Image: Adrian Shaw
NPLW action saw the league lead see-saw back in Bulleen’s favour again, with the Lions being the only side in the top five to take all three points as sides around them all drew amongst each other – they now sit above Calder on goal difference, with both sides on 37 points each.
Alamein and Calder, along with Galaxy and Heidelberg, all settled for a point each.
At the Veneto Club, Bulleen bounced back from a humbling defeat against Box Hill with an equally emphatic victory over Bayside, winning 4-1.
Emily Coppock opened the scoring with a trademark header after a killer cross from Dani Gudelj on the right
Jamie Pollock doubled the advantage in the 27th minute, unmarked from a corner.
While Emily Harbis breathed life into Bayside’s cause with a goal just after the break, Lia Privitelli shut any door on a comeback with a burst of pace through the middle and clever finish.
Caitlin Friend headed in from close range later on to seal the 4-1 win.
Calder United welcomed Kasha Meyer to their ranks, lining up alongside Rachel Binning in defence, but she couldn’t prevent her side from going behind when Larissa Crummer showed her class in the 53rd minute after breaking Calder’s lines.
However, her effort was trumped by Tyla-Jay Vlajnic, whose 40-yard free kick snuck in under the crossbar, leaving Melissa Maizels and her Alamain teammates stunned.
The scoreline remained at 1-1 for the remainder of the contest, albeit Aliesha Newman had a late chance to nick the win that went begging.
Galaxy United also had a new face within their ranks – Ballarat Eureka Strikers’ spearhead Lulu Al-Huneidi, who had been the highest goal scorer in State League One NW with 11 goals from nine games, backing up a 2015 that yielded the golden boot.
However, the main narrative on the day was the launch of the Beyond Blue Bash, started up by friends off the pitch and foes on it, Katie Neville and Rita Mankowska, to raise awareness and funds for mental health support.
With over four figures raised on the day, it was a highly successful campaign at Banyul Warri Reserve.
There was action on the pitch as well, with a point split each in a 1-1 result perhaps a fitting way to mark the occasion, with Melissa Taranto cancelling out Leigh Gray’s effort.
Meanwhile, Box Hill continue their late charge, backing up a 3-0 win over Bulleen with a 2-0 win over Southern United, marking a highly productive fortnight at Wembley Park.
Elaina Vatcky netted the first goal in the 15th minute, latching onto a wicked assist from Kristina Hall via the outside of her boot.
Emily Hulbert then netted her second goal in consecutive weeks to seal the win.