With eight rounds to go in the NPL 3 season, Western United plays host to Box Hill United in a crucial Friday night clash.
Match Details
Western United vs Box Hill United
Friday, 24 June
Kick-off: 6:30pm (Under 21’s), 8:30pm (Senior’s)
City Vista Recreation Reserve, Plumpton
Last time out
It was a tough day out for Western United’s Academy sides last week, with both the Under 21’s and Senior’s falling to Melbourne City in 3-1 and 3-0 defeats respectively.
Greg Siamoa was able to continue his ruthless goal-scoring form in the one shining light for the Under 21’s, while the Senior team was perhaps unlucky to not take a first-half lead.
Those results leave Vaughan Coveny’s Under 21’s in third place on the table, while the Senior side continues to be locked in an incredibly tight top four battle.
Anthony Frost’s men currently sit in fourth place, but a win at any time could propel the Green and Black into second place, and an automatic promotion spot.
Previous meetings
This will be the second time Western United has faced Box Hill United in this NPL 3 season on top of the two clashes in the suspended 2021 campaign.
Box Hill was actually Western United’s first ever NPL 3 opponent way back in March 2021, and it was a memorable afternoon at Wembley Park as the Green and Black completed a late, come-from-behind 2-1 win.
The Under 21’s were twice pegged back from leading positions against Box Hill in 2021, drawing the first meeting 2-2 and losing 2-1 in the return fixture.
In Round 4 this season, Box Hill ended United’s perfect start to the season in the Senior’s with a 2-1 win, while the Green and Black’s Under 21’s side got its first win against the opponent with a 3-0 triumph.
The Opponent
Box Hill have continued to be a threat to the top teams in both the Senior’s and Under 21’s competitions in NPL 3 this year.
Despite only sitting eighth on the table in the Senior’s, Box Hill have taken points off three of the top four times with wins over United and Preston Lions and a recent draw against Melbourne Victory.
Their Under 21’s outfit has also been supremely competitive, currently in fourth place on the table and leading the ‘best of the rest’ group behind the three A-Leagues affiliated teams.
Calder United faces grudge match against South Melbourne
Calder United will look to continue its ruthless form in NPLW Victoria with two hotly contested matches against South Melbourne.
Mark Torcaso’s senior women have won eight games in a row with just one goal conceded in that time, opening up a five-point lead at the top of the NPLW table.
South Melbourne have struggled to reach their usual heights so far this season but have moved slightly more on track since a 5-0 defeat to Calder in early May, with three wins and a draw in the six games following that.
It’s a different story in the Under 19’s division with South Melbourne sitting just a single point behind Calder United at the top of the table.
South have won their last four matches, including a 4-1 defeat of fellow title challenger Alamein FC, while Calder has bounced back with two straight victories following its first two losses of the season.
