Box Hill United marked their return to Wembley Park with a narrow 1-0 win over Casey Comets, who finished the contest with ten players on the park.
The hosts won the contest in the middle of the pitch but only just managed to walk away with the spoils, courtesy of a distant shot by Melanie Camilleri.
Both sides felt their way into the contest well, which had both keepers on notice with the ball’s end-to-end movement.
As quickly as the ball arrived at one end it was down the other, with Casey’s Laura Croft testing the resolve of Matilda Melissa Barbieri and forcing a double save.
Pythagoras striker Melanie Camilleri took the game to the Casey defence on the back foot, as she pushed high and kept pressure on centre-half pairing Harriet Cordner and Rachel Binning.
Alyse Brusamarello was on song from the opening but almost was caught out by a rampaging Camilleri run, but Croft covered the Casey goal well and kept the score at a deadlock.
Box Hill’s midfield stalwart Georgia Koutrouvelis seemed to be everywhere, harrying her counterparts to keep the control of the game for the home side.
She also set up the game’s opener in the 28th minute, as she tapped the ball through to Camilleri who took a shot from distance to break open the game.
Cristina Cardaci attempted fruitlessly to extend the margin to two goals but Casey ‘keeper Brusamarello forced the ball aside to keep her side in with a shout.
With half-time approaching, the game settled a little but when Demi Kallianis suddenly dropped to the ground off the play, the referees conferred on the far side for consultation.
With only minutes to the break Chelsie Selleck was adjudged to have pulled the hair of the Box Hill player, and was shown a direct red card to make the challenge for Casey even harder.
Returning from the break, the Comets shifted their formation from two at the front to the solitary forward to assist with numbers behind the play; Box Hill in a stronger position started working manoeuvres well to push the Casey defence back and retain possession.
Barbieri enjoyed a relatively comfortable night but was almost caught out off her line, but her centre-half’s Renee Zairis and Penny Bakopoulos were there to sweep up trouble.
As the game ran down, Brusamarello kept her side in the contest with a number of solid saves, and although the visitors were able to keep it tight in the defensive end with a player less, it wasn’t enough to earn a point.
Box Hill coach John Kyrgios spoke out on his frustrations at his side missing opportunities, admitting his side “unfortunately [had] difficulty finishing at those moments.”
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Box Hill United 1 (Camilleri 28’) defeated Casey Comets 0 at Wembley Park [HT: 1-0]
Box Hill United: 6. Renee Zairis, 14. Georgia Koutrouvelis, 15. Cristina Cardaci (23. Alexandra Amore 77′), 8. Melanie Camilleri, 12. Angie Rassias (17. Katherine Fotopouos 77′), 16. Demi Kallianis, 32. Penny Bakopoulos, 4. Madelaine Richardson, 9. Letizia Sammut (7. Mata Heysen 88′), 10. Elise Kyrgios (5. Sarah Walsh 73′), 1. Melissa Barbieri
Yellow Card(s): Nil
Red Card(s): Nil
Casey Comets Soccer Club: 1. Alyse Brusamarello, 6. Chelsie Selleck, 12. Harriet Cordner, 2. Rachel Binning, 8. Shaunna Murray, 3. Laura Croft, 16. Ahouk Meerebour, 7. Sheridan Dudley (31. Bailey Marshall 78′), 14. Amy Radford (5. Melissa Kirby 63′), 10. Katrina Avila, 15. Sharnoah Hurley
Yellow Card(s): Cordner 75′
Red Card(s): Selleck 42′