By Kieran Yap 15/7/25
Above: Maja Markovski celebrates with teammates after the opening goal
Brunswick Juventus took the points off South Melbourne, Essendon Royals scored five against Bulleen and Heidelberg United extended their lead at the top on an emotional day at Olympic Park. Over at Spring Hills FC, Maja Markovski’s strong return to the league continued with a brace against Bentleigh Greens.
Spring Hills began their home match against Bentleigh on the front foot. Their forwards pressed hard and high up the pitch, while fullback Montana Matthews looked to get forward at every opportunity.
Some promising link up play through the centre of the pitch resulted in Markovski’s strike from range forcing Natalie Picak into a diving, low save.
That resulted in the first corner of the match, which Matthews delivered to perfection. Markovski was positioned on the edge of the six-yard box and backpedalled slightly to angle the header into the net and open the scoring.
The Canberra United striker has always had quick feet and a thunderous shot. She has added work rate and sometimes frightening pace to her game in the last season, and if she has added a consistent arial threat to her game, the league’s defenders best chance is to hope she is having an off night.
Bentleigh Greens looked to respond quickly. Sidney Allen’s solo run opened up the Spring Hills defence. Her pass released Olivia Ingham who lofted the ball over Jenna Ibrahim to level the scores.
If the threat of Markovski and Julia Budiongo was not enough for Bentleigh to deal with, Aleks Sinclair took charge early in the second half to restore the lead. She won possession high up the pitch and was fouled as she cut into the penalty box. Markovski confidently scored from the spot and celebrated in what looked to be a pre-planned routine with some fans behind the goal.
Sinclair’s trickery continued to torment the Green’s defenders. Her weaving run and rapid acceleration drew another foul on the edge of the box, but in a lucky escape for Bentleigh, the shot did not trouble Picak.
Eri Narita almost added as third for Spring Hills after Markovski’s long pass set her clear in on goal. She had only Picak to beat, but the Bentleigh goalkeeper was quick off her line, closed the angle and the shot skimmed wide of the far post.
Montanna Matthews eventually delivered an important third goal for the home side. Her set piece delivery had been dangerous all night and in the 61st minute a free kick from the wing sailed into the net. It looked to be aimed at Markovski once again, but there was no denying the celebrations and Matthews had more than earned a goal for her performance on the night.
Sidney Allen ensured a tense finish with a goal from the edge of the box in the 89th minute. with the score at 3-2, Bentleigh seemed to sense an upset and surged forward in added time in hunt of an equaliser. It was not to be, and the Spring Hills defence held strong for the dying moments with Natasha Dakic in particular standing tall when the pressure was on.
The win keeps Spring Hills within touching distance on a finals spot. When their attack if firing, anything is possible with this team. Sinclair’s ability and experience gives them a chance in any game. Next weekend, they face a tricky opponent when they host the in-form FV Academy who missed this round with a postponement.
Bentleigh remain at the bottom of the table, but with a winnable match against Preston Lions in Round 17. That is easier said than done with the Lions eager to bounce back from a 3-0 defeat to Boroondara-Carey Eagles.
Around The Grounds
Candela Ferreyra-Bas delivered a brilliant individual performance to help Boroondara take all three points in convincing fashion on the road against Preston Lions. Goals to herself and Drew Dempsey gave the visiting Eagles a comfortable lead heading into the main break with speedster Priya Savarirayan adding a third on the 77th minute.
Essendon Royals came from 2-0 down against Bulleen Lions to eventually win 5-3 at The Veneto Club. Sarah Cain scored twice in the first 10 minutes for Bulleen with a pair of opportunistic strikes, but Grace Maher scored with a trademark long range effort to pull one back for the visitors before half time.
The Royals took control in the second half. Fijuwara Airi levelled the scores after rounding the goalkeeper before Essendon winger Deven Jackson scored with her third goal in two games after finishing a swift counter attack.
Maher made it 4-2 from the penalty spot and Alana Cerne provided the two goal buffer to give Bulleen a mountain to climb with about 10 minutes remaining.
Nia Salleh provided the home team with a lifeline in the 83rd minute. The winger cut inside from the left and shot powerfully from distance on her right foot to score an almost identical goal to her winner in the Nike FC Cup Quarter Final.
The loss could have been costly for Bulleen, but fortunately for them they remained in second place on the ladder. Essendon’s sudden rise in form has coincided with Maher and her world class left boot. Jackson’s pace gives them an immediate advantage over most defenders. Essendon attacked Bulleen quickly and tried to get their centre-backs isolated, which resulted in two goals.
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the round was Brunswick Juventus defeating South Melbourne FC.
Mary Stanic-Floody opened the scoring in the 27th minute with Natalia O’Leary doubling the lead in the 39th minute. Raquel Derales gave South Melbourne some hope right after the break, but O’Leary’s second in the 88th minute meant that Alexis Pantazopoulos’s late effort was only for goal difference.
The win against a side seven places above them on the ladder was an excellent response to the defeat against FV Academy last round. Stanic-Floody’s opener was typically spectacular. The Young Matilda and Canberra United playmaker will be crucial for Juve’s quest to avoid the drop.
In an emotional day at Olympic Village, Heidelberg United won their game against Alamein FC 4-1. The home side held a memorial for Keely Lockhart before the game and honoured her with a win on the pitch.
Zoe Houghton gave Alamein an early lead, but Tamar Levin levelled the scores in the 13th minute. Sawa Matsuda scores yet again before half time in what is starting to feel like her compulsory weekly goal and Asuka Miyata (excellent throughout) added a third on the hour mark.
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