In a spectacle more suited to the Hollywood big screen than Ashburton Oval, two titans of the Sportsmart Women’s Premier League raced each other to the finish line only to end in a dead heat. Ashburton United 4 drew with FC Bulleen Lions 4 in a frenzied display of high quality football on Saturday afternoon.
Have you ever wondered who would win a race between the two fastest cars on the earth – a Hennessey Venom GT and a Bugatti Veyron Super Sport? What a spectacle this would be to see two elegant ladies of the road battle it out for line honours.
For a start, both can pull from a standing start to 100km/h in 2.5 and 2.6 seconds respectively, with top speeds of 270 and 268 mph from under the hood. Both are beautifully styled in their own aerodynamic way with elegance that only millions of dollars can buy. And what would you pay to watch such a race?
Well, it was free of charge on the weekend at Ashburton Park.
Ashburton United FC took on FC Bulleen Lions in an action packed contest. It was ‘fast and furious’ for the entire game, with double the action and speed across the pitch unlike anything we have seen in a WPL game this season. On paper, both teams were littered with Melbourne Victory players, Australian age representatives and Premier league stalwarts.
FC Bulleen displayed some sublime skills to create two early goals through Quigley and Friend, which really set the scene for the rest of the match. The opener came at the 11 minute mark through a passage of play that saw Cindy Lay tackle and arrest the ball from an Ashburton defender, before distributing to the running Rachael Quigley who made no mistake in burying the ball into the back of the net.
This was Quigley’s first start for the Bulleen Lions having moved recently from Boorondara, and the Melbourne Victory forward was keen to impress new coach Bobby McGuinness.
She certainly did not let him down.
Four minutes later, a cross from Eleni Fakos found Quigley again, who wreaked havoc up front, combining with Caitlin Friend in a sensational series of one touch passes that found the latter one-on-one with Ashburton keeper Melissa Maizels. Friend capitalised on the setup and nonchalantly weaved her way past Maizels to an open goal, tapping the ball into the back of the net for Bulleen’s second major of the day. It was the ideal start for Bulleen.
Ashburton were stunned to be two-nil down in the first 15 minutes of the game, with the frenetic pace already taking its toll on the players. Bulleen continued to apply pressure to the Ashburton defensive line and very nearly added a third when Friend switched play across the pitch to a striding Beattie Goad, who slotted a left footer across the goal face, missing everything.
Slowly but surely, Ashburton worked their way back into the game. They began to arrest control of the ball in defense and create attacking opportunities. At the 25 minute mark, Laura Spiranovic cut back through the Bulleen backline to take a cracking right foot shot that smashed into the overhead and rebounded to the lurking Melina Ayres, but her follow-up missed the upright.
With Ashburton coach Sinisa Cohadzic urging his forwards to push up, youngster Melina Ayres responded with a wonderful solo effort. She pressured and tackled her defender, spilling the ball for a one-on-one with Bulleen ‘keeper Tori Snellecz, before hammering home the shot to open up Ashburton’s account. It was just the response that Ashburton required.
Ashburton continued to fight back into the game, earning a free kick which Emma Checker stood over to orchestrate a set play. The move involved Fede Frew streaming through the midfield, timing her run to perfection to accepting a long bomb from Checker, before sneaking in behind the very high Bulleen line and slotted the ball into the right hand corner for the equaliser.
Like the Bugatti firing down Conrod Straight, Bulleen pushed forward with Emily Dolzan working the ball up the left flank, weaving in and out of traffic before finally laying the ball at the feet of Quigley. The striker found space and pounded a low piercing shot to the left hand corner, only to see Maizels at the last second tip the ball over the bar and avert another major.
It was an impressive comeback late in the first half by Ashburton to square the ledger, led by wingers Melina Ayres and international Georgia Cloepfil, who pressured the Bulleen defensive line and carved up several opportunities late into the half.
Spectators were witnessing an absorbing contest of two contrasting game styles and wondered what was in store for the next 45 minutes. If they enjoyed the first half, the sequel was just as captivating.
Bulleen had the advantage coming down the hill in the second half and again tried to assert early dominance with deft passing through the midfield. McGuinness had taken the liberty of making a change at the break, substituting Eleni Fakos with Jessica Tay to bolster the midfield and look to increase supply to the dangerous forwards.
At the 51 minute mark, deep in Bulleen’s defensive line, a series of blocked kicks saw the ball inadvertently ricochet off a defender’s leg into the wide open space which Georgia Cloepfil was occupying. The winger pounced and slammed home a shot into the right hand corner to open up the game in favour of the home team. 3-2.
