Western United travelled into the West to take on Werribee City FC in Round 6 of the NPL 2 season, while the junior sides met Green Gully and Calder United faced Alamein FC.
Western United NPL 2 Men’s Senior’s
Werribee City FC 0-1 Western United
Goal scorer: M.Grimaldi (p.81’)
Western United bounced back strongly from two straight defeats with a win against Dandenong City last week and looked to do so again with a difficult trip to Werribee on Saturday.
The Green and Black sought to control proceedings but couldn’t find the winner until Matthew Grimaldi stepped up to the penalty spot, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way with a decisive finish into the bottom left corner.
United held onto another clean sheet and a third 1-0 victory of the season in a match that also saw Charbel Shamoon make his return after his brilliant AFC U20 Asian Cup campaign with Iraq.
The win propels United up to third on the table, just one point back from Langwarrin SC at the top of the league.
Western United NPL 2 Men’s Under 21’s
Werribee City FC 0-6 Western United
Goal scorers: C.Dovison (24’), L.Vickery (42’, 70’), T.Alisandratos (43’), A.Hird (68’), A.Iedom (86’)
Western United’s Under 21’s preceded the 23’s match and hoped to continue its stellar start to the season with a sixth consecutive win.
Werribee held out beyond the opening quarter of the match but United found its stride towards the back end of the first half as Campbell Dovison, Luke Vickery and Thomas Alisandratos pushed the side out to a 3-0 win.
Alex Hird scored his first goal in Green and Black after the hour mark before Vickery added his second of the game and seventh of the season moments later as United all but seized control of the match.
Ahmed Iedom capped off the result late on with his first strike of the campaign, ensuring Vaughan Coveny’s side remains top of the league with a perfect record through six matches.
Western United Junior Academy teams
Western United’s Junior Academy teams faced off against Green Gully with each team needing to continue to pick up points as they seek places in the top division of their respective age groups.
In the Club’s final home matchday at Saltwater Reserve in Point Cook, the Under 14’s got the ball rolling with a 2-0 win as Winston Ashburner scored his fifth goal of the campaign.
The Under 15’s side followed that up with a much-needed 4-2 victory despite being reduced to 10 players. Karl Leban was on the scoresheet for the third game in a row, taking his season tally to 11.
The final two matches of the afternoon rounded out a perfect weekend for Western United’s teams as both the Under 16’s and the Under 18’s secured important 1-0 wins.
With two matches remaining in the grading period, the Under 14’s and Under 16’s have both secured their places in the top division, while the Under 15’s and the Under 18’s remain well placed to follow suit in the final two rounds.
Western United Junior Academy scores
Under 14’s
Western United 2-0 Green Gully SC
Goal scorers: T.Cauchi (p.5’), W.Ashburner (44’)
Under 15’s
Western United 4-2 Green Gully SC
Goal scorers: N.Yohannes (10’), I.Gayed (23’), K.Leban (60’), M.Di Lorenzo (68’)
Under 16’s
Western United 1-0 Green Gully SC
Goal scorer: A.Marmura (48’)
Under 18’s
Western United 1-0 Green Gully SC
Goal scorer: M.Imrek (80’)
Calder United NPLW Victoria Senior’s
Calder United 2-4 Alamein FC
Goal scorers: C.Shidara (29’OG), M.Mathews (75’)
After a thrilling draw against Box Hill United in Round 1, Calder United returned home to Keilor Park Recreation Reserve in search of a first win of the new season.
But Alamein got on top early on and got out to a 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Rebecca Saber and Savanna Anastasopoulos.
Calder hit back quickly when Chinatsu Shidara turned Montanna Mathews’ cross into her own net but Alamein scored another two goals either side of half-time to stamp their foot on the match.
Mathews got a goal of her own in the 75th minute, cutting onto her right foot from the left wing and sneaking her shot past the goalkeeper at the near post.
There was to be no late comeback for Nathan Maoirano’s side despite its best efforts as Calder suffered its first defeat of the season.
Calder United Under 19’s
Calder United 2-0 Alamein FC
Goal scorers: M.Daskalovska (37’), M.Dedalija (51’)
Calder United’s Under 19’s looked to build on their win over Box Hill in Round 1, taking on an Alamein outfit that finished third on the table last season.
Mia Daskalovska picked up where she left off, adding to her double in Round 1 with another goal just before half-time to give Calder the lead.
Maria Dedalija also scored for the second match in a row to double Calder’s advantage soon after the break, setting up an important win after an impressive display.
Calder United junior girls
All three of Calder United’s junior teams were back in action and on the winner’s list against Alamein FC with a combined score of 12-1 across the three matches.
Calder United junior scores
Under 13’s: Calder United 1-4 South Melbourne
Under 15’s: Calder United 1-3 South Melbourne
Goal scorer: I.Joveska
Under 17’s: Calder United 4-0 Alamein FC
Goal scorers: T.Kul, L.Stefanovski, N.Schultz
