round 11.

Women’s NPL Player Opportunities

Thu, 09 Jun 2022 04:30:46 GMT

BUFC have a small number of places available in our women’s NPL senior squad (First and Reserve Grade) for 2022. Develop your game, make lifelong friendships, and enjoy competing at a high level with Canberra’s leading women’s football program. To enquire, contact Scott Conlon (NPLW Head Coach ) .

NPLW Round 8, 2022: Belconnen United FC vs Tuggeranong United FC

Thu, 02 Jun 2022 07:27:58 GMT

The Blue Devils made their return to McKeller Park this weekend with one goal in mind; to get back on winning terms for their home supporters and to build some momentum to hopefully kickstart a string of victories. After mixed results for the last month which have seen them stabilize in fourth place and slowly watching the top of the table slip away, the reigning league champions would need to put themselves in a prime spot to make up for lost ground getting into the second third of the season, and this would be a great opportunity to get started on that goal.

After a big win in their last game at McKeller Belconnen would be hoping to keep the goals flowing in abundance, while their opponents for this weekend, a struggling Tuggeranong side, would be hoping to build off the back of their first victory of the season last weekend against Wagga City Wanderers, and with Belconnen’s turbulent form they must have surely headed into the game with the feeling an upset could be on the cards, and do the world of good for their campaign.

Belconnen managed to get a goal very early into the contest when a low shot from in-form winger Tatum Mazis was curled past the keeper and crept into the bottom left corner of the goal in the 3 ^rd minute of the game.

A very nice through ball into a great run by winger Keira Bobbin sent Belconnen through on goal again four minutes later, but the keeper closed enough distance that although the ball was sent past her, it could not curl back around enough to avoid clashing with the post and bouncing back into the keeper’s reach. Bobbin used a sharp turn and some quick feet to get another chance a minute later, but this shot floated the wrong side of the goal.

Belconnen held the vast majority of the ball in the opening ten minutes of the proceedings, and managed to get a second goal through some great teamplay as a pass from midfield once again split through a hole in the defense and sent Bobbin through once more, this time electing to square it to one of the two support runners who were there to complete a three on one numbers advantage, with Olivia Bomford taking full advantage to poke it home for a second 13 minutes into the half, Bobbin picking up her second assist of the game.

The passing display continued to entertain the crowd, with striker Tahlia Backhouse providing an excellent cross a minute later which Bomford got on the end of and almost grabbed a second in as many minutes, and then appearing again a moment later to put together a nice shot of her own that won the home side a corner. Although the corner was deflected out by the defense, the Blue Devils maintained possession and kept the pressure on, Bomford sending a curled shot from outside the box that the keeper could only half clear, giving Mazis the opportunity to strike and bag her second of the game, the home side going to a comfortable 3-0 lead after fifteen minutes.

Fullback Leah Carnegie almost went on to the scoresheet when she got on the end of a cross-field aerial ball and used her height to head the ball over the keeper’s reach, but the ball narrowly went over the crossbar, however the officials deemed that the keeper had gotten her fingers to it for a corner.

The corner found Tahlia Backhouse free directly in front of goal for a header, and she managed to nudge it past the keeper for Belco’s fourth.

Only a minute later, Belconnen used another very well weighted aerial ball to send Keira Bobbin away again, and this time she steeled her nerve and held it at her feet as the keeper was dragged out, before sending it past her and into the top left corner for her first of the game to go with her numerous assists.

Two assists wasn’t enough though, as she once again caused turmoil from the wing a few moments later, sending Olivia Bomford through again who employed the same tactic of dragging the keeper in close before sending it past her into the left corner for Belconnen’s sixth goal of the half.

The home side continued to showcase very good vision and teamplay, sending Mazis through with another great pass into space, but the keeper managed to meet the shot and bring it to a stop.

Tuggeranong slowly managed to get a more stable grip on the game as the first half moved into it’s final stages, managing to limit Belconnen’s attack to half chances and beginning to string together a few nice set plays, but were unable to turn it into a major chance before the half came to a close.

With a first half like that Belconnen would surely be proud of their performance so far, a very solid showing in defense and some tremendous examples of how strong their attack can be when everyone is firing on all cylinders.

Their attack stole the show in the first half, earning themselves over fifteen shots on target in the first half and managing to capitalize more than a third of them to full effect, all within the space of 30 minutes, which had all but secured the three points already with more than two thirds of the game to spare.

In so doing, the Blue Devils became only the second team all season to lead a game by six goals or more by halftime, an achievement they share in company with the current leaders Canberra Croatia FC, a statistic that should definitely encourage them.

Belconnen looked to keep the momentum right from the start of the second half of the match, sending several more shots on target that forced the opposition keeper to stay focused. They won back-to-back corners in the 51 ^st minute but couldn’t find a clear chance. Olivia Bomford very nearly grabbed her third of the game with a powerful strike from just within the 18-yard box, but the shot crashed into the crossbar and back out.

There was a mishap in the backfield for the home side which led to Belconnen keeper Jayla Murphy being out of position, and although she could get a hand to the chip shot that got sent her way, she couldn’t get the ball fully under control and had to struggle to chase it back, narrowly managing to keep it from bouncing over but Karen Malewski had chased it through and was there to nudge it past the line for Tuggeranong’s first goal of the evening.

Belconnen made a double substitution in the 64 ^th which saw both Katie Woodman and Tia Burrich enter the fray.

Some quick feet from midfield nearly won the home side a seventh goal but the shot was snatched up by the opposition keeper, who looked much more confident than she was in the first half.

Reilly Yuen very nearly managed to get on to the scoresheet after one of the aerial through balls that worked wonders for the Blue Devils in the first half sent her a good run, but once again the Tuggeranong keeper got enough on it to push it onto the crossbar for a corner which was easily dealt with.

Yuen made another great opportunity in the 76 ^th when a nice turn got her away from her defender and gave her the time and space to send another shot in, but the ball crept to the left and crashed with the sidenetting instead.

Belconnen continued to press their attacking prowess, creating a multitude of chances, but there was no breakthrough seventh goal to make up for the one they conceded early in the half. The home side created more than 25 shots on target by the end of the game compared to the visitors 3, so the performance was still a big positive to take away into the next few weeks, including their big match next weekend in the Federation Cup final.

Winger Keira Bobbin was awarded the Belconnen United Player of the Match, sponsored by the Cook Grocer, for her very promising performance, having a hand in four of Belconnen’s goals.

Women’s NPL Player Opportunities

Wed, 01 Jun 2022 08:08:40 GMT

NPLW Round 5, 2022: Belconnen United FC vs Canberra Croatia FC

Thu, 19 May 2022 07:18:24 GMT

7 May, 2022

Belconnen United returned to McKellar for the first time in three weeks this weekend, off the back of a win away against Canberra United in round 4. After dropping their only missed points of the season also during that two game away run, in a loss against Canberra Olympic, the Blue Devils would be hoping to get back into the dominant form they showcased in their first home game back in round 2, where they knocked five goals past Gungahlin.

Their visitors for this return were not going to be an easy task at all, though, in a Canberra Croatia side determined to recover from their own first dropped points of the season last weekend when they could only manage a draw, now sitting in second spot two points behind pace setters Western Canberra.

A win for either side in this encounter would go a long way to breaking away from the pack and declaring themselves the main chaser for pole position.

Belconnen saw several changes to their lineup for the fixture, however, including a new challenge for young Reilley Yuen, normally a winger, to adapt to goalkeeping duties for the week. Belco would be needing to look to their more senior players, particularly in the backline, to make up for the losses, meaning a likely busy day for players such as Leah Carnegie and Tahlia Backhouse.

The game was a tepid affair to open the first half, both teams happy to show patience and slow build-up play early. Canberra Croatia were the ones that held most of the possession, asking some real questions of the defense early in the proceedings. They came up with a few consecutive corners that in the end opened a chance for defender Jennifer Bissett to take a stab from just beyond the 18-yard box that curled in.

Croatia kept the pressure on as they searched for a second soon after, but the shots they were producing struggled to stay on target.

Belconnen eventually got themselves back into the contest and had a few opportunities of their own, including a moment in the 21 ^st minute where the ball was won from midfield and a nicely weighted pass gave winger Nina Zarevac a chance to strike, but the ball just stayed on the wrong side of goal.

Canberra Croatia managed to land a second blow to the side just beyond the 30 ^th minute mark, when a shot sailed over Yuen’s head and she could only watch it sink back down into the opposite corner of the net.

Belconnen struggled to get themselves a foothold in the game as the visitors simply dominated in all areas of the park. They landed a third goal just before the 40 ^th minute to make matters even worse when the ball was won very high up the pitch, and while Yuen could slow it down in front of goal, she couldn’t get to the live ball and it was poked home by a lurking support player.

Belconnen got a corner where they could have gotten something to it, but they were hesitant to shoot and the visitors snuffed out the opportunity.

They had another opportunity just before the half closed where some slow buildup play from Keira Bobbin and Tahlia Backhouse helped created some space for Carnegie to make a run from fullback and strike it, the best shot Belconnen managed to produce, but the keeper was lying at the end of it to meet it and make a comfortable save.

The halftime atmosphere would have certainly been a somber one, as the home side were starved out of any chance to get into the contest, and three shots finding their way into the net that would surely be playing on the mind of Yuen in goal. A positive to take away is that both fixtures so far where the Canberra Croatia side has conceded, those goals have come in the second half, and back in round two in Belconnen’s other home game, they responded from a half-time deficit with no less than five in the second act of the game, so if the Blue Devils kept their heads high and pushed for a way back in, it could emerge.

The second half kicked off with an immediate display of the change of intensity, with Belco striker Tahlia Backhouse instantly making a charging run through a small gap in the defense and getting herself into position to shoot, but one of the Croatia center backs managed to throw themselves behind the ball to deflect it. An early corner from the home side curled away from everyone and crashed into the side netting.

The visitors made two changes early in the half to counter a much more lively and threatening Belconnen attack, but the home side still persisted to work their way into promising positions, as you see the confidence growing as the half went on.

Backhouse led the way to getting Belconnen a wide array of shots on target that forced the keeper into action, but couldn’t turn these promising opportunities into goals.

There was a golden opportunity for Belco to get a goal back when Olivia Bomford was brought down just outside the box by the last defender, and after some deliberating with the assistant on the sideline the defender was shown a straight red card as it was deemed a professional foul in a clear goal scoring opportunity. After the game got back underway after some differing reactions to the decision, Tahlia Backhouse managed to complete a strong performance with a goal, as the free kick was kept low and sneaked past the keeper.

With fifteen minutes remaining against a new depleted defensive line, Belconnen pushed hard and fast for a second goal to make this game well and truly a contest again.

Some clever touches and wonderful teamplay saw quite a few opportunities that were answered by some strong last-ditch defense from Croatia as they fought to defend their two goal lead. A wonderful ball sent over the heads of the whole defense sent substitute winger Tatum Mazis into open space, but the angle was too narrow and she was forced into trying to square it, which unfortunately nobody could get their foot to.

Mazis continued to press, showing some lovely feet to turn on the defense and free herself some space for another opportunity in the 88 ^th but the player she managed to get free from managed to get a foot to the ball and deflect it enough for the keeper.

Keira Bobbin almost got a second just past the 90 ^th minute, but the keeper was once again there to meet the curled shot from Bobbin’s left boot.

Although they couldn’t get any closer to catching the three goal halftime deficit, there were definitely positives to take away from the second half in particular for the home side. The game came to a close 3–1 to the visitors, Canberra Croatia making a big statement to the league leading Woden side that they are still in the chase and although they picked up the loss, the home side should be positive that they caused some real problems for the in the second half.

The Belconnen United Player of the Match, sponsored by the Cook Grocer, this week was stand-in captain Tahlia Backhouse, who was prominent in all aspects on the pitch and led the way to a very promising onslaught in the second half, including grabbing the goal.

NPL Round 4, 2022: Belconnen United FC vs Canberra Olympic FC

Thu, 19 May 2022 06:58:50 GMT

30 April, 2022

Heading into their second straight week playing out of their home base of McKellar Park, Belconnen United were surely looking for a major breakthrough in form, still searching for a victory in front of their home fans after two losses.

Their opponents this week were Canberra Olympic FC, who were also entering into the weekend fully aware the three points on offer would be a well needed spark, hoping to follow up on their first win of the season in round three after two frustrating games to open their campaign.

With two games played in front of the home fans and no goals scored yet at McKellar, Belconnen were hoping to turn promising attacking play into some goals to show for those efforts, and against a visiting side that has struggled defensively in recent weeks, this would be the perfect opportunity for the Blue Devils to make a statement.

Belconnen also had a milestone man in their ranks, with defender Zach Maybury making his 200 ^th appearance for the Blue Devils.

The Blue Devils made their intentions known early, piecing together some attacking play right from kickoff that forced Olympic’s keeper into early action.

At the back, Maybury got given plenty of chances early in the game to show he was well and truly up for the occasion, with his side of the defensive line seeing a lot of early attention from the visitors.

Belconnen got a very good chance to go ahead with an early free kick, and with a very well taken shot from Keegan Vucetic it looked destined to go in, but struck the top crossbar and back out, albeit after a few short seconds of the crowd convinced they’d seen a screamer.

The Blue Devils had a dominant control of possession early on and played an expansive and well-structured passing game to give themselves an ample selection of early chances.

Belco winger Jade James-Ward was showing some very sharp feet as he proved a thorn in the side of the Olympic defense, including a moment where through footwork alone he worked his way out of a sea of defenders to concoct an opportunity for himself that forced the keeper into a great save.

Olympic did well to survive the early onslaught and almost had the perfect reward for their effort, when a promising counterattack saw a familiar face almost send the visitors into the lead with Luca Florez narrowly missing with two good attempts, both fading away to sides of goal.

They continued to press with the counterattack, and only a few moments later a shot from far out wide floated out of the keeper’s reach but sunk just in time to nestle into the net for a spectacular goal, but one the home side and fans were fairly frustrated to concede.

Only a few minutes later the visitors nearly had a second, with some very nice link-up play between Florez and set the diminutive winger through on goal, but goalkeeper Alex Connell got himself in the way and kept it within his reach.

