Credit: Adam Butler Credit: Adam Butler

Canberra United play host to Adelaide United at McKellar Park on Sunday in a salivating match up that sees Adelaide knocking at the door of the top four for the first time at the business end of a W League season.

Adelaide has surprised all comers this year, with the Lady Reds taking down Canberra with a 2-0 victory only two weeks ago, defeating Brisbane and Newcastle earlier in the season, and drawing both their fixtures with Western Sydney Wanderers.

What was perhaps seen as a scheduling flaw pre-season with teams matching up against each other with only one other game in between, is now being dubbed a genius move by fans who are keen to see their team wreak revenge or consolidate the points.

This is certainly the case for Canberra United fans who are scratching their heads as to how the previous season’s cellar dwellars Adelaide United caused such an upset.

“It hasn’t been the most normal draw, playing Brisbane twice with a game in between, now Adelaide, and it will be the same for Sydney.” Canberra United goal keeper Lydia Williams remarked this week. “It’s good though, it keeps the game you’ve played fresh in your mind. There’s less need to study the video footage too,” she grinned.

In describing their loss to Adelaide, Williams explained “Ross Aloisi has done a great job. What you could call their weaknesses are now their strengths – they’re well structured and they’re always looking for the counter attack."

"We were very disjointed against them which is not our usual style.”

Williams continued “They capitalised on our mistakes. There was a ball that looped in the air that we didn’t take care of and they got a shot away for a good goal."

"Next there was a pass back and I ended up getting the ball and the player. In the second half I didn’t touch the ball. Adelaide showed all their cards and we didn’t really get a chance to show all ours.”

Canberra are approaching this game fresh, not interested in discussing their extended break over Christmas, but instead building from their 2-1 loss last weekend against Melbourne Victory.

Melbourne’s first goal appeared to result from an unbelievably offside position, with Lisa De Vanna back pedalling about five metres offside when the ball was played through by Jessica Fishlock.

Despite protestations by Canberra’s coach Liesbeth Micghelsen and keeper Lydia Williams, De Vanna’s calm finish resulted in a goal being paid to the Victory.

Minutes later Canberra thought they had equalised with Kendall Fletcher heading into goal from a corner but in a cruel twist, one of their players was judged to be offside by a matter of centimetres and the goal was disallowed.

Canberra did pull one goal back with the tenacious Fletcher, scoring her debut goal for the club after a scramble in the box and the momentum seemed to be swinging United’s way.

Golden boot contender Caitlin Friend assured Melbourne of the three points however, with a firm volley from just outside the six yard box beating Williams in goal as Canberra defender Nicole Sykes sought treatment off the field.

Canberra coach Liesbeth Micghelsen asked her charges to show more aggression in last week’s game and they did just that. Caitlin Munoz was chosen over Grace Gill to start and made some strong challenges on the ball early.

Catherine Brown was steady in defence all game and launched a number of attacking raids, Ashleigh Sykes showed some turn of pace but will need to have a higher success rate with her distribution, and while Stephanie Ochs created some smashing chances in the first half, Canberra struggled to find her in the second half.

The unusually quiet games from Nicole Sykes and Sally Rojahn were explained after the match when Sykes admitted to suffering a stomach virus the week prior to the match, and conceded Rojahn had also been affected.

A more clinical display is required from Canberra if they are to convert half chances into goals, and hold their position in the top four.

Adelaide are certainly the surprise packet of season 2013/14. Showing glimmers of promise in previous years, they have recruited well in the off-season.

The addition of Ross Aloisi as coach, the experienced and professional Melissa Barbieri as goal keeper, the international organisational flavour of Norwegian Lisa Marie Wood, and the speed and controlled aggression of Kristy Moore, create a formula of organisation and will to win that has been missing from previous Adelaide line ups since the halcyon days of Sharon Black and Kristen Swaffer.

Last weekend, Adelaide were on track to pick up the win over Western Sydney Wanderers in a physical encounter, until the Wanderers floated in a goal in the 96th minute.

It is a sign of how far Adelaide has come when they regard the late draw as disappointing as a defeat.

Canberra’s Catherine Brown had some tips for fans on who to look out for in the Adelaide squad “Any of their midfielders,” she said. “Especially Kristy Moore and Lisa Marie Wood".

"A couple of other players were very handy – their number 17 Tiarn Powell especially. They play hard, they play with heart, and they are looking to win the 50/50 battles.”

Canberra United certainly appear to have the fire back in their bellies. “We can win this game if we play our game, and out-enthuse them,” Brown said.

“There is a little bit of revenge being able to play this game at home,” Williams remarked. “After four games on the road this is going to be a re-match with guns blazing."

"The way we played against Melbourne is the way we’ll play against Adelaide, but hopefully even better. We won’t be taking any chances this time.”

Head to Head: Played 7, Canberra 5, Adelaide 1, Draw 1

Canberra United v Adelaide United

Sunday 19 January 2014

McKellar Park, Canberra

Local kick-off: 3pm 

Canberra United squad: Lydia WILLIAMS (gk), Catherine BROWN, Georgia YEOMAN-DALE, Kendall FLETCHER, Ellie BRUSH (c), Meg McLAUGHLIN, Grace GILL, Michelle HEYMAN, Sally ROJAHN, Caitlin MUNOZ, Nicole SYKES, Ashleigh SYKES, Lori LINDSEY, Jennifer BISSET, Trudy BURKE (gk), Stephanie OCHS (one to be omitted)

Ins: Jennifer Bisset (promoted)

Unavailable: Sally Shipard (knee – indefinite) 

Adelaide United squad: 1.Melissa BARBIERI (gk), 3.Alexandra GUMMER, 6.Laura STOCKDALE, 7.Rachael QUIGLEY, 8.Emily CONDON, 9.Lisa-Marie WOODS, 10.Monique IANNELLA, 12.Daila TAIS-BORG, 14.Jayah BROWN, 15.Jenna McCORMICK, 16.Jessica WATERHOUSE, 17.Tiarn POWELL, 20.Kelly BARLTROP (gk), 21.Snez VELJANOVSKA 23.Kristy MOORE (c)

Unavailable: 2.Bianca GRAY (knee - season)