It’s finally Round 11, the last week before teams do a turnaround and start meeting opponents they’ve faced earlier this year. There have been lots of plot lines throughout the first half of the season and things are just heating up as we get set to enter July. Bundoora’s match with Ashburton has been postponed, but no matter as we still have five other exciting match ups to look forward to this weekend. South Melbourne have an intriguing rematch with Cup final opponents Sandringham on Saturday afternoon, while Altona host Box Hill the very next day.The Corner Flag reviews every single fixture ahead of this exciting weekend’s action.
South Melbourne (1) vs Sandringham (2)
3:00PM, Saturday 29th June 2013 Lakeside Stadium, Albert Park
Form:
South Melbourne – WWWWW
Sandringham – WWWLW
Head to Head:
12 May 2012 – South Melbourne 1 Sandringham 0 (Lakeside Stadium)
30 Jul 2012 – Sandringham 3 South Melbourne 0 (Kingston Heath)
South Melbourne are still rolling on, the only team with an unblemished record in the league after ten rounds. Bill Mihaloudis’ team have knuckled down and beaten some top class opposition in recent weeks and their latest opponents remain the one team they have yet to beat this season. Second placed Sandringham are second in the table, seven points off the pace at the moment. The visitors are no pushovers though, having become the only team to beat South in a competitive game after winning 1-0 in the Knockout Cup Final. The draw at home to Bulleen and a surprising loss away to Casey have been rare blips in what has been an impressive season so far, and Sandringham will be full of confidence that they can beat the league leaders again and upset the odds. South Melbourne will enter their second week without spearhead Laura Spiranovic, but Sandringham won’t be full strength either with wing back Stephanie Catley still on international duty with the Matildas.
Watch out for:
Tiffany Eliadis (South Melbourne) – South Melbourne’s Eliadis remains an enigma at the best of times. Capable of being both a destructive creator and scorer of goals, the playmaker can also lapse into periods when she can be frustratingly languid and ineffective. Usually situated on the wing for South Melbourne, Eliadis offers a blend of raw speed and befuddling trickery that when unleashed can unlock most defenses in the WPL. The trick will be figuring out which version will be turning up on Saturday, it could make all the difference in a tight contest.
Eliza Gleadell (Sandringham) – The veteran striker is happy to stay out of the limelight most of the time, but the joy etched on her face after her winning goal against South Melbourne in the Knockout Cup Final was unmistakeable. Peeling away with one arm held aloft, Gleadell’s assured finish banished the demons from a shattering Grand Final loss to the same opponent two years ago. Her goalscoring return this season hasn’t exactly been prolific, but odds are she won’t mind a it a jot if she repeats her game winning feat against South Melbourne this Saturday.
Heidelberg (8) vs Bulleen (10)
4:00pm, Saturday 29th June 2013 Olympic Village, Heidelberg West
Form:
Heidelberg – LLWWW
Bulleen – DLLLW
Head to Head:
None (Bulleen were in State League 1 last season)
Heidelberg look to have turned the corner of late, having registered three thumping back-to-back wins against Ashburton, Preston and Cairnlea. A team struggling to score early this season have scored 16 goals in the last three games after only managing nine in their first seven matches. It’s a stunning turnaround and while it seems easy to pinpoint American imports Leigh Gray and Erin Brennan as the catalysts behind their revival, there’s no denying that their arrival has breathed new life into Heidelberg’s campaign. There have been markedly improved performances all over the park and Gray’s goalscoring feats have been complemented with superb back up play from her new team mates. Opponents Bulleen reached a remarkable milestone of their own on the weekend too, with their first ever Women’s Premier League win coming at the expense of bottom side Altona. Fede Frew’s wonder strike was enough to seal a result that the whole club had been waiting so long for, and it will be a foolish person to discount the huge morale boost that will have given the team. Adrian Drury’s charges will be looking for better fortunes in the second half of the season, but there’s no reason why they can’t start this very weekend against a revitalised Heidelberg. There remain serious question marks over the injured duo of Michelle Verzi and Ashleigh Beagley though, with both major outs for Heidelberg and Bulleen respectively.
