Bulleen Lions have secured their fourth consecutive victory to set the early benchmark in the PS4 NPL Women’s, securing a hard-fought 2-1 win over Alamein on Monday night.
Two set-piece goals from the corner spot – one to Em Coppock and another attributed as an own goal – sandwiched Britt Thomas’ effort in the second half.
Alamein had the running in the first 15 minutes or so, with Melina Ayres played through on goal and flashing a shot wide, and Megan Fish’s corner kick almost crossing the line before being cleared.
Bulleen hit back and should have struck the opener when Taryne Boudreau and Dani Gudelj both hit the woodwork in the same passage of play.
Coppock then pounced on a stray pass in Alamein’s backline, but Melissa Maizels denied her in a one-on-one situation..
Caitlin Friend was another to have an effort on goal, skying Gudelj’s cutback from inside the box.
A potential flashpoint came when a Hannah Keane ball found Emma Runnalls bearing down on goal, but Natoli took one for the team in stopping her run just outside the area, copping a yellow card in the process, with the free-kick not yielding any cheer for the visitors.
After half time a no-look snapshot from Boudreau forced Maizels into a clever save, but the resulting corner by Gudelj spelled trouble for the visitors, as a delivery fit for a king found Coppock’s head before cannoning off into the goals.
It could have been two moments later when a cross landed at the ever-dangerous Friend, who blasted over from close range.
In their attempts for the equaliser Alamein sought out Keane, who, initially frustrated by Liv Ellis on the right, took a few efforts from distance that didn’t miss by much.
She eventually got the better of her counterpart, bursting down the wing with blistering speed, before finding Thomas in the box for a powerful finish.
It seemed that Bulleen’s second goal came against the run of play, but again it was corner kick that proved Alamein’s undoing, as the ball bobbled round in the box before seemingly being bundled over for an own-goal.
The opportunity for another equaliser fell to Annabelle Gibney deep into the contest following Anita Les’ cross into a dangeorus area, but her shot was hit comfortably at Maizels.
It looked like the responsibility would again fall at the feet of Keane, who had switched wings, and she nearly pulled off the incredible when two separate efforts agonisingly missed – one flew just past the top corner, while the latter cannoned off the crossbar.
At the other end, Boudreau had a final opportunity to seal the three points and get herself on the scoresheet, but after being played through by Goad, she was again thwarted by Maizels.
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FC Bulleen Lions 2 (Coppock 49′, OG 81′) defeated Alamein FC 1 (Thomas 73′) at David Barro Stadium
Bulleen Lions: 40. Lauren Farrugia, 15. Alex Natoli, 5. Charlee West, 22. Emily Dolzan, 4. Liv Ellis, 12. Liana Iaconis, 6. Caity Friend, 8. Jamie Pollock, 19. Dani Gudelj, 10. Em Coppock, 7. Taryne Boudreau
Subs: 14. Maddie Stockdale, 18. Tessa Sernio, 16. Beattie Goad, 2. Alison Baker, 23. Shelby Green
Yellow Card: Natoli
Alamein FC: 1. Melissa Maizels, 3. Holly Richardson, 6. Sienna Fogarty, 8. Harriet Cordner, 10. Anita Les, 20. Megan Fish, 24. Hannah Keane, 7. Jesse Kotsikas, 9. Emma Runnalls, 19. Annabelle Gibney, 21. Melina Ayres
Subs: 13. Isabella Gee, 11. Britt Thomas, 33. Amy Kane, 2. Maria Patrikis, 17. Amy Malander