It was a quieter weekend across the Western United Academy as only the junior sides and the Calder United senior teams were in NPL Victoria action.
United’s four junior outfits each headed on the road while Calder played host to FC Bulleen Lions in the penultimate NPLW fixture.
Western United Junior Academy teams
It was a mixed bag of results across the board for Western United’s Junior Academy teams, with each side jostling for position approaching the final stretch of games in the 2023 campaign.
The Under 14’s started the day away from home against Moreland City where Alexander Tewalde proved to be the match winner.
United’s attacker gave his side the lead early on and fired home the winner in the second half after Moreland had equalised. The 2-1 win kept United in fifth place on the table, narrowing the gap to second-placed Dandenong City to just three points.
Brimbank Stallions gave the Under 15’s a tough clash away from home and took the lead early on, but Adam Borek’s first goal of the season ensured United came away with a point in a 1-1 draw.
The Under 16’s played out a goal fest against Caroline Springs George Cross, unfortunately falling 4-3 after a magnificent game at City Vista.
United carried a 2-0 lead into half-time thanks to goals from Joseph Lettieri and Bailee Kocankovski, but Georgies hit back to go 3-2 ahead in the second period.
Ethan Robinson’s eighth goal of the season restored parity but George Cross had the final say with a late winner condemning United to defeat.
A difficult day ended with the Under 18’s falling 3-0 to Port Melbourne. All three goals came within a 14-minute span in the first half as the home side took control. The result saw United slip to fourth on the table, though only two points separate the Green and Black from Melbourne City in second.
Western United Junior Academy scores
Under 14’s
Moreland City 1-2 Western United
Goal scorers: A.Tewalde (18’, 45’)
Under 15’s
Brimbank Stallions 1-1 Western United
Goal scorer: A.Borek (42’)
Under 16’s
Caroline Springs George Cross 4-3 Western United
Goal scorer: J.Lettieri (18’), B.Kocankovski (34’), E.Robinson (62’)
Under 18’s
Port Melbourne 3-0 Western United
Calder United NPLW Senior’s
Calder United 0-0 FC Bulleen Lions
In something of a curtain raiser for the NIKE F.C. Cup Final, Calder United and FC Bulleen Lions played out a tense and hotly contested 0-0 draw in NPLW Victoria.
Calder had much of the early possession and territory as Larissa Walsh had a big chance when she was played through on the right-wing, but her effort was tipped around the post by Gabriela Garton in Bulleen’s goal.
With a squad full of Liberty A-League Women players, Bulleen began to rise to the occasion and keep Calder’s defence busy moving into the second half.
Tiffany Eliadis had the best chance of the game when she was picked out by Beattie Goad in the box just after the hour mark.
Natalie Picak produced a great save to deny Eliadis’ header before Alana Cerne took advantage of Eliadis’ indecision on the rebound as Calder eventually cleared the danger and breathed a sigh of relief.
After a frenetic ending to the game, Calder was inches away from snatching victory at the death when Keiwa Heida’s long-range lob was destined for the net before Bulleen cleared the ball off the line at the final moment.
Ultimately, both sides had to settle for a point and will look to regroup ahead of Sunday’s NIKE F.C. Cup decider.
Calder United Under 19’s
Calder United 0-1 South Melbourne
Calder United’s Under 19’s slipped to a narrow 1-0 defeat in their match against Bulleen Lions, making it four matches in a row without a win.
The young side pressed for an opening goal in the first 45 minutes but it was soon after the interval that Bulleen’s Rosie Rodger struck the all important goal.
The result brings Bulleen to within a point of Calder in fourth place, meaning Calder will need to ensure victory in the final round of the season to wrap up a place in the finals.
