It’s just under two months out from Finals now, and the fight for the top spots is getting a little interesting. Bundoora dropped more points in a gritty 0-2 loss to Box Hill at Wembley Park, but have two games in hand as they cling on to fourth spot.
Heidelberg crept closer to the fifth place in the table with a 3-1 win over EAP, but Casey stayed just ahead by also defeating Altona by a 0-3 margin. Elsewhere there were relatively easy wins for South Melbourne, Ashburton and Sandringham against Preston, Cairnlea and Bulleen.
Without further ado, we give you the best performers from the weekend that was.
Week 15 Starting Eleven – Top Secret Case Files
Goalkeeper – Claudia Addamo
Club: Preston Lions FC
Also Known As: The Replacement Keeper
Location: B.T. Connor Reserve
Last Seen: Thwarting league leaders South Melbourne, throwing herself into contests and making several fine blocks in a losing cause.
Defender – Maria Patrikis
Club: Ashburton WSC
Also Known As: Bounce
Location: Cairnlea Park
Last Seen: Ghosting in to score two goals off set pieces against Cairnlea, while keeping things tight at the back in a fine win for her team.
Defender – Kristin Stensholt
Club: Ashburton WSC
Also Known As: The Wall
Location: Cairnlea Park
Last Seen: Defending “like crazy” as Ashburton held off a late Cairnlea charge to grab a vital three points, also stroked home a penalty for good measure.
Defender – Bella Scott
Club: EAP
Also Known As: Bellatron
Location: Olympic Village
Last Seen: Shuttling up and down the right flank against Heidelberg, providing attacking impetus as well as defensive cover all day.
Midfielder – Belinda Pannella
Club: Heidelberg United
Also Known As: O Kapetánios
Location: Olympic Village
Last Seen: Playing just behind the strikers, putting through numerous through balls in the gaps between the defence and getting on the scoresheet herself.
Midfielder – Cindy Lay
Club: EAP
Also Known As: Cinder
Location: Olympic Village
Last Seen: Controlling the midfield for her team, a good presence in midfield as she constantly transitioned from attack to defence and vice versa.
Midfielder – Stephanie Tanti
Club: Sandringham SC
Also Known As: Fulcrum
Location: The Veneto Club
Last Seen: Putting in yet another dominant performance against Bulleen as she starred in the hole just behind the strikers. Did not score but created the lion’s share of her team’s attacking chances.
Winger – Jessica Au
Club: South Melbourne WFC
Also Known As: Cristiano
Location: B.T. Connor
Last Seen: Displaying some twinkle-toed footwork on the wing for South Melbourne, dancing past tackles and driving for the by line. Got into plenty of dangerous positions and scored right before half time.
Winger – Tiffany Eliadis
Club: South Melbourne WFC
Also Known As: Flash
Location: Olympic Village
Last Seen: Making an absolute nuisance of herself up front against Preston as she repeatedly ran at the defence. Proved both a creative as well as scoring threat with two goals and two assists.
Forward – Leigh Gray
Club: Heidelberg United
Also Known As: Lethal Leigh
Location: Olympic Village
Last Seen: Terrorising the EAP defenders at Olympic Village, scoring twice although she could really have added a whole bucketload more. Always involved in the final third of the field, a headache to deal with.
Forward – Brittany Dudley-Smith
Club: Casey Comets
Also Known As: BDS
Location: Kim Reserve
Last Seen: Putting Altona to the sword with two well-taken goals. Defenders tremble in their boots at the mere mention of her initials, and this weekend was no different.
Team of the Week XI: Addamo (Preston); Scott (EAP), Stensholt (Ashburton), Patrikis (Ashburton); Eliadis (South Melbourne), Lay (EAP), Tanti (Sandringham), Pannella (Heidelberg), Au (South Melbourne); Gray (Heidelberg), Dudley-Smith (Casey)
Many thanks to all those who contributed to this week’s edition of the Team of the Week, including reporters Thomas Baldock, Sean Ellicott, Xavier Player, Neil Zimmerman and Andrew Bishara as well as numerous match and club officials and players.
(Cover photo by Adrian Shaw)