Alamein FC and Bulleen Lions have become the first semi-finalists of the Team App Cup after prevailing over Bayside United and South Melbourne FC respectively last night by the same scoreline of 4-2.
Six different goalscorers led to an entertaining contest in an all-NPLW affair at Kingston Heath.
Melina Ayres got proceedings going in the 16th minute, continuing her rich vein of form in front of goals.
Christine Pfeiffer doubled Alamein’s advantage from a corner after 30 mins and the scoreline remained that way until half time.
Kirstie Shearing pegged one back in the 60th minute, but Bayside’s work was undone just two minutes later by Britt Thomas, who restored Alamein’s two-goal advantage
Bronte James found her name back on the scoresheet in the 71st minute to give Bayside a glimmer of hope, but Cristina Cardaci dashed those hopes via a mazy solo run and goal in the 88th minute to seal the 4-2 win.
At the Veneto club, a second half blitz saw Bulleen overrun South Melbourne.
While Em Coppock finished off Dani Gudelj’s cross in the 10th minute, Caitlin Grieser took advantage of sloppy work at the back to equalise, with the scores going into the break at 1-1.
Tessa Sernio eased the hosts’ blushes not long after the restart following Goad’s delivery, before the latter turned scorer in the 70th minute to make it 3-1.
Grieser became the only multiple goalscorer on the night across both fixtures when she bundled the ball home from a corner to reduce the deficit back to one, only for Keely Lockhart to also ensure progression with an impressive individual effort.
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In league action, Heidelberg United moved into the top four, leapfrogging Alamein with a convincing 4-1 win over the Senior NTC.
After a scoreless first half, the game sprung to life in the second and it was Leig Gray netting her fourth hat-trick of the season to be the chief destroyer.
She now moves to the top of the Golden Boot race on 14, ahead of Ayres and Calder’s Rachel Alonso on 12 each.
Bonnie Barnes was the other goalscorer for Heidelberg, capping a significant turnaround for the hosts, who earlier in the season suffered a heavy defeat to the NTC.
Akiesha Sandhu netted a late consolation penalty for the visitors, on a day when MelindaJ Barbieri, Coby McInerny and Teresa Morrissey had an eventful time, having also trained with the Matildas at Ballarat.
Image: Graeme Furlong