Ashburton United secured a vital win against second-placed Bundoora United after a 2-1 win at Ashburton Park.
In a rather scrappy contest, Laura Spiranovic gave the hosts a first half lead with a well taken header, and Melina Ayres made it two in the second half, pouncing on a goalkeeping error.
Enza Barailla did pull a goal back soon after Ayres’ strike but it wasn’t enough for Bundoora, who fell to their second straight loss.
Ashburton began the contest with plenty of intent, keen to test out a defence which had shipped seven goals to Bulleen Lions just six days earlier.
In just a matter of seconds, Ayres could’ve put Ashburton into an early lead, but her shot flew just wide of the upright.
Ayres was involved again a minute later, putting in a deep cross for Emma Checker, who also shot wide of the target.
Checker had started in midfield, following the late omission of Georgia Cloepfil due to illness.
Bundoora soon managed to settle, but there weren’t any clear cut opportunities, with a deflected shot from Barilla the only other highlight in the first 20 minutes.
Then from a corner in the 21st minute, Ashburton took the lead.
Spiranovic timed her jump well to thump in a header from Olivia Edwards’ well-delivered set piece.
Bundoora responded in the last ten minutes of the first half, as Alonso spurned a half-chance in the 35th minute after the hosts failed to effectively deal with a cross.
Barilla then caused a scare for the home side when her long shot was saved, and the resulting corner was tipped onto the bar.
From the clearance Bundoora managed to find Barilla back inside the box, but Melissa Maizels was on hand to save her snapshot.
It ended the first half, with the teams not really kicking on after the break as the contest was devoid of flow and goalmouth action.
The game seemed destined for a dour end until the 78th minute, when Bethany Mason-Jones dropped a high Alyssia Blewonski cross right into the path of Ayres, who buried the ball into the back of the net.
Bundoora recovered quickly from that blunder, and halved the deficit when Barilla was played through in the middle, slotting a finish past Maizels.
Having scored late goals often this season, Bundoora were valiant in search of the equaliser, but in the end, the hosts pressure throughout the game shone through, and any attempts to find a goal were dealt with.
Bundoora now sees their gap to third-placed South Melbourne cut down to just one, with fourth-placed Ashburton now only two points away.
Match Details:
Ashburton United 2 (Spiranovic 21′, Ayres 78′) defeated Bundoora United 1 (Barilla 80′) at Ashburton Park [HT: 1-0]
Ashburton United: 1. Melissa Maizels, 2. Maria Patrikis, 3. Holly Richardson, 5. Kristen Stensholt, 19. Olivia Edwards, 14. Christine Pfeiffer, 15. Emma Checker, 21. Laura Spiranovic (12. Amy Malander 85′), 9. Melina Ayres, 4. Brittany Thomas (16. Rachel Jarvis 74′), 20. Alyssia Blewonski (13. Azize Erenli 85′)
Unused sub: 6. Rebecca Saber
Bundoora United: 1. Bethany Mason-Jones, 2. Monique Iannella, 3. Emma Heckenberg, 10. Gulcan Koca, 9. Tyla-Jay Vlajnic, 7. Enza Barilla, 24. Mia Killick, 14. Rachel Alonso, 8. Ellvana Curo, 11. Jessica Au, 21. Claudia Dimasi
Unused subs: 22. Dearna Fruscalzo, 12. Daniella Gallucio, 4. Giulia Sepe, 30. Alyssa Batticciotto, 31. Julia Mamone