The visitors continued to press, forcing Belconnen into picking up two yellow cards to slow the attack down, and giving the home fans another scare when a free kick struck the post similarly to Belconnen’s in the opening few minutes, which at this point of the game felt like a millennia ago.

Belconnen did get themselves back into the proceedings as the half went on, getting a few opportunities to find an equalizer before the break but to no avail.

The home side had a freekick just past 40 minutes played in a similar distance but more center to goal, to their one in the opening minutes, but the shot was kept low, and the keeper was comfortably waiting for it upon arrival.

The half came to close with the one goal to differentiate the two teams, meaning another half-time interval where Belconnen would surely be wondering how they could turn this around and get back into the fight in the second installment of the game.

They offered their fair share of promise in attack, and for a sizable portion of the half they were dominating game and seemed more likely. Despite all of that though, they were once again chasing the game and without a goal at home.

The positive for the home side was that in the first three games of the campaign, Canberra Olympic have not managed to make it through a second half without conceding, so as this game continued there was bound to be chances, but Belconnen would need to be efficient in taking them if they wanted back in.

For the first few minutes of the second half it looked like the home side were on the right track, but a duel at the back between keeper Alex Connell and Olympic’s halftime substitute Asosa Hangi was enough to give Hangi a shot on an open goal to make it a two goal lead, while forcing Belconnen into subbing Connell off for Zac Pagan as the collision left him worse for wear.

Now fueled by a simple desperation to get a goal and breathe some life into this game, Belconnen continued to search but were still struggling to find anything.

A double substation brought Tato Kersberg and Juan Ospina both into the front three to bring some new perspective into their attack.

Christian Kreskas managed to win a free kick in a decent position, but the shot sailed over the bar without too much of a question asked. An aerial ball gave another opportunity where the defender couldn’t reel it under control on his first touch, giving Jade James-Ward a chance to shoot that once again sailed too high.

A few moments later Juan Ospina had a prime chance, but his shot went wayward to the left of goal.

Once again, despite having the better chances, Belconnen conceded a third goal nearing 80 minutes played when a cross into the box saw a teammate rise to claim it and bury it into the top right corner.

Ospina continued to make a few chances for what would at least be a consolation first home goal of the season, but at a certain point it just seemed like the football gods weren’t willing to have it. The crowd got very vocal throughout stoppage time as tensions flared up to close the game out.

A penalty was awarded for Belconnen in the 96 ^th of the game, which Jade James-Ward managed to tuck away to at least help Belconnen feel that monkey on their back can be considered gone.

The Blue Devils head onto a two week away campaign still without a point at home, and with one win out of four in what is shaping out to be a very frustrating beginning to the season. Canberra Olympic notch their second straight victory under their belt to make up for their opening two fixtures.

Dusty Wells was the recipient of the Belconnen United Player of the Match award this week for his efforts to try and spark something for the side in this result.

NPL Round 3, 2022: Belconnen United FC VS Gungahlin United FC

Thu, 19 May 2022 06:31:11 GMT

23 April, 2022

Belconnen United returned home to their home base of McKellar Park for their round 3 matchup against northside rivals Gungahlin United FC this weekend, fresh off of the back of their first victory of the season two weeks ago away to Western Canberra Wanderers and an added week of preparation due to the Easter break.

Gungahlin come into this fixture also off the back of a victory against Monaro Panthers in the last round, and a draw in their opening game puts them in second position on the table, which Belconnen would be looking to take from them in an important fixture to set the pace for the next few weeks.

Belconnen was notably without electric forward Max Green for this game, who offered a lot of the spark in attack in Belconnen’s first game at home this season, so they would be looking for a big effort from the front line of Chris Reay, Juan Ospina and Keegan Vucetic to make up for that absence.

The game saw a fairly tame and even opening few minutes, both teams defense having some questions asked of them early. Belconnen saw some space in the early stages from some nice through balls from Ospina to get the play in behind the defense, but Gungahlin’s scramble was up to the challenge early.

There was a free kick awarded to the away side just outside the penalty box after nearly ten minutes played, but keeper Alex Connell was there to meet a low shot and keep it under control nicely.

Belconnen nearly got the breakthrough early after a lovely ball was threaded behind the defense which Christian Kreskas nudged towards goal, but the shot drifted wide and out for a goal kick.

Gungahlin managed to get the opening goal of the game in the 25 ^th , after a clearance from the defense managed to sneak past the entirety of the field and into open space, which striker Jeremy Habtemariam managed to chase through and collect well before Alex Connell could get there, and despite Connell’s efforts to close the gap the opposing number 10 managed to get it past and into the bottom left corner of the goal.

Habtemariam almost made it two after a mistimed pass from Belconnen defender Phil Borgeaud gave him the opportunity to pounce and intercept, and seeing the keeper off his line decided to shoot from just beyond halfway, in a dangerous floating ball that had the keeper struggling but fortunately for the home side, also drifting just wide.

Gungahlin continued to launch a lethal assault in search of a second, with Borgeaud and Habtemariam getting into an intense duel in the middle and leftback Harry Menham being asked a lot of questions out in the flank by the very strong threat of Gungahlin winger Michael John.

Menham managed to show some quick feet that got the crowd very impressed as the Blue Devils got an opportunity to counter, but Gungahlin’s keeper was alert to the danger and by the time a second chance shot could be sent in, the defenders were back to throw their bodies in the way.

A minute later, Gungahlin turned it into a two goal lead as midfielder Joshua Gaspari got an opportunity to drive the ball into the box and did a great job of angling the shot to go through Connell’s feet and in to extend the lead, just on the stroke of halftime.

Gungahlin managed to be in control of the game for a large portion of that opening half, and Belconnen did well to survive most of the onslaught, probably making that second goal sting even more to concede. The Blue Devils would need to just stay confident and stay resilient in the second half, as one goal early could break this game right back open.

To start off the second half, there was a substitution that brought substitute striker Tato Kersberg into the game to replace Ospina, as some freshness in attack could hopefully snag them a goal to get them back into this match.

They almost saw that goal arrive five minutes into the second half when Chris Reay was set free, but the defense closed him down before he could get a clean strike at goal. The Blue Devils continued to press, forcing the Gungahlin keeper to scramble for a diving save a moment later, but the corner didn’t amount to much.

Gungahlin threw a lot of players into the box to make corners difficult to find a result from, but Belco once again nearly managed to sneak one when a corner found its target man directly in front of goal, but the header was too high and went wayward of goal.

Gungahlin’s defense was proving to be difficult to break, and tensions were beginning to really flair up. Gungahlin picked up a yellow card to midfielder McLachlan, and only a few short moments there was a very contentious contact between Borgeaud and Gungahlin’s Michael John that had a lot of people in attendance convinced that John should have picked up a booking. A few moments after that, Borgeaud again was caught up in some concerning contact, which brought him out of proceedings earlier than he’d like with some concern about his shoulder.

Gungahlin managed to get a third, almost certainly decisive goal a few minutes later when John managed to get himself onto the scorecard.

Belconnen continued to press whenever they could but the defense was still not giving them much room at all to work with, with Christian Kreskas, Chris Reay, Keegan Vucetic and Harry Menham noticeably working hard in attack to try and find an opening.

Reay nearly got a consolation goal in the 84 ^th minute but the keeper got to the ball just before he could strike. He continued to press for something to show for the team’s efforts but the defense was there to meet him almost immediately whenever he won possession.

Tensions continued to be at boiling point when Kreskas conceded a foul and a yellow card just before the 90 ^th minute, but Gungahlin’s Habtemariam had some choice words after the fact. A minute later, Belconnen conceded a penalty that Michael John stepped up to take, but Belco’s keeper was up to the task of saving it to keep the score line from getting any worse.

The game came to an end shortly after, a frustrating result for sure for the home side as they head back onto the road still searching for a victory at home, now sitting at only one win from their first three matches and in dire need of some form.

Christian Kreskas earned himself the Belconnen United Player of the Match for his notable effort to try and spark the game alive for his side.

NPLW Round 2, 2022: Belconnen United FC vs Gungahlin United FC

Thu, 14 Apr 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Belconnen United’s championship reigning women’s side welcomed a visiting Gunghalin United FC in round two of 2022. Belco returned to McKellar Park off the back of a dominant five goal display in Tuggeranong in the season opener, while Gungahlin entered their first game of their campaign, with three points against one of the league heavyweights their goal.

The game started with Belconnen on the ascendency, displaying an expansive passing routine that gave the side a golden opportunity to go ahead, eleven minutes into proceedings, with a well-placed cross granting Tahlia Backhouse a chance to volley the ball over the keeper but the ball didn’t sink in time to avoid going over the crossbar.

Fullbacks Leah Carnegie and Bianca Kimpton were putting in an immense effort in the backline, while in attack Belconnen were happy to see a lot of possession over the ball, as they continued to prove a versatile threat.

Kiera Bobbin had a chance to grab the first goal of the game nearing 20 minutes played but the ball sailed just over the crossbar.

The game was brought to a halt at the 29 minute mark due to a concerning injury to a Gungahlin player, who unfortunately had to be taken into the sheds, resulting in a first half substitution.

After a few moments wait, the game was underway once again and Backhouse and Bobbin continued to lead the way in search of an opener, both with decent chances that kept Gungahlin’s goalkeeper busy.

Gungahlin had an opportunity that looked particularly promising but a well timed and strong touch from Belco centreback Marija Rathouski, playing against her old side, defused the danger of a dangerous through ball.

Belco had a major opportunity to get the breakthrough in the final few minutes of the half, winning a freekick just outside the 18 yard box, however Olivia Bomford’s strike floated wide.

Belconnen unfortunately conceded only a minute later, when Gungahlin managed to send one of their players through unmarked and while keeper Jayla Belle Murphy did her best to close it down as quickly as possible, the ball was sent past her and into the net.

With the score now favoring Gungahlin as both teams headed into the break, Belconnen would surely be frustrated. The opportunities presented themselves during the first half but with a deficit to chase now, they would need to provide a second 45 minutes of maximum efficiency so they could turn those opportunities into goals.

Belco went looking for an equalizer very early in the half, including one moment where Bomford picked up the ball from midfield and played a lovely ball in behind that Backhouse managed to get on the end of but the goalkeeper did well to race up to meet her and managed to save the shot for a corner. This, however, couldn’t keep Belconnen out for long, when from the corner Olivia Bomford sent a shot curling into the net from just inside the box to tie the game.

They very nearly turned one into two just minutes later with another corner but this time Gungahlin were capable of rising to the challenge. Rathosuki continued to get heavily involved in the game, not shying away from surging into the attack line and adding an immediate rise in pace and being more than up for the challenge in defense.

Belconnen got a real chance to go ahead in the sixty-fourth minute, when a nice passing play gave winger Nina Zarevac the chance to square the ball for Bobbin to emerge at the far post and knock the ball in, taking the lead for the first time in proceedings.

Belconnen continued to threaten for a third and decisive goal, with the right side attack still proving very difficult for Gungahlin to handle. They found a third just past the 70 minute mark, when Bomford arrived on the end of a cross to bring the ball under control only a few feet in front of goal, doing well to push the ball past the keeper and into the bottom left corner.

Gungahlin were beginning to see more space and time to set themselves up but Belco keeper Murphy proved very hard to get past.

Olivia Bomford very nearly closed out the game with a hattrick but Gungahlin’s keeper did well to deflect another curling shot away from goal, tested again a few moments later and saving another shot.

Belconnen continued to push late in the half as the corners kept racking up for the side. Keira Bobbin was the one who managed to make a fourth goal happen just before stoppage time, with a well placed shot into the bottom left.

Belconnen managed to bag a fifth right in the dying moments, with substitute Tatum Mazis getting a goal with what proved to be the last kick of the ball.

With a very lethal second half display Belconnen turned what could have been a frustrating result into another positive three points to continue their good start to the year.

Defender Marija Rathouski was the winner of the Belconnen United player of the match for her very impressive display in both attack and defense, winning herself a $50 dollar voucher from sponser The Cook Grocer.

NPL Round 1, 2022: Belconnen United FC vs Monaro Panthers FC

Mon, 11 Apr 2022 12:22:12 GMT

The 2022 season has finally arrived and the blue devils got the opportunity to kick off their new campaign at their home base of McKellar Park. Belconnen United went into the game knowing that a dominant and positive display and three points would prove incredibly valuable and a great way to show that they are aiming to get back into the top echelons of the competition this season.

Their opponents were a team that Belconnen had their share of difficulties with last season, a red-hot and in-form Monaro Panthers fresh off a comfortable win in this year’s Charity Shield and ready to make an opening statement for themselves.

Monaro kicked off the match and went on the attack early, playing a very direct press and not shying away from going for goal from a freekick from far out in the second minute of the game.

Belconnen handled it with some strong defense and looking for an opportunity for a counterattack but Monaro were really pushing the tempo to their own liking and were spending a large portion of the opening 10 minutes in possession.

Tackles were going in strong and the crowd were in full voice, as the game quickly turned into a very physical encounter. Belconnen had a chance early when a heavy tackle from the midfield saw Belconnen sprint away with the ball and. while there were calls for a free-kick, play was allowed to continue and the blue devils very nearly broke the game open.

They had another chance a few minutes later when some quick feet from Harry Menham from fullback found him in a world of space, quickly moving up and providing a smart and deft touch to square it for a teammate, who struck the post in a very close chance.

Monaro almost immediately hit back, sending their number 9 on a barnstorming run but was guided off the ball just outside the box by the Belconnen defense. They worried the defense again a few minutes later with a header that went just narrowly to the right of goal.

Monaro slightly changed tactics and both teams began to try and break the game with passing patterns but both midfields did immense work to continue picking off the play in a see-sawing exchange.

Tensions for both teams were noticeably raising as the half continued and just after 20 minutes Monaro got the first goal of proceedings when a deft run from out wide saw Belconnen’s defense scramble and the ball squared to the other side, where their number 9, Nikos Kalfas, lay in wait to send the ball in.

