South Melbourne coach Bill Mihaloudis praised his team’s style and effectiveness after another big win over Ashburton on Sunday.
While the conditions on the day were far from ideal for football. Strong winds favoured teams attacking the southern end of the ground, while the rain soaked Ashburton Park surface did little to help the two sides.
“I’m proud of the way they played and the way they used this ground to their advantage, both halves. To be able to put two away at half time and another two in the second half – with the breeze in the first half and against the breeze in the second half I thought it was quite good,” he said.
The football on display at times from the league leaders was great to watch, and the manner which the visitors scored their last two goal particularly pleased the South faithful.
“It’s always good when you’re playing good football and you play the ball down the flanks, crossing it in and finishing. A couple of those goals were quite nice to watch. Playing it out from the back and bringing it all the way up and finishing that way it was really good. So the girls have really understood what we needed to do and they’re doing it to their advantage as well,” he said proudly.
One thing that made this win so impressive was how their defence remained resolute, despite the absences of regular centre back Alex Cheal and co-captain Lauren Farrugia.
“The talent pool is quite nice and it’s good to see some young girls, I mean Lisa Fonua for example she’s 14 years old, so you know it’s good to see her pressing for a spot and doing well the way she’s done.”
“There’s a couple of them who have done exceptionally well. It’s nice when they blend in with the other group and they’re doing it quite well,” he said.
Goalkeeper Cassie Dimovski shone in particular, as she did her best on the day to keep yet another clean sheet this season.
“Cassie’s had an awesome year – first half of the season [was] almost faultless. I mean you’re never going to come across a goalkeeper that [records] 8 clean sheets in a row so she’s done exceptionally well in that respect in the first half [of the season] and this game today, she was just brilliant again,” he said.
Still unbeaten up to this point of the season, the South Melbourne juggernaut is showing no signs of stopping anytime soon.