Jasmine Maguire brace sparks Belconnen United rout of Wagga City

Belconnen thrashed the Wagga City Wanderers 8-0 at Hawker Football Centre on Saturday, extending their incredible scoring tally to 33 goals in just five games.

It brought them back on top of the Canberra NPLW ladder, putting them ahead of Gungahlin United on goal difference - although Canberra Croatia [third] has a game in hand.

Blue Devils coach Ahmed Ugool was pleased with the result and said it puts them in a strong position leading into the home stretch.

The round-six clash was a start of a tough series with Croatia, Canberra Olympic and Canberra United Academy to come.

"We addressed that well. It was important to set up the home run and try to put ourselves in a good position leading into these games," Ugool said.

"[The scoreline] gives the team a lot of confidence and the players who scored the goals. We have a lot players who can all have a reasonable output in the team.

"We're really happy about that and lucky to have such a high quality group of players, where everyone can be a big factor in any success we have."

Belconnen had the first solid chance of opening the scoring when Maguire sprinted down the right from fullback and had a one-on-one with goalkeeper Samantha Emms.

But the 20-year-old forward rushed the attempt and it went straight into Emms' gloves.

The Wanderers' defence pressed Belconnen high and crowded the midfield, forcing the Blue Devils to pass wide and long.

It denied Belconnen the seamless midfield play they're known for, as well as causing seven offsides in the opening half.

But Maguire learned from her first mistake and put the home-side ahead in the 32nd minute, beating Emms in another one-on-one.

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She took her time and an extra touch, before booting the ball with her left-foot into the opposite net.

Maguire extended Belconnen's lead moments before halftime, scoring an almost identical goal with another left-footed strike.

The Maguire brace gave Belconnen the spark they needed to elevate in attack, with Ugool's side then dominating the second-half.

"[The brace] was important for us. We had a number of chances we unfortunately didn't put away," Ugool said.

"I think Jasmine having two chances and putting them both away, gave us a little bit of cushion going into the second half.

"But understanding the performance in the first half could have been a little better from us, rather than looking at the tactical scoreline.

"The big difference for us in the first-half was that we were way too direct, trying to score goals and creating chances too fast.

"The second-half we were more composed and patient with the ball, the chances naturally came to us. In the past games that's been more beneficial for us... when we're more patient success comes."

The Blue Devils surged ahead by six goals in the second-half, the first of which came from Canberra United defender Jessie Rasschaert in the 50th minute.

Alexia Forner and Nicole Jalocha extended their lead on the competition's Golden Boot standings within minutes of each other, with the former seamlessly scoring a free-kick.

Belconnen blew out the scoreline to eight with goals to Leah Carnegie, Michaela Day and Nina Zarevac.

AT A GLANCE

Canberra NPLW round six: BELCONNEN UNITED 8 (Maguire 32' 44' Rasschaert 50' Forner 60' Jalocha 63' Carnegie 72' Day 83' Zarevac 85') bt WAGGA CITY WANDERERS 0