How much longer could the game continue at such a relentless pace? Bodies were being strewn across the arena as both sets of players knew what the clash was worth in terms of both sides’ 2015 title aspirations. The game was becoming very physical now and girls were tiring from the relentless speed and pressure.
Play was disrupted when Beattie Goad was crudely tackled and had to depart the pitch with what looked like a sprained ankle, while moments later Emma Checker ran headlong into a steam train – Emily Dolzan – who continued on her merry way up the right wing. Fortuitously, Checker regained her feet and composure to continue in the defensive line and eventually haunt Bulleen.
Both coaches became very vocal, with a heightened level of excitement wafting around the ground as they simultaneously went for the bench and fresh legs.
Onto the arena for her welcomed comeback strode Ashburton’s Ashley Brown. The Matildas’ forward looked fit and relaxed as she began the long haul to a hopeful full recovery from dual ACL injuries – her talent and commitment is undeniable and the entire footballing community wish her well as the year unfolds.
Emily Coppock entered the fray for Bulleen, and from a side ball hurled the overhead to Cindy Lay who left everyone speechless. Her sublime skills were on display when she was surrounded by three Ashburton defenders, only to back heel the ball to a vacant Caitlin Friend, who finished the dream setup, scoring her brace and squaring the game again at the 63 minute mark.
The match was an incredible showcase with some astonishing football on display, and a class not often witnessed in a Premier League game.
Deep into the game, each team was searching for the killer punch. Lay had her opportunity in the 82nd minute when she sailed her shot over the crossbar, but on the rebound Emma Checker took it upon herself to hopefully settle proceedings.
Lurking in the midfield, Checker accepted a pass turning onto her favoured right foot and from a long distance wielded a kick that spent an eternity in the air, sailing over the head of everyone, including ‘keeper Tori Snellekcz to put the hosts back in front.
How many more twists and turns could there be?
Well, just one more.
Enter Jessica Tay, a courageous Lionness who with great determination, speed and skill, managed to accept a midfield through ball, timing her run into the forward line for a one-on-one with the oncoming Melissa Maizels. The Ashburton ‘keeper threw herself at the ball, but at the last second Tay managed to connect and guide the ball under her falling right armpit to square the score once again at 4-4 with only 6 minutes to play.
The remaining minutes lasted for what seemed an eternity.
Both teams were absolutely exhausted and out on their feet from the physical and emotional contest, but both defensive structures eventually withstood the pressure to not concede any further goals.
The crowd were mesmerised by the quality of talent on display and resulting play on the day that delivered arguably the most appropriate outcome for everyone.
Congratulations to the coaches and the players on what was a superb display of women’s football. It has been stated by many that Victorian Women’s Football does not get much credence from the powerful administrators in NSW and Canberra, but maybe they should venture out and take a look some time soon. This game was a cracker and kept hearts racing right to the end.
Well done girls and we hope everyone recovers from the pace this race yielded.
Anyone looking for a ride in my Bugatti, let me know. Google it
***
FC Bulleen Lions 4 (Quigley 11′, Friend 15’ and 63’, Tay 84’) drew with Ashburton United FC 4 (Ayres 25’; Frew 36’, Cloepfil 51’, Checker 82’) at Ashburton Reserve.
Ashburton United (Numbers to be confirmed): Melissa Maizels, Maria Patrikis, Emma Checker, Christine Pfeiffer, Holly Richardson, Alyssia Blewonski, Melina Ayres, Jesse Kotsikas, Laura Spiranovic, Fede Frew, Georgia C’oepfil
Substitutes: Ashley Brown, Rachel Jarvis, Rebecca Saber, Brittany Thomas, Bridie Kean
Yellow Card(s): Nil
Red Card(s): Nil
FC Bulleen Women: 1. Tori Snelleksz (GK), 2. Tessa Sernio (C), 3. Isabella Scott, 15. Alex Natoli, 5. MaddyStockdale, 6. Caitlin Friend, 8. Cindy Lay, 21. Rachael Quigley, 16. Beattie Goad, 22. Emily Dolzan, 23. Eleni Fakos
Substitutes: 4. Giulia Sepe, 10. Emily Coppock, 12. Liana Iaconis, 14. Jessica Tay, 17. Charlee West.
Yellow Card(s): Nil
Red Card(s): Nil