An efficient Bundoora United – who handed a surprise WPL debut to Matildas skipper Lisa De Vanna – got back to winning ways, running out comfortable 2-0 winners against an in-form Casey Comets outfit.
Goals in either half to Louisa Bisby and Stacey Papadopoulos sealed the result, with De Vanna coming off the bench in the second half to help imact the contest.
READ MORE > De Vanna gives back to grassroots with Bundy stint
There was plenty to look forward to in the clash at Hillsview Reserve, with the game promising to be a much closer affair than it looked on paper.
Casey – unbeaten in four games – had shot up to 11th at the conclusion of Round 17, with their trademark graft in defence a strong part of their return to form.
On the contrary, despite sitting third on the ladder, Bundoora had lost four of their last five fixtures, including their last two against Heidelberg United and South Melbourne.
On top of that, there was the interesting sub-plot of a certain Matildas star biding her time on the Bundy bench.
The game itself played out at a decent tempo; Casey pressed hard to limit Bundoora’s time on the ball.
The hosts regardless did control the majority of the play in the first half – their first chance within five minutes resulting in Elly Curo finding the back of the net with a great side-foot volley.
Unfortunately for her, she was adjudged offside in the process, despite expertly dispatching Monique Iannella’s delivery from the right.
Casey ‘keeper Alysse Brusamarello palmed a 12th minute free-kick from Rachel Alonso with a strong low save, before denying Papadopoulos at her near post following a scramble from a corner.
She continued to remain in the firing lines; this time denying Bisby’s set-piece effort with a stunning diving save.
Casey enjoyed a couple of forays forward but were often thwarted by Gulcan Koca in defence, who continued to deflect crosses away from the danger area.
At the other end, a good passage of passing saw livewire winger Papadopoulos cut in off the left, finding Curo, then Bisby, who crossed for Rachel Alonso at the far post who couldn’t hit the target.
Papadopoulos was involved once more and had another chance to beat Brusamarello, but despite cleverly making space from an Iannella cross, her shot was driven straight into the arms of the Casey stopper.
Despite the efforts of the Casey custodian, she was eventually caught out by a short corner in the 40th minute, which saw Bisby curl a left footed shot from the by-line into the near post.
The introduction of Lisa De Vanna in the second half sparked new life into the contest, and she wasted little time in making her mark in the competition.
She had a couple of bright moments early, turning Casey players with an air of poise, and enjoyed her first sight on goal just beyond the hour mark.
Curo took her time through the middle of the park, and played a ball to match the quality off-the-ball run of De Vanna on the left, who broke free of her marker before blazing over the bar.
She had a more telling impact on the contest with six minutes left on the clock, as Bundoora sealed the contest with a deserved second.
De Vanna’s back heel flick on from the right wing freed up space for Alonso, who broke free with pace, before squaring to the top of the box for the waiting Papadopoulos, who took her first time effort with aplomb to beat the impressive Brusamarello.
They nearly found a third late on, but Brusamarello was once again up to the task, diving to her right to palm away a stinging effort from Enza Barilla.
It mattered little for the hosts as they held on with ease to run out 2-0 winners.
For Casey, their hot streak came to a grinding holt in a contest where they failed to adequately test the opposition keeper.
Photo: Adosinda Au
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Bundoora United (Bisby 40’, Papadopoulos 84’) defeated Casey Comets 0 at Hillsview Reserve [HT: 1-0]
Bundoora United: 1. Bethany MASON-JONES (GK), 10. Gulcan KOCA, 9. Tyla-Jay VLAJNIC (4. Giulia SEPE 87’), 16. Louisa BISBY, 23. Jessica PITTS, 14. Rachel ALONSO, 7. Enza BARILLA (c), 17. Stacey PAPADOPOULOS (21. Claudia DIMASI 85’), 11. Jessica AU (5. Lisa DE VANNA 51’), 2. Monique IANNELLA, 8. Ellvana CURO
Unused Substitute(s): 24. Mia KILLICK, 30. D’Arne BOATO
Yellow Card(s): Nil
Red Card(s): Nil
Casey Comets: 1. Alyse BRUSAMARELLO (GK), 16. Katrina AVILA, 6. Raelynn MIKELL, 12. Rachel BINNING, 14. Anouk MEEREBOER (7. Sheridan DUDLEY 69’), 15. Mykaylin ROSENQUIST, 3. Laura CROFT (c), 8. Shaunna MURRAY, 10. Amy RADFORD (9. Chelsie SELLECK), 2. Antonia NITEROS (5. Melissa Kirby 78′), 11. Sharnoah HURLEY
Unused Substitute(s): 15. Marina MARKIS, 31. Amani FAZLIC
Yellow Card(s): Croft 51’
Red Card(s): Nil