Monaro very nearly made it a two goal lead moments later when a powerful shot from near halfway forced a punch away from the Belco goalkeeper but it still managed to connect with the cross bar and bounce back into play, where the keeper was able to secure it on the second chance.

Belconnen did see some chances to equalise, including a moment in the 25th where a delicate touch from Maxx Green saw him get some space but the cutback was handled by the Monaro centreback who did well to clear the ball from the box cleanly.

Green continued to be a thorn in the side of the Monaro defense, showing some smart and quick feet to add an element to the attack that the defense was struggling to contain.

The attacking display of both teams continued to impress as they looked to close out the half in style, Monaro with the more likely of chances but Belconnen holding strong and still having their moments where they reminded that they were a threat not to be taken lightly. They very nearly got that needed goal from a corner but it drifted wide.

Monaro had a free kick late in the half which was a prime chance but the cross narrowly missed a looming Kalfas and went over for a goal kick.

The first half was a fast-paced and exciting half of attacking football but Belconnen surely felt at half time that they would need to be extra efficient in the second half and get a goal early, before the half got away from them like it did in this fixture in 2021.

Belconnen made a change during the half time interval, looking to add some freshness to the attack but Monaro quickly snuffed out a lot of their optimism when Kista Aimilio snagged a second for the visitors.

They nearly made it three a moment later when another shot curled in but the shot was nulled by the assistant referee’s flag for offside.

The clock now against the Blue Devils, it was time to ramp up the intensity and make a goal happen quickly. Monaro were happy to slow the game down with fouls, frustrating the side further, however one of these free kicks nearly amounted to a goal as a cross was sent into the box but just narrowly over the head of winger Keegan Vucetic.

Vucetic especially worked hard to get some go forward into Belconnen’s attack but as the game ticked over into the final third there was still no reward to show for it.

The weather was also beginning to take effect, with one moment where Monaro picked off a pass from halfway and sent it away and the shot very nearly crept into the goal because it was difficult to get a read of where it was heading while in the air. However, the keeper watched it closely and got a hand to stop it from creeping into the net.

At the other end, there was no lack of effort because there were some close shots, Monaro was awarded a penalty in the 70th minute, which Andre Juan Carle tucked into the bottom left of the goal for a third for the visitors to put the game to bed. Carle nearly got a brace five minutes later with a free kick that was narrowly stopped by the defensive wall but followed up with a volley that forced the keeper into a save.

Monaro made a double substitution in the 77th that brought attacker Kofi Danning into the fray but the attacking intent was still with Belconnen as they looked to at least get a goal to start off the campaign for some positive signs from the encounter. Striker Juan Sebastian Ospina very nearly got that goal with a header that narrowly sailed over and Vucetic nearly got one from a free kick that couldn’t manage to get past the wall. Dustin Wells almost had one late in the game as well but his shot was knocked away for a corner.

The game came to an end before the goal could come, with the blue devils leaving McKellar Park with a frustrating start to the campaign but with all eyes on next week’s trip on the road to face the West Canberra Wanderers at Melrose Synthetic.

Despite the difficult afternoon for the squad, young debuting fullback Harry Menham secured this week’s Belconnen United man of the match and this week’s voucher supplied by sponsor The Cook Grocer.

2021 Annual general meeting

Tue, 18 Jan 2022 06:20:30 GMT

Wednesday 2 February 2022, 7pm at The Clubhouse, Kaleen

Notice is hereby given that the 2021 Annual General Meeting of the Belconnen United Football Club (BUFC) is to be held Wednesday 2 February 2022 , commencing at 7pm at The Clubhouse, 16 Georgina Crescent, Kaleen.

Any BUFC member may provide notice of any General Business to the Club’s President not less than seven days prior to the AGM date, being COB Wednesday 26 January 2022, by email to president@bluedevilsfc.com and copied to admin@bluedevilsfc.com .

Nominations for positions to be declared vacant are to be provided to the Director of Administration on the BUFC 2021 Executive Committee Nomination Form , not less than seven days prior to the AGM, being COB Wednesday 26 January 2022. Request a form via email to admin@bluedevilsfc.com .

All executive positions are declared vacant at the AGM:

President (Chairman) – chair meetings of the Executive Committee and act as spokesperson for the club, unless the Executive Committee nominates another member of the Executive Committee to make any public comment or otherwise represent the interests of the club in the manner prescribed
Director of Administration – responsible for all administrative matters relating to the club’s activities
Director of Finance – responsible for all financial matters relating to the club’s activities
Director of Operations – responsible for property, grounds, communications and administrative matters relating to the conduct of sporting activities by or on behalf of the club
Director of Business – responsible for all matters relating to sponsorship, marketing and promotion of the activities of the club
Director of Women’s Football – responsible for the development and coordination of all football matters
Director of Men’s Football – responsible for the development and coordination of all football matters
Director of Community – responsible for liaising with all interrelated football entities, including our affiliated junior clubs.

Agenda includes:

attendance
minutes of AGM 2020 and any business arising
reports from the President and Director of Finance
election of office bearers
setting of membership subscription
approval of life membership awards
general business (if any officially notified by the due date)
close of AGM.

Joe Carbone, President, 13 January 2022

BUFC 2022 Trials - NPLG and U13BUDS

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 23:12:45 GMT

Trials will be held in early November for our youth girls NPL and BUDS teams

Trial dates for our U13BUDS, U14, U15 and U17 female squads are scheduled for early November 2021. Registration prior to trials is essential, with all existing and new players to the club welcome to attend.

For information on times, venues and to register, please visit our Trials page.

Junior Girls Information Night

Wed, 06 Oct 2021 08:40:09 GMT

Wednesday 13 October 2021, 7.30 pm

In 2022, our women's program will include an U13 girls Belconnen United Development Squad (BUDS) and an U14 girls National Premier League team.

We are holding an online information session for prospective players and parents for these teams, with new prospective players for our U15 and U17 NPLW teams also very welcome.

We will provide information about:

our club
the teams
coaching and player development
the Womens National Premier League
trials and team selection
how our program works and what it offers.

Date : Wednesday 13 October 2021
Time : 7.30 pm
Venue : online (link will be provide via return email)

Please register your interest by emailing our Director of NPLW Football at wplmanager@bluedevilsfc.com and we will supply a link for the online meeting on or before Wednesday 13 October. We are also happy to address any questions you may have.

BUFC 2022 Trials- NPLB, 23NPL and 13BUDS

Wed, 06 Oct 2021 08:11:49 GMT

Trial dates for our U13, U14, U16, U18 and U23 male squads are scheduled for November 2021. Registration prior to trials is essential, with all existing and new players to the club welcome to attend.

For information on times, venues and to register, please visit our Trials page.

Pictured: U18NPL and U13BUDS 2021 Div1 premiership squads.

2022 Coaching Appointments Announced

Mon, 27 Sep 2021 06:48:13 GMT

BUFC are pleased to announce the following 2022 NPL, NPLY and NPLW appointments:

NPL - Men's First Grade
Head coach: Michael Zakoski
Assistant coach: Ahmed Ugool, Musie Elongo

23NPL
Head coach: Ahmed Ugool
Assistant coach: Jack Cubley

18NPL
Head coach: Musimbwa (Musie) Elongo
Assistant coach: Andrew Ross

16NPL
Head coach: Richard Pietrukowski, Mark Pietrukowski

14NPL
Head coach: Johnathan Saunders

13NPL
Head coach: Adam Villatobas
Assistant coach: Adam Exposito

12/13BUDS
Coach: Johnny Marchetti
Assistant coach: Grant Rees

NPLW - Women's First Grade
Head coach: Vacant
Assistant coach: Vacant

NPLW - Reserves
Head coach: Vacant
Assistant coach: Vacant

17NPLW
Head coach: Vacant

15NPLW
Head coach: Scott Conlon

14NPLW
Head coach: Illya Mastoris
Assistant coach: Dion Cannell

Confirmation of appointments for vacant positions will be announced in due course.

Welcome to all of our new and returning coaches!

2022 NPLW Coaching Positions Available

Fri, 03 Sep 2021 05:10:42 GMT

Belconnen United FC are seeking applications from suitably qualified coaches to join our highly successful NPLW program for the 2022 season. Applicants must hold an AFC/FFA Licence (C/B/A), be in the process of undertaking certification or willing to do so. Applications from female coaches are especially welcomed.

We are seeking interest in the following positions:

NPLW First Grade head coach
NPLW Reserve Grade head coach
NPLW U17 head coach
NPLW assistant coaches .

In your application please include:

the position/age group(s) you are applying for
full name and FFA number
mobile number and Email address
current club/team position
coaching accreditation
WWVP number and expiry date
background and experience as a football coach.

Please send applications to wplmanager@bluedevilsfc.com by 12 September 2021. All applications will be treated in full confidence.

2022 NPLY coaching positions available

Tue, 24 Aug 2021 06:45:50 GMT

We are seeking applications from suitably qualified coaches to join our programs for the 2022 season. Applicants must hold an AFC/FFA Licence (C/B/A), or be in the process of undertaking certification or willing to do so.

We are currently seeking applications for:

NPL youth (NPLY1) head coaches
NPL youth (NPLY1) assistant coaches .

In your application please include:

the position/age group(s) you are applying for
full name and FFA number
mobile number and email address
current club/team position
coaching accreditation
WWVP number and expiry date
background and experience as a football coach.

Please send applications to football@bluedevilsfc.com by 10 September 2021. All applications will be treated in full confidence.

Belconnen United vs Canberra Olympic FC

Wed, 11 Aug 2021 09:04:48 GMT

NPLW Round 17 match report

Belconnen returned to McKellar Park with a very positive and optimistic morale, with their twelfth straight NPLW Club Championship obtainable within just a few weeks. A good weekend against the visiting Canberra Olympic and Belconnen would be even closer to securing it, potentially even closing the three-point buffer between them and the top of the table Canberra Croatia in the first-grade competition. With recent form they were heading into the weekend hoping to maintain more of the same momentum.

Olympic, sitting securely in third spot on the first-grade ladder, were entering the game looking to retain their spot with a win and were looking to bounce back from a frustrating loss last week against their biggest threat for third spot, Gungahlin, so the visitors were definitely not going to let this game be an easy one for the Blue Devils.

These two sides had already met twice during the season, with Belconnen victorious in both games, so Belconnen were looking to gain the series maximum of nine points, while Olympic were up for a challenge to get one back in the closing end of the season.

Olympic started with plenty of fire in their step as they looked to grab an immediate foothold on the tempo of the game. Despite this, it didn’t take too long for Belco to grab the opening goal when a defensive miscommunication saw a turnover high up the pitch resulting in Sarah Price tucking one past the keeper after three and a half minutes.

Belconnen continued to look menacing in their offence, finding a lot of space out wide to set off on several fast break runs. Belconnen’s fullbacks had a solid start, contributing a lot in both attack and defense as Belco raided the space out wide. Winger Reilly Yuen almost saw the back of the net for Belconnen’s second in the fifteenth minute but couldn’t get her shot past the keeper. She got the desired result a few minutes later, with a similar situation but more power and height in the shot, which sailed in for Belco’s second and Yuen’s eighth for the season.

Olympic were starved of the ball for quite a while after Belconnen's second goal, with possession heavily controlled by the home side and Olympic’s livewire attacking outlets, including Ashleigh Sykes, constrained in their opportunities.

Belconnen nearly had a third, before a clash in the box saw captain Michaela Thornton brought down, the ref waving it away as a fair challenge. Belconnen switched the wings to opposite sides to add a freshness to their attacking moves and continued to find success in seeing ample opportunity out wide.

Towards the back end of the half Olympic started to find more space, particularly their go-to strike weapon in Sykes surging to life and dragging the Blue Devils defense onto the back foot. Belconnen didn’t allow this for too long though, with one counterattack seeing a pass split right through the defense and Thornton win the race for it to poke it into the near corner, sending the home side to three goals just before the stroke of halftime.

A commanding lead at the break saw Belconnen in the prime spot for another three points but Olympic showed enough ability late in the half to suggest that if they could get a roll on this game could be open again.

Olympic started the second half as they did the first, showing a lot of intent of getting a grip of the pace right off the first play.

Belconnen managed to regain control, finding a fourth goal just before 60 minutes, when Thornton sent a ball straight through the defense and found Sarah Johnston one-on-one with the keeper, who nudged it past and into the bottom corner, all but assuring the three points there and then.

Olympic managed to earn a free kick very close to the box when a handball call was made on a shot deflection, with the free kick very nearly capitalised on, if not for an excellent save by the Belconnen keeper.

Shortly after, Belconnen again made an opportunity of their own, with Thornton sending a lovely aerial pass that crossed the pitch, over the heads of the defense, and fell at the feet of Olivia Bomford who managed to square up with the keeper and knock a fifth home, Bomford’s twelfth of the season.

The game came to a bit of a halt toward the end of proceedings, until Johnston decided to have a speculative shot from just past the halfway line, which found its way in for Belconnen’s sixth, a final bullet point on a resounding victory that reflected a bit of everything that the side has managed to excel at in recent months, from being solid at the back and controlling the pace of the game, to occasionally finding a goal out of nothing, if needed.

Belconnen United FC VS Canberra Olympic FC

Mon, 02 Aug 2021 12:14:48 GMT

Round 16 Match Report

Belconnen’s men side has had a lot to be happy with over the last two weeks, managing to overcome their drought for victory in their last game at McKellar and then following up with a convincing win on the road. They returned to McKellar this week with high spirits and a big boost in morale and they looked to build on this to close out the season.

With the tides turning and seven crucial points in the last three matches behind their sails, Belconnen were looking at this match-up against 7th place Canberra Olympic as a great opportunity to solidify themselves in the top half of the table and potentially make some very beneficial ground in a week where the first place Tigers and third place Gungahlin found themselves in a situation where at least one of those two must drop points. A solid result at home similar to the last fortnight and Belconnen would gain an lot out of a positive result.

Belconnen only made one change from the week before, which was a forced change with Luca Florez coming in for the suspended Luca Macor.

Olympic would have been hoping that in-form goal scorer, Aisosa Ihegie, could continue his great season and contribute heavily to the result, sitting at nine goals and in second spot of the competition standings.

