By Kieran Yap 18/8/26
Above: Kiera Meyers (right) is congratulated for her goal. Photo: Passion Creations
The premiership race is wide open in Victoria’s top tier, but the top two remains unchanged after Round 24 of the NPLW Victoria.
There was a flurry of action on Friday night when Box Hill United hosted Avondale FC in a 1-1 draw at Wembley Park. The visitors were without Taylor Ray and Aideen Keane. The Melbourne City winger was away with A-League All Stars duty and her ability in the final third was missed against the league leaders.
Box Hill welcomes back Sofia Sakalis to the starting lineup for the first time since last year’s Grand Final, but were without Carina Rossi and Erin Keyt for the must-win match.
Sakalis was instrumental for the opening goal, creating the first real chance of the game for Juri Kawano to slot home in the 17th minute. Beattie Goad tried to respond for the visitors but did not trouble Keeley Segavcic.
Things looked set for another Box Hill win in a game of few opportunities, but Sloane Young danced into the box to force an equaliser through an own goal in the 81st minute.
Sakalis and Kawano both tried to win the game with strikes from distance, but the score remain deadlocked in what might be a costly draw for both sides.
Heidelberg United’s good week continued. After winning their midweek match against Keilor park 2-0, with goals from Olivia Wood and Iren Razumic, they backed that up with a 2-1 defeat of Melbourne City.
The youngsters had a larger share of the possession, and nearly opened the scoring through Eva Chopin, but Mia Bailey got behind the effort. They opened the scoring in the 31st minute when Chelsea Biggs showed impressive acceleration to skip clear and slot the ball into the net from a tight angle.
Heidelberg went on the attack in the second half. Maia Heysen almost scored from close range and the shots kept coming through Heyley Geurts and Haley Phillips.
Rosie Wild perhaps came closest, but her effort was stopped by a well positioned Dali Gorr Burchmore.
Heidelberg eventualyl turned the game around in the space of what seemed like a few minutes. Sarah Assumma’s terrific solo effort drew the sides level in the 74th minute. The striker collected a cross from deep by Samantha Curwood-Wanger. Her first touch took her beyond the immediate challenge, then she skipped past another before finishing from inside the six yard box.
Abigail Winstanley provided the winning goal just five minutes later. Assumma was heavily involved once again. Her driving run and eventual cross fell for Winstanley to hook the ball into the net despite close attention from a defender.
It was a tough loss for City, who acquitted themselves well against seasoned opposition, but in the end Heidelberg’s experience, coupled with recent form and Assumma’s class awarded the points to the home side.
Sienna Techera’s fifth minute strike got Melbourne Victory off to the perfect start in their visit to Bentleigh Greens. The winger turned the ball home after a Victory corner was only partially cleared in one of the first attacks of the match.
Mia Otero tried to replicate last round’s effort against Essendon, but although her long range effort was on target, it did not trouble Shaylee Lane in goal.
It was an attacking game, with Victory creating slightly more chances. Jasmine Millar and Anika Doveaston both tried to double the lead, but despite their best efforts, Victory could not maintain the advantage.
Kiera Meyers’ fine form continued when she scored her third of the league this season and a candidate for goal of the year.
Her clever dummy along the wing sent her free of the first defender. A change of pace and some quick footwork took her past Aeryn Tarrant and she held off the challenge from Emmy Traynor to finish from close range.
It was a run from near halfway, that combined explosive athleticism, clear headed composure and excellent finishing.
Otero scored her second is as many games when she nodded home Savannah Oxley’s corner in the 71st minute. Karina Tolios scored the sealer in the 78th to from Kate Dunn’s curling free kick to give Bentleigh a 3-1 result, and their third win of the season.
Essendon Royals continued to chase the premiership with an emphatic 5-1 win against Preston Lions.
Preston playmaker Hollie Massey gave the home side the lead in the 12th minute. Fiorina Iaria’’s run down the right created momentary chaos in the Essendon defence and Massey reacted quickest to slam the ball home from close range.
From that moment on though, it was all Essendon. The Royals don’t just create chances, they create chances close to goal so scoring feels inevitable. 12 of their shots came from inside the penalty area for the duration of the game and it was Bronte Peel’s 44th minute effort that brought the scores level.
Grace Maher’s long pass was flicked on by Maggie Jenkins and Peel made no mistake from close range. Ayano Koizumi’s long range rocket soon after half time gave Essendon a well-deserved lead in the 53rd minute.
Jenkins made it 3-1 in the 62nd minute. Kelli McGroarty provided a touch of class to control another long pass from Maher and although Olivia Edwards looked to have gotten a tackle in, Jenkin’s raced onto the ball and tucked it home.
It doesn’t feel like a Royals game unless McGroarty scores these days, and the Golden Boot leader added two more to her tally to end the contest in Essendon’s favour.
First came a well placed finish from the edge of the box after Jenkin’s powerful run through midfield, then she ended the evening on a high note with a header to finish Cobi Wilbert’s inch-perfect cross.
