Canberra FC striker Philippe Bernabo has scored an early contender for Capital Football premier league goal of the year, unleashing a 30-metre thunderbolt in the 2-0 victory over Belconnen United at Deakin Stadium on Sunday.

Almost on the stroke of half-time, Bernabo unleashed his shot from range leaving Belco goalkeeper Ben Klug no chance.

Ian Graham then doubled FC's lead with 25 minutes to go after a neat exchange with Ivan Pavlak.

It has given the Deakin-based side the perfect start to 2013 - an 8-1 drubbing of Tuggeranong United in the first round and then a win over the reigning champion.

Coach Miro Trninic was delighted with the effort of a young FC side missing Adam Spaleta (osteitis pubis).

Bernabo's cracker was the icing on the FC cake.''It was a fantastic goal … it was the bomb,'' Trninic said.

''Benny Klug put his hands up when the ball was already in the back of the net, it was unstoppable.''

But Trninic admitted his side was lucky to be ahead at half-time, with Belconnen missing two clear-cut chances in the opening 15 minutes.

First Michael Taurasi and then Michael Reeve missed blatant openings that proved costly for the visitors.

United coach Steve Forshaw was left considering what could have been.

''It was a game that probably got away from us a little bit because we had three or four chances in the first half where we might have, not sealed the game, but put enough pressure on them to change the way they wanted to play,'' he said.

''At the end we couldn't take our chances and they scored right on the stroke of half-time, which if you don't take your chances is a killer blow.''

Forshaw said Canberra FC was starting to get back towards its old self and was dangerous simply because it can score from anywhere - something Bernabo certainly proved.

Meanwhile, Cooma Tigers flogged Monaro 5-0 at Riverside Stadium, while Canberra City knocked off Woden Valley 2-0 at Hawker in the final game of the second round.

Monaro should have taken a 1-0 lead against the Tigers, but Paul Ivanic missed from the penalty spot.