By Joe Rosedon 31/7/24
Above: South Melbourne revel in another goal. Photo by Kou Media via South Melbourne FC instagram
Calder United 0 South Melbourne 4
Within the opening seconds, South Melbourne really should have taken the lead. Isabella Sewards’ inch perfect through ball set Francesca Iermano through on goal. Her effort however rolled passed the far post. This was a sign of things to come.
Meshia Westland clattered the ball into the cross bar just two minutes later, a goal was surly coming for the visitors.
Indeed, it did and it was Emily Roach who did the honours. In similar fashion to the early miss, Sewards again played the perfect pass. This time, Roach was able to find the net, steering the ball past an onrushing Natalie Picak
South Melbourne began the second half in a similar vein to the first, having all of the ball and continually threatening the Calder defence. Ierman was denied at close range from a brilliant Picak reaction save.
The inevitable second goal soon followed. Roach, who this time was the provider, turned just before the half way line and drilled the ball into the path of Tayla Christensen. Christensen looked up and after notching Picak was off her line, attempted an audacious lofted effort which flew over the head of the Calder goalkeeper and into the net
Christensen was close to getting her second and Melbourne’s third, cutting into the box from the left-hand side and forcing Picak to push away for a corner.
South Melbourne rapped up the scoring with two goals in quick succession during the closing stages of the game. Christensen retrieved the ball and was given time and space to pick out Grace Taranto in the box who had the simple job of tucking the ball away in the six-yard box
Christensen was again involved with the creation of the fourth goal and usurpingly it again was a cross from the left-hand side. The ball was intended for Danielle Micallef but after some fortuitous deflections, the ball bounced off of Emma Langley and into the net.
Calder United still remain bottom of the table but remain only a point behind Moreland in 10th and have the same points as Bentleigh in 11th. With games quickly running out, there form needs to improve as soon as possible if they want to avoid relegation. They will hope the turnaround can begin away to Alamein.
South Melbourne still has a chance of finishing in the top four but fourth place Heidelberg have hit form at the right time, denting their chances. They next play Box Hill United at home
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