Watch out for:
Julia Nicolaci (Heidelberg) – When looking at the Heidelberg midfield, it’s easy to focus too much on star turn Belinda Pannella and miss out on the player quietly going about her business next to her. Nicolaci is a perfect foil for her captain, providing plenty of run through the middle while offering the same long distance shooting threat that makes defenders hesitate to play her too loose. Bulleen will have to watch out for her at set pieces too as Nicolaci is a dead ball specialist and a foul just outside the box might become an invitation to shoot on target.
Jessica Tay (Bulleen) – Tay will be the first to admit that her performances of late have been found a little wanting. The Bulleen midfielder’s bright start to the season has tailed away of late, her early starting form giving way to stints coming off the bench in recent weeks. It’s unlikely to faze her though, as one of the most genuine characters you’ll meet around these parts is determined to reverse the trend and prove her worth to the team once again. Tay’s accurate sharp shooting from distance makes her a unique threat from anywhere in the attacking third and Heidelberg’s goalkeeper will do well to keep on her toes.
Casey (5) vs Preston (11)
3:00pm, Sunday 30th June 2013 Comets Stadium, Cranbourne
Form:
Casey – WLLWD
Preston – DLWLL
Head to Head:
25 Mar 2012 – Preston 0 Casey 5 (DISC)
03 Jun 2012 – Casey 5 Preston 0 (Comets Stadium)
It’s been a mixed bag for Casey so far, with the team sitting in fifth place after ten rounds. The Comets have accrued five wins, four losses and a solitary draw so far, mixing and matching results like the surprising 3-0 win over Sandringham with a 2-2 draw away to Ashburton last weekend. It’ll be something of a relief for them to return to Comets Stadium definitely, where they have won four of their five games so far. Their home advantage has been a source of strength this season, with even runaway league leaders South Melbourne unimpressive in a 2-0 win earlier this year. For Preston, the joy of a first win of the season against Altona has been tempered by subsequent whitewashes to Heidelberg and EAP in recent weeks. The three point advantage they held over Bulleen has been erased and they’ve now dropped back down to 11th in the table. It’s not exactly doom and gloom with half a season still to go but it’s close especially with the news that goalkeeper Alexandra Bogdanovski has knee ligament damage that might require an operation. It’s Casey’s game to lose, that’s for sure.
Watch out for:
Jaymee Dudley (Casey) – Dudley is a dead ball specialist and her corner kicks can be deadly when placed perfectly on to the head of any of Casey’s goal scoring defenders, but she’s also pretty handy when on the field of play with the ball at her feet. The midfielder is fast and skilful and offers an alternative avenue to team mate Alexandra Gummer’s lung busting runs in central midfield. If Preston are not careful, she has the passing range to carve them up right through the middle.
Claudia Addamo (Preston) – Preston’s backup goalkeeper has huge shoes to fill with Al Bogdanovski on the treatment table. It’ll be a baptism of fire for Addamo as she looks set to start her first WPL game of her career this Sunday at Comets Stadium. The former Whittlesea youth product has shown plenty of promise since joining the Lionesses in preseason, but this is another step up for the youngster. Bogdanovski was in sparkling form before damaging her knee last week against EAP and Addamo will do to prove herself equal to the task.