Should Belconnen drop all three points in this match-up, they would drop back down into seventh, so the stakes were high, as the points on offer in this game could drastically change the shape of the season outlook for either side.

Belconnen started looking shaky, with Ihegie immediately looking lively and running through the defense but they held tight and, after a few moments, were on the attack themselves, even capitalising, with Luca Florez managing a great run and squaring the ball to Dustin Wells, who curled the shot for a very sharp and clean finish for the opening goal after four minutes.

Olympic once again pushed right away after the restart, earning themselves a corner but Wells continued to be a thorn in the side of Olympic as Belco fired right back with a corner of their own.

The game was very back and forth, in a fast flowing and exhilarating opening 30 minutes, with both teams missing out on chances by narrow margins. There was a pass that looked to set Ihegie off towards goal that was called back for a very narrow offside. Minutes later, a lovely weighted pass soared over the Olympic defense and had Darren Bailey isolated but the keeper rushed out of the box in a last-ditch effort and although Bailey could nudge the ball past him, the angle was too tight for him to do anything.

Olympic won a free kick that was in definite striking range after a 50/50 duel saw Christian Kreskas give away a foul but the free kick fizzled out over everyone’s heads.

Ihegie almost got the game level only a minute later, after Olympic’s midfield won the ball high up the pitch and let their striker have a crack but the shot narrowly missed to the left of the goal.

Florez almost managed to get Belco’s second goal of the game with a lovely breakaway run but couldn’t get his shot past the keeper. Belconnen continued to press though, getting the better of the chances and having the back four from Olympic peddling backwards, in a dominant display. They got themselves a corner in the 30th that very nearly sent them further in front but was stopped in the corner by a defender and, as Belconnen scrambled to have a second shot at it, the keeper rose to the occasion and dealt with the second attempt expertly.

The closer that the game got to half-time the more likely it looked that Olympic might find a goal to equalise but Belco held strong in defense and looked strong at the back.

The half came to a close without this breakthrough, giving both teams the time to head back into the sheds and reestablish their strategy.

Belconnen were forced into a change at half-time, with Cassidy Tanddo replacing the injured Zac Maybury. Belconnen nearly got a second just after half-time but the keeper established early that he would continue to be a very tough man to score against, with another astonishing save.

Belconnen finally managed to get their second a few minutes later when Luca Florez once again showed very quick feet to get himself in a great run towards goal, this time backing himself and managing to sneak the ball under the keeper, Luca grabbing his third of the season.

Olympic sparked into a much more aggressive attack, managing to grab a goal back just on the stroke of 65 minutes played, this was the first goal that Belconnen had conceded in 266 minutes (4 hours and 26 mins) of football. Belco fired back quickly though, with Luca Florez managing to find the back of the net for a second time, after being found in a great position from a beautiful Christian Kreskas cross and Florez with a well-placed header that floated in. He managed to cement the display even further in the 75th, when a nice through-ball from Dustin Wells sent him on his own with only the keeper to beat, placing the ball in the bottom right corner for a hat-trick and a fourth Belco goal for the game.

Belconnen brought on Curtis Schaeffer in the 69th minute and Maxx Green in the 80th minute, to press on the attack late in the game, Schaeffer proving particularly difficult to contain. The game did slow to a slower tempo late, as both teams seemed to be resigned to the result, the game finishing with a resounding 4-1 victory for the home team, who continue to see their fortunes flourish with three straight wins.

Belconnen United FC vs West Canberra Wanderers FC

Tue, 20 Jul 2021 11:43:39 GMT

Round 14 Match Report

A big match awaited the Belconnen United boys as they entered into round 14, hoping for a win after a lengthy spell without one but they were facing a challenge against a West Canberra outfit flying in good spirits and comfortably seated in third spot of the table.

After failing to hold on to a win last week but managing to salvage a valuable point, Belconnen were surely determined to put on a better display for their home supporters than they showed two weeks ago, with a lot of optimism in the air that three points were bound to eventuate sooner rather than later.

The squad were aiming to make amends for their last meeting with the visitors in round 7 back in May, where they went down two goals to nil in a game where the result had been sealed by half-time. This weekend had a big match feel, where Belconnen would need to dig deep and put on a solid, focused performance for the entire 90 minutes.

Belconnen United could count on captain, Taylor Beaton and striker, Darren Bailey, again after both were suspended the week before against Gungahlin United.

With midfielder Michael Piccolo still injured, head coach, Fabian Miceli's statistic of still not being able to field his strongest squad once this season continued, with many injuries, absentees and suspensions forcing his hand in every match so far this campaign. On the positive side, this now seems to be improving, with only the one absentee against West Canberra Wanderers.

Belconnen attacked with intensity early, whipping the ball into the box for striker Darren Bailey to get some volleys on target and asking the keeper some early questions. This proved to be very fortuitous with an early free kick close to the box, the delivery so good that West Canberra defender, Lachlan Fields couldn’t get out of the way and the free kick deflected off his leg and into the corner of the net for an early lead for the home side.

Belconnen continued to be the controlling side, the defense showing up with big plays when needed, in a motivated effort to maintain the lead. They linked up with great passing play on the left edge to continually have space to work with in attack. West Canberra looked to create space with several threatening weighted passes through the air and over the defense but they were struggling to get a touch to regain control of it on the ground.

The visitors began to claw back some control of the game, finally having one of the through balls come off for them in the 25th minute, before the winger showed some fine footwork to nutmeg past the last defender but Jordan Thurtell made an excellent save to send it away for a corner, which the defense dealt with very well.

The half came to a close with West Canberra Wanderers looking increasingly likely to bag an equalizer as the game went on but nonetheless, a very solid defensive effort from the home boys to once again find themselves going into the second half in full control of the score line.

Belconnen took a snap shot from quite far out in the first minute of the second half that very nearly found its way in, Belconnen clearly establishing that they were not content with just sitting on the one goal advantage.

West Canberra had a great chance to equalize after 50 minutes, with a well-weighted cross which found the target man but the shot sacrificed too much power to accommodate for precision, Thurtell managing to save it with relative comfort.

Belconnen continued to try their luck from range, with little reward. West Canberra was the dominating force of the second half’s proceedings but did not really trouble Jordan Thurtell and Belconnen were still looking focused enough in the back to hold the lead heading into the final fifteen minutes. The home side had two great opportunities to double the lead in quick succession but on both attempts Luca Florez could not keep the headers down enough to be on target.

The last ten minutes of the game were very tense, with both teams escalating into an aggressive defensive form as they got a sudden burst of energy to salvage the result. There was a moment that had the home supporters hearts in their mouths, as West Canberra had a golden opportunity to equalize, just as the clock ticked over into stoppage time. It was tense but the Blue Devils managed to hang on and hold the line, the game coming to an end one goal to nil. A frustrating game to lose for the Wanderers but after eight games without a win, Belconnen could walk away from this one with a very proud feeling of accomplishment and a clean sheet.

Belconnen United seem to be able to count on a consistent back four lately, with long-term injury absentees Phil Borgeaud and the young Max Mellick returning in the last few weeks to a defense that has now only conceded one goal in the last two matches.

NPLW Belconnen United FC VS Tuggeranong United FC

Tue, 13 Jul 2021 07:51:57 GMT

Round 13 Match Report

The Belconnen United girls made their return to McKellar Park off the back of a disappointing result in Deakin last weekend, against their biggest competition this season. They were also making their return to McKellar after a three-week period on the road, after their last scheduled home game was moved due to weather conditions. With results looking positive at home, Belconnen were hoping to continue this trend and get back into winning ways, to keep themselves in the hunt for top spot as the season continues to push towards its final third.

Their visitors this weekend, Tuggeranong United, were hoping they could piece together a better performance than when the two teams matched up in round six, where Belconnen grabbed six goals against them and to maybe get a result that would be a positive boost for them, after a season of bad luck.

Belconnen, on the other hand, would have been hoping for a repeat of earlier in the season, now that goal difference looks like it could play a huge factor in determining the race for the top and with Canberra Croatia in very serious goal scoring form, Belconnen will need to match up to them and follow suit.

Tuggeranong managed to piece together some attack early but were giving Belconnen a lot of space to work with in attack, with in-form winger, Keira Bobbin, in particular looking very lively from the start.

Belconnen sprayed a few warning shots off to the left and right of the goal and were finding it quite easy to create an overlap and break down the defensive line. Olivia Bomford was drawing some heavy contact in the middle of the pitch but free kicks were scarce, with one free kick given which saw a Tuggeranong defender yellow carded but the free kick was sent over the bar.

Belconnen didn’t have to wait too much longer for the first goal of the game though, with a goal keeping mishap two minutes later leaving left winger, Riley Yuen, to drive the ball into the net for her fourth of the season. Kiera Bobbin continued to take the front foot and work the defense into shambles, sending in a great cross three minutes later for Tahlia Backhouse to volley home for Belconnen’s second. Five minutes on they were in once again, with fullback Leah Carnegie arriving at the near post to tap in a nice assist from captain Michaela Thornton, for a third for the home team.

Katie Woodman was providing some very nice touches and flourished passes to open up chances, sending Yuen off, who looked to be in for a second of the afternoon before she tapped it past the keeper and was brought down but the decision was play on, with no penalty awarded.

Kiera Bobbin continued to run rings around the defense on the right side and once again managed to create open space and send a delicate cross in for Backhouse to grab a brace. Woodman continued to show quick feet and sent a nicely weighted shot in a few moments later that narrowly floated away from the goal.

A nice through-ball from Yuen in the 36th minute sent fullback Vanessa Ryan down the touchline, forcing the keeper to rush out of the box and clear it but the clearance fell straight for Backhouse, who took a few touches to get closer and then capitalised, to complete a first-half hat trick and grab Belconnen’s fifth before half time.

They looked likely to grab a sixth but the half came to an end before they could find it, the two teams heading back to the sheds with a five goal to nothing score line. With the game all but sealed, Belconnen had an opportunity to use the second half to fully capitalize on their good fortunes and seal the win with as many goals as possible, potentially even hitting double digits, like their top of the table rivals did when they faced Tuggeranong a few weekends before.

Belconnen made a change to their front line during half time, injecting Nina Zaravec into the game, in place of Yuen. They went on the attack very quickly and saw Leah Carnegie grab her second of the game only a few minutes in, with a shot from the touchline that managed to sink low enough to fall into the top left corner of the goal. Bobbin continued her sharp offence from the wing, cutting inside and breaking through two defenders to try and curl it in a few minutes later but sent it to the side. Only a minute later, they regathered the ball and attacked down that side again, this time electing to cross it low into the box where Olivia Bomford arrived to nudge it in for Belco’s seventh.

Belconnen made another change soon after, bringing in Maria Pachi. Half a minute later, Belconnen were though again with a lovely aerial through-ball finding Thornton free, who curled the ball low into the far post.

Belconnen next brought off Bobbin, who unfortunately couldn’t quite find the net in an otherwise great performance, bringing in Mia Giorgi to replace her.

Tuggeranong managed to pinch a goal from a well-executed free kick, which saw their number 10 grab a consolation goal, in a scramble that also saw some reason for concern for Belco keeper Esposito, who seemed to struggle to her feet afterwards.

Belconnen pushed high up the pitch and continued to find those passes that isolated the keeper one on one but the keeper rose to the challenge quite well and held her line, to prevent any further damage.

Belconnen stayed on the front foot for the majority of the final fifteen minutes of the match but Tuggeranong’s keeper comfortably kept the score sheet the way it was, including a moment where she did a great job denying Thornton a second and then immediately followed up with another great save for a corner. However, Belconnen managed to execute a good set play from this corner and in scrambled defense, Tuggeranong looked to concede an own goal to finish proceedings.

A big win with a lot of positives for the Blue Devils, with a substantial boost to goal difference and some highlights that will surely be leaving every player feeling in high spirits and confident.

Belconnen United FC vs Canberra Croatia FC

Mon, 05 Jul 2021 12:10:40 GMT

NPL round 12 match report

Backing up from a disappointing result in Cooma last week, the Belconnen boys made their return to McKellar Park, hoping to pick up three points to put their season back on track, after falling to sixth spot in the competition in recent weeks. Unfortunately, it was a very difficult challenge that awaited them, in the form of a ladder leading Canberra Croatia outfit, looking to build further on their gap at the top of the order.

The Belconnen boys didn’t make too many changes to the side that has become a mainstay in recent weeks, hoping to see the front three attack in the same manner as they did in their last home outing, where their innovative creativity saw chances pop up everywhere. That said, this would have to be a monumental game to see the rewards for this offence, as Croatia are statistically the strongest defensive team in the league. However, entering into their seventh game since last managing to secure a solid three points, Belconnen was surely hoping that fortune could turn in their favour sooner rather than later. Defensively, the team has been stable recently but they were going to face a real test, as Canberra Croatia also have the joint best team in the league in attack.

Two positive statistics for Belconnen though; Canberra Croatia has only had one game so far this season where they have conceded more than one goal and it was Belconnen who managed it and Belconnen are one of only two teams that have managed to defeat them so far this season.

Canberra Croatia took the initiative of playing attacking football early, earning an early free kick which fizzled out. They did see a payoff for their pressing very shortly after though, with Jordan Thurtell getting seriously mixed up with a clearance and allowing an easy low shot from Jason Ugrinic, to surge Croatia into the lead just as the game approached the five minute mark.

They continued to press high up the pitch, the ball very rarely passing the opposite side of halfway for the opening ten minutes or so. Canberra Croatia very nearly grabbed another but Thurtell had a much better moment in a great save to stop the goal and then stave off a corner but couldn’t hold the line for a second successive corner, with Nicholas Taneski grabbing a second for the visitors. Belconnen were suddenly facing the realization early in the game that if they were to take away any of the potential points, they would need to do even better than their effort earlier in the season against Croatia.

Belconnen managed to muster up some attacking going forward, earning themselves a corner where they attempted a very left field set play to get Taylor Beaton a chance for a volley, that sailed above all defenders and only narrowly missed out on sinking back down and ending straight into the top bins of the net. Only a few moments later, Luca Florez had a very threatening run before being checked by the last line of defense and, in a decision that could have gone either way, Florez was the one who was fouled for the encounter.

