Calder United, Alamein FC, Heidelberg United and Box Hill United had wins on the weekend in results that had big implications on the NPLW ladder.
Rachel Alonso and Larissa Crummer had big performances in their victories over Southern United and Galaxy United respectively, the Bergers celebrated Belina Pannella’s 200th game in style with a late 2-1 win over Bayside United, while Box Hill sent Bulleen crashing to Earth via a 3-0 scoreline.
Calder United raced out of the blocks early and it was Rachel Alonso who made the early pressure play with a clinical finish from distance, leaving Freya Crocker stranded.
Brittany Dudley-Smith continued to make a big impact through her regular run post-injury for Southern, pouncing on a counter-attack to level the scores not long after.
But it’d be the hosts to net the winner in the second half, and it was usual suspect Alonso whose effort directly from a corner kick swung into the goals to gift Mark Torcaso’s side the three points and a top of the table position.
Alamein trekked to Galaxy United and the travel had no effect on their performance – quite the opposite, really – as the visitors raced to their second foul-goal margin win in as many weeks.
Larissa Crummer was the chief architect, laying off for Melina Ayres to continue her blistering goalscoring form in just the fifth minute.
That set the tone for the rest of the game, as just 10 minutes later Crummer was played through on goal, making no mistake with the finish.
Crummer had another assist in the second half, teeing up Annabelle Gibney for her first of the night, before the latter netted again not long later for her second – and the team’s fourth – in the 4-0 win.
At Olympic Village, Leigh Gray found space in a dangerous area to fire the first warning shot of the day against Bayside.
The opener came later in the half when Julia Nicolaci’s corner was partially cleared and found its way back to her, with her return delivery eventually bundled in by Joey Cartwright on the line.
While for the most part Heidelberg looked comfortable in possession, when a bouncing ball fell at the feet of Jaymee Dudley, her spectacular volley left Melissa Barbieri – back in goals in place of the injured Christine Fonua – stunned.
With Pannella substituted on for her 200th performance, it was Steph Galea who almost took back the lead when her shot cannoned into the woodwork.
But it would be lethal Leigh Gray with the dramatic late winner, latching onto a pinpoint through ball by Nicolaci to squeeze the finish into the back of the net and prompt wild celebrations for the milestone game.
Box Hill put on a spirited performance at home to inflict Bulleen’s worst defeat of the season.
The goals flowed regularly and it was a set piece situation that led to the first when Emily Hulbert thumped in an effort from the edge of the area.
Kristina Hall’s pressure from the front led to the second, where she stripped Bulleen of possession in their own half, drove to the byline and won a penalty which she then converted.
Charlotte McGilp then sealed the win following a corner, squeezing in a finish in congestion.
The result means Bulleen were unable to retake their lead on top of the table, leaving Calder as the leaders after 14 rounds, with Alamein able to leapfrog Galaxy into third with a win on Wednesday against the Senior NTC.
The draw for the Team App Cup semi-finals is also scheduled for around midday on Wednesday.
Image: Frank Khamees/Sportsgraphy