Western United was looking to return to winning ways in NPL 3 against Ballarat City over the weekend, while Calder United had huge top of the table clashes in both senior age groups against Alamein FC.
Western United NPL 3 Men’s Under 21’s
Ballarat City 0-9 Western United
Goal scorers: G.Siamoa (x7), T.Alisandratos, T.Pisani
Western United’s Under 21’s side was looking to remain in touch with Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City at the top of the league at Morshead Park against Ballarat City.
In-form striker Greg Siamoa was coming off an impressive hat-trick against Preston Lions, but perhaps not even he could have predicted the performance he was going to put in on Saturday.
Siamoa struck twice within the opening six minutes of the game, notched his hat-trick in the 26th minute and added another two before half-time in an incredible display of ruthless finishing. Thomas Alisandratos also scored in the first half as United went into the break leading 6-0.
Siamoa and his teammates weren’t done there, though, as the No.20 plundered two more before time was up either side of a Thomas Pisani strike as the score line ended 9-0 to the visitors. Siamoa’s seven goals doubled his entire season tally in one hit and place him comfortably out in front in the golden boot race, with 14 goals in eight matches played.
Western United NPL 3 Senior Men’s
Ballarat City 1-4 Western United
Goal scorers: J.Najdovski (25’, 68’), C.Shamoon (65’), S.Ngor (90+1)
Western United’s senior team needed a win after two straight defeats in NPL 3 and it was a tough start at Morshead Park for Anthony Frost’s men.
Jake Najdovski finally opened the scoring with a delightful long-range effort in the 25th minute before United turned it on in the final half hour of the match.
Charbel Shamoon scored a thunderbolt from distance to make it 2-0 before Ballarat pulled one back and Najdovski added a second all within minutes.
Sabit Ngor scored his fourth goal of the season to ice the result in stoppage time and take United closer to the top three teams in the league as Melbourne City and Preston Lions drew 1-1 and North Sunshine Eagles held Melbourne Victory to a goalless affair.
Calder United NPL Victoria Girls Under 19’s
Calder United 2-2 Alamein FC
Goal scorers: A.Smith (7’), O.De La Plaza-Sanchez (62’)
Calder United’s Under 19 girls were on a high after a late win against South Melbourne last week and had another huge game against Alamein FC with both sides coming into the clash level on points at the top of the table.
Calder got off to the perfect start when Alyssa Smith scored seven minutes into the match, but Alamein found an equaliser almost immediately before grabbing the lead soon after half-time.
Josip Loncaric’s side went in search of an equaliser of its own and found it just after the hour via Olivia De La Plaza-Sanchez.
Both sides would ultimately have to be content with a point, a result that was made sweeter by South Melbourne’s shock loss to Box Hill United. Calder remains just on top of Alamein on goal difference, with the pair now opening up a four point lead on the rest of the competition.
Calder United NPLW Senior’s
Calder United 2-0 Alamein FC
Goal scorers: S.Papadopoulos (48’), H.Withers (90+3)
Calder United’s senior women had found their groove in the past two weeks with big wins over Bayside United and South Melbourne and had a third win in a row in their sights against Alamein FC.
Much like in the South Melbourne win, Calder dominated the first-half but just couldn’t manage to get the ball in the back of the net until after the half-time interval.
Stacey Papadopoulos starred against South Melbourne and did so again in this one, opening the scoring with a delicate chip after latching onto a lovely, floated ball from Natasha Dakic.
Papadopoulos was integral to the second goal as well as her run in behind and toe-poked shot forced a save from Alamein’s goalkeeper, one that saw the ball fall straight to Harriet Withers to slot her first goal of the season in stoppage time.
The win sees Calder United climb up to second in the NPLW table, just a single point back from Heidelberg United who went top after inflicting Bulleen Lions’ first defeat of the season.
