For
once there were no surprises in the WPL, leaving the ladder the same
at the culmination of Round 15 as it was prior to the round.
Cranbourne still lead the way, and the top five clubs are now six
points clear of the rest of the league. Teams now enjoy a week’s
rest as there are no WPL games on the upcoming weekend.Box Hill Inter kept up the pressure on Cranbourne, which leads it by two points, with a four-goal victory at Ballarat and District. The win, Inter’s thirteenth of the season, keeps it second on the ladder, six points ahead of third. Ballarat remains bottom, following its fourteenth defeat of the season. With just seven games left, Ballarat is ten points away from the safety of tenth, and things are looking increasingly bleak.
Brimbank continued it late season resurgence with a strong 4-0 victory over the University of Melbourne. The result keeps Brimbank fifth and opens up a six-point gap between it and seventh placed Bendigo. The defeat is the University’s heaviest in recent weeks and it remains five points adrift of Eastern Lions and still very much threatened by relegation.
Ashburton and Heidelberg United seemed destined to repeat the draw that occurred last time the sides met, before a late goal gave Ashburton a 2-1 victory. The victory is Ashburton’s eighth of the season and keeps it fourth, ahead of Brimbank on goal difference. Heidelberg holds on to sixth place, but is now six-points adrift of the finals spots.
Cranbourne Comets produced another strong showing to defeat Eltham North 5-1 and notch its fourteenth victory of the season. Its tally of 42 points is two greater than its closest challenger, Inter, and keeps it on top of the ladder. Eltham’s eighth defeat of the season means that it remains ninth, four points ahead of Eastern Lions, and four behind South Melbourne.
Keilor Park bounced back to winning ways following its defeat by Brimbank last weekend, defeating struggling Eastern Lions 2-0. It was Keilor’s eleventh victory to date, and ensures it remains a comfortable eight points ahead of Ashburton, but still six behind Inter. Eastern Lions stay tenth, and are still in danger of being dragged into a relegation dogfight if their form doesn’t improve soon.