By Kieran Yap 21/7/26
Above: Alamein FC players celebrate Shindara’s wonder goal against South Melbourne Photo: Benjamin Field.
Avondale FC continue to climb, Boroondara and Victory play out a goal fest and the ladder is no closer to taking shape as the NPLW Victoria approaches the final month of the home and away season.
Friday night saw Box Hill United secure an important 1-0 win against an impressive Spring Hills FC at Springside Recreational Reserve.
Carina Rossi scored the only goal of the game in the 13th minute. Kiara Bercelli cut inside and curled a ball behind the Spring Hills defence for the late arriving forward to sneak in and finish well.
Rossi had been deployed in a slightly withdrawn role for Box Hill, out on the right flank but dropping deeper at time to supply for Laura Pickett’s overlapping runs from fullback. Erin Keyt led the line as the central attacker, and even without Rhianna Pollicina, the visitors looked dangerous and created chances with ease.
Finishing was more of a challenge. Spring Hills goalkeeper Ayana Aoyagi’s strong form continued, and her positioning kept Box Hill from adding to the score. Natasha Dakic was another standout for the home side, especially in the absence of Aubrie Labno. Spring Hills were hard for the league leaders to break down, but unfortunately for them the Sofia Palywoda led backline of the visitors was equally stingy.
Box Hill may have wanted to score more, but the three points were secured and they maintain their grip on top spot for now.
There are no easy games right now as every club fight for ladder position. On paper, of the chasing pack Essendon Royals had the most forgiving task in Melbourne City. But the A-League youth side made them earn their 3-1 win away.
Isabella Sewards opened the scoring in the 17th minute with her sixth goal of the season from midfield. Kelli McGroarty’s held up the ball and turned to slide a pass through the City backline. Sewards finished truly with one touch beyond Dali Gorr Burchmore.
The lead only lasted nine minutes. City struck back through Chelsea Biggs. The Young Matilda arrived later than everybody else, but right on time to smash home a cross from the left at the back post.
From there, Essendon took more control of the game, but City held their own, making possession difficult and pressing diligently across the pitch.
Despite possession being shared fairly evenly, Essendon did get more shots on goal. and drew eight saves from Gorr Bucrhmore, but with their firepower in form, more goals felt investable.
It was no surprise when McGroarty added her 26th of the campaign. Ava Grobe flicked a ball into the path of McGroarty’s well timed run and she stretched to beat Borr Burchmore to the bouncing ball and nudge it into the net.
Grace Maher made certain of the win with a classy finish from the edge of the box in the 79th minute. Following her phenomenal performance in the mid-week Nike FC Cup match, this was another strong outing from Maher who sealed the points with City still a chance to equalise.
FC Bulleen Lions dropped to third on the ladder after a 1-1 draw with Heidelberg United. The two sides met following very different weeks in the buildup. The Bergers won their Nike FC Cup semi final against South Melbourne, while Bulleen were defeated by Essendon Royals. It was a costly loss with Bulleen losing the in-form forward Danella Butrus to injury in the second half and she along with skipper Sarah Cain were both missing for this encounter.
The Lions still started strongly against Heidelberg. Olivia Bomford and Alana Cortellino threatened early, but it was Claudia Mihocic who delivered the first goal. the centre back rose highest to meet Niah Salleh’s corner in the 40th minute.
Bulleen could not build on that lead thanks to Heidelberg’s stubborn defence, and were madde to pay in the second half. Rosie Wild’s shot bounced off the post, and then somehow into the back of Alyssa Dall Oste’s foot before crossing the line. It was recorded as an own goal to the Bulleen goalkeeper, but it was very much Wild’s goal.
Bulleen pushed on, and nearly won the game through Ava Breidis, but had to settle for a point at home.
Bulleen’s opponents for next week also drew their game 1-1. South Melbourne spent the afternoon peppering the Alamein goal and generally controlling play, but faced an in-form Miranda Templeman in the home side’s goal.
It took until the 76th minute for the first goal to arrive. Emily Collier beat Templeman with one of the goals of the season, curling her effort in after cutting in from the left and shooting on her right.
Alamein hit back quickly though and were level barely 10 minutes later. Chinatsu Shidara’s perfectly lofted finish was every bit as good as Colliers, but with placement instead of power.
