Bundoora United have defeated South Yarra 4-0 at Fawkner Park on Sunday.
Rachel Alonso scored a brace, Lisa De Vanna was the difference in the first half with a goal and assist, while Louisa Bisby added the fourth, with the trio involved in most of the day’s action.
The result means the race is on as South Melbourne (45 points, +29 goal difference), Ashburton (44, +39), Bundoora (43, +22) and Heidelberg (42, +26) all battle to secure the double chance.
@wplvictoria from Fawkner Park. @SouthYarraSC (red) vs @BundooraUnited (yellow) #WPLVIC #SYvBU pic.twitter.com/2UiyBNfVYX
— Les Street (@official_lesdog) August 23, 2015
Bundoora set about controlling possession, but chances were hard to come by against a Yarra outfit content with sitting back.
The first chance came after six minutes when Bisby fired in a corner, with Enza Barilla hitting a volley straight at ‘keeper Sharon Walsh.
Alonso and Tyla-Jay Vlajnic combined well on the left wing, resulting in a cross by the latter that landed at Bisby, but her shot just missed.
At the back, Gulcan Koca and Claudia Fruscalzo had little to do by way of defending, but were finding it difficult to distribute to teammates, with Yarra setting up all 10 outfielders behind the ball.
However, at the other end it took until the 25th minute a moment of quality from De Vanna to break the deadlock, as the Matildas captain tracked back into her own half to dispossess an opponent, hitting a delivery over the top to Alonso, who controlled the ball and lobbed past Walsh.
De Vanna up close. Unbelievable running and communication when off the ball. @wplvictoria @TheMatildas #WPLVIC #SYvBU pic.twitter.com/hT6W2lUQgS
— Les Street (@official_lesdog) August 23, 2015
De Vanna was it again minutes later, latching onto Bisby’s pass, dribbling into the box and tucking the ball into the net.
The trio were constantly involved in the first half, as Bisby also had a free kick that hit the woodwork, while Alonso had a shot saved onto the post on the stroke of half time.
That wasn’t before the two combined moments earlier as Bisby’s corner was bundled in by Alonso from a corner.
It was much the same in the second half when Alonso’s ball to Curo was passed on eventually to Bisby, whose long shot beat the ‘keeper.
Absolute tekkers double backheel by Bisby for Bundoora United. #WPLVIC #SYvBU
— Les Street (@official_lesdog) August 23, 2015
South Yarra managed to stem the flow thereafter, with the likes of Madeline Jona and Samantha Tighe managing to clear away most dangerous forays forward by the visitors before they could turn into a goalthreat.
The hosts then did have a few good opportunities to score a consolation, the closest one coming when Aoife Murphy pounced on a mix up between Bundoora’s backline to run through on goal, but her shot just flashed wide.
She was also dangerous in the box for a Madeline Jona set-piece, with her header caught easily by Beth Mason-Jones.
Otherwise, the occasion was a low-key contest for long periods, with both sides seemingly content with the final scoreline.
South Yarra player gets a falcon whilst on the deck and teammates burst out laughing. #WPLVIC #SYvBU
— Les Street (@official_lesdog) August 23, 2015
South Yarra 0 defeated by Bundoora United 4 (Alonso 25′ 43′, De Vanna 29′, Bisby 61′) at Fawkner Park
South Yarra SC: 1. Sharon WALSH (GK), 2. Megan LORKIN, 3. Madeline JONA, 6. Hannah CHARMAN, 4. Samantha TIGHE, 5. Sarah DASH, 10. Aoife MURPHY, 13. Hayley WALKINSHAW, 11. Priscilla RIBAS, 17. Eliza MEALIN, 9. Marcela MARQUES, 11. Katherine FOSTER.
Substitutes: Claire IMRAY, 13. Gretel TEMPLETON, 12. Lauren HUGHES, 14. Maddison WHEATLEY-HARRIS, 30. Ella BROGAN
Bundoora United: 1. Bethany MASON-JONES (GK), 12. Daniella GALLUCCIO, 10. Gulcan KOCA, 9. Tyla-Jay VLAJNIC, 13. Claudia FRUSCALZO, 23. Jessica PITTS, 16. Louisa BISBY, 14. Rachel ALONSO, 7. Enza BARILLA, 3. Lisa DE VANNA, 8. Elly CURO
Substitutes: 18: Hailee MESITI, Claudia DIMASI, Stacey PAPDOPOULOS, 22. Dearna FRUSCALZO, 4. Guilia SEPE