The win means that Essendon are only one point behind Box Hill United with a significantly stronger goal difference. Their next two matches come against Heidelberg United and South Melbourne as they chase their second trophy of the season.
In another important result for the top six. Alamein FC won their game away to Spring Hills FC 3-0.
Alamein began the game on the front foot and were rewarded when Emma Runnalls scored in just the second minute. Despite the numbers that Spring Hills had in defence, Runnalls leapt highest to head beyond Ayan Aoyagi in goal before anybody had time to settle into proceedings.
Jessica Shilton doubled the lead in the 44th minute. She jumped at the ball from a curling corner kick to make it 2-0 and cement the visitors control over the game.
Chances were rare and Spring Hills struggled to create much on the ball. Olivia Anderson’s long range effort in the shadows of half time did not trouble Miranda Templeman, and was the home side’s only shot on target for the game.
Alamein made sure that the scoreline reflected their performance in the 63rd minute. Priya Archdeacon’s long run into attack created the opening, and Chelsea Blissett’s quick feet earned a penalty. Neve Duston made no mistake from the spot.
The win keeps Alamein in the hunt for finals. They sit level on 39 points with South Melbourne, but face two potentially tricky final games of the campaign with a visit to Melbourne Victory before welcoming potential premiers Bulleen Lions to Dorothy Laver Reserve in Round 26.
An own goal to Francesco Iermano gave Keilor Park a 1-0 win away to South Melbourne on Saturday afternoon. The less said to describe it the better. From repeat viewings it remains unclear how the error occurred, but Iermano’s attempted back pass somehow wrongfooted Geo Candy to crawl over the line for the games only goal.
South Melbourne responded the way they would have wanted. They piled on the shots and dominated possession, but could not find a way past Maggie Byrne having the game of her life. The Keilor Park goalkeeper made seven saves in a match defining performance to deny Alexis Pantazoploulos, Bella Wallhead and Clancy Westaway from scoring.
Iermano tried making amends herself, but could not beat Byrne with a long range effort deep into the second half and it became apparent it was not South Melbourne’s day.
Keilor did not just sit back for the game either. Ellie La Monte was a menacing presence for the visitors, but despite her repeated attempts on goal and general creativity on the ball, the own goal was the only score of the afternoon.
Sundays only match saw Bulleen Lions secure an essential three points away to Boroondara Eagles. Claudia Mihocic was the game’s only scorer in the 1-0 win. The in-form centre back slammed the ball into the net following a first half corner for the visitors.
It was a must win game for Bulleen who remain in the hunt for the premiership, just five points off top spot with two games remaining. Bulleen’s defence of the slender lead was made all the more impressive by them having the play the final half hour without Mihocic. The crucial defender was withdrawn following a collision while defending a corner.
Bulleen will heavily rely on favours from other teams to finish top, but they have given themselves a chance and will almost certainly finish in the top four.
In Appreciation of Kieran Meyers and Maggie Byrne
The two youngsters could not be split this weekend. Both were instrumental for their respective sides. Byrne was a giant in goal for Keilor Park in the win at Lakeside, while Meyers continued her fine form for Bentleigh Greens.
Keilor defended diligently as a team and were seemingly pinned back for most of Saturday’s game against South Melbourne, but the 19 year old goalkeeper was outstanding in denying the home side a point. Her fingertip save in the 72nd minute was the clear highlight, but her positioning and bravery were huge factors in the score remaining at 1-0.
Byrne made several good stops in a crowded and at times chaotic penalty box. Her near post save to deny Pantazopoulos after a corner kick, looked scrappy in the moment, but there was never any way that shot was getting past her.
Midway through the second half, she was massive again. This time, Byrne got low and perfectly behind the ball to save from Bella Wallhead’s powerful header.
Byrne was not the only reason that Keilor won the game, but she was the difference between the two sides.
While Byrne was keeping goals out, Kiera Meyers scored her third of an impressive campaign. The former Melbourne City and current Brisbane Roar winger now has three goals and three assists for the 2026 season and has done so in style.
Bentleigh have been a massively improved force since the transfer window. Meyers has been a huge factor in that. She has quick feet, powerful acceleration and brilliant technique. Her pace provides her with time on the ball and her vision means that she can use it to damage the opposition.
Her goal against Victory was a work of art. It was part athleticism and part imagination. Meyers showed the awareness to beat the first defender without even touching the ball, and the pace to outrun the next. Her quick switch of feet in the final moments of her run were perhaps the best part of the goal.
As the target opened up, the most obvious shot would have been on her left foot. She has scored from 25 yards on that side of her body this season, even though she looks margianally more comfortable on her right.
Instead, she went for the near post, with her right foot. The angle was far tougher, but it was unexpected, and that close to goal, she had to make a decision. That she was able to do that at full pace and make it all look so flawlessly simple is.
Meyers is a highly watchable talent, and it feels like she is on the verge of a breakout 12 months in Australia football.
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