Image: Cindy Nitsos
South Melbourne, Calder United, Galaxy United and Alamein FC all enjoyed wins to extend the top four’s gap at the top of the ladder, with the other fixture between Bayside United and Box Hill ending in a draw.
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A flurry of late goals saw Calder United run away with a 4-0 win over an improving Heidelberg United.
It was a closer affair than the inflated scoreline suggested, with Calder unable to kick clear until the 72nd minute of the tie.
The score read 1-0 going into the break, courtesy of an early MelindaJ Barbieri stunner from the left wing.
That goal was topped by a delicate chip from Enza Barilla late into the second term with the midfielder expertly finishing over Bergers keeper Katie Neville from outside the box.
A tap in at the far post from Emma Robers made it three unanswered, with the former Bayside United midfielder then striking the post with her long range piledriver.
The sealer came courtesy of Cindy Lay, who contested Neville on the edge of the area, going past her after taking a knock and finishing into an open net.
Calder also bolstered their squad recently with the addition of Scottish youth international Rebecca Dempster.
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Hosts Galaxy United piled on the goals against Southern United, registering a 5-2 win, with four goals coming in the first half.
Annabel Martin opened proceedings with a strike on 18 minutes, with Caitlin Pickett doubling the advantage with a goal from a corner kick.
Southern hit back through Candela Ferreyra Bas who continues to impress in the NPLW in 2017, before a penalty at the other end saw Leigh Gray convert for her 10th goal of the season.
Adriana Taranto made it four before half-time, with Galaxy’s fifth coming in the 66th minute courtesy of a deflected strike from Lulu Al-Huneidi.
Ferreyra Bas converted her second of the afternoon at Banyul Warri Reserve to restore some pride late for Southern, but they were unable to mount a comeback, succumbing to the might of an efficient Galaxy unit.
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Alamein FC were forced to ride their luck on Sinisa Cohadzic’s return to the dugout as opponents Senior NTC struck the post three times in a 1-0 win at HA Smith Reserve.
Mia Lantieri-Bartley was the first to hit the upright, with the NTC defender’s header from a corner hitting the right post before eventually getting cleared by the Alamein defence.
A series of good grabs from young goalkeepers Teresa Morrissey and Erin Hudson were as close as either side came to an opener in the first half, with the second proving to be more fruitful.
Alamein nearly grabbed an opener with a bouncing cross heading the way of Rhea Schreuder at the far post, only for Morrissey to swat the ball away from danger.
The NTC then struck the post twice in close succession, as Alana Jancevski failed to steer a close range effort the right side of the bar, with a ghosting Kyra Cooney-Cross hitting the same post on the follow up.
Just minutes later and Alamein cruelly took the lead through Caitlin Doeglas, who poked the winner past the onrushing NTC goalkeeper.
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The spoils were shared at Kingston Heath as hosts Bayside United found a last-ditch equaliser against Box Hill United to deliver their first league point since Round Six.
Bayside defended valiantly throughout, but it was Box Hill who took the lead from the spot through Kristina Hall, after a stonewall penalty was awarded to the visitors.
Chances flowed at both ends as Bayside turned the pressure up in the second half.
They were eventually rewarded in the dying embers of the contest through substitute Amy Malander, who had only been on the pitch for a matter of minutes before finding the net.
The forward finished expertly into the bottom left corner from a cut back to send the home support into raptures.
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Melina Ayres netted a second consecutive league brace as South Melbourne ran away with a 2-0 win over the Bulleen Lions on Monday night.
It marks yet another stellar goal scoring performance for the youngster, with the absence of Lisa De Vanna allowing her to shine as the focal point of South’s attack.
The first came early in the piece after a flowing passage of football saw Tiffany Eliadis and Nat Martineau combine to get the ball to Ayres, who applied a low finish across the face of goals for the opener.
A series of first half chances went begging for South, who had the best of proceedings throughout the 90, with Julia Nicolaci coming closest to a second in the first half, hitting the upright with a curling shot on the left foot.
There was a heart in mouth moment for the South defence right at the death, as Molly-May Ramsay came off her line, missing an aerial ball, then clattering into Emily Coppock.
Bulleen were unable to take advantage with a free-kick sailing into the arms of the shot-stopper.
South Melbourne continued to pile on the pressure in the second term, with Eliadis, Ayres and Nicolaci all seeing chances go astray, while Coppock looked the most threatening for the opposition with a number of opportunities.
The sealer eventually came less than 10 minutes from time, with Ayres converting well with a curling shot from outside the box, sneaking past the outstretched arm of Emily Shields.
Ayres was denied her hat-trick by a good save from Shields, Eliadis struck the upright and substitute Caitlin Greiser skied a one-on-one in a flurry of late chances for the visitors.
For Bulleen, it was their last opportunity to fine tune before the Team App Cup Final to be played next weekend against Calder United.
They lose the cup-tied Hayley Richmond and Kendra Jones, who both made their debut’s after signing from Box Hill and Bayside United during the week, while Britt Thomas will also be unavailable after appearing for South Melbourne in the Cup.
The week got better for South however as they confirmed the signing of Adelaide United’s Lucy Adamapoulos.
We’d like to welcome former @AdelaideUnited player @lucypistach, who joins us from sister club @WestAdelaideSC. https://t.co/PEKxWKRA9Y pic.twitter.com/rYJBasOaWr
— South Melbourne FC (@smfc) June 21, 2017