Western United returned home to City Vista Recreation Reserve to face Box Hill United in Friday night NPL 3 action before Calder United hosted South Melbourne on Saturday afternoon.
Western United NPL 3 Men’s Under 21’s
Western United 6-2 Box Hill United
Goal scorers: G.Siamoa (8’, 25’, 49’), T.Alisandratos (23’), L.Farrugia (64’), P.Lay (77’)
After a defeat to Melbourne City ended a six-game unbeaten run last week, Western United’s Under 21’s side made sure it returned to the winner’s list with a comfortable win over Box Hill.
Greg Siamoa got the ball rolling with the opener inside eight minutes before Thomas Alisandratos made it two and Siamoa added another to make it 3-0 after 25 minutes.
Vaughan Coveny’s side was hoping to breeze through the remainder of the match but allowed Box Hill back into the game as the visitors struck twice before the half-time interval.
But Siamoa ensured there would be no comeback in the second half as he completed his hat-trick just four minutes after the restart before Liam Farrugia and Peter Lay added goals after the hour mark.
The win sees United open up a six-point gap on Box Hill in third place, with Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory occupying the top two spots.
Western United NPL 3 Senior Men’s
Western United 2-1 Box Hill United
Goal scorers: A.Walatee (9’, 16’)
Box Hill handed Anthony Frost’s Senior side its first loss of the season in Round 4, and the Green and Black was out to avenge that result under the lights at City Vista.
Abel Walatee has been rewarded for a fine start to the season with a string of appearances in the Senior team and he made good on that faith with his first two goals at the level, striking in quick succession early in the contest.
Without top scorer Jake Najdovski in the side, United was unable to break through Box Hill’s defence again and Stuart Edgar’s goal in the 31st kept the visitors well in the game.
United’s seasoned defence ensured Charlie Emery’s goal was not breached again as the side held on to all three points, while there was a nice moment for Oli Lavale who made his debut for the Senior’s off the bench.
As each of the top three sides won their matches, United stayed within touching distance of its competitors with meetings against both Melbourne Victory and Preston Lions right around the corner.
Calder United NPL Victoria Girls Under 19’s
Calder United 3-2 South Melbourne
Goal scorers: A.Smith (2’), S.Cappola (52’, 56’)
Josip Loncaric’s Calder United Under 19’s had a huge top of the table clash against South Melbourne, with everything to play for ahead of the run in to the end of the season.
Captain Alyssa Smith got Calder off to the best possible start with a goal inside two minutes, but South Melbourne hit back to seize the lead going into half-time.
Calder responded once again, though, as Sienna Cappola came up big with two goals in a four-minute span just after half-time to put her side back in front.
The team was able to see out the remainder of the match and ensure it remains top of the league, now opening up a four-point gap on South Melbourne.
Calder United NPLW Senior’s
Calder United 3-0 South Melbourne
Goal scorers: S.Papadopoulos (7’), H.Withers (47’), R.Deralas (49’)
Last time out against South Melbourne, Calder United’s Senior’s did everything but score in the first half before pouring in five goals in the second period, but Stacey Papadopoulos ensured that would not be happening again.
Starting this match at left-back, Calder’s No.19 scored an excellent goal in the seventh minute as she skipped past South Melbourne’s defence in the box before finishing at the near post.
The home side did then have to wait until after half-time to celebrate a goal and was able to do so twice in next to no time as Calder put the game to bed early in the second period.
Both goals resulted from textbook counter-attacking plays, the first of which saw Melissa Taranto spray a perfect diagonal ball into the path of Harriet Withers who obliged the service and tucked the ball into the bottom corner.
Withers then turned provider moments after as she picked up the ball from a defensive corner and stormed past halfway before putting it on a plate for Raquel Deralas to net her third goal in two games.
Another win and another clean sheet means Calder remains five points clear at the top of the table with seven games remaining in NPLW Victoria.
