Casey Try For Wembley Park Upset

Casey Comets will attempt to end Box Hill’s unbeaten run in 2009 when they take on the Womens VPL league leaders tonight at Wembley Park in the opening game of round nine.

Box Hill Inter have not lost a game since round 20 in 2008 and are sitting five points clear of their nearest rival, South Melbourne, at the top of the premiership table.

Casey Comets have history on their side when they take on Inter tonight as they were the last team to defeat Box Hill at home, way back in March 2005, and they have drawn the last three occasions they have clashed with Box Hill at Wembley Park.

Casey have made a reasonable start to the 2009 season with three wins to date and are sitting in fourth position, edging the more highly fancied teams Ashburton and Sandringham, out of the top four.

A win against Box Hill would consolidate their position in top of the league but also break a four-year hoodoo of away teams playing at Wembley Park.

Casey were soundly defeated by Heidelberg in their last game before the break and the Bergers will be keenly eyeing a top two position in the league.

Heidelberg’s chances of sneaking into the top two looks more certain with current second placed team, South Melbourne, sitting out the week with the bye.

Heidelberg will play Geelong at home on Sunday afternoon and are short odd favourite to take the three points, from the regional team, which has struggled against the top teams.

The other regional team in the WVPL, Bendigo Vipers, will be looking to bounce back from their near upset against Box Hill in round eight when they take on Ashburton this weekend in Moama.

In the final game of the round Sandringham will host Preston Lions and should be a fairly matched game with both team sitting on six points and in sixth and seventh position respectively.

Preston managed a confidence boosting draw against Ashburton before the break and Sandringham will be looking to bounce back from their loss to South Melbourne.

The teams will play on Monday night at Kingston Heath Soccer Complex, which is a new ground for the Sandringham club, and will soon receive a $3.3 million upgrade announced in the state and federal budgets.

According to Shaun Parton, Sandringham’s WVPL coach, the club negotiated with the Bentleigh Green football club to play their home games at Kingston to give their top women players the best surface available and enhance their junior program.

Vipers so close to upset of the season

Monday 1 June 2009

The Bendigo Vipers gave Women’s VPL leaders Box Hill a scare on the weekend, going within a whisker of a major upset, but they were denied by a penalty kick which saw Box Hill take the match 1-0.

The Vipers, who remain winless this season, took it right up to the reigning premiers and had two solid chances in the first half, but Box Hill also had their own opportunities go begging and the game was deadlocked nil all at the major break.

In the second half, Box Hill began to send the ball long and over the defensive line in a desperate attempt to bypass Bendigo’s midfielders, who were denying Box Hill’s usual free flowing football.

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