The next phase of play was back and forth but with Croatia admittedly seeing the better of the chances, Thurtell needing to be called on several more times in a big test of his confidence, but he passed each test with pretty decent marks.

Belconnen saw Darren Bailey make his way through the defense and into open space, but he rushed his shot and it crept to the right quite easily. However, Croatia’s defense had a miscommunication only a few seconds later and Bailey intercepted a pass inside the penalty box, showed some nice footwork to hold up the ball and squared it for a very nice-looking chance for Luca Florez but his volley was a miss-hit and soared well above the bar from very close range. They got a corner deep in the added minute of play which found the target man well but even this header couldn’t be kept down as Belconnen started to rue the chances they'd had to get back into the fray.

The chances presented themselves well enough to give the game an atmosphere that if Belconnen could capitalise on one of these opportunities early into the second act, the game could be anything in the second half. The events that led to both of Croatia’s goals were frustrating and forced Belco into a situation where they would need to yet again find more than one goal against a team that was not prone to allowing that and in one half no less.

Canberra Croatia had yet another moment where they could have easily made it a three-goal deficit early in the second half, however the shot was slightly too high and instead caught the crossbar and rebounding it into the defense.

For the most part, Belconnen had the ascendency and were on the prowl for something to inspire the squad for the rest of the match, earning quite a number of corners and a few free kicks as they slowly put Croatia’s defense on the back foot.

Unfortunately, despite being on the front foot, Croatia managed to get a fast break attack that had the defense struggle to keep up with the winger, who drew Thurtell out to face him and then sent a ball past him and into the bottom left corner of the net, Daniel Barac making the game 3–0 to the league leaders.

Belconnen injected youngster Max Green and recent signing, Curtis Schaeffer, into the mix for the final third of the game, who sped up the attack and made the squad look lively but Croatia continued to be the far more pressing side in the proceeding stages. Corners and throw-ins played a big factor in Croatia eventually having full control of the pace of the game, speeding it up or slowing it down to a methodical pace, as it was convenient for them. Belconnen could scarce get a foot on the ball for long enough to create a passage of attack.

Belconnen also brought fullback Cassidy Tanddo into the game and Keegan Vucetic into the midfield and Croatia brought in Daniel Subasic.

Croatia managed to bag a fourth just before stoppage time when Nicola Taneski bagged himself a second for the game and his fifth for the season. They continued to push and had possession for most of the added period, even having a decent shot from range that Thurtell was forced to punch away.

This was how the game came to an end, in a dominant performance from the team at the top of the pecking order, and a game which Belconnen will need to just keep their heads high and improve on as they go back on the road still searching for form.

2021 Blue Devils Academy – Term 3

Mon, 28 Jun 2021 07:32:08 GMT

'Pathway to premier league'

The 2021 Blue Devils Academy recommences on Monday 12 July and runs through Term 3 on Monday evenings.

The academy offers high quality football coaching for boys in U9, U10 and U11 age groups and girls in U10, U11 and U12 age groups (boys and girls in separate groups).

Trials for new players to the academy to be held Monday 12 July. If selected, the price for 1 term is $250. This includes the academy uniform. Returning player price is $200.

Date : commencing Monday 12 July, 2021.
Location : Aranda Playing Fields 101, Banaga Place, Aranda
Time : 5.30–6.45 pm

Registration is required. Book now at: https://www.trybooking.com/BSLOL

Learn more about our program at our Blue Devils Academy page.

NPLW Belconnen United FC vs Canberra Olympic FC

Wed, 23 Jun 2021 09:50:49 GMT

Round 10 Match Report

Belconnen’s women made their return to McKellar Park hoping for a dominant performance against one of their main competitors at the top of the ladder, Canberra Olympic FC. After dropping two points in their last home appearance, Belconnen grabbed two convincing wins on the road and were coming back in hopes of keeping their form up. However, the three potential points were just as valuable for the visitors, who entered the game six points behind pole position and looking for a big win to cut that difference in half, as we reach the halfway mark of the season.

The front line for Belconnen came into the game in great goal scoring form from the past few weeks, with six goals scored while on the road.

Belconnen took the front foot in attack very quickly, earning a corner in the first minute of the game. The corner found Talia Backhouse free in the box and although the keeper could stop the header from going in, good scramble offence in the box saw Keira Bobbin volley the ball home for the opening goal, adding to her already impressive tally of goals scored at McKellar this season, with her sixth goal at home.

Unfortunately, only a minute later Belconnen had some reason for concern after captain Michaela Thornton looked to pick up an injury but she ran it off rather quickly.

Belconnen persisted in their attack, leading to another great chance in the tenth minute, where Reilly Yuen provided a really good support run through the middle, which led to a great pass to find her isolated with the keeper, managing to keep the shot low and bagging her third goal in as many games to continue a hot streak in front of goal.

Belconnen still didn’t slow down, earning a free kick just outside the box only two minutes later, which Thornton expertly tucked away for Belco’s third in a red-hot start to the contest.

Olympic managed to get some more control on the game and started to even out the possession of the ball but still found themselves struggling to get a clear shot on goal. Olympic’s front line started to form some very clever runs in their offence, but Belconnen’s centre-backs, Sarah Johnston and Karen Clarke, equally lifted their game to repeatedly make a clinically efficient tackle. Midfielder Olivia Bomford also looked to pick up an injury concern soon after the 30th minute but, like Thornton, appeared to run the injury off well.

Canberra Olympic earned a free kick from close to the sideline and, after a great delivery from centre-back A. Cook, managed to creep its way all the way into the net, their first goal of the game coming from a well-delivered free kick.

Olympic continued to push hard for a second goal as the first half came to a close, looking like they received a big jolt of energy throughout the team. Belconnen managed to get a counterattack going, ending the half with a corner that very nearly saw the same result as their first goal but the defenders managed to keep the ball from going in for a fourth goal. Although Olympic only managed to get one goal back, it seemed that they were the more eager to continue playing, while Belco’s squad would be hoping that they could recapture the energy they showed early in the game, in the start of the second half.

Olympic not only managed to get more confident in their attack as the half went on but it also felt that Belconnen were beginning to see their own chances drastically limited.

Olympic started the second half looking just as intent as they were before the break, pushing up and forcing a corner very early in the half and then a free kick just outside the box which Cook couldn’t keep down for a second set piece goal. Belconnen Goalkeeper, Christina Esposito, was forced into several saves that she couldn’t quite hold on to and the Olympic front line were doing a great job at getting to any rebound and turning pressure into danger.

Belconnen managed to get a fast break run which Keira Bobbin took for full effect, using footwork to get around two separate defenders and get a shot away, which the goalkeeper got her hands but unfortunately couldn’t keep out, Belconnen capitalizing with a fourth goal and Bobbin grabbing a brace.

Just as the goal in the first half reenergized the Olympic side, this goal seemed to have the same effect for the home team, who suddenly saw a lot more space and some serious chances to extend the lead even further, with shots from Reilly Yuen and Talia Backhouse both narrowly missing out on getting the home team a fifth.

In the 63rd minute of the game, Olympic managed to grab another goal, after striker Ashley Sykes managed to turn Karen Clarke inside out and finish with a great curled shot, rewarding her for being one of the most lively and likely to score for the visitors the whole game. Clarke looked like she may have picked up an injury in the challenge, soon subbed off and Belconnen shifting Michaela Thornton to center-back and bringing in a fresh midfielder.

Belconnen managed to control the game well for a lengthy period of the second half, with the better chances and more open opportunities, in a game where the wind seriously picked up and began to play a significant factor in both team’s possession, seeing a number of plays for both teams where the ball became quite unpredictable. Belconnen didn’t go to their bench until very late, instead having confidence that the starting team could see the game out to the end. Olympic, on the other hand, made full substitutions in hope that somebody could provide them one last lift of inspiration but it didn’t arrive, Belconnen pressing onwards into stoppage time with full authority. Bobbin came off in the 90th with a double to her name, those two goals proving the difference between the two sides in a convincing win from the ladder leading Devils.

Belconnen United FC VS Canberra Olympic FC

Sun, 13 Jun 2021 05:29:08 GMT

Round 9 match report

Backing up after a bye last weekend, Belconnen returned to McKellar Park in search of some well-needed three points, hoping to soar higher up the ladder in the second phase of the season. Their opponents this week, a Canberra Olympic outfit looking for some momentum themselves, only four points behind Belconnen in the competition and hoping to get closer to climbing into the top half today.

In-form defender, Izach Clements, wasn’t eligible for this weekends fixture due to suspension, however, Belconnen did have the debut game of the newly acquired Curtis Schaeffer, arriving from the NPL 2 side of Brindabella. Winger Michael Piccolo had a milestone game this week, making his 50th first grade appearance.

Belconnen had a really good early chance to get a goal when Luca Florez displayed his trademark footwork to get past his man, crossing the ball but the cross was narrowly nudged away from Mensah. Michael Piccolo picked up the scraps and had a shot from distance but the shot deflected and returned to him, dinking in a lovely chipped pass to Mensah who set himself and sent a powerful shot on target but the Olympic Goalkeeper managed an authoritative save. Mensah continued to be a thorn in the side of the Olympic defense but was struggling to keep his chances on target. Belconnen were doing well in their pressing game of defense and were showing serious innovation to open the play up in attack, creating an onslaught of pressure. Luca Florez, in particular, was turning the defense inside out with a very positive first third of the game. Mensah very nearly scored the first goal of the game in the 21st minute, with a strong shot that the keeper got a punch to, the ball falling back for Piccolo who sent the ball over the bar.

Piccolo nearly had a goal to remember for his milestone match, with a curling shot in the 32nd that looked certain to beat the keeper but couldn’t beat the bar as Belconnen’s bad luck with end result continued to plague an otherwise fantastic first half across the board.

The first half did indeed come to an end before any breakthrough could be made, the teams going into the dressing rooms tied at nil a piece, Belconnen probably feeling more frustrated with the score line than thankful. Attacking wise, the Belconnen front three really took the half by the scruff of the neck and commanded the game but they needed to come out and continue to do the same for the remaining forty-five and have confidence that the rewards would come. Cassidy Tando and Darren Bailey did fantastic work from the fullback positions, leaving Jordan Thurtell with little to worry about in the first act.

Canberra Olympic came out with a lot more intensity to open the second half, showing much more control on the ball and freeing up some opportunities that were very scarce before halftime. Belconnen couldn’t stave off the pressure for long and after five minutes of play Canberra Olympic managed to get the opening goal of proceedings, due to a follow-up shot from A. Ihegie. Olympic were clearly inspired by the goal, noticeably picking up and staying in control of the game. Ihegie continued to be the driving force in this difference, leading the line and forcing Thurtell into action much more than he was in the first.

Belconnen went to the bench to revitalize the team going into the final third of the game, including injecting the debuting Curtis Schaeffer into the fray at striker, bringing Mensah off in a second game in a row where he was looked good in attack but struggled to find the net.

Michael Piccolo had another golden chance to get a goal in his 50th but sent the shot straight to the keeper. Schaffer looked to have good footwork to get away from the defenders, but didn’t see much chance to showcase his goal scoring prowess.

The longer the half went the more comfortable Canberra Olympic looked, continuously defusing any chances Belconnen looked to create. The final ten saw some desperate tackles to try and win the ball back, seeing three yellow cards in quite a quick succession, but at least adding some decent time into the stoppage time segment.

Belconnen saw a free kick awarded very late that was within range, and nearly saw the set play result in a big goal, but unfortunately the shot waved away to the left. This proved to be the last chance of the game, with full time confirming that Olympic had managed to seal all three points.

A disappointing result, particularly after the positives of the first half, for Belconnen to accept but unfortunately they will be going on the two-week road trip on the back of a defeat, and a slip down into fourth place.

Belconnen United FC vs Tuggeranong United FC

Mon, 31 May 2021 06:56:20 GMT

Round 8 match report

Belconnen’s boys were looking for a big boost of adrenaline on their return home this weekend, matching up against the 7th place Tuggeranong United with both teams in similar form. Belconnen were the more refreshed of the two though, with Tuggeranong competing mid-week in an FFA cup fixture.

Belconnen were hoping this would be the fixture they get back into the winner’s club, still only three points behind the top of the ladder, after a collection of draws in the last month.

Belconnen took the front foot in the opening moments, stacking themselves a number of corners early in proceedings and looking to burn the defence out with a very pacey attacking front. Tempers for both teams were raised early, in a very physical battle. Belconnen made a statement by starting the match with Michael Mensah as the striker, with a lot of crosses sent in to try and isolate him with the keeper but he was marked very closely.

A good chance fell for Darren Bailey, but he couldn’t keep the shot down on the turn and shoot.

Dustin Wells got very close to getting the opening goal in the 23rd minute with a beautiful strike from deep but the ball crept just centimetres over the bar.

Luca Florez had another golden opportunity to get the opener after a really nice touch and some nice link-up play with Mensah got him in position for a shot which narrowly drifted to the right.

Belconnen did finally get the goal they were needing only a few minutes before halftime. Luca Florez got a great touch that got him past the fullback and went on a tearaway run, cutting the ball back inside for a tap-in shot for Bailey to continue his good run of finding the back of the net.

The half came to a close a few minutes later, Belconnen’s atmosphere lifted substantially by the goal but still with a lot to focus on to make it easier to hold the lead in the second half.

Tuggeranong looked to be focusing on a tight-knit and closely marked defence, relying on counter-attacking for their offensive chances, so they were needing to change their direction if they wanted to salvage something.

Tuggeranong made a change in their attacking third by bringing on E. Peterkin, who made an immediate impact with a creative spark that led to multiple chances.

The game started to see a lot more fouls called than in the first half, losing a lot of the fast pace that had been set in the first act.

