Melissa Barbieri was welcomed back to the Women’s Premier League with a home fixture against Ashburton United, after a great run in the Women’s World Cup in Canada saw the Matildas unfortunately bow out in the quarter final against Japan.
The Matildas became the first Australian team to win a World Cup finals match with their 1-0 victory over Brazil, and Barbieri saw game time against the United States of America in the opening contest of the group stage.
But it was back to Wembley Park for Bubs on Friday night, and play got underway with an early chance for Ashburton.
Penny Bakopoulos played an under-weighted backpass to Barbieri which was picked off, however the resultant shot just missed wide of the post.
After early possession had Ashburton clearly in the driver’s seat, Box Hill came close to taking the lead against the run of play through Emily Hulbert, with a 30-yard attempt narrowly missing the net.
Just moments later Ashburton capitalised on their early pressure, as Melina Ayres broke through Box Hill’s backline to see herself one-on-one with Barbieri.
The forward took a brief moment to settle on the ball, calmly slotting the ball past the Matildas’ goalkeeper just before a quarter-hour had been played.
A few minutes later the visitors doubled their lead.
Britt Thomas did well in traffic to turn on a dime into just the right amount of space to fire in a quick shot right in front of goal.
Barbieri had no time to read the flight of the ball, which was through before the defence could properly react.
Box Hill dug deep, and after the two teams wrestled for control, Melanie Camilleri brought the home side back into the game.
Madelaine Richardson, who played in a holding midfield role rather than her usual fullback position, sent a beautiful ball over the top of the Ashburton defence, which was equally matched by Camilleri’s first touch, giving the forward just the right amount of time to settle and shoot from inside the penalty area.
Not long before the end of the first period, Ashburton almost forced through their third, but a determined Box Hill defence scrambled and cleared the danger just in time.
As the referee blew the whistle for half-time, the crowd doubled checked their watches. A high-tempo first half had just flown by and the strong Friday evening crowd were excited for more.
The second half was played with similar energy, though Ashburton saw the majority of time on the ball.
The score remained 1-2 for much of the half, as a physically strong Ashburton side threw chance after chance at the home side without reward.
Box Hill had done well to hold Ashburton at bay until deep into the period, when a free-kick was awarded to the visitors and Pfeiffer put herself on the end of it, sending in a lofting header from on side of goal to the other.
Barbieri managed a diving touch on the ball but could not keep it from crossing the line and the score became 1-3 with just seven minutes left to play.
The fight was not yet over however, as Box Hill threw everything they could muster in the remaining minutes, almost scoring in added time.
A combination of Melissa Maizels and the upright helped Ashburton to a second-half clean sheet and a welcome three points.
Box Hill United 1 (CAMILLERI 29’) defeated by Ashburton United 3 (AYRES 14’, THOMAS 19’, PFEIFFER 82’) at Wembley Park [HT: 1-2]
Box Hill United: 11. Melissa BARBIERI (GK), 32. Penny BAKOPOULOS, 8. Melanie CAMILLERI, 7. Emily HULBERT, 14. Georgia KOUTROUVELIS, 4. Madelaine RICHARDSON, 23. Alexandra AMORE, 15. Hayley GEURTS, 12. Anete RASSIAS, 2. Renee ZAIRIS, 17. Kate FOTOPOULOS
SUBS: 1. Maddie WEBSTER (GK), 18. Annie REMMAN, 3. Elise KYRGIOS, 5. Sarah WALSH, 19. Selena KARLSON
Ashburton United: 1. Melissa MAIZELS (GK), 2. Maria PATRIKIS, 3. Holly RICHARDSON, 5. Kristen STENSHOLT, 19. Olivia EDWARDS, 14. Christine PFEIFFER, 15. Emma CHECKER, 21. Laura SPIRONOVIC, 18. Georgia CLOEPFIL, 4. Brittany THOMAS, 9. Melina AYRES
SUBS: 16. Rachel JARVIS, 26. Bridie KEAN, 12. Amy MALANDER, 20. Alyssia BLEWONSKI, 13. Azize ERENLI