Day: May 19, 2016

The Women’s Reserves returned to Lakeside for the second time in 2016, looking to continue their undefeated run against Lara United.

Lara had made a very positive start to their season by winning three of their four matches and finding the back of the net an impressive 22 times. Injuries and illness continue to plague the Senior and Reserves squads, leaving SMFC Reserves Coach Stuart Smith no choice but to field a squad of just eleven players, including two stepping up from the Under 16s.

The first half was a relatively balanced encounter between the two teams, although South had a number of opportunities pushing forward into the final third. After the break, it was Lara that got on the scoreboard first. A defensive error from a back pass allowed Lara striker Maddi Dragt to go one-on-one with keeper Alexia Karatzikos and she made no mistake in giving Lara the advantage.

South lifted immediately and within a minute the girls found space on the counter attack. Surging into the area, the shot was on target but a quality save from the Lara keeper Miki Tatlic prevented the equaliser. The South girls continued to press high and attack using the width of the Lakeside pitch to their advantage. A superbly lofted kick came in from the ‘Clarendon Corner’ side and Ciara Singleton was there to head the ball into the bottom right corner of the net for the equalising goal.

Not content with the draw, the girls continued to push and it was again a fast break that gave them the advantage. Kala Rosebirch provided an excellent through-ball and Bianca Cachia pounced to beat the keeper and put South 2-1 ahead. That’s where it ended, giving the Women’s Reserve team a second win of the season, with the girls still undefeated in 2016.

After the match, Caitlin Greiser spoke with winning goal scorer Bianca Cachia, who shared her thoughts on the match. “I think we played really well as a team. We didn’t start at half-time like we usually do, we started from the first minute. Our midfield came together, played through-balls and helped get the ball up front so we can actually shoot. We took a lot of shots today – something we haven’t been doing lately – and clearly it paid off.”

“Hannah [DeLorenzis] played an absolutely amazing game. She was pressing all the time and did really well. Also Ciara [Singleton] getting the ball up the front, she really moved the game forward for us” added Bianca when talking about the positive influence her team mates had on the match. About the opposition in Lara United, she added that “they are a really respectable team. They kept their heads up throughout the whole game and kept calm about the match. They were a good team to play against.”

Caitlin asked Bianca about her winning goal in the last minute of the match that delivered the win for the home team. “I was injured for the whole game. I tried to stay there and support the passes and play through-balls so we could shoot and get goals. It worked and we did it!”

Caitlin also spoke with Coach Stuart Smith, who reflected on the match. “The 2-1  score says to me that the team that played the better football won, which I credit completely to the girls. We struck to our principles, our game plan and at the end of the day, although we’ve conceded a number of injuries, I thought we were the better team and deserved the points. All eleven of the girls deserve credit, Ciara [Singleton] specifically bossed the game today. She won everything and she got a goal straight from the corner so I am really pleased for her. I thought our forwards did really well when in possession of the ball in the middle.”

“It was really a key that the girls never gave up. We copped a soft goal, I’m not going to lie about that. It was a really poor goal to concede, but they stuck their heads up and stuck to the game plan. So really all eleven girls deserve credit and Ciara is my player of the game. Lara were a really physical team and I can see why they have been scoring goals every week as they are very quick up front. They play some good passing football, however at times we were able to easily break them down. They’ll do well if they keep playing the football they are playing.”

The Women’s Reserves are back in action on Friday night at BT Connor Reserve against the Preston Lions.

South Melbourne FC is pleased to announce that Matthew Millar has extended his playing contract at the club and will remain at Lakeside Stadium until the conclusion of the 2017 NPL Victoria season.

The midfielder was signed from Melbourne City on the final day of the NPL transfer window back in February and became an instant hit with SMFC fans with a fine performance in the 6-0 home win against Heidelberg United in the opening round of 2016. He scored his first two goals for the club in the 10-0 win against Keysborough in the FFA Cup Fourth Round in March before scoring his first two league goals in the 2-1 win against Hume City in early April.

A former Australian youth international, Millar has been used by Coach Chris Taylor in both central midfield and on the right wing so far this season. Using his quick pace to get behind defenders, he has so far scored seven goals in 14 appearances across all competitions, with five league goals from the opening 12 rounds.

SMFC Football Director Nicholas Maikousis spoke with smfc.com.au about Millar’s contract extension. “We have been intending to keep Matthew at the club and we are very pleased that we have managed to do so. With Milos Lujic also extending his contract last week, our intention is always to lock down our important players at the club in order to have the best chance of continued success.”

The South Women walked on to Lakeside Stadium last Sunday looking to secure a full three points and maintain a perfect winning start to 2016. With five starters missing from the line-up and Lara United sitting one place back in third on the ladder, a competitive fixture was expected.

