Photo: Galaxy United
In a replay of last year’s inaugural NPLW Grand Final, Galaxy United was able to turn the tables to record a 2-0 win over Calder United.
It was Caitlin Pickett with a second first-half brace in as many weeks to deliver their opponents a second defeat of the season.
The young forward was able to take a chipped ball through from Adriana Taranto in her stride, before then sliding a low shot past Bethany Mason-Jones to open the scoring at Banyul Warri Reserve.
She then timed a run to perfection through the back of the Calder defensive line to collect a ball from Laura Spiranovic, finishing with aplomb into the bottom corner for her second.
It was a dominant performance from Galaxy, who stifled Calder’s usual attacking intent and defended well across the park to limit chances.
It was sweet relief as Bayside United picked up a much awaited first win of the season, coming from behind to record a 2-1 victory over the Senior NTC.
NTC’s Claudia Mihocic fouled Vanessa Hynes right on the edge of the 18-yard box, but a penalty was not paid and a free-kick given instead.
With an early chance to go to the spot evading Bayside, their misery was compounded on the 18th minute as the NTC grabbed the go-ahead goal.
Frannie Iermano – wearing the captains armband following the departure of MelindaJ Barbieri – fed a ball through congestion to meet the run of Kyra Cooney-Cross, who finished low for her third goal of the campaign.
Bayside were able to hit back right on the stroke of half-time, with Emily Harbis grabbing what was arguably the goal of the round.
The forward carried the ball forward and was able to shoot early to take advantage of a scrambling Teresa Morrissey, who was caught slightly out of position.
Her sweetly struck effort faded into the bottom right corner from 20-yards to restore parity for Graham Dudley’s charges.
Summer signing Amy Malander scored what proved to be the winner on 57 minutes as her flat corner kick from the right evaded everyone on its way in for a fortuitous goal.
Ingrid Phillippe was required to make a smothering save off Lia Muldeary to ensure the points stayed at Kingston Heath.
Bulleen Lions have kept pace with the top four after they secured a second win of the season, coming 2-1 against Southern United at the Veneto Club.
They were forced to come from behind however as a penalty was awarded to Southern for a clear handball from Salma Tawfic from a Candela Ferreyra Bas cross.
American Courtney Hueston was able to convert to give the visitors the lead on 35 minutes.
Tawfic in an effort to make amends was in the thick of things for the remaining minutes of the first half.
The defender first made an important block as the last line to prevent the scoreline from blowing out to 2-0 before almost scoring herself, only for Southern’s Tayla Evans to read her lofted shot and clear off the line.
A second penalty was awarded in second half for a clumsy tackle on Tyla-Jay Vlajnic from Lisa Fonua.
Caitlin Friend confidently dispatched her spot kick, leaving Christina Fonua planted as she restored parity.
The winner cam courtesy of Vlajnic, who profited from the wonderful service of substitute Alex Natoli who made her return after almost a month out of the game.
Vlajnic was able to take a touch past the Southern goalkeeper, before she then slammed a powerful right-footed shot into the crossbar and in.
Her non-preferred almost gave her a second as she latched perfectly onto a volley, only to see the shot cannon back off the crossbar into the feet of an offside Friend to poke home the rebound.
Southern have struggled for results in recent weeks, with this their third straight defeat after making a bright start to the campaign.
Alamein FC secured an important three points with a 2-1 win over the in-form South Melbourne.
The match saw Melina Ayres return to her former stomping ground, with the Alamein defence doing well to keep her frustrated for the majority of the tie.
The score read 0-0 at half-time with neither side able to break the deadlock, with the best opportunities falling to Amy Kane and Britt Thomas for each side.
Christina Cardaci netted her first goal of the season just 12 minutes from the restart to put the hosts in front, with the fleet-footed winger going toe-to-toe with the more physical Natalie Martineau.
Having found a yard of space, the winger poked home from inside the area to make it 1-0.
Mari Pastor was able to double the lead on 85 minutes after an expertly-taken free-kick from a wide position caught Cassandra Zaffina off guard.
Ayres was able to hit back with a poachers effort to give South some hope of escaping with a share of the spoils.
South saw a number of late chances for an equaliser thwarted, with Amy Jackson preventing two goals off her own back with a pair of goal line clearances.
The victory keeps Alamein in the top four, as the Dashers chase a second consecutive finals series appearance.
Box Hill United have made a return to the winners circle with a 2-0 victory at the expense of the struggling Heidelberg United.
Kristina Hall tested her range early with an effort from long-range, but her effort was no match for an alert Katie Neville, who scrambled back to make the save.
A training ground corner set-piece then saw Hall square up for a free Hayley Geurts at the back post, who scuffed her shot, to the relief of the Bergers defence.
Elaina Vatcky’s brilliant curling effort from outside the box was matched by an even better save from Neville, who was to thank for the 0-0 scoreline at half-time.
It didn’t take long for Box Hill to finally break through in the second half, as Geurts struck with her third goal of the season.
The forward latched onto a booming ball forward from Madelaine Richardson to volley home from just inside the area.
Melanie Camilleri doubled their advantage soon after with a typical poachers effort, with the seasoned campaigner there to head home from close range and seal the result.
Alyssa Dall’oste was required to make a great stop at the other end to deny Corntee Vine’s stinging half-volley from finding the back of the net.