A new era for the rebranded Ashburton United was shown in, but it wasn’t with the three points they would’ve wished for, as Boroondara Eagles came from behind to knick a 1-1 draw at Broadmeadows Valley Park.
American import Georgia Cloepfil opened the scoring for United, only for Eagles defender Sky Jensen to tie things up late on from a set-piece.
A summer recruitment drive looks to have cemented Ashy’s position amongst the elite of the competition, and they got off to a fast start against last year’s third place outfit.
Britt Thomas registered the first shot of the match, but her side foot from Cloepfil’s cross went marginally wide.
Bulleen recruit Fede Frew then tried her luck from range, but Anna Lanning was up to the task in goal as she juggled the ball to safety.
Thomas again found herself in space in the area, but was unable to get the all-important touch from three-yard’s.
A swift counter attack saw Boroondara fashion their best opportunity of the first half, as Victory W-League midfielder Amy Jackson cantered down the pitch before delivering to Alisha Newman, who forced Melissa Maizels into a strong diving save.
The prodigiously talented Melina Ayres had a half chance saved from the edge of the area for Ashburton, which proved to be the final opportunity of the half.
Ashburton continued to pile on the pressure and it paid dividends in the 55th minute.
Ayres collected a raking pass from the impressive Jessica Kotsikas, controlling the ball before squaring up for her teammate.
While Lanning got a tough on the cross, it didn’t prove telling as Cloepfil mopped up at the back post and tapped in for a comfortable finish.
The two wingers again combine; this time Ayres was on the end of a Cloepfil cross, but the youngster headed over from right in front.
Boroondara made the most of their limited opportunities as NTC graduate Sky Jensen equalised with a wonderfully taken header at the near post.
From a corner kick, her glancing effort on the near post floated over Maizels and into the far side of the net to send the Eagles support into raptures.
The goal seemed to kick them into action, and they had the rub of the green in the closing moments of the contest.
Newman perhaps had the best of the opportunities, with the winger breaking clear 1-on-1 with Canberra United’s Maizels, but the keeper was smart off her line to clear danger.
In the end, a resilient defensive effort from Boroondara Eagles was enough to earn them a point against an Ashburton United outfit that showed plenty of promise.
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Ashburton United 1 (Cloepfil 55’) drew with Boroondara Eagles 1 (Jensen 71’)
Boroondara Eagles: 1. Anna Lanning (GK), 3. Ally Gayfer, 5. Sky Jensen, 16. Emma Littlewood, 9. Alex Gummer, 10. Emma Gross, 4. Anna Townshend, 2. Sarah Jacobs, 17. Emma Hubbard, 15. Amy Jackson, 11. Aliesha Newman
Substitutes: 28. Bindi Bryce, 12. Sarah Petty, 29. Taryne Boudreau, 20. Maddie Webster
Yellow Card(s): Nil
Red Card(s): Nil
Ashburton United: 1. Melissa Maizels, 2. Maria Patrikis, 15. Emma Checker, 5. Kristen Stensholt, 3. Holly Richardson, 18. Georgia Cloepfil, 7. Jessica Kotsikas, 4. Britt Thomas, 11. Fede Frew, 9. Melina Ayres, 14. Christine Pfeiffer
Substitutes: 19. Ingrid Phillippe, (26. Bridie Kean 90’), 16. Rachel Jarvis, 21. Laura Spiranovic, 20. Alyssia Blewonski
Yellow Card(s): Patrikis 90’
Red Card(s): Nil
Photos: Graeme Furlong