Series Futsal Victoria, Womens, Round 15
FC Balwyn 3-6 FC Preston
BAL – R.West 2 & C.Jayasekera
PRES – M.Suratie 3, A.Sherifi, L.Gallina & A.Borg
The first game of round fifteen saw Balwyn face Preston for the final time this season. With every side having played each other twice now, we are into the final seven games with all of them proving crucial. It was a bottom of the table clash to kick things off, with the winner to climb off the foot of the table. It was a tight first half as the sides shared the spoils grabbing two goals a piece, Rachel West getting a brace for Balwyn, while for Preston it was newcomers, Alyce Borg & Laura Gallina who found the net as we went into the break evenly poised.
The second half was an arm wrestle early with Preston breaking clear of their opponents thanks to a Melka Suratie hat trick which all but killed the game is a short space of time. Corina Jayasekera pulled one back for Balwyn as they peppered the Preston goal. But it wasn’t to be with Armina Sherifi getting on the scoresheet late on to seal a 6-3 victory which takes Preston 6 points clear of the bottom of the table with Balwyn now reminaing adrift in eighth place.
Player of the game – Armina Sherifi (FC Preston)
FC Carlton Heart 9-2 Western Wolves FC
CARL – R.Davies 4, C.Johns 2, K.Foster 2 & N.Ritchie
WOL – F.Nobbs & C.Palmer
Next up saw title hopefuls Carlton Heart take on Western Wolves who were looking to make a late push for the top four. The Wolves came out of the blocks on fire as they jumped out to a 2-0 lead on the back of goals from Finley Nobbs & Camilla Palmer having the Heart on the back foot. Rebecca Davies pulled one back for Carlton to keep them in the contest, before Davies struck again to level proceedings. Davies completed her hat trick soon after as she was running riot putting Carlton into the lead. Davies then turned provider as her cut back was finished off by Claudia Johns for a 4-2 lead, before Johns added another to her tally to extend the Carlton advantage. Katie Foster struck late in the half as Carlton got out to a 6-2 half time lead.
The Heart remained on top in the second half, though the Wolves stopped the flow of goals, though it wasn’t a complete shutout with Carlton adding a further three goals to their tally. Davies finishing the game with four to her name, while Foster completed a brace as well as Nicole Richie getting on the scoresheet to seal a big win for Carlton to keep them in the title race.
Player of the game – Rebecca Davies (FC Carlton Heart)
Pascoe Vale 5-4 Melbourne Amazons FC
PVFC – L.Sammut 3, J.Tran & M.Waton-Las
MELB – A.Kelly 2, B.Lee & D.Bugraaf
Next up saw fourth placed Pascoe Vale take on sixth placed Melbourne Amazons in what looked an entertaining game on paper. In a close half which saw a number of lead changes, we went into the break locked at 2-2 with Letizia Sammut & Julie Tran scoring for Pascoe while Bianca Lee & Diidre Bugraaf both netting for the Amazons.
Amazons hit the lead early in the second half with Ashleigh Kelly firing her side ahead, but Pascoe hit back instantly through youngster Maia Watson-Las to level proceedings again. Kelly was starting to step it up in the second half as she again gave the Amazons the lead. Almost instantly Pascoe fired back with the initial shot saved, Letizia Sammut then followed up on the rebound to have honours even again. It took until very late in the piece but Pascoe would find a winner through Sammut who bundled the ball home to seal a very hard fought win for the lions over a galant Amazons side.
Player of the game – Letizia Sammut (Pascoe Vale FC)
Fitzroy FC 2-2 (3-2 Penatlies) Moreland FC
FITZ – S.Richardson 2
MOR – R.Saber & E.Hasan
The final game of the evening saw the top two sides in the division go head to head as Fitzroy took on Moreland, with the result to have a huge impact on the final standings come the end of the season. After Fitzroy peppered the Moreland goal early, they failed to break through and were punished as the Blues struck the opener through a Rebecca Saber cracker to give Moreland a slender 1-0 lead at the half time break.
Early in the second half it was two with Ebru Hasan hustling inside the area and putting home the second to have Moreland in total control. Fitzroy finally got on the board with around seven minutes remaining as Sarah Richardson cut onto her left foot and picked out the bottom corner to half the deficit. The Tigers drew level late in the game as Richardson’s shot somehow found its way into the net. With just seconds remaining Moreland had a chance to snatch it forcing a big save out of Molly Boorman as we went to the penalty mark.
Ebru Hasan was the unfortunate player to miss, having her penalty saved by Boorman, before Rebecca Berry converted the telling penalty to seal the points for Fitzroy.
Player of the game – Sarah Richardson (Fitzroy FC)
