FV Emerging as early league favourite
By Kieran Petrik-Bruce
Above: Alamein vs South Melbourne. Photo: Centre Circle Photography
Game week 3 of the NPLW, Easter round saw some dramatic finishes, some great comebacks and plenty of top quality strikes.
Box Hill suffered their 3rd straight defeat to start the season, going down 1-0 to Preston Lions. A good ball through saw the Pythagorean keeper Natasha Statopoulous come off her line and taking our Lions Miri Nishamura in the 81st minute. Nishimura calmly rolled the spot kick into the bottom right corner to give Preston a 2-0 start to the season.
FV Emerging seem to be on the wrong end of some absolute worldies, with Olivia Bomford for Bentleigh Greens hitting a volley from outside the box with pace and precision right into the top corner in the 32nd minute. However, goals in the 29thfrom Eva Kokotis and another goal for Carina Rossi in the 54thsealed a 2-1 win for FV who continue their unbeaten start.
Calder United converted two spot kicks, first from Akeisha Sandhu in the 24th minute and then in the 60th minute, with Mami Ambo stepping up to convert. Nicole Cooper for Brunswick was on the end of a wonderful ball from Emilie Keppens to tap in a goal in the 8th minute. Looking for a late, late, late equaliser in the dying minutes, Juventus send long ball after loing ball until finally, Keppens brought one down, but keeper Shanel Camilleri was out quick to make the block. As the ball was cleared to just outside the box and the keeper well out of her girl, Emma Perrone went for a long range shot, looping it into the corner of the net and sealing a dramatic 2-2score to keep their unbeaten start alive.
South Melbourne hosted Alamein, and it was the visitors with the early lead against the run of play. Rebecca Saber scoring in the 22nd minute. South Melbourne down 1-nil at the break came out in the second half with more intent, and a goal from Dragana Kljajic in the 49th levelled the game. Tayla Christensen converting from the spot in the 81st and it looked like Alamein, for all their effort would leave with nothing. Some lovely play from Sidney Allen saw Ashleigh Lefevre with the ball in the box, latching onto it and scoring in the 88thminute to end the game 2-2.
Boroondara-Carey faced FFC Bulleen Lions, the top 2 teams from last season. In a high scoring game, FC Bulleen took the points, with a brace from Maja Markovski (3’76’), an Alana Cortellino (67’) header and an own goal from Eagles defender Cassie Carmen. Anais Josefski (17’ 63’) shone for the Eagles, with a brace of her own, a goal in both halves. The final score 2-4.
Easter Monday game pitted Heidelberg United up against Essendon Royals have been playing some fantastic football in their top tier debut. A brace for Audrey Oastler with goals in the 18th and 54th minutes, plus a Reona Omiya goal in the 53’ was enough to seal a second win for thr Royals, despite a late goal from Keely Lockhart in the 78th. The final score 1-3.
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