By Gigi Silk
Box Hill Inter have secured top spot on the Women's Premier League table after defeating the Bendigo Vipers at Wembley Park on Saturday afternoon.
Both teams battled the elements in a windy match, but in the end it was Box Hill who came out on top, winning 4-2 over the Vipers.
The Bendigo Vipers took the opener in the 13th minute when Ilona Jakab was able to dodge the entire Box Hill defence and dribble forward for a one-on-one contest with goalkeeper, Melissa Barbieri.
Box Hill was quick to respond three minutes later with Aleksandra Sinclair scoring the leveller, when she took the rebound off the goal post to flick it past goalkeeper Kristen O’Connor.
Once the goals started coming for Box Hill, it was difficult to stop them. In the 20th minute, Natalie Exon took a shot from the far right side of the goal, which rolled carefully into its target.
Sinclair scored again in the 27th minute with a header that left her in a heap in the bottom of the goal.
Box Hill’s control of the match continued with an excellent display of teamwork resulting in Tal Karp chipping the ball in from 25 yards out in a slow-motion goal over O’Connor’s head.
Just as the visitor’s began to lose confidence, Catey Wylie-O’Brien crossed the ball to Sarah Richardson who was waiting obediently in front of the goal and was able to boot it through, bringing the half time score to 4-2.
As the sky grew darker and the wind blew the covers off both the team benches, the players reassembled for a somewhat less action-packed second half.
Box Hill had an early shot on goal two minutes into the half with a penalty taken by Karp that missed, sailing over the goals.
Drama came in the 59th minute when Michelle Duffy accidently knocked Melissa Barbieri who landed awkwardly in her goals.
Barbieri got up after a couple of minutes on the ground and had time to recover with no more shots on goal until the dying stages of the game, when substitute Tegan Milne came close to scoring with a header.
Box Hill Captain, Yvette Muscat was pleased with her team’s performance after the match.
“Considering the conditions, both teams played well and we’re very happy with the result,” she said.
Box Hill’s aggression, teamwork and ability to read each other’s play with precision paid off. The Vipers should be pleased with their performance, and their ability to stay in the game against quality opposition.
Box Hill will face Altona City at home next week, while Bendigo will take on Ashburton at Vibert Reserve.
Box Hill Inter: Melissa BARBIERI (Gk), Yvette MUSCAT (C), Louisa BISBY, Natalie EXON (Belinda PACELLA 78’), Lauren FARRUGIA, Tal KARP, Georgia KOUTROUVELIS (Deanna NICESKI 64’), Georgia OUDEMAN, Chiara ROMANO (Krystal MCCLUSKEY 59’), Aleksandra SINCLAIR (Stephanie HAWKINS 86’), Ursula HUGHSON (Aimee BENTON 75’)
Goals: Sinclair 16’ 27’, Exon 20’, Karp 34’
Bendigo Vipers: Kristen O’CONNOR, Paige CONDER, Jacinta DIKKENBURG, Michelle DUFFY (Tegan MILNE 87’), Tayla EVANS, Matilda FORD, Ilona JAKAB, Brittany PATAFIO, Sarah RICHARDSON, Maika RUYTER-HOOLEY, Catey WYLIE-O’BRIEN
Unused subs: Jacklyn LOMBARDOZZI, Elizabeth WATKINS
Goals: Jakab 13’, Richardson 41’
Last updated: Sunday July 11, 2010 1:40PM
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