The Western United NPL Weekly Wrap is back, with the Green and Black taking on Melbourne City in NPL 3 and Calder United playing host to Bayside United in NPLW.
Western United NPL 3 Men’s Under 21’s
Melbourne City 3-1 Western United
Goal scorer: G.Siamoa (47’)
Vaughan Coveny’s Under 21’s came into this clash riding a seven-match unbeaten run, but that unfortunately came to an end at the hands of Melbourne City.
The home side proved too good for United, with the 3-1 result seeing City leapfrog the Green and Black into second place on the table.
The highlight of the affair was yet another goal for Greg Siamoa, with the big striker plundering his 19th strike of the season just after half-time.
Western United NPL Senior Men’s
Melbourne City 3-0 Western United
Western United’s senior side was out to overturn that result and came close to an early lead with Jake Najdovski seeing two efforts miss narrowly.
A tight and physical first half looked like ending without a goal before Melbourne City were awarded a penalty on the stroke of the interval, which Arion Sulemani converted.
City’s No.11 scored again in the second half before Luke Oresti added a third as United fell to its fourth defeat of the season.
The Green and Black sits in fourth place on the table, just two points adrift of Preston Lions and Melbourne Victory who are level on points in second, with City an additional four points away.
Calder United NPL Victoria Girls Under 19’s
Calder United 5-2 Bayside United
Goal scorers: F.Iaria (48’, 81’, 88’), A.Smith (68’), S.Cappola (78’)
After tasting its first two defeats of the season, Calder United’s Under 19’s side responded with a win over Heidelberg United last weekend and looked to make it two in a row against Bayside.
Josip Loncaric’s team has been forced to come from behind on a few occasions this season and had to do so again in this one as Bayside took a 1-0 lead into half-time.
Fiorina Iaria continued her stellar campaign with an equaliser early in the second half before Bayside hit back almost immediately to regain the lead.
But a blistering final 22 minutes saw Calder pour in four goals via Alyssa Smith, Sienna Cappola and Fiorina Iaria again, with the young attacker adding two more to her tally to complete a hat-trick.
The win ensures Calder United retains top spot in the league, albeit only on goal difference from Alamein FC with the sides preparing to meet in two weeks’ time.
Calder United NPLW Senior’s
Calder United 7-1 Bayside United
Goal scorers: A.Groba (30’, 56’) N.Mclure (37’ OG), A.Sinclair (40’, 72’), R.Deralas (45+1, 81’)
Calder United was on a seven-game winning streak without conceding a single goal heading into a home fixture against bottom-placed Bayside United, but Mark Torcaso’s side suffered an early blow.
Julia Budiongo opened the scoring for the visitors in just the seventh minute to break Calder’s run of clean sheets and give Bayside hope of securing a famous result.
Calder had a number of opportunities to draw level and finally did so on the half hour mark when Ava Groba was on hand to score from virtually on the goal line after Adriana Taranto’s corner struck the back post and fell right into the No.9’s path.
Within 10 minutes it was 3-1 after Niamh Mclure diverted Stacey Papadopoulos’ cross into her own net, before Papadopoulos provided once again for Aleksandra Sinclair to score her first goal of the season.
There was time for one more before the break as Raquel Deralas found the back of the net before all three goalscorers made it a brace for themselves with further strikes in the second half.
That makes it eight wins in a row for Calder United and ensures the side remains five points clear at the top of NPLW Victoria with eight games remaining.