Tuggeranong managed to grab a goal to equalise the game when a well-timed cross found a free player at the back post. Belconnen immediately tried to go on the front foot and fire back but a defender just managed to get his body in the way of a shot from Mensah. Belconnen continued to push, with another opportunity moments later, where Wells once again backed himself from range and very nearly got the spoils, this time dragging the ball to the left. Belconnen then went to their bench for some well-needed fresh spark, bringing on in-form winger Christian Kreskas and returning defender, Phil Borgeaud.

This change did put them on the front foot again, but clear chances to shoot continued to be at a minimum.

In a big moment of the game, tensions boiled over between the two sides once again, resulting in both teams grabbing a yellow card which took Izach Clements out of the game with a second yellow of the game. This led to the final stages of the game being a struggle to hold the visitors out, which the team, to their credit, did very well, limiting Tuggeranong to only a few clear-cut chances, all dealt with by Jordan Thurtell. Florez almost got the team back in the lead with another barnstorming run, only to be cut down for a yellow card and a foul, though Belconnen couldn’t get the free kick past the keeper.

Belconnen threw Keegan Vucetic into the fray to try and poach a late goal but his chances on the ball were limited as well.

Belconnen rallied in the final ten but the constant overlap wasn’t helping their cause in any form of attack, always seeming to fall short at the last line of defence. They got one great chance to score, deep into added time with another great shot from Wells but the post interfered and sent the ball away, just highlighting that it was, unfortunately, not Wells’ night. Belconnen had a flurry of chances in added time but the ball was just not going in under any circumstance, including multiple good efforts from Tuggeranong’s keeper Jordan Wiseman to keep the scores level at full time, a result that you would need to think didn’t leave either team happy.

NPLW Belconnen United FC vs West Canberra Wanderers

Sat, 22 May 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Match report: 22 May 2021

Belconnen was looking to get a big win on their return to home base after a huge win last weekend, with the squad feeling determined to get top spot in the ladder back from Canberra Croatia, in what is heating up to be an intense showdown for top spot.

Belconnen sought to get the three points against the visiting West Canberra Wanderers, who have been settling in the middle of the ladder nicely and picked up the three points last weekend to go 3–3 to start the season.

Belconnen took the ascendancy right from the first minute, keeping control of the ball deep in the attack and holding a commanding presence on the ball. A great chance fell for Backhouse from a well delivered corner, but the volley just narrowly shifted past the post.

As the half went on, West Canberra managed to gain the upper hand by playing with a densely populated defensive line, shifting from four at the back to sometimes 7 or 8 within a matter of a few passes. They managed to form a great chance of their own when winger Alex McKenzie struck the ball from distance, but Cristina Esposito had no issue defusing the shot.

In form winger, Kiera Bobbin, was added into the fray just past the 30-minute mark and looked to make an immediate impact with her pace but the relentless outnumbering from the defence was enough to keep her from getting any good looks at goal.

Quite late into the first half, West Canberra picked up a penalty after a scramble in the box, confidently converted into the opening goal of the match by Emma Stanbury.

The half came to a close 1–0 to the visitors, who would have felt the more confident of the two sides coming into the second act of proceedings, with Belconnen hoping to find a way to overcome the overwhelming number of bodies West Canberra threw into their defence.

Belconnen started the second half clearly looking to score early. After a back and forth, ten minutes in Belconnen finally got the goal they needed when Talia Backhouse used her head to chip the ball over the top of the goalkeeper.

Some tension arose in the middle of the park between Belconnen skipper Micheala Thornton and West Canberra midfielder Emma Stanbury, culminating in Thornton picking up a yellow, after a third foul on Stanbury in as many minutes.

There was a moment in the 72nd minute that looked certain to go in the goal for Western Canberra, which ended up hitting the crossbar and narrowly staying in the field of play.

Belconnen had the better of the chances in the final 15 minutes of the game but struggled to get that final ball that would secure the win. West Canberra got some good chances due to a pretty lofty collection of free kicks but also could not find a way to get a clear chance.

Unfortunately, neither team could get the goal to decide a winner, so the points were shared this week, another blow to Belconnen’s mission to reclaim top spot of the pecking order.

Interview with Michael Zakoski, Head Coach, NPL Women’s First Grade, Belconnen United Football Club

Fri, 21 May 2021 06:53:59 GMT

From coaching a local Canberra school football team to working alongside current and ex-professional managers in Italy and Spain, Michael Zakoski has gained more experience at a young age than many seasoned coaches twice his age. So what makes Michael tick? We got an insight into our NPLW head coach as he talks about his football philosophy, his approach to developing high performing players, his vision for the BUFC first grade women’s team and his belief in the underdog.

Why did you want to become a coach?
Growing up in a disciplined household where education was the priority, I grew attached to the game from an academic and tactical perspective, intrigued with how the link between player management and tactics brought success in the game.

I have always had an admiration for world leaders and how their leadership models have inspired change. Through my passion for the game and intent to be the change I see in the world; I was fortunate enough to find a career pathway that brought me everything anyone could ask for in their profession; football management.

What is your coaching philosophy?
My football philosophy is expressed through creativity and freedom; allowing players to grow both on and off the pitch and be challenged to problem solve. Similar to my philosophy in life, I believe that players deserve the chance to express their ability and that growth occurs best alongside experienced mentors.

What is your team’s style of play?
BUFC NPLW sides will play with an emphasis on penetrative attacking football that maintains effective and controlled possession in central areas. We will focus on forward passing, forward running and forward thinking as often as possible. We will press the ball as high up the pitch as the game allows and be flexible in our team shape. Our pressing system is underpinned by a quick transition mentality and defending through aggressive, collective and intelligent decisions. Our players must be competent in tight areas and develop match winning skills. They must develop good game understanding in possession and in transition to enable them to progress through to higher standards of football.

What is your vision for BUFC NPLW? How will you define success?
The primary vision is to create evident and genuine pathways from our U13 through to our NPLW Senior Team. Development is often understated in the modern game and there is a big emphasis on player development and producing homegrown talent at the club this season, across respective programs. Thus far, we have seen a number of debuts across First and Reserve Grade, more so notably in the ‘bigger games’ against traditional top competitors, further supporting the genuine support for player opportunities. From a senior perspective, it is important to remember that we are very much the ‘end product’ of our development period of players at the club, which is results driven. We will always endeavour to find the balance between success and development and be driven to play a brand of football that will be remembered for the years to come.

In your opinion, what makes an excellent football player?
As part of our vision and philosophy, we believe that an ‘excellent player’ is one that encompasses all match winning components of being a destroyer, creator and goal scorer. A player who shows strong evidence across all four corners of the game, being technically, tactically, physically and psychologically sound will provide them the tools to reach higher levels of the game.

What does your bench look like during matches?
Our bench is well-organised and we are extremely thankful for the work of our team managers, Franca Pangallo and Mel Pring, who not only bring a great deal of professionalism but the honest feedback and second opinion we need on updated regulations prior, during and post-match. The intensity and pressures of the match can often create a tense environment, which is always relieved through the positive nature of our team physio, Dan! With his phone chime every 15 minutes, players are reminded to be up and active, in preparation for coming off the bench.

Coaching the first team is a huge responsibility. How do you handle the pressure of coaching first grade?
I’ve been fortunate to have progressed through the respective ages and grades since beginning my coaching career, working with players as young as 13, through to those at senior level; learning along the way that different teams require different measures of player management and each season will entail different pressures, whether that be from results, injuries, team management or even match preparation. The pressure is something my coaching staff thrives on, it’s what ensures that each match is taken with absolute dedication and that nothing is left out on the pitch at the end of the 90+ minutes. No stone is left unturned in preparation for the match and the pressure in preparation is what allows us to consider every possible outcome to secure the strongest possible result.

How do you balance coaching, work and family?
The best way to respond to this is how I view football, an imperfect sport met with a near perfect mindset. In the game, it is rare we will see players have 100% conversation rates, passing rates etc, though we commit to every match with the desire of reaching as close as possible to perfect. This is the same approach I take towards the balance of coaching, work and family – dedicating near perfect amounts of time to each important aspect of my life.

What do you like to do when you’re not coaching?
I am an R&B, Hip Hop, pop culture enthusiast and often enjoy spending my time watching dance performances and immersing myself in the culture and history of the music. Growing up in a family who migrated to Australia from Macedonia in the 50’s-60’s provided me with opportunities in life that I may have otherwise not have had living overseas and, because of that, I take a keen interest in ‘underdog’ stories and very much appreciate the resilience shown by many of these characters in their drive to be the change they want to see. In that, I relate to the culture of the music and recognise the challenges in front of their profession and how that was influenced through resilience and persistence.

Where have you gained your influence from? Who do you look up to and view as a mentor and why?
My biggest influence in the early stages of my coaching career has been driven through leadership traits and tacticians. My earliest inspiration and reason for why I am in love with the game is Brian Clough. Controversial, brave, mastermind. As an 18-year-old working in an industry dominated by adults, you often find that you won’t have access to the best players or even enough credibility to take on the bigger sides, which in turn leaves you with the foundation of our philosophy, desire. In my earliest coaching experience, I was fortunate enough to lead St. Edmund’s College to their first U18 Division 1 Championship in the 60-year history of the club and, in this season, I am thankful for the hard work and determination the players showed in compensation for the lack of natural ability when compared with other clubs. I found many similarities in that of my early coaching days to that of Brian’s when taking Derby to the semi-final of the Champions League, as well as Nottingham Forest to consecutive Champions League medals.

In addition to Clough, Sir Alex Ferguson would be the next manager at professional level to leave a lasting impression; a father figure, mentor and someone who was able to re-invent a squad three times over in an ever-changing environment of the game. Again, similarly being raised in a low socio-economic neighbourhood and working at the shipyards before reaching his next phase; often dubbed as being brought up with the silver spoon.

I’ve been fortunate enough to work alongside a number of current and ex-professional managers in my tenure across Spain and Italy, though most notably alongside Kyle Copp (Former Swansea City Midfielder and Wales U17 Captain), who would often give advice in the most casual of settings. I recall a time sitting on the couch late in the evening talking about the influence of money at a young age at the top level and how the influence of player management is crucial in this environment. The impacts of the real world on player performance and influence on team culture is understated and, after a number of conversations, agreed that player management is a hidden key to success where ability may be out of reach.

At a local level, breaking into the NPL U20 and U23 in 2019 and 2020 allowed me to grow not only as a coach but as a person. Coaching in an industry that is often dominated by older and experienced people can be quite confronting at a young age, importantly when it is in a result driven business. However, at the conclusion of my time at Canberra Olympic and in my transition to the role of NPLW Head Coach at Belconnen, there are three people in particular who have left a lasting impression and have allowed me to further expand my coaching philosophy and even playing statements.

Fabian Miceli, Head Coach NPL First Grade Mens, Belconnen United has been an exceptional colleague in the game and someone who I can proudly call my friend both on and off the pitch. In recent seasons, we would be up against one another in the U23 competition, respectively winning Minor Premierships in 2019 and 2020 and I admire him for the healthy competition we always created. Often at times we would watch one another’s matches, give each other support and advice and found that we could grow by sharing and that football is not a secret, the more we share, the more we learn, the more we improve.
Steve Ujdur, Technical Director, Canberra Olympic, another who has been a mentor for me specifically off the pitch and someone who’s shared honest feedback and helped me grow in my matchday management with referees. It’s often understated how important it is to conduct yourself in the appropriate manner and with Steve’s help, I was not only able to reflect on my own representation on the touchline, but also improve the information shared on the go; all in the interest of securing a result and boosting the quality of performance.
Andy Bernal, Former Socceroo, Former Captain of Reading, first Australian footballer to play their trade in Spain. Andy provides unmatched advice, importantly being one of the only people in the city to reach the highest level of the game. In what has been a challenging few seasons up against experienced managers and quality opposition, Andy has given honest feedback on how to approach these matches in the most effective manner, but also the necessary support to take risks where others may be more reserved. The reality is that we want to create an environment that will allow us to increase the possibilities of producing more Socceroos and Matildas and through this, we want to expose as many of our young players at the highest level where possible. This is among the many strands of our vision and philosophy and one of the foundations of sustained success over long periods of time.

As a final note, I would like to share a quote that represents our football vision and philosophy in one sentence:

'If you want to live from football, you have to live for football.'

Interview: Fabian Miceli, Head Coach NPL First Grade Mens

Tue, 11 May 2021 08:24:15 GMT

We caught up with our NPL Head Coach, Fabian Miceli, to find out what motivated him to become a coach, who he has gained influence from, the secret behind his tidy bench and more...

Why did you want to become a coach?
I have always loved the tactical side of the game. I enjoyed it more than playing and I would read about coaches, formations and tactics from a very young age. I grew up in Fairfield, in Western Sydney, which is considered the most multicultural area in the world. Football was a part of everyday life and, as with so many cultures growing up, it really was a way that connected every culture together. From my house I could walk to clubs like Marconi, Sydney United, Bonnyrigg White Eagles, Mounties Wanderers, Fairfield Bulls and AC United, to name a few. All these elements combined probably led me to the path of coaching.

What is your coaching philosophy?
My philosophy is to try and present the game in a manner that brings out the love and freedom of football to my players. Football is the beautiful game and for me this is the most fundamental part of my philosophy.

What is your team's style of play?
We try to be very structured both offensively and defensively and the style of football is based around attacking football but we also to try and be disciplined in defending without the ball. This will vary slightly, depending on who we play.

What is your vision for BUFC NPL? How will you define success?
My vision for BUFC is to create pathways into First Grade for the youth at the club. Home grown players that come through our system are critical to the way I approach my vision. This season alone, we have given NPL1 debuts to at least five players in our under 23s. There are certainly times when you will need to sign outside players but the consensus is always pathways, when possible. In First Grade, success is based on results, so making the top four this season is something we are looking at. Success is also in developing young players into mature First Graders—transitioning them from under 23s into 1st team football is something that I’m very passionate about.

In your opinion, what makes an excellent football player?
Skill, mental strength and football intelligence on the pitch. Many players have great skills but are not taught the importance of mental strength and intelligence on the pitch. If a player has these three elements they would be considered excellent, in my opinion.

