Kieran Yap provides his weekly round-up of all the action from the Victoria NPL Women’s competition. As usual, there is a detailed report on one game and a wrap of all the other games along with photos (11/4/22).
Above: Action from Calder United (white) v Football Victoria Emerging. Photo: Jack Dilks (171819).
MAIN REPORT OF THE WEEK:
Calder United 4-0 Football Victoria Emerging
The game of the week in round two was Calder United’s return to form. Calder are one of the most successful women’s only clubs in Victoria. They are never easybeats but are missing some big names from previous seasons.
Polly Doran, Catherine Zimmerman, Harriet Withers, and Laura Spiranovic are not currently with the squad. Doran made her name with Calder before enhancing it at Victory. She has continued her career in the New South Wales NPL for this season at least.
FV Emerging were one of the most impressive sides last season. As a development squad, it is inevitable that they will lose players each season. Two of last year’s stars, Alana Murphy and Caitlin Karic are currently in the Young Matildas camp.
After a goalless draw in round one, Calder came out of the blocks firing this week. Ava Groba opened the scoring in the sixth minute. FV Emerging had controlled possession in the opening minutes but a Calder counterattack resulted in Groba cutting in past two defenders and finishing in the top corner.
It was another counterattack and another long ball to Groba that doubled Calder’s lead. This time, she slowed down, then quickly changed pace to beat the defender on the outside. Her first goal was on her right foot, this one on the left. They both found the same corner of the net.
Isabella Accardo seemed to have done everything right. She kept Groba on her left foot, and did not lunge in, but the quick acceleration and finish were perfect.
The FV Emerging defender almost made amends straight away. A defence-splitting pass from deep created a chance in front of goal, but it could not be turned in.
Calder continued to pile on the goals in the second half. Adriana Taranto raced in on goal and eventually, the ball fell to Stacy Papadopoulos who was bundled over in the box.
Taranto made no mistake from the second opportunity in a minute and buries the penalty kick to make it 3-0 with half an hour left to play.
In a day full of memorable goals, the fourth might have been the best. Again Papadopoulos was involved. The attacker had been dangerous since coming off the bench and she teased the defender on the wing before laying the ball back to Alanna Cerne.
Cerne took a tough and a few strides forward from deep. She lined up her shot and fired it into the net from 30 yards with enough power to beat Hrehoresin with an early goal of the season contender.
The game ended 4-0 with Calder the much more clinical of the two sides. FV Emerging were attacking and industrious but were caught out by quick attacks by Mark Torcaso’s side.
Sarah Cain was one of Emerging’s best. In a central midfield role, she broke up play and continued to move the ball forward. The young team was only missing some composure in the final third. It was the only thing missing from their performance in an attacking sense. Either the final pass or the finish went astray.
Calder United were not dominant for the entire game but had control of the play even without the ball. Emma Rober’s was composed in midfield and Cori Cain’s long passing was the key to many attacks.
The 4-0 scoreline might seem unfair to FV Emerging, but Calder took their chances and the home side might be disappointed they did not add to the tally.
The confidence that this win provides will come in handy next week when they face the undefeated and untied Bulleen Lions.
Squads: CALDER UNITED: Dall’Oste, Cain, Cerne, Stojevski (Stella 50′), Talevski (Robers 50′), Groba (Papadopoulos 59′), Eike, Dakic. A. Taranto, Mathews, Sardo.
Scorers: Groba 6′, 34′. Taranto 64′. Cerne 81′.
FOOTBALL VICTORIA EMERGING: Hrehoresin, Lohrey, Varley(Beidis 74′), Richards, Sewards, Vlaeminck (Bulic 56′), Curtis, Kilderry, Brown (Liacopoulos 90′), Cain, Accardo, Cortellino.
Referee: Shab Roshan.
Round Two Round-Up:
The second round of the NPLW saw Bulleen Lions continue on their winning ways. Tiffany Eliadis scored first to set them on their way to a 2-0 victory over Box Hill United to put them at the top of the table with Rosie Rodger adding the clincher.
After a big opening round win, Heidelberg United fell 2-1 to Alamein and a Kat Nikpour brace. Danielle Wise scored for Heidelberg.
Across town, Bayside United drew with South Melbourne 2-2. Julia Budiongo put Bayside ahead before the half hour, but Akeisha Sandhu levelled with half-time in sight. It is an unusually slow start to the season by the traditional power club South Melbourne, but Tijan McKenna added another moment to her growing highlight reel with a goal to put them ahead five minutes into the second half. Amanda Stevenson levelled matters just before the hour mark.
Table Round Two:
impetusfootball.org 