The Senior NTC program have earned their first point of the WPL season after coming from behind to draw 1-1 with Box Hill United on a gloomy Saturday night at Knox Regional Football Centre.
In cold, rainy conditions, star midfielder Ellie Brush put Box Hill ahead in the 34th minute, while Ashleigh Lefevre pounced on an early opportunity in the second half to tie the match just after the restart.
The early chances all went Box Hill’s way, with an opportunity falling within the opening minutes.
NTC keeper Teresa Morrisey, was beaten after coming off her line to clear the chance, but her defence covered the goal in her absence as they cleared the danger right off the goal line.
United’s captain Georgia Koutrouvelis played an instrumental role in the midfield, and her tenacity and determination gifted her many opportunities through the match, with her first effort – a long range strike at Morrisey – rising over the bar.
Emily Harbis gave the Senior NTC their first solid chance just past the half-hour mark, breaking through the Box Hill defence before preparing to shoot just inside the box, but Brush managed to track back just in time to interrupt Harbis as she settled on the ball.
The deep turn-over was driven up the wing for Box Hill, and after a cross was brought down and almost cleared, Brush put United ahead with a superb finish from the edge of the area, leaving Morrisey completely flat-footed with no hope of a save.
Box Hill United held off the NTC until the half-time break, who were their worst enemy in the first term, making a handful of mistakes, ensuring Barbieri comfortably kept the net empty.
The second-half saw the addition of significant rainfall, which continued to dampen the artificial pitch on and off for the rest of the match.
The conditions gave the ball that little extra edge along the ground and just five minutes into the half, NTC drew level.
Ashleigh Lefevre was put through on goal, with acres of space around her on the left corner of the 18-yard box.
Lefevre, who started from the bench, settled on the ball and curled it around Barbieri, who managed to graze it with her fingers but with not enough conviction to direct the effort wide.
The Senior NTC squad rallied, and with time on their side to try to win the match, enjoyed a spell of possession that gave them a handful of chances just lacking that final execution.
Madelaine Richardson attempted to break the deadlock, and against the run of play managed a thundering strike from range; Morrisey diving to her right to clear the danger.
NTC continued to enjoy long spells of possession until late in the match when Box Hill strung a few decent chances together.
An 84th minute free-kick directly in front, saw Koutrouvelis almost convert a late winner, but Morrisey did incredibly well to tip the strike over the crossbar, judging the save to perfection.
As the final whistle blew, both sides entered the change rooms disappointed at the lost points, with both outfits enjoying their fair share of opportunities in a tense second half.
Photo: Backline Photography [Gallery]
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Senior NTC 1 (Leferve 50′) drew with Box Hill United 1 (Brush 34′) at Knox Regional Football Centre [HT: 0-1]
Senior NTC: 16. Teresa Morrisey (GK), 2. Jaimee Williams, 4. Olivia Ellis, 6. Adriana Taranto, 7. Emily Harbis, 8. Melissa Taranto, 9. Joey Cartwright, 10. Lexi Anastassiou, 11. Whitney Knight, 13. Annabel Martin (c), 14. Edith Fordyce-Croker
Substitute: 17. Hayley Richmond, 25. Melindaj Barbieri, 30. Celia Kelsall, 31. Coby McInerney, 33. Ashleigh Lefevre
Yellow Card(s): Nil
Red Card(s): Nil
Box Hill United: 11. Melissa Barbieri (GK), 2. Penny Bakopoulos, 6. Renee Zairis, 14. Georgia Koutrouvelis, 5. Madelaine Richardson, 3. Cristina Cardaci, 7. Ellie Brush, 15. Natalie Exon, 9. Letizia Sammut, 22. Alexandra Amore, 17. Katherine Fotopoulos,
Substitutes: 1. Emily Southwell, 10. Angie Rassias, 16. Dimitra Kallianis, 18. Annie Remman, 19 Anouk Meereboer
Yellow Card(s): Cardaci 53’, Amore 82’
Red Card(s): Nil