A vocal supporter group from Lara United graced the grandstand and they were rewarded in the twelfth minute when Izzy Wilkinson fired a rocket from forty yards out that flew into the bottom left of the net, giving the visitors an early lead. South responded in the best way possible and just a few minutes later had equalised when Natalie Martineau set up Eliza Gleadell to easily find the back of the net.

The value of the large Lakeside pitch provided the South girls with the advantage as they used width and pace to attack deep into the final third. Those attacks were rewarded when Sara Alberici scored her seventh goal for the season by chipping the keeper from the edge of the area to put South in front.

Lara United again found the net with another long range shot by Rachel Bennett to make it 2-2.

In the final five minutes of the match, South had multiple shots on goal, coming agonisingly close and even hitting the upright. A free kick awarded some forty yards from goal saw defensive midfielder Stella Rebholz step up for her trademark long-range shot. With the Lakeside scoreboard showing just eight seconds left in regulation time, Stella’s shot flew over the head of every player in the area, including the Lara goalkeeper and into the net triggering screams of delight, high fives and celebrations from the pitch to the grandstand. It was a vital three points for the South squad.

Stella spoke to smfc.com.au after the match, adding that “it was really amazing and frustrating. I was there as centre back working my backside off – let’s put it that way – and we had so many chances but couldn’t get the ball in. I got the free kick at the end and was like ‘ok, all in’. I don’t know how I got it, I just smashed it somehow into the goal. It was an amazing finish.”

“Overall it was really hard to get into the game. We had many players that couldn’t play so we don’t know each other that well, so it was hard. Lara were on us all the time and really aggressive always trying to be the first to the ball. We couldn’t get into our game which we usually play. We have a lot of work to do before the cup game but we’ll be ready. It’s been a positive start to the season but there is a lot more potential to get better.”

Forward Caitlin Greiser and defender Deryl Aziz added that “it was a very intense game, Lara were third on the ladder and we were just above them so we really wanted to go out there and win, get the three points and remain near the top of the ladder. Stella played really well playing in the back line and in the midfield. She kept it together and scored the winning goal. Lara were a pretty good team, very physical and they had a few really fast players up front.”

The Women’s team are back in action on Friday night at BT Connor Reserve against Preston Lions, kicking off at 8:30pm.

South Melbourne FC will be seeking an immediate return to winning ways when it travels to Green Gully Reserve to face Green Gully on Saturday afternoon.

Chris Taylor’s side suffered only its second league defeat of the season last Friday night with a very disappointing home loss (0-1) against Pascoe Vale at Lakeside Stadium. Despite the poor result, South still remains on top of the PS4 NPL Victoria ladder and will stay there should they win Saturday’s match.

Centre-half Luke Adams will be missing for the next 4-5 weeks after being called up to represent the New Zealand National Team. South will be forced to reshuffle the defence, with Adams’ natural replacement at centre-half, Kristian Konstantinidis, not available as he continues to recover from a minor injury sustained in the 2-0 win against Avondale. Right-back Tim Mala has also been missing from the squad for the last few weeks as he also recovers from injury and is a 50-50 proposition for the Gully match. Matthew Foschini may be forced to take up a defensive position should Mala not play on Saturday.

Arthur Papas’ Green Gully side started with mixed results in their opening six league matches of the season but in traditional and typical Green Gully style, they have hit mid-season form and currently sit in third place on the ladder. Gully have won five of their last six league matches and are also just one win away from qualifying for the Westfield FFA Cup Round of 32 thanks to a 2-0 win against Heidelberg United in their Sixth Round tie on Tuesday night.

Should Gully win on Saturday, it will bring them to within two points of South on the league table, proving what a crucial match Saturday is shaping up to be for both sides.

Saturday’s match at Green Gully Reserve kicks off at 3pm. 

SMFC v Green Gully – Head to Head (League & Finals)

Matches Played: 31
Wins (SMFC): 15
Wins (GGFC): 11
Draws: 5

First match: Green Gully 0-2 South Melbourne (11 March 1984, Green Gully Reserve)
Last match: South Melbourne 3-2 Green Gully (7 July 2015, Lakeside Stadium)

Biggest Winning Margin (SMFC): 5 goals (5-0 win) – (22 June 1986, Middle Park)
Biggest Winning Margin (GGFC): 3 goals (3-0 win) – (6 April 2008, Lakeside Stadium)

Most Goals in a Match (SMFC): 5 (5-0 win) – (22 June 1986, Middle Park)
Most Goals in a Match (GGFC): 3 (four times) – (2008, 2011 to 2014) 

Biggest Finals Win (SMFC): 3-0 (1 September 2006, Lakeside Stadium)
Biggest Finals Win (GGFC): 0-0 (5-4p) (3 September 2005, Green Gully Reserve)