A blistering first half an hour by Heidelberg United has helped set up a comfortable 3-1 victory over Casey Comets at Comets Stadium on Friday night.
Chistie Zwolski starred in a destructive 20-minute spell – scoring a hat-trick – while Laura Croft pulled one back from the spot, with the second half a more subdued affair as heavy fog descended onto the pitch.
After just nine minutes on the clock Zwolski had her first goal, latching onto Julia Nicolaci’s dink over the backline to send a powerful strike over Alyse Brusamarello and into the net.
The visitors looked in ominous form when Aneta Komijat went on a blistering run down the left wing, but her shot was struck right at the ‘keeper, who parried the ball away to safety.
Zwolski almost turned provider when her pass to Ellie Gavalas resulted in a tricky low shot from distance that Brusamarello tipped away and left the Casey defence scrambling to clear from danger.
The American kept troubling her opponents, securing her brace in the 25th minute following the brilliant work of Sadie Murphy, whose piercing through ball from distance created the goal.
Zwolski completed her hat-trick just moments later, with Casey seemingly unable to contain the dangerous import.
Just as it looked like Heidelberg would kick away to a significant margin, the hosts had a goal back almost immediately through a penalty converted by Croft.
Suddenly there was some life left in the Comets, who were able to hold off the Bergers for the remainder of the half and fashion a few more half chances of their own, including Shauna Murray’s shot from distance just before the break.
With the fog becoming thicker and rendering the far side of the pitch almost invisible, the start to the second half was low-key as neither side was able to create clear cut opportunities.
Heidelberg looked content with defending their lead, leading to Casey gaining a slight ascendency on the contest.
A few runs down the wing and passages of play earned free kicks or corners, with Harriett Cornder and Melissa Kirby combining well on the right side and a dangerous Croft set-piece desperately cleared away.
Casey continued to push higher, highlighted by Cordner marauding up the pitch and trying her luck from outside the box.
The Bergers had a few chances to cap off the victory late in the contest through Adelyn Ayton and Holly Tsalikidis, whose efforts on goal did not trouble Brusamarello.
Heidelberg held on for the comfortable victory eventually, gaining crucial points as the finals race heats up in the second half of the season.
Casey Comets 1 (Croft [p] 30′) defeated by Heidelberg United 3 (Zwolski 9′, 25′, 29′) at Comets Stadium [HT: 1-3]
Casey Comets: 1. Alyse BRUSAMARELLO, 5. Melissa KIRBY (24. Arman FAZLIC 88′), 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
Yellow Cards: None
Red Cards: None
Heidelberg United: 21. Christine FONUA (GK), 2. Demi MIHALOUDIS (14. Holly TSALIKIDIS 77′), 4. Michelle VERZI, 6. Laura PHILLIPS (9. Belinda PANELLA 69′), 10. Julia NICOLACI, 11. Aneta KOMIJAT (8. Emma GUNN 72′), 15. Lisa FONUA, 18. Sadie MURPHY, 22. Ellie GAVALAS (17. Natasha LUSI 82′), 38. Christy ZWOLSKI, 55. Elise MAMANU-GRAY (13. Adelyn AYTON 63′)
Yellow Cards: None
Red Cards: None