It was a strange old week this one in Victorian football as both the NPL and NPL 1 played catch-up to fixtures past. There were some vital points gained – Ballarat taking a point away from Bentleigh – and some even more vital ones lost – see North Geelong’s loss to Richmond SC – but none were as important as the games that took place on Sunday afternoon as both the men’s and women’s cup finals took place.
Cup Finals
South Melbourne Women’s 0 defeated by FC Bulleen Lions 2 at Lakeside Stadium
What a game this one turned out to be! With all eyes on a South Melbourne side seemingly hell-bent on revenge – having lost both the grand final and cup final in season 2013 – the day slowly turned into a tale of sorrow, more or less the summary of every classic Greek tragedy.
With Laura Spiranovic running the show in the early moments, it looked a likely prospect that South would pile on the goals in front of an eager home crowd. The brilliance of Frances Land in goals ensured the game didn’t go to plan for Alan Davidson’s girls.
The Teresa Deas medallist – for her player-of-the-match performance – thwarted a number of attacks in the first half, as Tijen Hussein, Jess Au and the aforementioned Spiranovic all failed to get past the shot-stopper.
That proved to be the difference as Bulleen made the most of their limited chances. Tessa Sernio certainly did that with her contender for goal of the season. Let’s let the video do the talking.
When Em Coppock bundled home a second, it was all Bulleen as the Lions ran out 2-0 winners to claim their maiden cup success.
Melbourne Knights 1 defeated South Springvale 0 at Lakeside Stadium
The Pièce de résistance at Lakeside was the twilight Dockerty Cup Final between the favoured Melbourne Knights and their giant killing partners in South Springvale.
The stadium packed in to really add to the carnival nature of the football gala that was on Sunday afternoon. The South Springvale support showed up in droves and drowned the stands with their many articulations of “Aris” – which turns out is many!
It was the MCF however that had the last laugh as Tomislav Uskok bundled home his most important goal of the season, in the 120th minute of time to give the Knights their first piece of silverware in seven years.
Continue Reading > Marth delighted with Dockerty Cup triumph
It was cruel way to lose for South Springvale, who’d toiled all night long, and looked a genuine chance against their more fancied opponents.
Read More> Lambropoulos: I’m proud of the boys
Cup fixtures wrapped up by Jordan Lim (@JordanLim24)
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NPL Catch-up Round
Bentleigh Greens 1 drew with Ballarat Red Devils 1 at Kingston Heath
Not the most inspired contest of the year but there was certainly enough to keep the crowd happy, with a stunning Shaun Romein goal highlighting the afternoon’s action.
Making up for the absent Round 1 fixture which saw a broken light delay the start of both sides campaigns, it was Bentleigh who struck first through their talismanic midfielder Wayne Wallace.
Mid-season signing Ryan De Vries picked out the Englishman perfectly inside the area, who had the composure to take a touch before picking his spot in the bottom corner.
Only moments later, Ballarat had their equaliser, which came about in awe-inspiring fashion. A corner was cleared off the line by young full-back Christian Cavallo into what appeared to be a benign situation. Up steps Shaun Romein who smacks home a sweetly executed first time volley to equalise for the Red Devils.
The point could prove to be the difference for the regional club as they battle three sides for one relegation place.
Goulburn Valley Suns 1 defeated by Hume City 4 at McEwan Reserve
On the topic of relegation, the Goulburn Valley Suns have already secured their status in the NPL 1 next season. With Hume City both mathematically safe and out of reach of the title, this game was a textbook dead rubber.
Regardless, Hume put in a good shift to come away with a 4-1 away win, with returning captain Nick Hegarty to thank. The Englishman went down earlier in the season – ironically against the Suns – with what appeared to be a serious knee injury, and came back with a bang, scoring two goals to give his side the lead.
Earlier Craig Carley – who’s season tally now sits at 11 goals – fired a cool penalty past Oldfield to give the home side a shock lead.
Hegarty equalised before the break, then added a second after via the penalty spot.
Christopher Cristaldo – who won the penalty for Hegarty – netted his sides third before teenager Matthew Hennessey followed suit with a 90th minute effort.
NPL fixtures wrapped up by Jordan Lim (@JordanLim24)
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NPL 1 Catch-up Round
North Geelong Warriors 0 defeated by Richmond 2 at Elcho Park
The promotion race has been blown right back open after Richmond – who themselves previously had looked a good chance of going up – overcame second placed North Geelong 2-0.
The loss for the Warriors paves the way for FFA Cup participants St Albans Saints to make a late run at promotion, with the pair set to clash in a few weeks time.
