Round 17 was plentiful for some with convincing wins for the top two helping extend their lead, while another side launched themselves back into the finals picture. On the flip side of the coin, defeat put a dent in the finals aspirations of one side, while another couldn’t yet pull away from the top four scrap.
This weekend sees a top of the table clash, while four sides within four points in each other in the race for finals football face off in two tantalising fixtures.
It’s that time again. Seven weeks after Heidelberg United and Calder United locked horns in Round 11, the two sides holding a monopoly on the top of the NPLW Victoria table face off once more.
Calder will welcome Heidelberg to Keilor Park Recreation Reserve for this, the third installment between these two sides in 2022. The season series is currently tied, with neither side able to win on home soil so far. When the sides last met Calder were sitting two points clear at the top, however, this time Heidelberg hold a slender one point lead at the summit of Victorian football.
Both sides enjoyed comfortable 3-0 wins last round, with both Calder and the Bergers scoring all three of their goals in the second half against Bulleen Lions and FV Emerging respectively.
The three goals no doubt a welcome sight after drawing a blank last week ,but the clean sheet is just as important as Calder’s incredible defensive record is something they pride themselves on.
Melissa Taranto converted from the penalty spot against Bulleen for her seventh in all competitions in 2022, but it is Adriana Taranto who has found the back of the net in both of the last two meetings against Heidelberg this season.
For the Bergers, Danielle Wise’s hot streak continued on Saturday with her sixth in as many games putting her level with captain Steph Galea on 13 goals in the league this season. The lethal strike pair pose the most likely avenue to Heidelberg breaching the stout Calder backline that has let just five through all year.
A win would go a long way to lock up the Premier's crown for the women in yellow and black, but a draw would leave the door open for Calder to regain top spot with their game in hand against Box Hill.
Alamein faded late on Saturday afternoon when they let a goal and a player advantage slip to share the points with South Melbourne. After coming back from 1-0 down to lead 2-1, Kat Smith’s side will be disappointed they could not see out the win.
It was the second time Alamein have let three points slip late against South and fourth time they have dropped points from winning positions this season.
With their hold over fourth spot now just three points, this Saturday they take on Box Hill United.
Box Hill’s victory over Bayside last weekend put them right back in finals contention after South and Alamein’s draw and Heidelberg’s defeat of FV Emerging. They are now just four points behind fourth placed Alamein, level on 19 points with South Melbourne in sixth.
After a cagey first half against a defensively stubborn Bayside outfit, Box Hill’s A-League Women’s loanee Sofia Sakalis broke the game open with a three minute brace. Anais Josefski put the finishing touches on a welcome return to form for United after their tough outing against Bulleen the week prior. Both Sakalis and Josefski are now on six league goals for the season, with the former scoring when the sides first met back in Round 4.
For Alamein, Sidney Allen has had the hot hand or rather, foot, in recent weeks. Her brace against South now means she has three in the last two and five for the season. The striker is second only to top scorer and captain Elaina Vatcky, who has six and who netted the second in her sides 2-1 victory over Box Hill in Round 11.
Alamein are yet to taste defeat at the hands of their visitors in 2022 and will hope it stays that way. With South and Emerging doing battle this weekend, a win for Alamein could potentially widen the gap over the chasing pack again.
FC Bulleen Lions’ attempts to distance themselves from the fight for a top four finish took a hit on Monday night when they were dispatched 3-0 by Calder United. They now sit just two points ahead of fourth placed Alamein and five points clear of the chasing Emerging in fifth.
The have another chance to open that gap up again this week when they travel to Kingston Heath to take on bottom of the table Bayside United.
With four games left to play in the 2022 campaign, there isn’t much left for Bayside to compete for. Sitting 14 points adrift at the bottom of the table, they would be forgiven for setting their sights on rebuilding for next season.
However, they remain a stubborn team proving difficult to beat week in, week out. Last Friday they were able to keep Box Hill at bay for 60 minutes before the dead lock was eventually broken.
Similarly to a fortnight ago against South Melbourne, however, a five minute lapse proved devastating as they conceded twice and the game was subsequently beyond them. If Bayside can find a way to limit these defensive lapses in concentration, they might find some joy in the tail end of the season.
The last time they played the Lions, it took a 88th minute winner from Lia Privitelli for Bulleen to take home all three points. While Bayside will hope to go one better this time around, Privitelli’s side will be looking to emulate their Round 4 performance against the team from the South East.
The Lions ran out commanding 7-0 winners in that fixture, with their Young Matildas star Paige Zois netting a brace. Bulleen’s star midfielder was absent in their defeat to Calder, and they will be without her for the remainder of the season as she prepares to represent Australia at U20 Women’s World Cup in Qatar.
How the Lions deal with her absence will be an intriguing storyline to follow in the run in to the finals.
Three times proved too many for FV Emerging as they couldn’t defeat top of the table opposition again this time around, falling 3-0 to Heidelberg United. As has been the case with the young side all season, churning out consistent results has been their main sticking point in 2022.
However, with Alamein sharing the points with South Melbourne, Emerging remain in the hunt for a finals place, sitting just three points outside the top four in fifth. This week they welcome South to Knox for a clash with huge implications in the race for finals football
South’s unbeaten run since their coaching change has extended to four games, with their comeback to steal a point last Saturday at Lakeside. Despite being a goal and a man down with 15 minutes left, South dug deep and found a way through a wonder strike from substitute Karina Tolios in the 89th minute.
They seem to be gaining momentum at the perfect time, but still have work to do if they are to earn a finals berth. Their task will be made tougher this Sunday with top scorer Janna Lawson suspended. The striker saw red for handling the ball on her defensive goal line against Alamein.
New coach George Georgiadis will hope Caitlin Pickett and Bella Stringfellow can pick up the slack this week, with the pair having converting a combined 19 times in all competitions this season.
For FV Emerging, they were without Sarah Cain and Isabella Accardo against Heidelberg last weekend, and will hope to have the pair back this week. Cain netted a brace in her sides first outing against South back in Round 4.
The young guns have gathered four points in two matches against South this year, scoring five across the two fixtures. For a team with the second fewest goals scored this campaign, those statistics bode well for the side looking to make their first finals appearance.
With a game in hand on fourth placed Alamein, if Emerging can stay within touching distance they give themselves every chance of overtaking them down the stretch.