An early goal to Melina Ayres was enough to separate Ashburton United and Box Hill United on a chilly night at Knox Regional Football Centre.
The hosts had control for much of the contest and were disappointed not to extend their lead, while Box Hill almost pinched a late equaliser after some late pressure.
Ashburton began the contest on the front foot, and caught the visitors napping as Georgia Cloepfil was found on the right wing.
The winger then delivered a well-weighted early ball towards the back post, where Ayres simply controlled the ball and stroked it into the bottom left corner.
Ayres could’ve had a second just minutes later, when she controlled a cross before unleashing a volley straight into the hands of Melissa Barbieri.
It seemed to sting Box Hill into life as they clawed themselves back into the game.
Georgia Koutrouvelis got clear of the Ashburton defence shortly after, but her shot was palmed away by Melissa Maizels, while the rebound was cleared.
Box Hill’s next chance came in the 25th minute when Cristina Cardaci got in behind Ashburton’s defence, but instead of squaring the ball to Melanie Camilleri in space, the winger elected to take on the shot which was saved by Maizels.
Just before the half came to a close, Cardaci again got through on the counter, and this time squared the ball to Camilleri.
However the striker only managed to screw the shot wide.
Ashburton began the second half as they did the first, with Ayres firing a warning shot cutting in off the left flank.
Laura Spiranovic then had a golden chance soon after, as she skipped past the defence, but her shot was charged down by Barbieri.
It was the last real chance until a frantic last ten minutes.
With Box Hill desperate for an equaliser, a long punt was well held onto by Maizels, before Camilleri blazed over the bar when in good space.
The forward was then left wondering how she hadn’t scored in the 91st minute, when her shot flew agonisingly wide of the far post.
It was Box Hill’s best spell of the match, but they were left disappointed as Maizels came up trumps again a minute later, palming an Annie Remman shot over the crossbar.
Ashburton saw out the remainder of stoppage time strongly, with Emma Checker missing a gilt-edged chance when put through on goal by substitute Rachel Jarvis.
Jarvis herself was guilty of not converting chances when she had two bites from close range a minute later, with Barbieri saving the first attempt before the second went wide.
In the end it mattered little, as Ashburton exacted revenge for their Team App Cup defeat two weeks earlier to Box Hill.
Match Details
Ashburton United 1 (Ayres 2′) defeated Box Hill United 0 at Knox Regional Football Centre. [HT: 1-0]
Ashburton: 1. Melissa MAIZELS (GK), 2. Maria PATRIKIS (26. Bridie KEAN 90+3′), 15. Emma CHECKER, 14. Christine PFEIFFER (c), 3. Holly RICHARDSON, 20. Alyssia BLEWONSKI, 7. Jesse KOTSIKAS, 11. Fede FREW, 18. Georgia CLOEPFIL, 21. Laura SPIRANOVIC (4. Brittany THOMAS 77′), 9. Melina AYRES (16. Rachel JARVIS 88′)
Unused subs: 6. Rebecca SABER, 12. Amy MALANDER
Yellow cards: Maizels 73′, Kotsikas 75′
Box Hill United: 11. Melissa BARBIERI (GK), 4; Madelaine RICHARDSON, 32. Penny BAKOPOULOS, 6. Renee ZAIRIS, 12. Angie RASSIAS, 7. Ellie BRUSH (c), 14. Georgia KOUTROUVELIS, 23. Alexandra AMORE (16. Demi KALLIANIS 53′), 21. Cristina CARDACI, 8. Melanie CAMILLERI, 2. Elaina VATCKY (18. Annie REMMAN 17′)
Unused subs: 5. Sarah WALSH, 9. Letizia SAMMUT, 17. Kate FOTOPOULOS
Yellow cards: Camilleri 78′