Belconnen United continued its unbeaten run, extending its lead atop the Premier League table with a 2-1 win over the Cooma Tigers in the top-of-the-table clash at McKellar Park yesterday.
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The home side dominated possession in the first half, with the game played largely down Cooma's end.
The pressure on the visiting defenders was relentless, not only from Belconnen, but its vocal goalkeeper Francis Bangweni, too.
He made his displeasure known in the 14th minute after Belconnen's Matt Valeri was unchecked when he pounced on a spilled save to score the first goal, lobbing over Bangweni who was off his line and had no one backing him up despite a number of defenders in the box.
Fifteen minutes later he unleashed on a teammate for not making a clearing kick, with teammates, the referee and coach, Gabi Wilk, all making attempts to end the tirade.
The defence stood strong for the rest of the half, Wilk directing his men at the break to push forward more in the second stanza.
Missing the league's top scorer Alex Oloriegbe through suspension, Stephen Domenici was on hand to score the equaliser and his sixth goal for the season in the 56th minute.
Both teams created chances to get ahead, but it wasn't until the 84th minute that the deadlock was broken, Jack Blackley the hero for Belconnen after his header found the back of the net.
''I thought we should have put [the game] away before half-time to tell you the truth, we had enough chances to win it,'' Belconnen coach Steve Forshaw said.
''But we managed to [get] the win at the end of the game, so I'm delighted.''
At Deakin Stadium, Canberra FC claimed an extraordinary 7-4 win over Tuggeranong United.
Tuggeranong came from 3-1 behind to take a 4-3 lead before running out of steam to lose by three goals. Michael Spaleta scored four goals for the home team.
In yesterday's other match, two goals from Regan Walsh helped Woden Valley to a 4-1 win over Monaro Panthers at Woden Park.
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AT A GLANCE
Capital Football Men's Premier League
CANBERRA OLYMPIC 3 (Domenic Giampaolo 29, 32, 80 pen) bt CANBERRA CITY 2 (Marcial Munoz 31 pen, David Dexter 51); BELCONNEN UNITED 2 (Matt Valeri 12, Jack Blackley 84) bt COOMA TIGERS 1 (Stephen Domenici 65); WODEN VALLEY 4 (Regan Walsh 2, Peter Marlette, Josh Calabria) MONARO PANTHERS 1 (Darian McGarry-Watson); CANBERRA FC 7 (Michael Spaleta 3, 24, 85 pen, 92; Adam Spaleta 28; Daniel Bennett 58; Danai Gapare 64) bt TUGGERANONG UNITED 4 (Mark Shields 5, 39; Tim Ireson 43; Sam Griffiths 50).
Women's Premier League
Belconnen United 5 bt ANU WFC 0; Woden Valley 4 bt Weston Creek 1; Canberra FC 5 bt Tuggeranong United 0; Canberra Olympic 4 bt Gungahlin United 3.