A draw is a good result from any visit to Dorothy Laver Reserve, but South needed the win to stay in the top four ahead of next round’s six pointer against Bulleen.
In yet another tight contest, Keilor Park and Bentleigh Greens played out a tough 1-1 draw. Kiera Meyers gave the visitors a lead almost immediately after kickoff. The recruit from Brisbane Roar unleashed a shot out of nothing from nearly 30 yards in the second minute of play.
There were four yellow cards handed out in a sometimes combative first half, but few easy chances on goal. Keilor are difficult to beat at home, especially since the arrival of mid-season reinforcements and an equaliser always felt likely, even if it came from an unlikely effort.
Margot Robbine took the free kick out on the wing, and from a position most would cross from, she went the direct route and fired her effort into the net to level the scores in the 88th minute.
Georgia Henderson had a chance late to win it for the home side, but this ended in another draw in a round where there was no room for error.
A Hannah Wilkinson brace gave Avondale their fifth consecutive win in the league as the rising power defeated Preston Lions 3-0. Asuka Miyata and Aideen Keane looked dangerous early for the home side, but the breakthrough did not arrive until after the hour mark.
The Australian U23 international leapt at the far post to meet Beattie Goad’s inch perfect cross. Avondale had been patient in the buildup. They moved the ball through midfield, looking for the forward pass but waiting for space. Taylor ray and Isabella Accardo combined to release Goad and the score was 1-0 in the 66th minute.
That brought Preston out a little, and gave Wilkinson more space in attack. The World Cup striker took full advantage. A short corner, another Goad cross and Wilkinson’s header made it 2-0 for Avondale.
A third Goad assist created Wilkinsons second. Her overlapping run for Cameron Barriero put her in plenty of space, and her delivery made for an easy finish for a player of Wilkinson’s quality.
The win pushes Avondale two points clear of South Melbourne on the tablet and they look likea serious threat for the premiership in current form.
Sundays only game was the highest scoring of the round. Boroondara Eagles defeated Melbourne Victory 4-2 at The Veneto Club in an entertaining match.
The first goal arrived early. Jasmine Millar met Jade Tam’s corner at the far post with Kanko Higuchi being credited with the last touch and unfortunately an own goal.
Boroondara responded quickly. Sarah Brunner struck twice to put the home side ahead by the 25th minute. A series of errors and mishit clearances presented the chance for Brunner to finish with ease for the equaliser, then raced in on goal, getting as close as possible to toe poke home her second.
A typically excellent Ella O’Grady finish levelled the scores on the 29th minute, but Boroondara took control in the second half.
Shantayah Hurford’s well struck opportunist strike gave Boroondara a deserved lead right after the restart.
Boroondara sealed the win in the 71st minute. Emma Vane’s clever turn and textbook hold up play created space for the cross and Priya Savarirayan was on the spot to convert the chance on the goal line.
In Appreciation of Claudia Mihocic
In the absence of Sarah Cain, Bulleen centre back Claudia Mihocic donned the armband for the game against Heidelberg United. In a tense, but relentless game in which both sides were going for the win, she was a calm, determined and creative presence in one of the best individual performances of the season.
Mihocic is a dependable and classy central defender, but is also Bulleen’s first attacking player. Her passing out of deep in the backline creates space and breaks attacking presses. Against Bulleen she routinely found targets through the middle of the pitch while being under significant pressure herself.
The former FV Emerging captain is a veteran of this league despite being still 23 and is one of the most watchable defenders in the NPLW. With the ball at her feet she is elegant, when it is in dispute, she is often a step ahead in her position and when there is a chance of conceding, she can demonstrate a disregard for personal safety to prevent a goal.
While compiling footage of Mihocic’s Round 21 game, it was noticeable how simple she makes things look, a slight feint, or change of direction wins possession. Her decision making from the deepest position on the pitch was faultless and her ability to find teammates with long raking passes did a lot to minimize the impact of Cain’s absence in midfield.
Mihocic has long been a favourite player of Impetus Football since her time at Perth Glory and she showed why on the weekend. She was the difference between a draw and a loss on the weekend with a desperate lunging block late in the game and was the architect of many of Bulleen’s best attacking moves, and scored their only goal herself in the first half.
She simply did everything against Heidelberg and did it with style. It was the outstanding individual display of the round.
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