Tara Murray
Calder United is back at the pointy end of the Nike F.C Cup through to the final four of the knock out of competition.
The five-time reigning champions played some of their best soccer of the season on Tuesday night to beat Heidelberg United, 5-2 and win through to the semi finals.
Calder co-coach Helen Winterburn said it was really exciting to be through to the last four again.
“It was a good game for the girls, backing up a good win on the weekend,” she said.
“We played some really good football and it was good to see.
“I think we played really well defensively and didn’t let them have too many chances. We were able to convert our chances in front of goal.
“Scoring five goals is a good thing, it was a great performance across the pitch.”
Calder had five different goal scorers, with the first goal coming in the 22nd minute and the final in the dying minutes of the game in injury time, showing their dominance throughout.
Winterburn said the goals were a reward for all the hard work that the group has been putting in.
“It just shows the girls are putting in all season,” she said. “There’s been a few games played really and have not got the points.
“To see it all come together it is really good.”
Winterburn highlighted the game of Keiwa Hieda who had a couple of assists before finding the final goal on Tuesday night.
Winterburn said the club embraced the pressure that the Nike F.C Cup brings with the club’s recent success in the competition.
She said they were keen to win the competition for a sixth straight season and win the club’s second trophy of the season.
Calder’s focus also remains on the National Premier League Women’s competition, which it also won last season.
Winterburn said things were starting to come together now.
“We’ve got some players back from injury and got players back from the A-League,” she said.
“Alana Cerne and Natasha Dakic in the back have been really good for us and everything is coming together in the front third and we are scoring goals.”
Calder had a bye on the weekend.
Winterburn said they were ready for the back part of the season.
“We want to make a push for finals,” she said. “We are in fifth and just outside the top four.
“We’ll control what we can control and push for finals.”
