Heidelberg United claimed all three points against Caulfield United Cobras on Saturday afternoon, running out 4-2 winners at Olympic Village.
Elise Mamanu-Gray put Heidelberg in front early, before Luda Laverdure threw a spanner in the works by scoring an equaliser.
Julia Nicolaci then claimed a double to restore the hosts’ lead before Christy Zwolski finally got her name on the scoresheet just before the break.
Caulfield battled in the second half, and while Laverdure managed to pull one back, it wasn’t enough as Heidelberg proved too strong in the end.
The home side started brightly, with Nicolaci having a shot saved by Caulfield ‘keeper Jayde Shorter after just three minutes.
Zwolski also had a lively start, but couldn’t bury her chances, when first she rounded the keeper, and then blazing wide after turning smartly on the edge of the box.
Heidelberg didn’t have to wait long for their first goal though, as Adelyn Ayton sent in a teasing cross in the 11th minute, which was missed by Shorter and tapped in by Mamanu-Gray.
The hosts didn’t let up after the goal either, with Nicolaci skying a Mamanu-Gray cutback soon after, and Aneta Komijat forcing a save from Shorter after a sweeping team move.
Caulfield did manage to find their feet eventually, and strung decent spells of possession together.
The Cobras then shocked the Heidelberg faithful when Laverdure equalised by looping a finish over the head of Quinn.
That goal rattled the hosts back into life, and Nicolaci put Heidelberg back in front on the half hour with a cheeky chip, after being played in by Mamanu-Gray.
The momentum well and truly swung the hosts’ way, and they extended their lead with a quick double before the break.
From a corner, Nicolaci’s effort was spilled into the back of the net by Shorter, and a couple of minutes later, Zwolski made it four.
The forward who had been busy all afternoon pounced on miscommunication at the back, ghosting in onto Komijat’s through ball and burying the opportunity.
Heidelberg began the second half as it left off in the first, but struggled to create clear-cut opportunities, with Mamanu-Gray and Zwolski unable to hit the target with their respective efforts early on in the half.
Caulfield then change the tide of the contest in the 70th minute when Laverdure got on the end of a Bree Gurr through ball, and she dinked the ball over Quinn to give the Cobras some hope.
Nicolaci could’ve ended the contest in the 83rd minute, doing well to get a toe onto a cross from the right after a late run from deep, but couldn’t get enough on the finish to beat Shorter.
Two minutes later, Caulfield had a golden chance to get a third, when McMullen found herself free at the back-post, but her shot was well blocked by Quinn with her head, who kept herself big when it mattered.
Unfortunately, Quinn suffered an injury making the save and was unable to continue, reducing Heidelberg to ten for stoppage time, while Nicolaci assumed the gloves.
The sting in the contest had gone as stoppage time played out, and Heidelberg ran out 4-2 winners on the day.
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Heidelberg United 4 (Mamanu-Gray 11’, Nicolaci 31’ 38’, Zwolski 44’) defeated Caulfield United Cobras 2 (Laverdure 27’ 70’) at Olympic Village. [HT: 4-1]
Heidelberg United: 1. Kelsey Quinn [GK], 2. Demi Mihaloudis (5. Elly Torre 75’), 4. Michelle Verzi (c)(22. Ellie Gavalas 69’), 6. Laura Phillips, 10. Julia Nicolaci, 11. Aneta Komijat (24. Christina Mancuso 75’), 13. Adelyn Ayton, 15. Lisa Fonua, 16. Stephanie Galjar (8. Emma Gunn 66’), 38. Christy Zwolski, 45. Elise Mamanu-Gray (9. Belinda Pannella 66’)
Caulfield United Cobras: 1. Jayde Shorter [GK], 14. Dani Jackson (c), 8. Anita Les,, 23. Victoria Argyropoulos 4. Jamie Brown (34. Stephanie Wood 46’), 15. Pulomaja Gardiyawasam (22. Cassandra Mayston 37’ (5. Vanessa Karazisis 70’)), 16. Irena Malliaras, 33. Louise McMullen, 24. Hollie McDonald, 17. Zoe Haractsis (12. Bree Gurr 70’), 25. Luda Laverdure