A brace from Senior NTC livewire Akeisha Sandhu was enough for her side to secure an upset victory over South Melbourne in stunning conditions at State Football Centre on Saturday afternoon.
The goals, which came either side of half-time, ensured that Tiffany Eliadis’ late volley was nothing more than a consolation for the visitors.
The game began at a frenetic pace, with both teams looking to assert their dominance over the other, leading to an end-to-end contest.
South Melbourne had the first clear chance of the contest after eight minutes and thought that they had taken the lead through Eliadis who found the back of the net following an NTC slip-up.
However, the assistant referee didn’t allow the goal to stand with an offside called.
Soon after, Joey Cartwright slalomed her way into the box before being tackled; the ball freeing up to Sandhu who had an open goal available, only to be denied by a desperate lunge from Emily Heijden.
The first save of the contest was made on 15 minutes, as Frances Land denied Melindaj Barbieri from range. Soon after this, the deadlock was broken, and in some style.
Having been fouled 25-yards out from goal, Sandhu stepped up to deliver the free-kick from a dangerous area.
But instead of crossing the ball, the speedster noticed Land off her line and floated the ball over the South Melbourne custodian into the top left corner giving NTC the lead on the 20 minute mark.
The lead looked certain to be short-lived, but Teresa Morrissey came to the rescue for NTC five minutes after the opener.
Britanny Dudley-Smith found herself one-on-one with the NTC shot-stopper but was thwarted by the right hand of Morrissey, who also held the shot when she looked certain to be beaten.
Full Photo Gallery: Senior NTC vs. South Melbourne
With 10 minutes remaining in the half, Rhea Shrueder got on the end of a flowing South move, but her shot was tipped over by Morrissey.
The next to fluff her lines for South was Alison Baker who looked to have an empty net, but Morrissey again proved her worth, recovering following a defensive mistake to hold the shot.
With three minutes remaining, Jaimee Williams cleared a shot from Natalie Martineau after the Canadian had Morrissey beaten.
Half time came and went, and the game continued in the entertaining fashion of the first, albeit with less clear-cut chances.
The first real chance of the half fell to South on 67 minutes as young forward Caitlin Greiser rose highest following a free-kick, but saw her looping header hit the crossbar.
Five minutes after, NTC doubled the lead, with Sandhu coming of age against a class opponent.
She grabbed her second of the afternoon, getting in behind the South defence and catching Land out of position, before finishing into an open net.
South did finally get a deserved goal with 10 minutes remaining as Martineau’s pin-point ball to the back post picked out Eliadis, who volleyed home from close range.
It set up a tense finish, but NTC held strong, holding possession and counter-attacking, as South Melbourne tried to push numbers forward.
The unfancied hosts deservedly held on to record a hard fought, and famous three points.
Photo: Amanda Williams/Backline Photography
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Senior NTC 2 (Sandhu 18’, 72’) defeated South Melbourne Women 1 (Eliadis 80′) at State Football Centre [HT: 1-0]
Senior NTC squad: 16: Teresa MORRISSEY (GK), 9: Joey CARTWRIGHT, 3: Natasha DAKIC, 14: Edith FORDYCE-CROKER, 11: Whitney KNIGHT, 33: Ashley LEFEVRE, 17: Hayley RICHMOND, 25: Melindaj BARBIERI, 6: Adriana TARANTO, 8: Melissa TARANTO, 15: Akeisha SANDHU, 30: Celia KELSALL, 28: Nikolina BUCAHO, 2: Jaimee WILLIAMS, 22: Molly BURKE, 21: Emily LUGTON.
Yellow Card(s): Nil
Red Card(s): Nil
South Melbourne squad: 1: Frances LAND (GK), 2: Britanny DUDLEY-SMITH, 18: Jade FEAKES, 5: Natalie MARTINEAU, 6: Alex CHEAL, 10: Tiffany ELIADIS, 13: Marianna ANTHONY, 8: Alison BAKER, 11: Jasmine AREZOLLA, 16: Emily HEIJDEN, 17: Carol HOWES, 37: Coco MAJSTOROVIC (GK), 7: Rhea SCHREUDER, 12: Caitlin GREISER, 3: Jamie POLLOCK
Yellow Card(s): Nil
Red Card(s): Nil