Melina Ayres continues to prove she’s one of the best young talents in the Women’s Premier League with a four-goal haul to give Ashburton SC a 4-0 victory over South Yarra on Saturday afternoon.
The winger was unstoppable as Ashy bounced back after two bruising losses, including last weekend’s 5-1 defeat to fellow title challengers Boroondara Eagles.
The hosts started the game on fire and completely dominated the opening 15 minutes, suffocating South Yarra their in own half.
It took less than 10 minutes for the hosts to take the lead when a sweeping team move saw Azize Erenli lay off a lovely ball to Ayres who smashed it into the top of the net.
Ayres could have had a second less a minute later when she got on the end of a Emma Checker cross but the ball went just over the net.
South relied on its swift counter to pile some pressure on United and it almost paid off when a lovely mid-air back heel by Marcela Marques laid the ball on for Katherine Foster who buried it in the net.
Unfortunately, the goal was ruled offside.
Ayres almost made South pay again when she got on the end of another team move, but this time her shot cracked against the crossbar.
The crossbar again proved to be Ayres’ enemy on the day when another edge-of-the-box shot smashed into the top corner of the frame.
Georgia Cloepfil got on the end of a lovely cross-field ball from Erenli, but her first time volley was push out by South ‘keeper Ashleigh Bellman.
But South just couldn’t control Ayres as she ran riot with the free space afforded and constantly broke through the defensive lines.
First she saw her shot curve around the post, before she jumped unmarked in a corner and headed it right to Bellman.
Much like the first period, Ashburton dominated the second half and needed 11 minutes this time to get their second.
It was Ayres who drilled in shot that left Bellman stranded on the spot.
She saved her best to complete her hat-trick when she collected a loose ball from a corner 25-yards out, steadied herself and unleashed a half-volley which powerfully bounced under the arm of Bellman.
United continued to press in the final 30 minutes but struggled to break through South with Checker having a chance from distance.
But again, it was down to Ayres to put the ball in the back of the net when she got end of a Checker back-post cross to volley in for her second four-goal haul of the season.
Ashburton now jump to 26 points on the table and face another title challenger in Bundoora next week, while South Yarra host Caulfield United Cobras.
Photo: Adrian Shaw
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Ashburton United 4 (Melina Ayres 8’, 55’, 67’, 90+1’) defeated South Yarra SC 0 at Ashburton Park [HT: 1-0]
Ashburton United: 1. Melissa Maizels (GK), 2. Maria Patrikis (26. Bridie Kean 68’), 3. Holly Richardson, 5. Kristin Stenholt (12. Amy Malander 71’), 19. Olivia Edwards, 15. Emma Checker, 4. Brittany Thomas (16. Rachel Jarvis 62’),13. Azize Erenli (20. Alyssia Blewonski 55’), 9. Melina Ayres, 21. Laura Spiranovic (6. Rebecca Saber 71’), 18. Georgia Cloepfil.
Yellow Card(s): Thomas 59′
Red Card(s): Nil
South Yarra SC: 1. Ashleigh Bellman (GK), 2. Hayley Wilkinshaw, 3. Sarah Dash, 4. Madeline Jona, 5. Samantha Tighe, 6. Hannah Charman, 7. Eliza Mealin (12. Gretel Templeton 70’), 8. Priscilla Ribas (14. Jennifer Westhagen 77’), 9. Marcela Marques, 10. Katherine Foster, 11. Sara Alberici.
Unused Substitute(s): 13. Sharon Walsh, 15. Megan Lorkin, 16. Lauren Hughes
Yellow Card(s): Nil
Red Card(s): Nil