The competitions were well-subscribed with 16 teams in the Under 14 competition and 17 in the Under 16. As well as the two Capital Football teams, Woden Valley entered a team of mainly under 14 players in the Under 16 competition as preparation for participation later this year in the Dana Cup in Denmark.
All other teams were from NSW.
The two CF teams both played in competitions above their age group, being mainly comprised of players under 12 and under 14 years old. Despite being matched with teams of players mostly two years older, both CF teams provided stiff opposition to teams of bigger and faster players and finished second in their respective groups. The tournament also exposed players to the more physical style of play found outside Canberra.
The CF Under 16 team had their first game against Albury-Wodonga, who dominated the game with speed, strength and anticipation and kept the play almost entirely in the CF half on a slow, well-grassed pitch. However, a stout defence from CF meant that Albury-Wodonga only won 1-0 after a goal from Zoe Corbett, who picked up a loose ball in the penalty area and slotted it home. CF goalkeeper Freya Brent did well to keep out a number of stinging strikes, and defender Hiwot Johnstone managed to obtain possession from attackers from all angles as though by magnetism.
Springwood used their pace advantage in the second game on Saturday and went ahead early in the first half when Jasmine Hewlett outran the defence in the centre and slipped the ball past the goalkeeper. However, CF regrouped and Springwood defence gave CF much more time on the ball. A strike from Hiwot Johnstone went just high and CF frequently had possession with four players just outside the penalty area. However, CF were unable to find the net and Springwood took the game 1-0, despite being outplayed for much of the game.
The first game on Sunday was against Wollongong team Balgownie and was slow to start with neither team taking the advantage and both playing off frequent turnovers in possession. Balgownie were the more collected team in the second half. Both teams had chances and the CF goalkeeper Georgia Doble was frequently saved from dealing from with an unimpeded strike after Balgownie breakthroughs by the speed and efficacy of CF defender Millie Mallinson and the game ended in a 0-0 draw.
CF started strongly against Griffith, their final opponents on Sunday, and were rewarded half way through the first half when a cross from Jay Williams was not cleared effectively by the Griffith defence and was tapped home by Maddie Whitall. However, Griffith had the better of the remaining play. CF keeper Freya Brent managed to keep a clean sheet against sustained pressure and CF took the game 1-0.
The Under 14 CF team first played Central Coast, who went ahead through a goal from Jaymie Fressard into an empty net after a collision with CF goalkeeper Jilly Scott, who was replaced by Ali Cook. Sam Roff equalised for CF soon afterwards and CF came out strongly in the second half but soon conceded a penalty, which Central Coast sent wide. A free kick about 30 yards from the Central Coast goal was taken outstandingly by goalkeeper Ali Cook, who floated the ball into the far top corner of the net to give CF a 2-1 lead which they held to the final whistle.
Sutherland Sharks were much tougher proposition, dominating the play from the outset. They went ahead through Rochelle Borromeo and Demi Koulizakis into undefended goals after defensive errors to take a 2-0 lead at half time, which they extended to 3-0 in the second half after Charlotte Reba trickled the ball over the line from a defensive melee. Sutherland’s Madison Farmer almost added a fourth goal after a blazing 40 yard run from the half-way line, but energetic defence from CF kept out any further goals.
In their two Sunday games, CF prevailed 6-1 over the local Cowra team, and held Griffith to a 1-1 draw in tightly fought game.
The Woden Valley team in the Under 16 competition drew 1-1 with Southern Branch, lost 5-0 to Macarthur Rams, won 3-0 against APIA and won 1-0 against Northbridge to take 3rd place in their group.
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