Cliftonville Hill (W) 1–4 Bayside Argonauts Women
Victorian Women’s Premier League – 26 July 2026

Bayside Argonauts Women produced a dominant away performance to defeat Cliftonville Hill 4–1 in the Victorian Women’s Premier League, moving into second place on the ladder. The visitors controlled proceedings from start to finish, with a clinical first‑half display that left the hosts with too much to overcome.

Match Overview

Cliftonville Hill, playing on their home ground, were hoping to build on a recent unbeaten run, but they met a Bayside side firing on all cylinders. The Argonauts took an early lead and never looked back, scoring three times before half‑time to effectively seal the result. The hosts pulled one back but could not mount a serious comeback.

Key Moments

• Early pressure: Bayside Argonauts opened the scoring in the 8th minute when striker Emily Thorpe collected a pass on the edge of the box and drove a low shot past the Hill goalkeeper.
• Rapid double: The visitors struck twice in five minutes around the half‑hour mark. Winger Sophie Tan doubled the lead in the 31st minute with a deflected cross, and midfielder Jess Carlisle made it 3–0 in the 36th minute with a long‑range effort.
• Hill response: Cliftonville Hill pulled a goal back just before the break (44’) – captain Laura Bennett rose highest to head in a corner, giving the home side a lifeline.
• Second‑half control: Bayside restored their three‑goal cushion in the 63rd minute when substitute forward Mia Li volleyed home after a brilliant move down the right flank.

Tactical Story

Bayside Argonauts employed a high‑pressing 4‑3‑3 that overwhelmed Cliftonville Hill’s midfield. The visitors’ full‑backs pushed high, creating overloads in wide areas. Hill attempted to counter through long balls to their target striker, but Bayside’s central defenders read the game well and snuffed out danger quickly. After going 3‑0 down, Hill switched to a 3‑4‑3 to chase the game, but that left gaps that Bayside exploited for the fourth goal.

Standout Performers

• Emily Thorpe (Bayside Argonauts): A goal and an assist, plus relentless pressing that set the tone.
• Jess Carlisle (Bayside Argonauts): Controlled the midfield and scored a stunning long‑range strike.
• Laura Bennett (Cliftonville Hill): The Hill captain was the home side’s best player, scoring a crucial header and organising the defence.

Table Impact

Bayside Argonauts Women’s win moved them to 31 points from 14 games, two points behind league leaders South Melbourne. Cliftonville Hill remain in 7th place with 18 points, now six points adrift of the top four. For Bayside, this emphatic victory sends a statement as the season approaches its critical final stretch.

The result means Cliftonville Hill will need to regroup quickly if they are to challenge for a finals spot. Bayside, meanwhile, will take immense confidence from a complete performance away from home.