WPL Team of the Week: Round 14
It seemed everybody liked the performances of the shot-stoppers this week, with no less than four keepers standing out for their great performances in goals. Christina Fonua, Frances Land, Jaye Todd and Melissa Maizels were all superb for their respective sides. Unfortunately only two could make the grade this week for the WPL Team of the Week Round 14.
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GK: Christina Fonua (Heidelberg United)
The keeper has been offered a starting berth during the prolonged absence of Kelsey Quinn through injury and was simply sublime in keeping Heidelberg in the contest against ladder leaders Boroondara Eagles. She made a number of astounding saves, including a double stop to deny Sarah Jacobs and Amy Jackson in quick succession.
RB: Holly Richardson (Ashburton United)
Unassumingly did her job against Bundoora United, ensuring striker Elly Curo had a quiet day at the office. She did her man marking role to perfection, using a combination of game awareness and physicality to win the contest between the pair. A good day at the office at centre back who squeezes in at right-back for our Team of the Week.
CB: Carol Howes (South Melbourne)
Arguably covered double the amount of ground on the next best option at Lakeside, such was her immense work rate up and down the ground in both a defensive midfield and centre back role. Made countless interceptions and her pace and strength ensured the Sandy players had very little time on the ball. Her distribution through the guts was first class.
CB: Maddie Stockdale (Bulleen Lions)
Despite being a part of a defence that copped two goals – one from a direct free-kick mind you – she was a bright spark in the back half, and helped set up two goals in the second half. Caitlin Friend was another big performer for Bulleen on the night, as she has been all season.
LB: Liv Ellis (Boroondara Eagles)
The young left-back continues to impress for the Eagles since making the move mid-season. Shaun Ontong has offered the young starlet plenty of freedom to express herself on the flank and continued to offer plenty of movement and link up play with her teammates, while doing her defensive duties with little problem.
CM: Jamie Pollock (South Melbourne)
It may have only been her second game in South Melbourne colours, but Pollock’s performance levels would’ve offered plenty of optimism to Socrates Nicolaidis and co. Played in a deeper midfield role, she was in charge of keeping the team ticking over and offered some consistency around the ever fluent line-up of South. Scored a ripper goal in the first half to extend a 2-0 lead over Sandringham.
CM: Ash Callaghan (Borondara Eagles)
A busy bee in midfield for the Eagles, Callaghan seemed to fly around everywhere across the pitch, winning the ball with tackles and breaking up the play one second, and laying off an assist and scoring a goal at the other end. That strike was an absolute cracker as well.
AM: Cindy Lay (Bulleen Lions)
A bona fide star of the WPL, Cindy Lay once again turned it up with a scintillating performance, which culminated in three goals to go along with a combative showing in midfield. She simply ran the show, and earns back-to-back Team of the Week nods for yet another great game.
RW: Anisa Guajardo (Heidelberg United)
Fresh off a dream trip to Canada to take part in Mexico’s Women’s World Cup campaign, Anisa Guajardo starred for Heidelberg with a goal and an assist to show what she’s truly capable of in this league. She was quick, mobile and ever dangerous leading the lines but we have to squeeze her onto the wing purely for the purpose of team balance.
ST: Laura Spiranovic (Ashburton United)
The hold up play of the former Melbourne Victory striker was first class in Ashburton’s brave win against Bundoora United. The power forward may have been missing the class of Georgia Cloepfil on her right, but was able to do a lot more of the interplay work in her absence. She scored the vital opener with a header.
LW: Irena Malliaras (Caulfield United Cobras)
The youngster was simply sublime down the left for Caulfield in their massive 4-0 win over South Yarra. She bossed her wing and created a plethora of chances for her teammates. She grabbed the assist for Amy Kane’s opener as well as laying off the key pass for Anita Les’ goal. She then got on the scoresheet herself in more fortuitous fashion with a looping shot that found its way into the net.
BENCH:
Jaye Todd (Caulfield United Cobras)
Jaye Todd showcased her ability in her first game in nearly two months in a great performance for Caulfield in which she made two simply sublime saves in the first half. She was commanding and in control of her defence, and came away from the contest with a deserved clean sheet.
Alex Cheal (South Melbourne)
It was a tough call to decide on whether Cheal or Howes deserved a Team of the Week spot. In the end, we decided on both after the South Melbourne defenders fine game at the heart of defence. She read the game to perfection, and seemed to telegraph the path of the ball at times to help quell danger.
Enza Barilla (Bundoora United)
A rare bright spark in a poor result for Bundy, the skipper can hold her head up high after a spirited performance. She kept her cool, even when those around her struggled to do the same, and played at the consistent levels that Bundoora have expected of her all season.
Dani Gudelj (Bulleen Lions)
It’s been a meteoric resurgence from Bulleen over the last month or so, and one of their star performers in this period has been winger Dani Gudelj. Another strong performance saw her grab a hat-trick and an assist, all in the second half, providing a creative and threatening spark on the right of attack.