When Southern United prepared to face off against Alamein FC, there were no immediate signs that a drought-breaking first win of the season was on the horizon.
Because even despite Southern’s recent ability to gain credible draws against Box Hill, Bayside and – most impressively – Bullen Lions, this was, after all, a side in the top-four containing reigning W-League Golden Boot Larissa Crummer. It was looking even more bleak when the hosts took the lead via Melina Ayres.
Yes stranger things have happened in football, and after an equaliser from Saphri Lines, combined with a maiden goal from wildcard Brittany Dudley-Smith, Southern had their first win of the season.
“It’s amazing; it’s one of the best things I’ve felt, I’m so excited, I can’t believe it,” Southern goalkeeper Freya Crocker said.
“Coming up against Alamein, we didn’t have too high hopes, but we’ll still go out there, try our best, and I think anything could’ve been an improvement from last time [an 8-0 defeat], but I don’t know where this came from, we all just dug deep and finally got the result.”
In recent weeks, the side has looked more cohesive as a unit, finally being able to slowly implement veteran coach Stuart Munro’s instructions and teachings from the training pitch onto matchday.
They may have had to weather the odd storm, anchored at by the back by defensive duo Antonia Niteros and Anouk Meereboer, but the return of the likes of Tiff Eliadis and Brittany Dudley-Smith has bolstered the side in attack, with the duo returning to full fitness and adding a significant new threat to opposition defences.
“All the draws built us up, made us more confident that we’ve stopped having the losses and we’ve come closer every week to that win, and it’s nice to see it finally pay off,” Crocker said.
“Obviously there’s a lot of work to go still, it’s a fresh team and I haven’t played with any of these girls before, but we’re definitely building, were definitely reading each other more and learning what the other person’s capable of.”
Crocker has also been pivotal in Southern’s recent form, with her heroics between the sticks often a major reason the side has been able to pick up points from their fixtures.
Having been brought in to Boroondara’s WPL side late last season to replace the outgoing Alondra Villa as Anna Lanning’s deputy, the Tasmanian is now benefiting from a regular run of games in goals to grow in confidence and stature in the league.
“This is probably my best run, I don’t know if I can top this,” Crocker said.
“I’ll keep trying, see how I can run for, but this is probably the best couple of games I’ve had in a row.”
Crocker’s next test comes against the likes of Leigh Gray, Joey Cartwright and co at Dallas Brooks Park this weekend when Southern do battle with Heidelberg United.
Image: Adrian Shaw