Despite South Melbourne rallying late, a fast starting Ashburton United did just enough to earn a 3-2 win at Lakeside Stadium.
An early double to Britt Thomas – her second in as many matches – meant Ashburton carried a 2-0 lead going into half-time, before Melina Ayres made it three.
But a mini-revival saw Brittany Dudley-Smith and Rhea Schreuder score second half goals to set up an unlikely result, which never came.
There was little doubting however that Ashburton were the deserved winners as South Melbourne were made to play at the tempo that Ashburton set.
Too often they lost possession trying to play low percentage passes due to the presence of an Ashy body breathing down their neck, and that pressure proved the difference over the course of the 90 minutes.
Ironically, it was some South pressure which forced the first chance of the game as Tiff Eliadis charged down a clearance from keeper Melissa Maizels.
The ball cannoned off the star forward agonisingly wide of the right post.
Dudley-Smith was also presented with a chance to open the scoring, but her strike was stopped brilliantly by a smother from Maizels.
A strong penalty shout was turned down for Ashburton within the opening 10 minutes, just before they opened the scoring without the aid of the referees whistle.
Thomas continued on with her scoring form of last week by ghosting into the box with a clever run, where American Georgia Cloepfil picked her out, to finish emphatically across the face of goals on twelve minutes.
The pair combined just three minutes later to make it 2-0, with Cloepfil again firing a ball across the face of goals.
This time South keeper Coco Majstorovic was able to get down to the ball, but failed to hold on, allowing Thomas the easiest of finishes on the follow up.
Midfielder Carol Howes forced her way into the 18-yard box in a desperate attempt to pull a goal back, but in her eagerness skied her attempt well over the crossbar.
Christine Pfeiffer offered Laura Spiranovic the opportunity to mark her return to Lakeside Stadium with a first half goal, but she couldn’t conjure up the required power behind her shot after being slipped through on the left.
They carried a 2-0 lead into the half-time break as they stifled the attacking threat of South Melbourne; Emma Checker and Kristen Stensholt looking unbreakable at the back.
That two goal lead turned into three goals soon after as Fede Frew caught the South defence lapping early in the second half, taking a quick free-kick from just inside the half way line, which found a galloping Ayres.
The youngster took the ball in her stride with a sublime touch before delicately dinking the ball over the Majstorovic to further extend their lead.
South’s shot-stopper was called into action again soon after, and this time scuppered Spiranovic who was played through well by Ayres.
Cloepfil attempted to get her name on the scoresheet just after the hour mark, but couldn’t execute her chipped shot from the right wing.
Ashburton would’ve wished they had capitalised on their weight of chances, given the fight South Melbourne finally started to show, starting in the 65th minute.
Dudley-Smith gave South Melbourne a passage way back into the contest with a delightful finish into the bottom right corner.
Her passageway on goal was made much easier by a slip from Emma Checker in the process, which allowed her the time and space to pick a spot.
Young winger Rhea Schreuder pulled a second back soon after with a wonderful effort from distance to set up a classic final 20 minutes.
But despite all that time – and seven minutes of stoppage time – the game experienced a heavy lull with fouls aplenty ruining the flow of an end-to-end clash.
South Melbourne enjoyed a few half-chances – the best falling to substitute Caitlin Greiser who half-heartedly poked an effort towards goal from the edge of the box – but were unable to capitalise in their revival.
Photos: Adrian Shaw
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South Melbourne 2 (Dudley-Smith 65’, Schreuder 68’) defeated by Ashburton United 3 (Thomas 12’, 15’ Ayres 50’) at Lakeside Stadium [HT: 0-2]
South Melbourne Womens FC: 37. Coco MAJSTOROVIC (GK), 2. Brittany DUDLEY-SMITH, 3. Jade FEAKES, 5. Natalie MARTINEAU, 6. Alex CHEAL, 7. Rhea SCHREUDER, 8. Carol HOWES, 10. Tiffany ELIADIS, 13. Marianna ANTHONY (9. Sarah SUMNER 75’), 17. Alison BAKER, 14. Natalie BRAJANOVSKI (18. Caitlin GREISER 80’)
Unused Substitute(s): 31. Jasminc AREZOLLA, 1. Jenna IBRAHAM (GK)
Yellow Card(s): Eliadis 90’
Red Card(s): Nil
Ashburton United: 1. Melissa MAIZELS (GK), 2. Maria PATRIKIS, 5. Kristin STENSHOLT, 15. Emma CHECKER, 3. Holly RICHARDSON, 14. Christine PFEIFFER, 11. Fede FREW (20. Alyssia BLEWONSKI 89’), 4. Brittany, 9. Melina AYRES (19. Olivia Edwards 79’), 18. Georgia CLOEPFIL, 21. Laura SPIRANOVIC (12. Amy MALANDER 90’)
Unused Substitute(s): 10. Julia SKOWRONSKA
Yellow Card(s): Patrikis 76’, Frew 82’
Red Card(s): Nil