By JARROD POTTER
WNPL – ROUND 11
THEY did it … it took 11 rounds but after enduring a brutal start to the Women’s National Premier League Victorian competition, Southern United claimed its first victory.
United had to do it the hard way against Alamein FC – after going a goal down in the opening 25 minutes as Melina Ayres slotted the initial score.
The defensive work of keeper Freya Crocket and captain Antonia Niteros held the side together until the forwards could make their mark.
Saphri Lines (53’) opened the second half with a bang, getting on the end of a Tiffani Eliadis header before the equaliser was also earned through the dual WPL Gold Medalist.
Returning from a knee injury, Brittany Dudley-Smith (67’) came off the bench and had an immediate impact to ignite celebrations for the coastal crew.
The New Zealand striker came on in the 59-minute mark and wove her magic only eight minutes later.
Eliadis got free on the left side, squared it to Dudley-Smith, before the New Zealand ex-pat had two bites of the cherry to sink the match-winner.
“It is part of what we’ve been working towards and trying to get better,” Southern coach Stuart Munro said.
“Full credit to the girls they’ve been steadily improving and drawn our last four matches and a win was just around the corner.
“Bit of a surprise that it was against a team that we lost eight-nil to earlier in the season, but the confidence has improved and we’re heading in the right direction.”
The win brings Southern United within a point of eighth-placed Bayside to get off the bottom of the ladder before its round-12 home clash against Heidelberg United.
While 1-4-7 doesn’t make for pretty early season reading, Munro said the results are secondary to gaining confidence and continually improving for the pink-and-blue group.
“We knew where we were at for the start of the season,” Munro said.
“It’s all starting to come together a bit – first year finding out as a club where we’re at and there’s no pressure to worry about results – we’ll keep working the way we are.
“Will be interesting to see the girls playing with the confidence of a win under the belt – see if that will give them an extra spring in the step – but we’ll just take the same approach to try and get the effort right and keep improving.”
STATE LEAGUES – MEN AND WOMEN
Berwick City’s tough start to State League 1 South East continued after a 1-2 loss to ladder-leader Mornington. Casey Comets struck the one-and-only goal against FC Clifton Hill – off the boot of Daniel Waddup while Doveton SC fell to Heatherton United 2-3.
Hampton Park United Sparrows took an emphatic 3-0 win over Endeavour United with Carl Morgan nailing a brace alongside a goal to Mitchell Hawkins. Endeavour Hills Fire fell 0-1 to Harrisfield in SL4 South and Casey Panthers lost 2-3 to Sandown Lions in SL5 South.
In the women’s state leagues, Casey Comets thumped Richmond FC 3-1, while Berwick City fell 2-3 to Sandringham, Dandenong City’s women were also beaten 3-2 in a hard-fought clash against Beaumaris and Casey Panthers succumbed to Langwarrin 1-3.