What does your bench look like during matches?
Due to our manager, Alex Weinhardt, it’s always nice and tidy. I guess the biggest influence on my bench has been Deakin Jewell, who started the Belconnen tradition in 2019 of having many packets of snake lollies being passed around each game. He will forever be the influence of my benches in the future!

Coaching the first team is a huge responsibility. How do you handle the pressure of coaching first grade?
Just like players mature, so do coaches. When I first started coaching I always felt a lot of pressure but over the last two seasons at Belconnen I have learnt to take the pressure off and enjoy the game. To be able to coach in First Grade is very humbling, so I look to enjoy the experience and to be grateful for the opportunity.

How do you balance coaching, work and family?
I think I have a great work/coaching balance. I’m sure my wife would love to answer the family/coaching balance question for you, how about asking her to answer that one!

What do you like to do when you're not coaching?
I enjoy going out into the country as much as possible. Going into remote places is something I love to do. The last place I went to was a little town called Wallerawang, just north of Lithgow and travelled around that region into many small towns and places etc.

Where have you gained your influence from? Who do you look up to and view as a mentor and why?
My biggest influence as a youngster was Marcello Lippi. He is the person that made me love coaching since the 1990s, when he was at Juventus. He was a real leader and loved by his players. For me, he is a true coaching great. I was also very into the philosophy of Rinus Michels from a young age and believe that he is the greatest tactician in history, a true football coaching artist.

My next biggest direct influence was Ufuk Talay, who is the current head coach of Wellington Phoenix and, for me, the best coach in Australia. In 2018, when I was coaching Canberra Croatia’s under 16s NPL1 mens side, I had his son, Teo Talay, in my team. It was there that I had many conversations with Ufuk and also watched him take on some training sessions with my team. I learnt a lot from him and I also had the pleasure of being on camp with him in December last year for two days, with the Wellington Phoenix.

I have always had my own style and philosophy but I’m a firm believer in gaining knowledge and experience from other coaches. I think you can always add a couple of things to your own style by seeking advice from other coaches and so, below are a few local coaches I have gained some great experiences from:

In 2021, working with Michael Zakoski—who is the head coach of our Women’s NPL1 First Grade side—has been fantastic. He is a really good young coach, very passionate and has really added to the positive culture at the club.

Locally in Canberra, working with Danny Macor in 2019, in the under 20s at Belconnen, was a really good influence in terms of sharing his football knowledge and experience.

In 2020, being the head coach of the Belconnen United under 23s and being assisted by Lou Gaspari and John Krithinakis was a great learning curve on player management and tactics.

In 2020, as well, working under Paul and Danny Macor, who were the First Grade coaches, was a great experience. Paul Macor is a great man manager and coach and we share the same hunger and passion to win, which was very enjoyable.

I have also had influence from Dean Ugrinic, when he was the coach of the Canberra United NYL side in 2019. I watched some of his sessions and had a couple of good chats with him around philosophy. I think that Dean is a great coach and a real football tactician.

Belconnen United FC faces off with Canberra United Academy

Wed, 21 Apr 2021 08:21:13 GMT

Belconnen played home to Canberra United Academy in their second match of the season, looking to keep momentum after a big win in their first outing. Their opponents were looking to get their first win of the season, after conceding a late goal and only managing a point from their first game against Canberra Croatia.

Belconnen were looking to add more distance in an already steady lead at the top of the ladder in terms of goal difference, while United Academy were looking to tighten up their defence and limit the attacking opportunities.

Belconnen started the game on the front foot and really pressed to establish an attacking mentality in the early stages, including an early free kick that only narrowed avoided being a penalty. United Academy did, however, showcase pace to burn in a few early counter-attacks.

Belconnen grabbed the lead with a goal to Keira Bobbin, after a fast breakaway run from the wing. She grabbed a brace shortly after, when Reilly Yuen made a great tackle high up the field and followed up with a great cross for the assist.

United Academy took the ascendency and went on the attack, leading to some strong Belconnen defence to defuse multiple nice looking attacks.

Belconnen grabbed a third when captain Michaela Thornton turned defence into a shot within a few touches.

Bobbin finished a first half hattrick in the 36th minute with a breakaway run, where pace got her into a good position to work the keeper. Belconnen scored a fifth only a few minutes later, when Yuen grabbed a second assist to Olivia Bomford.

United Academy grabbed a goal shortly before the halftime break with a shot from Sofia Christopherson, which the keeper got hands to but couldn’t stop. They pressed with a lot of pressure pursuing a second but couldn’t find another before the break, with Belconnen’s keeper getting some redemption with a very good save to prevent a second to Christopherson.

The two teams headed into the break at 5:1 to Belconnen, the United Academy coach hoping his team could keep the pressure they showed late in the half, while Belconnen would have been fairly confident after a strong first half across the board.

After the break, Belconnen took control of the pace of the game again, taking the front foot and seeking more goals. United Academy had a shot which almost floated its way but the Belconnen keeper handled it well.

Thornton grabbed a second with a strike from distance, before United Academy had a great attempt to score a second, only to have Belconnen's keeper once again defuse the attempt. Thornton finished a hattrick of her own, with another impressive shot from distance.

Belconnen pressed on the attack for a large portion of the half. Thornton nearly cinched a fourth with some nice footwork leading into a breakaway run but narrowly sent it to the side of the post.

United Academy struggled to take the game to the other half of the field for long enough to stage an attacking play during the second half, relying on fast counterattacks as the majority of their offence.

The game came to an end right on 90 minutes, with the score 7:1 to Belconnen United, to further solidify a strong hold on the top spot of the ladder at such an early stage of the season.

2021 Blue Devils Academy

martine@digitaloxygen.com.au (Martine Valentin) — Tue, 30 Mar 2021 06:31:28 GMT

'pathway to premier league'

The 2021 Blue Devils Academy commences Monday 19 April and runs through terms 2 and 3, on Monday evenings, offering high quality football coaching by licenced and accredited premier league coaches (with AFA/FA B-licence or C-licence) for boys in U9, U10 and U11 age groups, and girls in U10, U11 and U12 age groups (boys and girls in separate groups). Elite U8 boys/U9 girls are also eligible.

Registration is required. Book now at: https://www.trybooking.com/BQCRE

Learn more about our program at our Blue Devils Academy page.

2021 Annual general meeting

Fri, 01 Jan 2021 05:15:21 GMT

Wednesday 27 January 2021, 7pm at The Clubhouse, Kaleen

Notice is hereby given that the 2020 Annual General Meeting of the Belconnen United Football Club (BUFC) is to be held Wednesday 27 January 2021 , commencing at 7pm at The Clubhouse, 16 Georgina Crescent, Kaleen.

Any BUFC member may provide notice of any General Business to the Club’s President not less than seven days prior to the AGM date, being COB Wednesday 20 January 2021, by email to president@bluedevilsfc.com and copied to admin@bluedevilsfc.com .

Nominations for positions to be declared vacant are to be provided to the Director of Administration on the BUFC 2021 Executive Committee Nomination Form , not less than seven days prior to the AGM, being COB Wednesday 20 January 2021. Request a form via email to admin@bluedevilsfc.com .

All executive positions are declared vacant at the AGM:

President (Chairman) – chair meetings of the Executive Committee and act as spokesperson for the club, unless the Executive Committee nominates another member of the Executive Committee to make any public comment or otherwise represent the interests of the club in the manner prescribed
Director of Administration – responsible for all administrative matters relating to the club’s activities
Director of Finance – responsible for all financial matters relating to the club’s activities
Director of Operations – responsible for property, grounds, communications and administrative matters relating to the conduct of sporting activities by or on behalf of the club
Director of Business – responsible for all matters relating to sponsorship, marketing and promotion of the activities of the club
Director of Women’s Football – responsible for the development and coordination of all football matters
Director of Men’s Football – responsible for the development and coordination of all football matters
Director of Community – responsible for liaising with all interrelated football entities, including our affiliated junior clubs.

Agenda includes:

attendance
minutes of AGM 2019 and any business arising
reports from the President and Director of Finance
election of office bearers
setting of membership subscription
approval of life membership awards
general business (if any officially notified by the due date)
close of AGM.

Joe Carbone, President, 24 December 2020

2020 NPLW coaching positions available

Wed, 15 Jan 2020 08:33:50 GMT

Applications open now

We are seeking applications from suitably qualified coaches to join the coaching staff for our NPLW program for the 2020 season.

Applicants must hold at a minimum an AFC/FFA C Licence or be in the process of undertaking certification.

To apply, please contact Head Coach Alen Marin via email at womenspl@bluedevilsfc.com or via mobile on 0457 818 441.

All applications will be treated in full confidence.

BUFC 2020 NPLW First and Reserve Grade Trials

Fri, 10 Jan 2020 09:32:57 GMT

Commencing Tuesday 28 January 2020

Training/grading for our women's 1st and reserve grade squads commences Tuesday

28 January 2020.

Venue : Melba District Playing Fields, Verbrugghen St, Melba.

Time : 6–7.30pm

Eligibility : All new players to BUFC are welcome and are required to register prior to attending .

Annual general meeting 2019

Fri, 27 Dec 2019 05:53:40 GMT

Wednesday 29 January 2020, 7 pm Hawker Belconnen Soccer Club

Notice is hereby given that the 2019 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Belconnen United Football Club is to be held Wednesday 29 January 2020 , commencing at 7 pm at the Belconnen Soccer Club, Cnr Belconnen Way and Springvale Drive, Hawker.

Notice of any general business is to be provided to the club’s president in writing not less than seven days prior to the AGM date, being COB Wednesday 22 January 2020, by email to president@bluedevilsfc.com and copied to admin@bluedevilsfc.com.

Nominations for positions to be declared vacant are to be provided to the Director of Administration on the BUFC 2020 Executive Committee nomination form, not less than seven days prior to the AGM, being COB Wednesday 22 January 2020. Nomination forms are available via email from admin@bluedevilsfc.com.

The following executive positions are to be declared vacant at the AGM:

President (Chairman) – responsible for chairing meetings of the Executive Committee and acting as spokesperson for the club, unless the Executive Committee nominates another member of the Executive Committee to make any public comment or otherwise represent the interests of the club in the manner prescribed
Director of Administration – responsible for all administrative matters relating to the clubs activities
Director of Finance – responsible for all financial matters relating to the clubs activities
Director of Operations – responsible for property, grounds, communications and administrative matters relating to the conduct of sporting activities by or on behalf of the club
Director of Business Development – responsible for all matters relating to the marketing and promotion of the activities of the club
Director of Women’s Football – responsible for the development and coordination of all football matters
Director of Men’s Football – responsible for the development and coordination of all football matters
Director of Community – responsible for liaising with all interrelated football entities including our affiliated junior clubs.

Agenda includes:

attendance
minutes of AGM 2018 and any business arising
reports from the President and Director of Finance
election of office bearers
setting of membership subscription
approval of life membership awards
general business (if any officially notified by the due date)
close of AGM.

Joe Carbone (Acting President)
20 December 2019

Tread Together

websites@jslmedia.com.au (Brad Evans) — Thu, 17 May 2018 05:32:51 GMT

Tread together will bring people from all cross the country, moving as one to raise much-needed awareness of suicide. Anytime Fitness is participating in a nation wide community event 'Treadmill Challenge', this will be held from 3pm Friday 25 May - 3pm Saturday 26 May.You don't have to be a member of an Anytime Fitness to take part, everyone is welcome. You can get involved by registering at http://treadtogether.gofundraise.com.au/cms/find-a-club and select Anytime Fitness Dickson or Anytime Fitness Charnwood.

For as little as $15 will give you 15 mins on the treadmill, you can choose to run, walk, or even dance. So we hope you can take part on this amazing cause :)

WNPL Round 5 Match Report

Sun, 22 Apr 2018 07:29:53 GMT

BUFC Women's NPL side have continued their perfect start to the 2018 season, making it five wins from five, with a dominating 3-0 win over Tuggeranong United FC. The home side had plenty of chances in the first half, the first one coming from a Maddy Whittall cross to Gemma Murphy, with Murphy putting her attempt just wide of the goal.

BUFC dominated play with plenty of chances but were unable to turn any of them into the back of the net. That was until the 27th minute when Katie Woodman crossed the ball in from the right to Maddy Whittall who snuck the ball past the keeper to out the home side up 1-0. The Blue Devils continued to dominate for the remainder of the half but were once again unable to score.

The second half was much the same, with plenty of chances to the home side. Both Gemma Murphy and Jess Williams had close range shots cleared off the line thanks to some great saves from the Tuggeranong keeper. The home side extended their lead in the 65th minute, with Whittall grabbing her second of the game running onto a through ball and slotting one past the keeper.

Jess Williams made it 3-0 minutes later running into the box to out one past the keeper. The Blue Devils continued to dominate play for the remaining 20 minutes with Tuggeranong never really troubling the defence.

Speaking after the game, Assistant Coach Alen Marin said that the home side were challenged by Tuggeranong. “We were definitely challenged, we didn’t execute as well as we planned to. Tuggeranong gave us a really good run and we’re pleased with the result.”

BUFC Women’s look to continue their unbeaten start to the season next week against Canberra United Academy. Kick-Off is 5:15pm, April 28th at McKellar Park.

WNPL Round 4 Match Report

Tue, 17 Apr 2018 10:52:49 GMT

The BUFC Women's NPL side continued their perfect start to the season with a 3-1 win over fellow WNPL heavyweights Canberra Olympic FC. A brace to Gemma Murphy, and a goal to Michaela Day, ensured that the Blue Devils left O’Connor Enclosed with all 3 points.

The game started off slow with both sides struggling to get the ball out of the centre of the park. Midfielder Michaela Day continued her superb goal scoring record so far this season, with a superbly hit free-kick from the side of the box curling past the Olympic keeper. This was the only score of the half as neither side could break through the opposition defence.

Three minutes into the second half however, and Olympic were back on level terms through a well-hit free-kick from Grace Maher. The Blue Devils looked to get on top of the home side following the goal, creating multiple chances over the next 15 minutes. Their pressure was paid off as Gemma Murphy ran onto a Maddy Whittall through ball to put one past Eleni Haridemos to restore the lead.

