Bayside United have recorded their first victory of the season with a 3-1 away triumph over Southern United at Lawton Park on Sunday afternoon.
Kendra Jones did the damage on the day by opening the scoring and providing two assists to Bronte James and Aimee Benton respectively, while Candela Ferreyra’s strike proved to be mere consolation for the hosts.
The teams entered the fixture as the competition’s bottom two sides and it was the visitors who began the contest on the front foot.
A lapse in concentration in the Southern defence allowed Jones to open the scoring on nine minutes when she rounded goalkeeper Freya Crocker to give Bayside an early lead.
A long goal-kick from Ingrid Philippe split the hosts back four and allowed Jones with an opportunity to double the lead, only for the American number nine to be denied by a fine save at the near post by Crocker.
Up the other end of the pitch, Anouk Meereboer and Ferreyra launched efforts from outside the box which went wide off target, untroubling Philippe in what was a frustrating opening half hour for the home side.
Jessica Miller then won possession back for Southern by pressing the Bayside defence before setting-up Tiffany Eliadis, only for the former WPL Golden Boot winner to fire over the bar.
Crocker then made herself big on the stroke of half time by denying James on two separate occasions within a minute in first half stoppage time to keep the deficit at one goal heading into the break.
The second half began in similar fashion to the first, with Jones continuing her dual with Crocker by almost catching the goalkeeper out as her attempted lob went just off target.
There was to be no denying the away team a minute later as Jones crossed the ball in from the left, with Crocker losing the ball in flight as James mopped up to double her side’s lead.
The deficit was reduced minutes later though when Southern captain Ferreyra tapped home after Bayside failed to clear their lines from the corner just past the hour mark.
Visiting manager Graham Dudley brought on Niki Cook and Benton soon and the latter almost made an immediate impact after latching onto a cutback from Jones, only for Crocker to produce a heroic save on the goal-line.
However, there was to be no denying substitute Benton a minute later – she was on hand at the back past to slot home Jones’ perfect pinpoint cross from the left-hand side to make it 3-1.
Benton went close to grabbing a second minutes from the 90 when her dipping free-kick from range hit the top of the net, as continuing number of substitutions slowed the game down.
However, there was to be no late fightback from Southern as Bayside celebrated their first win in the WNPL ahead of their mid-week trip to Darebin where they face Senior NTC.
Image: The Man in the Stands
***
Southern United 1 (Ferreyra 62′) defeated by Bayside United 3 (Jones 11′, James 58′, Benton 72′) at Lawton Park, Langwarrin South
SU: 20. Freya Crocker (GK), 7. Jessica Miller, 8. Candela Ferreyra (44. Sharnoah Hurley 77’), 12. Natasha Dakic, 14. Tiffany Eliadis, 16. Shaunna Murray, 21. Saphri Lines, 24. Anouk Meereboer (23. Jessica Beddows 87’), 25. Daniella Galluccio (28. Chelsie Selleck 51’), 27. Rebecca Saber (26. Selena Karlson 82’), 40. Antonia Niteros
Unused Sub: 1. Jaye Todd (GK)
BU: 1. Ingrid Philippe (GK), 2. Emily Heijden, 3. Bronte James (10. Aimee Benton 69’), 4. Marianna Anthony (13. India Tait 84’), 5. Phoebe Parker (18. Niki Cook 60’), 6. Stephanie Parton, 7. Kirstie Shearing, 9. Kendra Jones, 11. Emma Robers (14. Jamie Brown 85’), 12. Emily Morris-Krause, 19. Louise McMullen (15. Angela Durston-Ryan 82’)