In a game of return’s at Kingston Heath, a 3-1 win to Sandringham SC over Box Hill United saw plenty of familiar names return to the park.
For Sandy, Emma Runnalls made her first league appearance in over a month after dislocating her toe, while key midfielder Hannah Stuart was a familiar name on the bench after a year long injury struggle.
Box Hill United gifted the talented Emily Hulbert a return to the WPL with an appearance off the bench, while Elaina Vatcky made her first appearance at her old stomping ground, also as a substitute.
The hosts however were out to spoil the party as they fought back from a goal deficit – courtesy of Melanie Camilleri – to claim the points via a Nicola Westwood equaliser and Steph Tanti brace.
The first half offered its fair share of entertainment at both ends, as a makeshift Sandringham defence was tested to the maximum against a multi-dimensional Box Hill attack.
The pace and trickery that Cristina Cardaci offered was matched in spades by the physicality that Camilleri provided.
The striker stood strong to draw an early foul on the edge of the Sandringham box, and star midfielder Georgia Koutrouvelis rattled the crossbar with her powerful set-piece.
The went one closer in the 10th minute as Letizia Sammut was rewarded for a dogged chase which saw her win the ball in midfield, before embarking on a short yet effective burst forward.
With two touches, she made distance between her and the Sandringham marker, before sending in a deftly played through ball for Camilleri to slide home past young Ingrid Phillipe in goals.
Steph Tanti was a creative force for Sandringham in the first half and she launched a great ball over the top for Westwood, who was adjudged offside.
Cardaci continued to wreak havoc on the right wing, beating her opponent Emily Morris-Krause twice in the space of two minutes.
She first created room for a tame shot before freeing her feet for a picturesque cross, which just missed a waiting Annie Remman in the box.
A comedy of errors from a Box Hill defender – first an air swing, then a slip – allowed Tanti room on the right to swing in a cross for Westwood, who couldn’t steer a final touch towards goal.
The half-chances continued to come for Sandringham and Emily Southwell – deputising for the Canada bound Melinda Barbieri – was up to the challenge, and she bravely came bursting out to beat Annabelle Gibney to a loose ball.
But she was well beaten with the final action of the first half, as Annabelle Gibney squared the ball up for Westwood to tap into an empty net.
The second half began just as Sandringham had left it, as Tanti secured the lead within two minutes of the restart.
A quickly taken free-kick cannoned into the left post from 25-yards to give Sandy a 2-1 lead.
She was gifted the opportunity to double the lead from the spot after a controversial penalty kick was paid the hosts way.
What looked to be a coming together between a Box Hill defender, keeper and Sandringham forward ended in an injury to the United player and a spot-kick awarded. Tanti made no mistake, firing low into the bottom right corner.
The introduction of the aforementioned Vatcky and Hulbert sparked some attacking flair into a Box Hill outfit desperate for a pathway back into the game.
Vatcky had some good moments on the left wing, including teeing up Camilleri for a volley that she put wide, but was unable to add a crucial second goal.
Sammut looked to get her name on the scoresheet late on, but she was unable to beat Phillipe with a far post curler in the final minute of regulation time.
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Sandringham SC 3 (Westwood 45+1’, Tanti 47’ 65 [p]’) defeated Box Hill United 1 (Camilleri 10’) at Kingston Heath [HT: 1-1]
Sandringham SC: 1. Ingrid PHILLIPE (GK), 23. Emily MORRIS-KRAUSE, 6. Stephanie PARTON, 4. Emma ROBERS, 7. Kristie SHEARING, 18. Sienna FOGARTY, 19. Annabelle GIBNEY, 8. Nicola WESTWOOD, 12. Eliza GLEADELL (9. Emma RUNNALLS 71’), 10. Steph TANTI, 2. Lauren DIDUSZKO
Unused Substitute(s): 21. Nikki COOK, 20. Hannah STUART, 19. Irena TASEKI, 27. Simone KENNY
Yellow Card(s): Diduszko 77’
Red Card(s): Nil
Box Hill United: 1. Emily SOUTHWELL, 4. Madelaine RICHARDSON, 2. Renee ZAIRIS, 3. Penny BAKOPOULOS, 12. Angie RASSIAS (15. Elaina VATCKY 56’), 14. Georgia KOUTROUVELIS, 21. Cristina CARDACI, 9. Letizia SAMMUT, 18. Melanie CAMILLERI (23. Alex AMORE 90’), 5. Sarah WALSH (11. Selena KARLSON 69’), 18. Annie REMMAN (7. Emily HULBERT 56’)
Unused Substitute(s): 10. Elise KYRGIOS
Yellow Card(s): Koutrouvelis 44’
Red Card(s): Nil