Following Murphy’s goal, it was even play with both sides being held out by the opposing defence once again. This was until Gemma Murphy scored her second for the game in the dying minutes of the game to confirm the result for Belconnen. The goal came from a fumble from Olympic keeper Haridemos straight into the path of Murphy for her to put the ball into the back of the net.

BUFC face Tuggeranong United in their next match, Saturday April 21st, 5:15pm at McKellar Park.

NPL Round 3 Match Report

Tue, 17 Apr 2018 08:34:54 GMT

The BUFC NPL Men's side lost their second straight match against Tuggeranong United FC in a heated clash at McKellar. The visitors had a chance early on through a free-kick, but the set piece was handled easily by the defence. The visitors had another chance minutes later, this time forcing keeper Finn Jurak into making a stunning save to keep them out.

It as end to end play for the first third of the match, right up until the visitors took the lead through Danny Crkovski following a counter-attacking play. The game started to heat up following the goal with tackles flying in from both sides, the referee handing out three yellow cards before the break.

The Blue Devils came out hungry in the second half with Goran Mukevski firing an early shot just wide of the goal. The Blue Devils continued to push the visitors in what was quickly becoming a heated encounter, with play being halted constantly and the referee dishing out multiple yellow cards. Daniel Barac had a great chance to equalise for the home side, put was unable to put his shot into the net with it going just wide instead.

Unfortunately, the Blue Devils were unable to capitalise on any momentum, as Aisosa Ihegie curling one past Jurak to put the game to bed. The home side did continue to push but were unable to break down the Tuggeranong defence with final score being 2-0.

BUFC now face Canberra Olympic next Friday, the 20th, 7:00pm at Woden Park Enclosed.

WNPL Round 3 Match Report

Tue, 10 Apr 2018 07:25:42 GMT

The BUFC NPL Women’s team continued their great start to the season with a 3-2 win against Woden-Weston. The Blue Devils had a slow start to the game, with the visitors almost looing like they had the game in control. It wasn’t until 30 minutes in that the home side got on top, thanks to a neat passage of play up the left side which saw Jasmine Maguire play in Michaela Day for her to finish cleanly.

The lead didn’t last long however, with Woden-Weston’s Cassia McGlashan putting the visitors back on equal terms, the first goal the Blue Devil’s Women conceded this season. Fortunately, Gemma Murphy was able to get the women back in front right before the break with a well-struck volley at the back post.

It was the visitors who came out firing in the second half, with Alex Mackenzie capitalising on a defensive lapse from the Blue Devils to score from the edge of the box and equal the game once again for Woden.

A tense battle followed, but it was Jasmine Maguire who had the final say for the home side, scoring on the turn from outside the box, to cap off a player of the match performance, with 25 minutes remaining in the game.

Speaking of the game, Coach Antoni Jagarinec said: “It wasn’t our best performance. We didn’t execute our game plan as well as we could of and didn’t really stamp our authority on the match. Very Happy we got the three points though”. Jagarinec also said that players ‘Elle Raymond, Jazz Maguire and Gemma Murphy were all standouts.

BUFC Women’s next game is against Canberra Olympic at O’Connor Enclosed, Sunday April 15 at 3:00pm.

NPL Round 1 Match Report

Tue, 27 Mar 2018 00:58:51 GMT

BUFC Men hold out for opening 1-0 win against Gungahlin

The BUFC NPL Men’s team has opened their title defence with a gritty 1-0 win against a tough Gungahlin side with the games only goal being scored by Daniel Barac in the 16th minute of play. The visitors pressed hard for an equaliser for the rest of the game but were unable to break through.

The first chance of the game was through Daniel Barac in the sixth minute, when he broke through the Gungahlin defence only to have his shot saved by the Keeper Jason Denham. Minutes later and Barac had another attempt on goal, except this time he blazed his shot over the bar. Soon after and it was the visitors who came close to breaking the deadlock with Augustine Bangura running into the box and striking his shot against the outside of the post.

Minutes later, it was Barac who put the home side ahead converting from close range, Denham unable to keep him out this time. Throughout the game, Barac proved to be a handful for the Gungahlin defence as he continued to shoot on goal. Denham was able to prevent Barac from getting his second making a double save after Jason Ugrinic's initial shot from outside the box. The visitors caused the home side trouble for the remainder of the half but were unable to capitalise on any chances.

Gungahlin had the first chance of the second stanza when Michael Rinaudo fired a shot that failed to trouble BUFC keeper Finn Jurak. It was in the final 10 minutes of the game that the visiting side missed an opportunity to salvage a point when Centre back Jack Green headed the ball just wide of the goal following a great cross. Gungahlin continued to push for an equaliser but were unable to. The game finishing 1-0 to BUFC.

Northern Strike Tournament

websites@jslmedia.com.au (Brad Evans) — Fri, 09 Mar 2018 00:24:30 GMT

Information Sheet

The Northern Strike tournament invites Girls and Boys Small Sided Game teams to continue to develop their football skill in preparation for the 2018 season. The tournament will be a round robin competition with teams competing in either the plate (division 1) or social divisions.

Dates:

- Tournament day: Saturday Apr 07th
- Nominations Open: Thursday Mar 01st
- Nominations Close: Wednesday Mar 28th

Times: 8:00am – 5pm
Ages: 8 – 11
Number of Teams: Min 20 - Max 70
Venue: Giralang Playing Fields, Canopus Street Giralang Cost: $200 per Team

Registration and Payment method: All teams in the Tournament must nominate using the Online Nomination Form. Once accepted teams must register and pay through My Football Club. This needs to be done prior to the Tournament Day.

Food and Drink: There will be a coffee van, Hogs breath steak sandwiches, a sausage sizzle and cool drinks.

Format: All games will be 10 min halves with a 5 min half time break
Rules: Standard Small Sided Game rules apply, which include U8-9 (Player 7v7) and U10-11

(Players 9v9)

Contact:

Please direct all queries to northernstrike@belnorth.org . Thanks for your interest in the Northern Strike tournament.

Pre-season School Holiday Program

websites@jslmedia.com.au (Brad Evans) — Mon, 05 Mar 2018 03:25:55 GMT

Kick off your 2018 season with an exciting new program

Who is this program for?

Are you looking for a school holiday program to give your kids a great football warm up for the 2018 season? Why not come along to a school holiday program with a highly credentialed team of coaches?

We have goalkeeper specific training, we have boys, we have girls, we have the best program and it's open now!!

Give the young footballer in your life a boost into the 2018 season!

Our coaches

Head Coach

Steve Forshaw (Premiership winning Technical Director of BUFC)

Boys Coaches

Ahmed Ugool (WPL U13 BUFC coach)

Finn Jurak (BUFC 1st grade premiership winning goalkeeper)

Jason Ugrinic (BUFC 1st grade premiership winning and scorer of 22 goals in 2017)

Girls Coaches

Caitlin Munoz (57 time Matilda, W-League Premiership and Championship winner with Canberra United and BUFC 1st grade premiership winning player)

Nicole Jalocha (BUFC 1st grade premiership winning player)

Jasmine Maguire (BUFC 1st grade championship winning player)

When?

9am to 12pm on Monday 16th of April to Thursday 19th of April (Week 1 of school holidays)

Where?

Nicholls Synthetic fields – Kelleway Cres, Nicholls (behind Gold Creek and Holy Spirit Primary Schools)

Cost

Cost $170 plus optional $28 for a shirt (shirt orders need to be in by 1pm Friday 30th March). All children receive a ball to keep.

Bookings

To book your place, please go to www.trybooking.com/UNDS or go to www.bufc.com.au for more information.

Coaching opportunities at Belconnen United FC

websites@jslmedia.com.au (Brad Evans) — Sun, 21 Jan 2018 02:24:16 GMT

BUFC has a strong women’s Premier League coaching team, led by 6-time WNPL coach of the year Anthony Jagarinec, that we would like to enhance by adding both experienced and new coaches.

We have a small number of positions available as assistant and head coaches with our WNPL and development squads.

We are particularly keen to work with new and returning coaches to build their skills, football knowledge and qualifications so that they might be our next generation of head coaches in Canberra’s most successful women’s PL program.

We can offer a strong and committed cohort of junior and senior players, with a dedicated women’s technical program and strong plans for the future of the club.

Please contact Dom, Women’s Premier League Technical Director on wpltd@bluedevilsfc.com to discuss your interest.

2018 WNPL Senior Trials

Wed, 10 Jan 2018 06:58:15 GMT

Open Trials for BUFC Women's

Open trials for BUFC Women's Reserve Grade commence on Tuesday, 16 January at 6pm at Melba District Playing Fields, Verbrugghen Street.
Players who intend trialling are asked to arrive at 5.30pm to register.
Players interested in playing 1st Grade must contact Antoni Jagarinec on 0439 490 500 to register their interest.

Great Way To Save Cash

Tue, 19 Dec 2017 04:56:05 GMT

What a great way to save some cash!!

IMB and BUFC have an agreement where a commission is payable by IMB to BUFC for any settled owner
occupied home loan applications referred by any players, members, supporters or persons and/or families
associated with the BUFC, to IMB.

For each settled loan application, a referral fee of 0.25% of the loan amount will be paid to BUFC!

For example, if BUFC referred a residential loan of $250,000, a $625 referral fee (plus GST) will be paid to BUFC.
This is fully private and confidential between IMB and the actual applicant.

Belwest Foxes Soccer Club Inc. ASP Programme 2017

Tue, 19 Dec 2017 04:51:04 GMT

And..... that’s a wrap for the Belwest Foxes Soccer Club Inc. SAP programme 2017.

All the players clearly had a great time and the program was a great success.

The sessions were expertly delivered by our coaches Luka, Obi, Dean and our TD, Ulisses.

A massive thank you also to our amazing manager, Alex who made the program a huge success.

2018 Women’s NPL Competition Trials

Tue, 19 Dec 2017 04:14:24 GMT

BUFC thanks all of the players who attended our trials for the junior teams participating in the 2018 Women’s NPL competition. The level of skill and commitment shown by all players has been outstanding. The large number of players vying for positions made selecting the final squads very difficult.

Following a review of the performances at trials, we have now sent advice to all players about the outcomes of the selections through the email addresses provided when registering for trials.

If you attended these trials but have not yet received an email on the outcomes, please contact the Women’s Technical Director, Dom English, via email at wpltd@bluedevilsfc.com

bluedevils

BUFC 2023 Trials - NPL and BUDS, NPLG and BUDS and NPLW

NPLW representative selections, 2022

Girls BUDS

ACT Primary Schools

Girls NPL U14

ACT Primary Schools

Girls NPL U15

NYC U16

NYC U14

Girls NPL U17

NTC U18

Women’s NPL First and Reserve Grade

NYC U16

NTC U18

ACT Secondary Schools

NYC ACT U16s Head Coach: Matty Moore. NYC ACT U14s Head Coach: Ahmed Ugool.

NPL Round 19, 2022: Belconnen United FC v's Canberra Croatia FC

27 August, 2022

NPLW Round 18, 2022: Belconnen United FC v's Canberra United Academy

20 August, 2022

NPL Round 17, 2022: Belconnen United FC v's Gungahlin United FC

13 August 2022

NPL Round 13, 2022: Belconnen United FC v's Cooma Tigers FC

16 July, 2022

WNPL Round 12, 2022: Belconnen United FC v's Canberra Croatia FC

2 July, 2022

NPL Round 11, 2022: Belconnen United FC v's Canberra Olympic FC

25 June, 2022

NPL Round 9, 2002: Belconnen United FC vs West Canberra Wanderers FC

Women’s NPL Player Opportunities

NPLW Round 8, 2022: Belconnen United FC vs Tuggeranong United FC

Women’s NPL Player Opportunities

NPLW Round 5, 2022: Belconnen United FC vs Canberra Croatia FC

7 May, 2022

NPL Round 4, 2022: Belconnen United FC vs Canberra Olympic FC

30 April, 2022

NPL Round 3, 2022: Belconnen United FC VS Gungahlin United FC

23 April, 2022

NPLW Round 2, 2022: Belconnen United FC vs Gungahlin United FC

NPL Round 1, 2022: Belconnen United FC vs Monaro Panthers FC

2021 Annual general meeting

Wednesday 2 February 2022, 7pm at The Clubhouse, Kaleen

BUFC 2022 Trials - NPLG and U13BUDS

Trials will be held in early November for our youth girls NPL and BUDS teams

Junior Girls Information Night

Wednesday 13 October 2021, 7.30 pm

BUFC 2022 Trials- NPLB, 23NPL and 13BUDS

2022 Coaching Appointments Announced

2022 NPLW Coaching Positions Available

2022 NPLY coaching positions available

Belconnen United vs Canberra Olympic FC

NPLW Round 17 match report

Belconnen United FC VS Canberra Olympic FC

Round 16 Match Report

Belconnen United FC vs West Canberra Wanderers FC

Round 14 Match Report

NPLW Belconnen United FC VS Tuggeranong United FC

Round 13 Match Report

Belconnen United FC vs Canberra Croatia FC

NPL round 12 match report

2021 Blue Devils Academy – Term 3

'Pathway to premier league'

NPLW Belconnen United FC vs Canberra Olympic FC

Round 10 Match Report

Belconnen United FC VS Canberra Olympic FC

Round 9 match report

Belconnen United FC vs Tuggeranong United FC

Round 8 match report

NPLW Belconnen United FC vs West Canberra Wanderers

Match report: 22 May 2021

Interview with Michael Zakoski, Head Coach, NPL Women’s First Grade, Belconnen United Football Club

Interview: Fabian Miceli, Head Coach NPL First Grade Mens

We caught up with our NPL Head Coach, Fabian Miceli, to find out what motivated him to become a coach, who he has gained influence from, the secret behind his tidy bench and more...

Belconnen United FC faces off with Canberra United Academy

2021 Blue Devils Academy

'pathway to premier league'

2021 Annual general meeting

Wednesday 27 January 2021, 7pm at The Clubhouse, Kaleen

2020 NPLW coaching positions available

NYC ACT U16s Head Coach: Matty Moore.
NYC ACT U14s Head Coach: Ahmed Ugool.