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2008–09 Canberra United FC (W-League) season

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Canberra United
2008–09 season
ChairmanMel Patzwald
Head CoachRobbie Hooker
StadiumMcKellar Park
W-League3rd
W-League FinalsRunners-up
Top goalscorerCaitlin Munoz (4)
Highest home attendance1,637
vs. Central Coast Mariners
(9 November 2008)
W-League
Lowest home attendance712
vs. Queensland Roar
(27 December 2008)
W-League
Average home league attendance1,029
Biggest win3–0
vs. Central Coast Mariners (A)
(13 December 2008)
W-League
Biggest defeat0–2
vs. Queensland Roar (A)
(17 January 2009)
W-League Grand Final
2009 →

The 2008–09 season was Canberra United Football Club's first season, in the newly formed women's league in Australia the W-League. Canberra United finished 3rd in their W-League season, finishing as runners-up in the Grand Final.

Review

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The first announcement of the club came in July 2008, coinciding with the establishment of the new W-League. The formation of the new club presented a unique situation in the league, that it was not associated with an established A-League side. In August, Canberra appointed Matildas assistant coach Robbie Hooker as coach for the inaugural season, and ACT Senator Kate Lundy as club chair.[1][2] United also announced its first key signing in local Canberran and Matildas goalkeeper Lydia Williams. Hooker made a number of key signings in the first registration window, also securing Caitlin Munoz, Amy Chapman, Grace Gill-McGrath, Hayley Crawford, Rhian Davies, Thea Slatyer for the inaugural season. The squad was further expanded in the lead up to the first round, signing on a number of players from the ACT and Southern NSW, and also signing Sasha McDonnell and Kara Mowbray from Queensland. The final squad presented significant strength on paper, boasting eight full internationals and a further four Young Matildas.

United started the season steadily, alternating losses and wins in the opening rounds - including a win over eventual Premiers Queensland Roar. Scoring came with some difficulty for the side, with four goals in their opening first five matches. Influencing this record was an injury to striker Caitlin Munoz in Round 1, keeping her sidelined for a number of weeks. Munoz's return to the side in Round 6 immediately lifted the scoring rate, contributing four goals in the last five rounds. Despite early losses, Canberra were unbeaten in the last seven rounds of the competition, achieving a third placed finish with a record of four wins, four draws and two losses. Canberra's strength throughout the season has been in defence, drawn from a number of experienced players. In front of a dependable Williams in goal, a defensive backline led by Thea Slatyer and captain Ellie Brush frustrated opposition and ensured the second-best defensive record in the competition, bettered only by Premiers Queensland.

United won their away semi-final against Newcastle Jets,[3] and progressed to the inaugural final, where they were defeated by Queensland Roar.

Players

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Name and position No Joined in Former team Birth date Citizenship
Goalkeepers
Lydia Williams 1 2008 Australia ACT Academy of Sport (1988-05-13) 13 May 1988 (age 36) Australia
Maja Blasch 20 2008 Australia Canberra City SC (1990-06-19) 19 June 1990 (age 34) Australia
Defenders
Ellie Brush (c) 7 2008 Australia ACT Academy of Sport (1988-08-19) 19 August 1988 (age 36) Australia
Rhian Davies 2 2008 Australia NSW Institute of Sport (1981-01-05) 5 January 1981 (age 43) Australia
Grace Gill-McGrath 9 2008 Australia ACT Academy of Sport (1989-06-27) 27 June 1989 (age 35) Australia
Rebecca Kiting 8 2008 Australia ACT Academy of Sport (1991-05-08) 8 May 1991 (age 33) Australia
Thea Slatyer (vc) 13 2008 Australia NSW Institute of Sport (1983-02-02) 2 February 1983 (age 41) Australia
Bronwyn Studman 4 2008 Australia ACT Academy of Sport (1992-03-24) 24 March 1992 (age 32) Australia
Snez Veljanovska 16 2008 Australia ACT Academy of Sport (age 20) Australia
Christine Walters 17 2008 Australia ACT Academy of Sport (1991-06-17) 17 June 1991 (age 33) Australia
Midfielders
Lucy Allan 18 2008 Australia ACT Academy of Sport (1991-06-30) 30 June 1991 (age 33) Australia
Jennifer Bisset 19 2008 Australia ACT Academy of Sport (1992-01-28) 28 January 1992 (age 32) Australia
Cian Maciejewski 11 2008 Australia Belwest Foxes (1987-06-14) 14 June 1987 (age 37) Australia
Kara Mowbray 12 2008 Australia Queensland Lions (1985-05-07) 7 May 1985 (age 39) Australia
Nicole Sykes 15 2008 Australia Western NSW Panthers FC (1991-12-15) 15 December 1991 (age 32) Australia
Forwards
Amy Chapman 3 2008 Australia ACT Academy of Sport (1987-12-02) 2 December 1987 (age 36) Australia
Hayley Crawford 10 2008 Australia NSW Institute of Sport (1984-03-27) 27 March 1984 (age 40) Australia
Sasha McDonnell 5 2008 Australia Queensland Lions (1987-01-12) 12 January 1987 (age 37) Australia
Caitlin Munoz 6 2008 United States Pali Blues (1983-10-04) 4 October 1983 (age 41) Australia
Ashleigh Sykes 14 2008 Australia Western NSW Panthers FC (1991-12-15) 15 December 1991 (age 32) Australia