Richmond’s top scorer Tom Cahill had to settle with supplying goals this week as his pass perfectly teed up attacking mid Hamlet Armenian, who hammered home a first half stoppage time opener.
The sealer came from the boot of Peter Sawan, with Cahill again providing the penultimate touch for his side.
North Geelong still sit in second place, with a three point buffer separating them and the Saints.
Moreland Zebras 2 defeated FC Bendigo 0 at De Chene Reserve
The other NPL 1 catch-up game pitted Moreland up against Bendigo with the former picking up maximum points for the first time in four games.
Daniel Sweeney was the architect of the victory, first laying off an assist for Danilo Bonilla-Ospina, before scoring one himself 15 minutes from time.
Bonilla-Ospina opened the scoring with a fine half-volley, which cannoned off the crossbar into the net from a tight angle.
The sealer was an easier finish, as Sweeney found himself the recipient of Mattei’s rebounded save.
NPL 1 fixtures wrapped up by Jordan Lim (@JordanLim24)
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WPL
Monbulk Rangers 0 defeated by Ashburton Women 2 at Monbulk Recreation Reserve
Monbulk were finally consigned to relegation after a 2-0 home defeat to Ashburton on Friday. The result also made the survival plight a bit easier for Ashy, who jump out of the bottom two by a point.
Melina Ayres was the first to strike, with the youngster hitting an eighth minute opener before Brittany Thomas doubled their advantage with a well taken strike.
The two first half goals were enough for Ashy to push Cairnlea into the relegation zone.
Box Hill United 0 defeated by FFV U17 Girls 4 at Wembley Park – Sean Ellicott (@SeanEllicott)
Quite an impressive feat by the FFV’s elite who only recently returned from a tournament in Canberra, playing eight times in four days.
NTC were simply dominant all over the pitch as Box Hill failed the match their speed and passing game.
Tamara Balcameda and Beattie Goad saw the visitors up 2-0 at the break as Jess Pitts and Emily Harbis contributed to the score line.
A complete performance with some exceptional goals.
Cairnlea FC 0 defeated by Bundoora United 5 at Cairnlea Park – Mark Gojszyk (@hahahamark)
Bundoora smacked five goals – via only two scorers – past a hapless Cairnlea, who couldn’t take a trick on the day.
Louisa Bisby opened the scoring directly from a corner kick, before setting up Barilla with another wicked delivery from the flag. The latter scored again either side of half-time to complete her hat-trick, while Bisby wrapped up proceedings late in the contest with a strike from distance.
Bundoora also successfully kept Cairnlea at bay for the 90 minutes, who suffered the indignity of having two players – Emily Thomas and Suzanne Asembo – sent off just before full-time.
Read More > Bundy happy with football form
Boroondara Eagles 0 defeated by Sandringham SC 3 at Knox Regional Football Centre
Sandringham continue to keep their thin finals chances alive with a shock 3-0 result against Boroondara on Sunday night. The difference was in the midfield, as Sienna Fogarty and Annabelle Gibney continued their purple patches of form with a strike each.
Fogarty’s second-half strike was a stunner, as she curled the ball into the back of the net from some range.
The other goal came through Eliza Gleadell, who sealed the contest five minutes from time to keep Sandy in finals calculations for at least another week.
A potential finals decider will take place at Kingston Heath on Monday as sixth placed Sandringham take on fifth placed Heidelberg.
Bulleen Lions 2 defeated Heidelberg United 1 at David Barro Stadium
They did it the hard way but Bobby McGuinness’s side backed up their State Knock Out Cup triumph by booking a spot in the Sportsmart Women’s Premier League finals.
Heidelberg were well on top for most of the contest but their inability to capitalise saw them slip to a 2-1 defeat.
A brace by Emily Coppock saw Bulleen over the line, despite Kendra Jones netting a late goal.
Heidelberg too were controversially denied of an opener only a few minutes in (unfortunately the FFV do not posses goal line technology).
Heidelberg still remain inside the top five by a few points, taking on sixth placed Sandringham in a huge showdown next week.
FFV U17 Girls 2 defeated by South Melbourne 3 at State Football Centre
South buried the demons of a Women’s State Knockout Cup Final loss on Sunday afternoon by holding on to claim three points against the NTC girls.
Three first half goals had South cruising, but when Jess Pitts struck in the 54th minute, it seemed to light a spark inside the home side. Lexi Anasstasiou struck a second soon after to set up a miracle comeback, which never eventuated.
Tijen Hussein struck twice for the visitors with Jess Au nabbing the other goal.
WPL fixtures unless otherwise stated wrapped up by Jordan Lim (@JordanLim24)