A new look South Melbourne have held off Casey Comets 3-1 at Lakeside Stadium on Saturday.
Boasting new imports Lisa Farquhar and Jamie Pollock, the usual suspects still did the damage with Nat Martineau, Rhea Schreuder and Carol Howes all getting on the scoresheet.
The visitors did get back into the contest at 2-1 with Rachel Binning heading in a goal, but it proved to be mere consolation as the hosts kicked away for the victory.
South Melbourne opened proceedings in just the third minute when Casey cleared a corner only for Jasmine Arezolla to deliver the ball back into the box, where an unmarked Martineau had time to apply the finish after Comets players all stopped moving, thinking the Canadian was offside.
Katrina Avila was lively early for the Comets, delivering a dangerous corner that rebounded back to her, then taking a strong shot that forced a save out of Frances Land.
At the other end, Alyse Brasamarello pulled off a huge double save to deny Caitlin Grieser who was played in by Jade Feakes, before standing tall to block Martineau’s follow up.
Rhea Schreuder’s effort after the corner kick went in, but this time South were flagged for offside.
Comets were still fashioning chances at goal, with Land rushing out to deny Avila on one occasion, before tipping Laura Croft’s dangerous free kick over the crossbar on another.
Alex Cheal was brought on early for an injured Jade Feakes and was called upon immediately when Land’s short goalkick found Antonia Niteros, who couldn’t get a shot away before the substitute put in a crucial touch.
Casey’s momentum was undone when a beautiful team move on the counter saw Farquhar pass the ball to Greiser, who found Schreuder in space and in on goal.
While Brusamarello saved the youngster’s first effort, she could do nothing to deny the younger following in her own shot and tapping in the rebound.
Alison Baker then had an opportunity to make it three before the break when a ball over the top found her alone in the box – again perhaps the visitors though it should have been offside, same as Baker, whose tame shot rolled to Brusamarello.
The visitors came out after the break determined to keep fighting, and when Harriet Cordner broke through on goal it was up to Land to deny her shot with her feet, before Niteros delivered the ball back into the box only for Hurler to head over the bar.
Schreuder then had a chance to score her second but her connection with a bouncing ball in the box flew over the bar.
South then found themselves in a three-on-one situation, but Greiser’s shot flew straight at Brusamarello despite Eliadis and Schreuder available either side of her.
Casey were finally rewarded for their endeavour when they got forward and Avila passed to Hurley, whose pinpoint cross found Binning – marauding from centre-back – to head home from point-blank range.
Yet South seemed to have an answer for everything, and restored the two goal buffer as many minutes later when Howes was waiting at the back post to poke home Alison Baker’s corner that evaded everybody else.
The contest opened up thereafter with Shauna Murray pouncing on an error to shoot at Land, while Schreuder had an effort from distance that Brusamarello didn’t hold the first time.
With one of the last chances of the game, Avila’s delivery to Niteros was met with a shot that was confidently held by Land.
South Melbourne Women (Martineau 3′, Schreuder 41′, Howes 74′) defeated Casey Comets (Binning 72′) at Lakeside Stadium [HT: 2-0]
South Melbourne Women: 1. Frances LAND, 3. Jade FEAKES (6. Alex CHEAL 31′), 5. Natalie MARTINEAU (10. Tiffany ELIADIS 55′), 7. Rhea SCHREUDER, 12. Jamie POLLOCK, 14. Natalie BRAJANOVSKI, 16. Lisa FARQUHAR, 17. Alison BAKER, 18. Caitlin GREISER, 31. Jasmine AREZOLLA (8. Carol HOWES 64′), 32. Emily HEIJDEN
Unused Substitute(s): 37. Coco MAJSTOROVIC
Yellow Cards: None
Red Cards: None
Casey Comets: 1. Alyse BRUSAMARELLO, 12. Harriet CORDNER, 4. Rachel BINNING, 14. Anouk MEEREBOER, 2. Antonia NITEROS, 3. Laura CROFT, 8. Shauna MURRAY, 16. Katrina AVILA, 6. Raelynn MIKELL, 11. Sharnoah HURLEY
Unused Substitute(s): 13. Marina MAKRIS, 10. Amy REDFORD, 5. Melissa KIRBY, 13. Arman FAZLIC
Yellow Cards: None
Red Cards: None