Image: Rachel Bach
The top four looks to have been all but confirmed after Round 18 of the NPLW, following wins to Bulleen, Alamein and Galaxy United.
The Lions’ 4-0 win over Heidelberg also meant they re-take top spot off Calder, who were upset 2-1 by Bayside United, but still have two games in hand.
Galaxy created a seven point buffer in fourth after a 4-2 win over Box Hill United, while Alamein FC kept the pressure on the top two with a 2-1 victory over a plucky Southern United.
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Brittany Dudley-Smith once again proved the attacking lynchpin for Southern, opening the scoring not long after the first whistle at Comets Stadium.
However, a delivery from American Kelsey Hodges found Melina Ayres, who hit her 20th goal of the season just after 20 minutes.
Hodges then added to scoreline from a corner kick to give her side the lead.
That all happened before the break, and it was the way the scoreline remained until the 90 was up, with neither side netting in the second half.
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At Wembley Park the opening goal to Galaxy came when Annabel Martin crossed to the back post and the ball went over the keeper – the goal eventually credited to Britt Elsen.
Martin then extended the lead, marauding forward and putting away a chance to make it 2-0.
Lulu Al-Huneidi made it three just before the break, hitting the crossbar with a header and bundling the rebound in.
Kariah White scored the fourth with a shot outside the box after the restart and it looked like Galaxy were running away with it.
However, Emma Heckenberg was able to score past Emily Kenshole to peg one back in the 53rd minute, and when Charlotte McGilp added a second just three minutes later, panic started to rise in the visitors’ camp.
However, those two goals mainly proved to make the scoreline respectable for the hosts, as Galaxy hung on for the 4-2 win.
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A Spilled cross led to the first goal for Bayside against Calder, with Jamie Brown on hand to bypass Shanel Camilleri in goals.
The equaliser came to too long after when Cindy Lay volleyed in following a header into the area.
The winner came from Brown, who pounced on Marianna Anthony’s interception to launch a long shot that sailed into the back of the net, sealing one of the most impressive wins for the club in its short existence.
The night was dampened however following reports of a serious injury to Bronte James, one of the breakout stars of the league, with a reported knee injury set to sideline the youngster.
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Bulleen Lions had Beattie Goad play in another farewell game and made the most of the opportunity, turning around last week’s 6-0 thrashing from Alamein to defeat Heidelberg United 4-0.
They got off to the best possible start when a Dani Gudelj cross found Em Coppock for the opening strike just minutes in.
From there the visitors looked like taking the ascendancy, with a Leigh Gray shot saved by Mia Mossman (in goals for the injured Lauren Farrugia) in a one-on-one, an Elise Mananu-Gray volley sailing just over the bar, and Rita Mankowska’s effort from a set piece cleared off the line.
Bulleen regathered at the break and struck almost instantly after the restart; Gudelj nodding in for 2-0.
Beattie Goad then had the best possible send-off, winning a penalty and converting it from the spot.
However, the best passage of play was left late in the contest, when Lia Privitelli danced around the defence and crossed in a pinpoint ball for Coppock to powerfully head home.