It was a stunning performance by the Bulls FC Academy side as they proved too strong defeating the Northern Tigers 3-1 at Campbelltown Sports Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Bulls found an early lead courtesy of Claudia Valletta, before adding a second thirty seconds into the second half by Avaani Prakash.
Charlotte Lancaster then made it three for the Bulls, only for Claudia Cholakian to score a late solo goal which would be a consolation for the Tigers.
With Bulls head coach Jaime Gomez away on national team duty, Corey Gameiro stepped in, handing starting debuts to four newcomers, including Gemma Ferris and Amy Chessari (Western Sydney Wanderers), Charlotte Lancaster (Wellington Phoenix), and Isabella Volkanovski (Bankstown City Lions).
The home side began by putting the Tigers under considerable early pressure in a rain-soaked affair.
It was then on nine minutes that they leapt in front.
The Tigers struggled to clear their lines following a corner, the ball popping up for Valletta to head home from just outside the six-yard box.
Tamires Souza was heavily involved in the front third, showing all her technique and flair as well as holding the ball up, trying to involve her teammates.
And it was Souza that fed through Peta Trimis ten minutes after the goal, the later unable to beat Jodie Drever with a weak effort.
The Tigers had their first opportunity of the game around the half hour mark as Gemma Woolley bore down on Trudy Simmons, rounding the keeper but was unable to apply the final touch.
The Bulls then almost made it two via Trimis, only for Drever to make a brave save at the far post.
Just as the home side thought they’d go into half time comfortable, Caitlin Doeglas turned it on, getting beyond her defender before forcing Simmons into a fingertip save.
The fans weren’t even back into their seats when Trimis turned on the after burners, getting beyond her marker before squaring the ball up in the box for Prakash who finished with a powerful shot into the back of the net.
It was the worst possible start to the second half for the visitors as the Bulls began connecting via Trimis, Souza and Prakash.
At the other end, any sniff of a Tigers attack was brought under control by the fantastic Jessica Seaman.
Looking to put the game beyond doubt, Prakash and Trimis combined again and with the Tigers unable to clear their lines for a second time, it was a goal on debut for Lancaster who swept home.
With Seaman struggling with cramp and going off with 15 minutes to go, the Tigers began to take the initiative.
Pushing higher up the field, Simmons was called into action, making a few comfortable saves.
It was only a matter of time before the Tigers scored and it would be Cholakian who dribbled across the box before placing the ball into the far corner of the goal with a few minutes remaining.
The Tigers continued to pile on the pressure but weren’t able to add to the result, suffering their first defeat of the 2023 season.
The win would see the Bulls rise above the Tigers on the ladder and move into second place.
Match Stats
Bulls FC Academy 3 (Valletta 9’, Prakash 46’, Lancaster 56’)
Northern Tigers 1 (Cholakian 87’)
Saturday 29 April, 2023
Campbeltown Sports Stadium
Bulls FC Academy: 1. Simmons, 2. Trimis, 4. Seaman (22. Davison), 5. Lancaster (8. Hancock), 7. Prakash (16. Gyzen), 9. Chessari, 10. Souza, 11. Valletta, (10. Cheeseman), 13. Di Sciascio, 18. Volkanovski, 20. Ferris.
Subs Not Used: 21. Segavcic, 24. Corry.
Northern Tigers: 43. Drever, 2. Wilson, 3.Kilbride, 4. Lake, 5. Cabezas, 7. McNulty (35. Wharepouri), 10. Cholakian, 11. Woolley (58. Murray), 14. Bernardi (63. Cartwright), 15. McMahon (57. Meli), 21. Doeglas).
Subs Not Used: 43. Tseros,53. Watson.
-By Nikola Pozder