Transfers

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Short-term signings

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Player Team Start Date End Date Reason
Australia Ellie Raymond ACTAS 29 October 2008 6 November 2008 Cover for Ashleigh Sykes while on international duty[4]
Australia Sophie Kochinos ACTAS 29 October 2008 6 November 2008 Cover for Christine Walters while on international duty[4]
Australia Michaela Day Belwest Foxes 29 October 2008 6 November 2008 Cover for Bronwyn Studman while on international duty[4]

Competitions

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Overall record

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Competition First match Last match Starting round Final position Record
Pld W D L GF GA GD Win %
W-League 26 October 2008 27 December 2008 Matchday 1 3rd 10 4 4 2 14 10 +4 040.00
W-League Finals 10 January 2009 17 January 2009 Semi-finals Grand Final 2 1 0 1 1 2 −1 050.00
Total 12 5 4 3 15 12 +3 041.67

Source: Competitions

W-League

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League table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Queensland Roar (C) 10 8 1 1 27 7 +20 25 Qualification to Finals series
2 Newcastle Jets 10 5 2 3 17 12 +5 17
3 Canberra United 10 4 4 2 14 10 +4 16
4 Sydney FC 10 4 2 4 15 14 +1 14
5 Melbourne Victory 10 4 0 6 13 13 0 12
6 Central Coast Mariners 10 4 0 6 15 20 −5 12
7 Perth Glory 10 3 2 5 14 24 −10 11
8 Adelaide United 10 2 1 7 13 28 −15 7
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions

Results summary

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Overall Home Away
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts W D L GF GA GD W D L GF GA GD
10 4 4 2 14 10  +4 16 1 3 1 6 6  0 3 1 1 8 4  +4

Results by round

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Round12345678910
GroundAAHAHAHAHH
ResultLWLWDDDWWD
Position5664455433
Points0336789121516
Source: worldfootball.net
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

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The league fixtures were announced on 1 October 2008.

  Win   Draw   Loss

26 October 2008 1 Newcastle Jets 2–1 Canberra United Newcastle
13:30 AEDT
  • Gil 24', 82'
Report Stadium: Wanderers Oval
Attendance: 1,110
Referee: Jacqui Melksham
1 November 2008 2 Queensland Roar 0–1 Canberra United Brisbane
15:00 AEST Report
Stadium: Perry Park
Attendance: 610
Referee: Prue Donohoe
9 November 2008 3 Canberra United 1–2 Central Coast Mariners Canberra
17:00 AEDT
Report
Stadium: McKellar Park
Attendance: 1,637
Referee: Jacqui Melksham
15 November 2008 4 Melbourne Victory 0–1 Canberra United Melbourne
19:00 AEDT Report Stadium: Bob Jane Stadium
Attendance: 700~
Referee: Casey Reibelt
22 November 2008 5 Canberra United 0–0 Adelaide United Canberra
16:00 AEDT Report Stadium: McKellar Park
Attendance: 804
Referee: Casey Reibelt
30 November 2008 6 Perth Glory 2–2 Canberra United Perth
16:00 AWST Report
Stadium: Members Equity Stadium
Attendance: 479
Referee: Lee Corey
6 December 2008 7 Canberra United 1–1 Sydney FC Canberra
18:00 AEDT
Report
Stadium: McKellar Park
Attendance: 840
Referee: Prue Donohoe
13 December 2008 8 Central Coast Mariners 0–3 Canberra United Sydney
18:00 AEDT Report
Stadium: Parramatta Stadium
Referee: Kirralee Gardener
20 December 2008 9 Canberra United 3–2 Melbourne Victory Canberra
18:00 AEDT
Report Stadium: McKellar Park
Attendance: 1,152
Referee: Lee Corey
27 December 2008 10 Canberra United 1–1 Queensland Roar Canberra
18:00 AEDT
Report
Stadium: McKellar Park
Attendance: 712
Referee: Jacqui Melksham

Finals series

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10 January 2009 Semi-finals Newcastle Jets 0–1 Canberra United Newcastle
16:00 AEDT Report
Stadium: EnergyAustralia Stadium
Attendance: 2,889
Referee: Sara Hodson
17 January 2009 Grand Final Queensland Roar 2–0 Canberra United Brisbane
15:00 AEST
Report Stadium: Ballymore Stadium
Attendance: 4,554
Referee: Kate Jacewicz

References

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  1. ^ "Canberra United appoint Chair and Head Coach". Capital Football. Archived from the original on 9 October 2008. Retrieved 29 August 2008.
  2. ^ Sherwood, M (28 July 2008). "Canberras best players on national stage". The Canberra Times. Archived from the original on 4 August 2008. Retrieved 1 August 2008.
  3. ^ Smith, P (10 January 2009). "Canberra into Westfield W-League final". A-League.com.au. Archived from the original on 6 July 2007. Retrieved 1 February 2009.
  4. ^ a b c Gottaas, C (29 October 2008). "Canberra United gets a top up". Canberra United FC. Archived from the original on 11 March 2011. Retrieved 30 October 2008.