Western United travelled to face Pascoe Vale FC in NPL 2 Victoria action while the junior sides each headed to different venues across the weekend.
Calder United’s senior NPLW sides faced Box Hill United to kick off the second half of their season and the junior teams faced tough tests against South Melbourne.
Western United NPL 2 Men’s Senior’s
Pascoe Vale FC 3-2 Western United
Goal scorer: L.Vickery (51’), M.Bisetto (57’)
Western United was out to bounce back from defeat last time out and to exact revenge on Pascoe Vale after a 3-0 loss early on in the season.
But the home side seized the early initiative, opening the scoring 14 minutes in and then adding a second just before half-time to take control of the contest.
Diogo Ferreira’s half-time message resonated with his players who came out of the interval with a comeback on the mind.
Luke Vickery scored his second Under 23’s goal before Max Bisetto found the net for his ninth of the season to haul United level.
However, almost as quickly as United squared the ledger the Green and Black was reeling again as Pascoe Vale converted a penalty with just over 20 minutes to play.
A spell of relentless pressure did everything but bring about another equaliser as United was forced to return home empty handed.
Western United NPL 2 Men’s Under 21’s
Pascoe Vale FC 0-5 Western United
Goal scorer: P.Williams (28’, 74’), O.Eze (57’), A.Iedom (66’), L.Grundy (85’)
Vaughan Coveny’s Under 21’s continued their strong season, scoring five goals for the second week in a row when they took on Pascoe Vale on Saturday.
The only difference this time around was United’s goal remained unbreached in a dominant display, starting with Parker Williams’ opener just before the half hour.
Pascoe Vale remained in the game but United turned on the style in the second half, adding four goals in less than 30 minutes of football.
Obiora Eze started that run just before the hour mark before Ahmed Iedom added to it soon after. Williams completed a brace in the 74th minute and Lachlan Grundy scored his first ever Under 21’s goal, scoring five minutes after coming off the bench.
United remains hot on the heels of Melbourne City at the top of the table ahead of a potentially crucial meeting in a months’ time.
Western United Junior Academy teams
Round 6 of the JBNPL 1 seasons took each Western United team on the road across the weekend and brought about an even split of results.
The Under 14’s made the most of a short trip to face Altona Magic with Jordan Vonja shining yet again, scoring twice as his side won 2-1. The captain has now scored a league-high seven goals.
United’s Under 15’s succumbed to a 3-1 defeat to Northcote City while the Under 16’s fell just short against South Melbourne, relinquishing a 1-0 lead to lose 2-1.
The day would end on a positive note for the Green and Black as the Under 18’s continued their strong start to the campaign, defeating South Melbourne 4-0 on the back of a brace from Christian Dermentzoglou.
Western United Junior Academy scores
Under 14’s
Altona Magic 1-2 Western United
Goal scorers: J.Vonja (36’, 50’)
Under 15’s
Northcote City 3-1 Western United
Goal scorers: M.Di Lorenzo (61’)
Under 16’s
South Melbourne 2-1 Western United
Goal scorer: E.Robinson (22’)
Under 18’s
South Melbourne 0-4 Western United
Goal scorer: D.Farrugia (24’), C.Dermentzoglou (25’, 88’), Y.Oo (78’)
Calder United NPLW Senior’s
Calder United 1-3 Box Hill United
Goal scorer: A.Mitchell (p.55’)
Calder United looked to build on its big win against Bayside United the week prior when Box Hill United came to Keilor Park Recreation reserve.
The NPLW Champions made a fast start with plenty of positive play going forward but it was the visitors that stole the advantage just before half time.
Calder bounced back after the break as Alexis Mitchell promptly equalised from the penalty spot, but the team struggled to recapture its vibrant play from the opening exchanges.
Just as the game looked destined to end in a draw, Box Hill struck twice in the closing stages to wrestle away all three points.
Calder remains on the outskirts of the top four in NPLW Victoria but remains poised to make a run up the table ending into the back end of the season.
Calder United Under 19’s
Calder United 3-3 Box Hill United
Goal scorers: M.Daskalovska (p.7’, 39’, 86’)
Calder United’s Under 19’s narrowly missed out on the chance to record back to back victories, playing out a thrilling 3-3 draw against Box Hill.
It was a story of two individuals on either side as Maria Daskalovska scored a hat-trick for Calder and Brigette Murray netted thrice for Box Hill at the other end.
Daskalovska’s first two goals had Calder ahead at the break but Murray completed her hat-trick to give her side the lead just after the hour mark.
Scoring her eighth goal of the season, Dakalovska stepped up for Calder with an 86th-minute strike to secure a point.
Calder United junior girls
Calder United’s junior teams faced a difficult away day against South Melbourne but performed admirably across the afternoon.
Achol Taban nearly caused an upset for the Under 13’s when she put her side in front, but South Melbourne rallied to win 2-1 before the Under 15’s match ended 3-0 the way of the hosts.
There was a positive end to the day for Calder, though, as Tuana Kul struck to give her side a 1-0 win and move three points clear of South Melbourne on the table.
Calder United junior’s scores
Under 13’s: South Melbourne 2-1 Calder United
Goal scorer: A.Taban
Under 15’s: South Melbourne 3-0 Calder United
Under 17’s: South Melbourne 0-1 Calder United
Goal scorers: T.Kul
