By Joe Rosedon 3/5/24
Calder United 0-3 Bulleen Lions
Bulleen Lions complete comfortable 3-0 victory over the struggling Calder United. A double from Maja Markovski and an own goal from Maia Haysen kept up Bulleen’s excellent form.
From the opening stages, Bulleen controlled the ball, but it was the home side who threatened first. Akeisha Sandhu found space on the left-hand side and delivered a teasing ball into the box but was inches away from finding Olivia Anderson at the back post.
Yet Bulleen’s dominance paid off shortly after and yet again it was Markovski who made the difference with a moment of individual brilliance. The forward picked up the ball, dribbled past two and launched an audacious effort that flew past Shanel Camilleri and into the top corner to give the visiting side the lead.
Markoski was involved again, this time laying the ball off for teammate Alana Burn on the edge of the box, but her effort was parried away by Camilleri and the Calder defence were able to clear. She almost got her second of the game, AlanaCortellino finding Markoski in the six-yard box, but Camilleri bravely closed her down to prevent Bulleen doubling their lead.
The beginning of the second half followed a similar pattern to the first, with Bulleen in comfortable control of position but Calder having the first chance. This time it was Judy Connolly, who won the ball back high up the pitch, but her effort was comfortable for Bulleen goalkeeper Erin Hudson.
Rosie Rodger found space in the Calder box for Bulleen but could not adjust her feet in time to get her shot away and the ball was subsequently smothered by Camilleri. The away side were edging closer to the all-important second goal.
After this chance, they would not have to wait long. Markovski found Nia Mohd Salleh who played the ball across the penalty area for Heysen to inadvertently turn the ball in her own net to create a two-goal cushion for the league leaders.
It was fitting that Markovski, who opened the scoring, was the one to conclude the scoring. Rodger touched the ball onto Markovski who drove into the box past Calder defenders and fired across Camilleri to seal the victory for Bulleen.
This was Bulleen’s tenth consecutive win. After Preston Lions 3-2 defeat to Heidelberg United FC, Bulleen now have an eight-point lead at the top of the NPLW table.
Their next game is away to Essendon Royals.
Caulder’s poor form continues, this their eight defeat of the season so far. Their next game is at home to FV Emerging.
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