Women's Premier League: Round 13 Review

After Round 13 of the Victorian Women’s Premier League, the finals’ participants look all but decided, as the top four have pulled away from the rest of the competition.

Box Hill Inter continues to lead the ladder, with Heidelberg, Sandringham and Ashburton close behind. At the other end of the ladder, Preston boosted its chances of avoiding relegation with a valuable victory.

Box Hill Inter maintained its position at the top of the ladder with a comprehensive 6-1 victory over struggling Altona City at Wembley Park on Friday night. Two Louisa Bisby goals in the first half gave the home side a comfortable lead going into the break, but Altona pulled a goal back shortly after the interval through Alexandra Miller which lifted the visitors’ spirits. However, Inter was able to snuff out any hopes Altona had of a revival, scoring a further four unanswered goals in the last half hour of the match. Natalie Exon scored twice, with Georgia Koutrouvelis and Deanna Niceski also on target. The win, Inter’s eighth of the season, propels it to 27 points, three ahead of its nearest challenger. While it may not have expected to get anything out of this game, the severity of the loss was particularly bad news for Altona, as it drops to the foot of the ladder on goal difference. With the relegation battle looking likely to go down to the wire, goal difference may well play a significant role in determining who stays in the WPL.

Preston Lions recorded its second win of the season and lifted itself off the bottom of the ladder with a victory over South Melbourne at BT Connor Reserve on Friday. The result ended South’s unbeaten streak, which stretched back to the beginning of June. The match was tightly fought encounter, with Preston defending in numbers and South unable to find a breakthrough. Goalless at half time, the match was marginally more open in the second half, and Preston found the net fifteen minutes from time through Melissa Rodriguez. Both of Preston’s victories have come against South, and this one could prove vital as it puts Preston level on points with Altona and ahead on goal difference. For South, the defeat ends its slim hopes of making the finals, and keeps it in the relegation battle, as it is only three points ahead of Preston and Altona.

Distance proved no challenge for Ashburton, as it defeated Bendigo Vipers 3-1 at Vibert Reserve in Shepparton. Two first half goals set up the win for Ashburton, and the visiting side maintained its two goal advantage to the ends, with both teams scoring once after the interval. Sarah Lovett, Ellvana Curo and Sarah Walsh all scored for Ashburton, with Catherine Wylie-O’Brien on target for the home side. The win was Ashburton’s second in succession, but it drops to fourth on the ladder with 21 points. Bendigo remains sixth on the ladder, and it is not yet out of the woods in terms of relegation, given it is only four points ahead of the bottom side.

With Sandringham and Casey Comets occupying fourth and fifth positions on the ladder respectively at the beginning of the round, their clash at Comets Stadium was an opportunity for Casey to close the gap and mount a challenge to snare a position in the finals. Instead, Sandringham highlighted the gulf between the top four and the rest of the competition this year, with a comprehensive 5-0 victory over its hosts. The visiting side established a two goal lead before the interval, and added an additional three unanswered goals in the second half. Emma Runnalls scored twice, with Stephanie Catley, Sienna Fogarty and Alice Maxwell also finding the net. The victory lifts Sandringham to third on the ladder, one points behind Heidelberg, while Casey remains fifth, with a six point gap between it and fourth-placed Ashburton.

Round 14 begins on Saturday at Epsom Huntly Reserve, as Heidelberg United returns to action when it travels to take on Bendigo Vipers. South Melbourne and Casey Comets meet at McIvor Reserve on Sunday, and both teams will be keen to bounce back after suffering disappointing losses in Round 13. Also on Sunday, Ashburton hosts Preston Lions at Ashburton Park. The match of the round takes place at Kingston Heath on Monday night, with top side Box Hill taking on third-placed Sandringham. Both sides were free-scoring in their Round 13 victories, but whether they can repeat that against stronger opposition remains to be seen. Altona City has the bye.

Written by Niki Cook / Photos: John Punshon (Courtesy Goal Weekly)