Brilliant second half sets up Canberra win | TWG Brilliant second half sets up Canberra win | TWG

Courtesy of a hat-trick from new recruit Michelle Heyman, Canberra United has started Season Three of the Westfield W-League with a thumping 4 - 1 win over Perth Glory Women at 6PR Stadium.

In her debut for the girls in green, Heyman, the reigning Westfield W-League Player of the Year was dominate along side fellow Canberra debutante Sally Shipard.

With Westfield Matildas coach Tom Sermanni on hand, the home side began the match well with Matildas strike duo Katie Gill and Sam Kerr pouring on the pressure early.

But the central defensive duo of Caitlin Cooper and Ellie Brush held firm with the visitors hitting on the counter.   Shipard’s egistered the true first shot on goal when her  long-range effort  sailed inches over the crossbar.

Gill also tried her luck from a similar range minutes later but she saw her brilliant effort tipped onto the left goal post by an outstretched Lydia Williams.

That signalled a period of ascendency for Perth with Kerr right in the middle of the action.  Making her trademark run, the forward unleased from distance only just missing the target to the relief of Williams and co.

Despite their possessional dominance, a defensive lapse cost the Glory dearly as the returning Caitlin Munoz picked out Heyman.  From close range, the golden boot holder made no mistake as she whipped the ball across her body and into the net.

Perth looked to reply quickly and as Kerr went close on the restart and with only minutes left til half time the home side were level.  Midfielder Marianna Tabain delivered a beautiful in-swinging which was met by Kerr.  Her knock on found Gill with the striker delivering the the final touch past Williams to level the scores.

Canberra United started the second stanza better than the first and with winger Emily Van Egmond, Shipard and Munoz all starting to click, it wasn't long before the capital side had the lead.

The second goal was pure class from Canberra with Shipard releasing Van Egmond on the right.  In space, the youngster rifled in a cross to the back spot which was met resoundingly by Cian Maciejewski to make it 2-1.

Undeterrred, the Glory presed for a quick reply and Shannon May went close when the midfielder rocketed a shot from distance only to see it slam into the upright.

Canberra's third came not long after with Van Egmond again involved in the action.  This time her run resulted in her cross/shot hitting hit the post.  The rebound fell to the feet of Heyman who was never going to miss from such short distance.

Heyman then sealed the match for her side in the 87th minute, with a neat finish for her hat-trick and a dream debut.

"Excited." was the strikers reponse to her hat-trick. "If I can score, I'll score but if I can help out my teammates that I will do that as well."

Coach Ray Junna was also pleased with the season's start.  "They were a bit nervous I think to start with," he noted.

"To create that many chances and get that many goals in the first game was really encouraging."

Perth Glory Women coach John Gibson admits that his side was not up to the challenge.  “It just wasn’t good enough at the end of the day,” he said.

“Most of their players were better than our players all over the park. (Collette McCallum) missing was always going to be a big loss in the middle for us."

“There’s a lot to improve on, we have to be looking a whole lot of things for the Adelaide game next week.”

Perth Glory Women 1 (Gill 41’)

Canberra United Women 4 (Heyman 33’ 70’ 87’, Maciejewski 57’)

Venue: 6PR Stadium, Inglewood

Kick-off: 3.00pm

Referee: Catherine Hoffman

Crowd: 423

PERTH GLORY WOMEN: 1 Tine CEDERKVIST, 2 Stacey LEARMONT (15 Jaymee GIBBONS 77’), 3 Carys HAWKINS, 4 Samantha KERR, 5 Shannon MAY, 6 Alexandra SINGER, 7 Alexandra NILSSON, 8 Tanya OXTOBY (c), 12 Kate GILL, 13 Elisa D’OVIDIO, 17 Marianna TABAIN (11 Lara FILOCAMO 78’)

SUBS NOT USED: 20 Kathleen WAYCOTT, 16 Sadie LAWRENCE

CANBERRA UNITED WOMEN: 1 Lydia WILLIAMS, 2 Caitlin COOPER, 3 Lyndsay GLOHE, 4 Michelle HEYMAN, 6 Caitlin MUNOZ (5 Kahlie HOGG 70’), 7 Ellie BRUSH, 10 Emily VAN EGMOND, 11 Cian MACIEWJEWSKI, 15 Sally SHIPARD, 16 Ellyse PERRY, 19 Jennifer BISSET (8 Shu O TSENG 62’)

SUBS NOT USED: 20 Jocelyn MARA, 5 Kahlia HOGG, 9 Grace GILL