Heidelberg United missed the chance to close the door to the Women’s Premier League top five as they drew 1-1 with Ashburton United at DISC on Saturday.
The Warriors are still almost certain to feature in finals action as they improved to 36 points from 19 games played, ahead of mathematically alive Bulleen Lions and Sandringham (both 29 points from 18 played).
Ashburton (second, 38 points) left the door to the top two and a finals double chance open to the chasing pack.
Ashburton goalkeeper Melissa Maizels needed some inspired form to keep the scores level after Georgia Cloepfil and Anisa Guajardo had earlier scored the game’s only goals.
The first half had a number of opportunities, but a lack of cutting edge and accuracy in front of goal from both teams.
Ashburton would break through in the 50th minute when Briar Palmer’s 50m dash down the left caught the Heidelberg defence flat-footed.
Palmer crossed to Melina Ayres on the right side of the penalty area, who then cut back for Cloepfil to score with a first-time shot.
Heidelberg responded a flurry of chances; Maizels denied Christy Zwolski and Demi Mihaloudis with good saves but could not keep out Guajardo’s equaliser in the 63rd minute.
Julia Nicolaci’s second-time ball after a corner was cleared to the left found Guajardo’s head at the back post for her to nod in.
Heidelberg’s Elise Mamanu-Gray came off the bench in the 66th minute and immediately went about testing Maizels.
The Ashburton goalkepeer was equal to everything though, the best save from a dipping left-foot shot Mamanu-Gray tried from 15 metres outside the penalty area.
Zwolski fired wide in the 76th minute after capitalising on a defensive mistake to win the ball, while Maizels dived at Mamanu-Gray’s feet to save off the boot when the Heidelberg striker swept onto a missed clearance.
Both teams tried to win as the game stayed open and end-to-end to the finish but neither were able to get the crucial breakthrough.
Ashburton goalkeeper Melissa Maizels said she felt Ashburton had been good enough to win.
“There were moments where [Heidleberg] broke and they were very dangerous,” Maizels said.
“I trust my backline more than anything, there’s that mutual trust and respect there. We know as a unit we can get the job done.”
“I’d seen [Mamanu-Gray] play against a couple of other teams so I knew what to expect and knew she’d be shooting.
Heidelberg’s Anisa Guajardo said the result was disappointing given the Warriors’ second-half performane.
“It was just one of those games where the ideas are there and the efforts but the ball just doesn’t go in,” Guajardo said.
“[Elise Mamanu-Gray] was unreal. She had an inspiring performance I thought, changed the game and was player of the match.”
Photo: Adrian Shaw
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Heidelberg United 1 (Guajardo 63′) drew with Ashburton United 1 (Cloepfil 50′) at Darebin International Sports Centre [HT: 0-0]
Heidelberg United: 21. FONUA Christine (GK), 2. MIHALOUDIS Demi (13. AYTON Adelyn 66′), 6. PHILLIPS Laura, 10. NICOLACI Julia, 11. KOMIJAT Aneta (45. MAMANU-GRAY Elise 66′), 14. TSALIKIDIS Holly, 15. FONUA Lisa, 18. MURPHY Sadie, 35. ZWOLSKI Christy, 50. GUAJARDO Anisa
Unused Substitute(s): 1. QUINN Kelsey, 9. PANNELLA Belinda, 20. CINI Chloe
Yellow card(s): Nil
Red card(s): Nil
Ashburton United: 1. MAIZELS Melissa (GK), 2. PATRIKIS Maria, 3. RICHARDSON Holly, 5. STENSHOLT Kristin, 8. PALMER Briar, 9. AYRES Melinda (4. THOMAS Brittany 74′), 11. FREW Fede, 14. PFEIFFER Christine, 18. CLOEPFIL Georgia, 19. EDWARDS Olivia, 21. SPIRANOVIC Laura
Unused Substitue(s): 6. SABER Rebecca, 12. MALANDER Amy, 13. ERENLI Azize, 41. MILLER Jessica
Yellow card(s): Palmer 85′
Red card(s): Nil