By Lance Jenkinson
On paper, it looked to be a tough start to the season for Calder United, but so far it has barely raised a sweat in the NPL Women’s competition.
Battles against Bulleen Lions in the community shield and Alamein in the opener of the season proper were looked at as tough initiations into a new season, but Calder registered big wins in both games.
They beat Bulleen 3-1 in the traditional welcoming to a new season in the community shield match and backed that up with a runaway 3-0 win over Alamein at Keilor Park Recreation Reserve on Saturday.
“It was a great way to start the season against what we consider good opponents,” Calder United president Eric Psarianos said.
“That’s Bulleen and Alamein, two top-four sides from last year, that we’ve beaten in successive weeks.”
Even with its ripping form, you can still reserve judgment over whether Calder United is the team to beat at this early stage.
We will know a fair bit about Calder’s credentials come 5.30pm on Saturday.
Calder will need to lift another notch when it hosts South Melbourne in what promises to be one of the games of the season at Keilor Park Recreation Reserve.
Calder and South have been the two dominant forces of Victorian women’s soccer in recent years and there are no signs of that rivalry abating in 2019.
Psarianos knows Calder will need to go through South Melbourne if it wants to return to the top.
“That’s the big game – it’s going to be a massive one,” he said. “There’s going to be a bit of a build-up because there’s a very good rivalry between the two clubs.
“We’re very much looking forward to next week.”
Photo Gallery: Calder United vs Alamein
After an arm wrestle with Alamein in the first half on Saturday, Calder United turned up the heat in the second half with three unanswered goals.
It took a spectacular strike from Catherine Zimmerman to break the deadlock and Calder never looked back.
“The first half was fairly even and there were chances on both sides,” Psarianos said.
“The girls really stepped up in the second half and played exceptionally well.
“We overran them completely.”
Alana Burn doubled the Calder United lead in the 68th minute before Zimmerman made it a double of her own with a goal in the 78th.
The highlight for Calder was undoubtedly Zimmerman’s performance, who is rated one of the top players in the league.
“She’s got a lot of facets to her game,” Psarianos said. “She’s got the long range shooting, the ball carrying skills and she gets into really dangerous spots.
“She’s one of these players who is really hard to keep up with because she’s super fit, extremely skilful and just hard to mark.”
A key to Calder United’s big second half
was the influence of substitute Marie Rampal.
The right back started many of United’s thrusts forward to heavily influence the game.
Emma Robers was praised for the leadership she has shown in her first two games as captain.
“Her leadership qualities are second to none,” Psarianos said.
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