Altona (12) vs Box Hill (4)
3:00pm, Sunday 30th June 2013 Kim Reserve, Altona
Form:
Altona – LLLLL
Box Hill – WWWWL
Head to Head:
None (Altona were in State League 1 last season)
Altona’s new head coach Riccardo Marchioli finally turned up last weekend as they became the last team without a win to its name following a 0-1 loss to Bulleen. There’s a lot of work to be done if they’re to gain any points in the second half of the season, but it’s unlikely to happen overnight especially with defending champions Box Hill up next. To borrow and bastardise an oft misquoted saying – never poke a wounded bear. Box Hill will be looking to get the narrow loss to South Melbourne out of the system, a result that will rankle given it’s the second time they’ve failed to beat the same opposition this year. Despite some goalkeeping heroics from Melissa Barbieri, United could not find a goal to level the tie and now find themselves slipping down to fourth in the table. Expect the team to be fired up and with a weight off their shoulders now the long unbeaten streak is consigned to the history books. This could get ugly.
Watch out for:
Stacey Papadopoulos (Box Hill) – The young Box Hill winger has had a tougher than expected transition from Heidelberg following her preseason move. It’s been slow progress for Papadopoulos after everything came so naturally to her last season in a Bergers team that suited her playing style to a T. We’ve seen glimpses of her ability after ten rounds, but nothing like the devastating fire bolt that could turn a game on its head last season. Nevertheless, there’s a sneaking suspicion that if the youngster can keep her head down and work hard, it’ll only be a matter of time.
Aneta Komijat (Altona) – Altona’s captain leads by example, with a sword made out of fire and brimstone in one hand and a shield of polished gold in another. It might all just be imagery but it won’t be too far off the mark to call Komijat a modern day gladiator as she goes toe to toe with opponents every weekend. Unafraid to throw her body into 50-50 contests and get stuck right in, she’s an invaluable member of the Altona squad and a fearless leader to boot. What would Altona do without her? It doesn’t even bear thinking at the moment.
EAP (7) vs Cairnlea (9)
3:00pm, Sunday 30th June 2013 DISC, Thornbury
Form:
EAP – LLLDW
Cairnlea – LWLWL
Head to Head:
13 May 2012 – Cairnlea 7 EAP 3 (Cairnlea Park)
29 Jul 2012 – EAP 0 Cairnlea 2 (DISC)
If form is anything to go by, Cairnlea are due for a win this weekend based on their alternating fortunes in the past five weeks. The team are bouncing around from one good result to a disappointing one the week after, only to grab a convincing win the very next round. It’s all very puzzling. The team were visibly second best at home to Heidelberg last week as they were smashed for six goals and failed to find the net themselves. Answers will have to be sough and quickly before they travel to EAP this Sunday to face an eager bunch of youngsters raring for another win after beating Preston last week. Confidence is a fickle thing, and it’s definitely coming back to EAP now following a run of tough results. The 3-3 draw with Ashburton was a timely shot to the arm and the 5-0 win over Preston a much welcome tonic. Coach David Edmonson will be adamant they not get too carried away after just two results, but a positive team atmosphere will definitely lead to more gains on the training field and on the pitch. This game could go either way, with both teams bound to learn something about themselves by the time the dust settles.
Watch out for:
Zoe Stamatopoulos (EAP) – Stamatopoulos is EAP’s midfield enforcer, the hard man in the middle who opposition players hate to play against. Her forte isn’t brutal body checks or hard shoves though, it’s the niggly fouls like a sly elbow in the kidney or numerous ankle taps that drive opposing midfielders to the point of distraction. But before you dismiss her as a one dimensional player, you have to realise that the Stamatopoulos is actually a skilled midfielder who can score screamers from a thirty yard radius. There’s definitely more than meets the eye here.
Emily Thomas (Cairnlea) – Stepping up to the first team is a daunting task for any Reserves player, but Thomas has taken it all in her stride since being promoted to the Cairnlea seniors, slotting into defence with minimal fuss. The full back has impressed with her speed and agility on the flanks, offering an outlet out wide for her team and harrying opposition wingers when they dare to take her on one-on-one. EAP’s tricky wingers will provide a stern contest, but it is not in Thomas’ nature to back down and we should see some sparks.
Note: The Bundoora vs Ashburton Round 11 clash, originally scheduled for Saturday 29th June, has now been postponed to Saturday 7 September.