Photo: Backline Photography
It was a week that saw defenders Annabel Martin and Sky Jensen return to the fold, while despite a win, fifth-placed Southern United were unable to gain ground on a finals berth as the entire top four registered wins.
There were goals, twists and what is becoming a customary brace to top scorer Melina Ayres, who is fast threatening to become the first female to hit 30 goals in a Victorian top-flight season since Melanie Camilleri in 2006.
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In what turned out to be the match of the round, Alamein FC completed a dramatic comeback to claim a 4-3 victory over Box Hill United.
In a game with plenty of twists, turns and long-range efforts, Box Hill got out to a two-goal lead in the first half after initially trailing, only for Alamein to slowly chip away at the deficit before eventually hitting the lead once again, with Mari Pastor the match winner.
The Dashers hit the front after just 12 minutes through Cristina Cardaci, who finished with aplomb across the face of goals from the edge of the 18-yard box, striking the upright on its way in.
Box Hill equalised from the penalty spot through Melanie Camilleri; the striker converting the penalty she had earlier won after being brought down by youngster Jaimee Williams playing against her former side.
In the build-up to the penalty, Amy Jackson clashed with Camilleri and as a result, was forced from the ground due to injury.
Pre-season recruit Hayley Richmond netted her first senior goal for Box Hill with an absolute belter from 20 yards, before Camilleri then doubled the lead with a well taken chipped effort on the stroke of half-time.
Alamein were able to hit back in stoppage time through Pastor, who scored a brilliant goal of her own from outside the box to halve the deficit.
Box Hill continued to push in the second half with Camilleri in particular looking threatening.
The aerial expert struck the upright in the early stages of the half for the chance to complete her hat-trick.
Instead, Alamein were able to find an equaliser on 73 minutes through Kelsey Minton who rounded Alyssa Dall’oste following a brilliant deep ball from Pastor
Alamein completed the comeback and a quick-fire double just three minutes later as Pastor struck the pick of the goals with a thunderous strike from 30 yards getting the better of the Box Hill keeper.
It was a fitting way to seal a contest filled to the brim with high-quality goals and a thrilling narrative throughout.
It was seventh heaven for Calder United as they ran riot at Kingston Heath, putting an unanswered seven past Bayside United.
Cindy Lay was the hat-trick hero on the night, while Emma Robers capitalised against her former club with a brace.
It was the aforementioned Lay who opened the scoring with a delightful dink over the Ingrid Phillipe, before grabbing a second with a tidy finish from inside the box.
Robers grabbed her first of the contest with a deflected effort from outside the box that, despite lacking power, was able to float past the outstretched arm of the Bayside keeper.
Lay completed her hat-trick by half time with a 20-yard strike sneaking under the crossbar, before Brydie Siryj made it five for the term with a lovely finish on her non-preferred left.
Amy Malander came closest to registering a goal on the other side of the ledger, but the Bayside forward’s solid effort from outside the box cannoned off the crossbar and out.
Instead, there was more joy for Calder, with Claudia Fruscalzo fortuitously finding the back of the net with an intended cross from the right wing.
Robers was able to round off proceedings by completing her brace with a tap-in across from the synthetic pitch in which she’d previously played all her senior football.
South Melbourne had marquee names Lisa De Vanna and Melina Ayres to thank as they claimed a comprehensive 5-2 win over the Senior NTC.
The visiting NTC got off to a flying start however, finding the back of the net after just three minutes through Lia Muldeary, who was able to poke a tailing Leia Varley cross past Molly-May Ramsay for the opener.
The equaliser for South came 10 minutes later courtesy of De Vanna who managed to nonchalantly dink an effort over Teresa Morrissey from the right wing.
South enjoyed the lions share of opportunities in the first half, largely thanks to the crafty work of De Vanna, but were largely forced to try their luck from range; Julia Nicolaci coming closest with an effort hitting the crossbar.
The host’s big name players De Vanna and Ayres were involved in the build up to their go-ahead goal, a tap-in from Caitlin Greiser on the stroke of half time.
It should’ve been 3-1 immediately after the break after Natalie Martineau played Ayres through one-on-one, but her usual lethality in front of goal deserted her as Morrissey went low to hold her tame effort.
The same combination of players combined for South’s third, as Martineau squared up for Ayres to net her first of the afternoon with a simple finish.
Morrissey denied Ayres a second with another good smothering save before another chance went begging on 55 minutes as she fired narrowly wide of the post.
However the league’s leading goalscorer did not have to wait long to complete her brace, with Ayres applying a low finish to a De Vanna cross, her 13th goal in just eight appearances this campaign.
The NTC responded with a second goal on 63 minutes through Kelly Lam, who applied a deft finish at the near post from a Kyra Cooney-Cross free-kick.
Substitute Britt Thomas ensured the full complement of points stayed at Lakeside Stadium after finishing into an empty net to make it 5-2, following yet another assist from De Vanna.
Galaxy United were all smiles this week after completing a 3-0 victory over the Bulleen Lions to retain their spot on the top of the NPLW ladder.
The fixture also marked Annabel Martin’s return to senior football after a protracted spell on the sidelines through injury, with the fullback contributing to a fourth league clean sheet of the season.
Leigh Gray also struck her first multiple-goal haul of the season with a well-deserved double; the American getting the go-ahead goal after just four minutes.
The striker was able to break onto the end of a curling deep cross from Kariah White to chip home over the top of an advancing Emily Shields.
Gray turned provider for the second as her cross was directed in by skipper Laura Spiranovic, who netted her sixth goal of the season to give the hosts a 2-0 lead at the break at Banyul Warri Reserve.
Galaxy’s third goal was down to the gut running of Caitlin Pickett, who embarked on a lung-busting run from her own half, eventually slipping Gray through who made no mistake with the finish.
The loss leaves Bulleen reeling in seventh place, three games off a finals berth.
Southern United equalled their tally of wins for the entirety of their inaugural NPLW season by notching up a fourth victory, coming 2-0 over the luckless Heidelberg United.
It was a match up between both the big improvers and the sliders in the early stages of the new season, with the Bergers moving temporarily into bottom place on the ladder after the loss – although they were later usurped by Bayside courtesy of their heavy loss to Calder.
It also saw the two sides swap ladder positions from last season, with Southern anchored at the bottom of the table this time in 2016, while Heidelberg sat just outside a finals place.
It wasn’t all bad news for Heidelberg however as defender Sky Jensen made her return to football after an injury layoff to start the season, while the form of Katie Neville was once again commendable.
Goals came either side of the break, courtesy of captain Candela Ferreyra Bas and American recruit Mikhaila Bowden.
The win sees Southern keep in touch with the top four, 11 points better than they were positioned last campaign, while the Bergers are left with plenty of work to salvage their season.