Calder United have secured the inaugural NPLW premiership plate with a game to spare after seeing off main title rivals Bulleen Lions at Keilor Park.
In a performance worthy of premiers, United romped home to a 4-1 win over title challengers Bulleen Lions, the plate all but secured after 20 minutes when the hosts raced to a 3-0 lead.
After both sides were in a battle for the NPLW ladder lead for long periods of the season, with the ladder lead swapping many times, it was Calder that was able to best navigate the season with arguably fewest disruptions on the injury and departure front, and despite a couple of scares in recent weeks were able to hold on to top spot.
With 16 wins, four draws and four defeats, Calder’s season has been underscored both by its defensive record – conceding 22 goals, four fewer than next best Galaxy United – but also potency in attack, scoring 54 times – only second best to Alamein.
And so Calder once again got the better of their counterparts with a 4-1 win, early goals to Stacey Papadopoulos, Jess Au and Kasha Meyer essentially killing off the contest.
Later goals to Cindy Lay and Liana Iaconis added to the spectacle without changing the course of the result.
With one more round to go before finals, Calder will be brimming with confidence but will still have to be wary of their opponents in the top four, made up of Bulleen, Alamein FC and Galaxy United.
In particular Alamein, who now occupy second spot from Bulleen after seeing off Heidelberg United at DISC in Fede Frew’s final game for the club.
They didn’t have it all their own way early, with Leigh Gray winning a penalty and making no mistake from the box.
However, that sparked Alamein into action and the usual suspects struck – Hannah Keane with a goal and Melina Ayres adding another brace to the scoresheet as she edges closer to the Golden Boot.
The other contender, Galaxy United, are stumbling to the finals race after a 2-1 home defeat to Southern United – not the ideal finals preparation.
Lulu Al-Huneidi’s early strike was cancelled out by a later double to Saphri Lines, who has continued to be one of her side’s best this season.
Elsewhere, while both Box Hill United and Bayside United’s focus will slowly turn towards building for 2017, the former was able to get up over the latter with a 2-0 win at Wembley Park.
Kristina Hall and Melanie Camilleri scored to earn Box Hill a solid win in the latter stages of the season.