Two first half goals helped Alamein FC secure their first victory of the NPLW season, claiming a 2-0 win over Bulleen Lions at the Veneto Club.
The hosts were the makers of their own demise however with two key defensive lapses from Emily Dolzan allowing Rhea Schreuder and Amy Kane to strike, gifting the Dashers an unassailable lead by the break.
It could’ve been even worse for the Lions, who conceded a penalty with just eight minutes on the clock, after Bulleen winger Alex Amore failed to read the flight of a cross from the left flank, awkwardly handling the ball to gift the opposition a spot kick.
Schreuder – in her second senior appearance for Alamein – stepped up from the spot, but saw her tame effort well stopped by the outstretched leg of Lions stopper Emily Shields.
The young winger sought redemption and got her chance just three minutes later due to some lax work from the Bulleen defence.
A loose touch from the experienced Dolzan was closed down by a Johnny-on-the-spot Schreuder who stormed through to dispatch a finish into the bottom left corner; a touch on the way through from Shields not enough to prevent the goal.
Brittany Dudley-Smith was released at the other end by a booming aerial through ball, but the Kiwi forward was no match for the superb Amy Marron, whose closing speed saw her put in an inch-perfect, last-ditch tackle.
Alamein ‘keeper Erin Hudson was then forced into work to deny Caitlin Friend’s well-struck half volley, which was tipped wide by the summer signing from Bayside United.
They soon had their second of the half via another defensive slip-up, with Dolzan’s under-hit pass snapped up by an opportunistic Kane who swooped in and struck over the hands of Shields.
The final chance of the half saw Amore attempt a curler from the edge of the area, which fell comfortably into the arms of Hudson.
Bulleen found their urgency in the second half and upped the tempo of the contest, with Olivia Edwards nearly profiting with a driven effort in the half’s early stages.
The heat of the contest saw a number of little spot fires pop up throughout the half, including an ongoing battle between Alamein captain Marron and Lia Privitelli, which saw the pair exchange niggling fouls.
Despite this, Marron and the Alamein defensive unit remained resolute in a highly disciplined and structured display from the back four.
They did their best to stem the flow of chances, allowing Kane to nearly break through at the other end for her second, but a sharp diving stop from Shields scuppered that opportunity.
Alamein substitute Janna Lawson nearly rounded the keeper for her side’s third, while Schreuder fizzed a free-kick just over the bar in the games dying embers as the visitors went on to register their first win of the season.
The loss for Bulleen leaves them languishing in seventh place with an away trip to cellar-dwellers Senior NTC up next for Paul Kilpatrick’s. side.