A strong performance on all fronts saw Bundoora United return to the top of the table, as they drubbed a disappointing Box Hill United 4-1 in their Women’s Premier League fixture on Saturday afternoon.
Rachel Alonso was the undoubted star of the day as the midfielder assisted once to go alongside a hat-trick, in an action packed 90 minutes.
The sun did its best to pierce the chill running across the Hillsview Reserve pitch, as the crowd took their respective places along the fencing of the astroturf.
There was a false start of sorts as Beth Mason-Jones copped a knock from Melanie Camilleri in her attempt to open the scoring from a Cristina Cardaci cross.
The youngster took a moment to regain her composure on the sidelines but was ultimately cleared to re-enter the fray.
Not long after and the game saw its first strike of the day through the aforementioned Alonso.
Despite large protests for an offside from the Box Hill camp, Alonso broke the defensive line to perfection following a superb ball from Jess Pitts.
She was then left with the simple task of rounding the keeper and tapping home; the ball evading the desperate covering lunge of Renee Zairis in the process.
The second of the afternoon came soon after, as Alonso’s 14th minute corner beat Box Hill keeper Emily Southwell for pace.
The ball went past the keeper at the near post, towards Elly Curo, who got a final touch onto a ball that looked destined for the net anyway.
Curo saw consecutive headers cleared off the line by a Box Hill defence still licking their wounds from a brutal opening 20 minutes.
Box Hill’s chance to attack came through Camilleri, who first couldn’t fashion a shot on target from outside the area before seeing a tame effort held by Mason-Jones.
The little spell of possession amounted to nothing as the opening half came to a close, and they came back out after the break knowing they’d need to make a fast start should they harbour any ambitions of winning the game.
A five goal second half against South Yarra the week before laid belief that it was a possibility, but that was soon dashed as Bundoora struck with a swift hammer blow, three minutes from the restart.
A loose ball deep in defence was capitalised on in emphatic fashion by the bright Jess Au, who swooped to gain possession before unselfishly squaring up for Alonso’s second.
A hat-trick cruelly evaded the Lady Red as she chipped an onrushing Southwell, but the keeper had just enough pace to rush back and keep the ball from crossing the line.
Alonso didn’t have to wait too long however as some telepathic football and a neat exchange between Enza Barilla and herself saw the attacking midfielder bundled down in the area.
She then stepped up to take the spot kick, confidently rolling the ball to the right and sending Southwell the wrong way.
The game wasn’t without its controversy however as Jess Pitts was shown a straight red in the 75th minute for what was officially marked as the use of offensive language.
Her teammates were aggrieved with the decision, crowding around the referee with the same astonishment shown by the young dynamic midfielder who had just received her marching orders.
Box Hill with the numerical advantage enjoyed a prolonged spell inside their attacking half, and pushed hard to peg a goal back
Cardaci worked hard across the flanks and Georgia Koutrouvelis helped control the midfield in the final quarter of an hour, but the eventual consolation came through defender Penny Bakopoulos.
With four minutes of injury time played, Bakopoulos profited on the Box Hill pressure with a clean strike on the half-volley from the edge of the area.
The win sees Bundoora return to the summit of the WPL, while the heavy loss for Box Hill leaves them searching for a consistency that they’ve longed for this season.
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Bundoora United 4 (Alonso 10′ 48′ 69 [p]’, Curo 14′) defeated Box Hill United 1 (Bakopoulos 90+4′)
Bundoora United Squad: 1. Bethany MASON-JONES (GK), 2. Monique IANNELLA (21. Claudia DIMASI 67’), 10. Gulcan KOCA, 13. Claudia FRUSCASZO, 9. Tyla-Jay VLAJNIC, 7. Enza BARILLA, 23. Jess PITTS, 11. Jess AU (18. Hailee MESITI 89’), 14. Rachel ALONSO, 8. Elly CURO (15. Krystal McCLUSKY 81’), 3. Emma HECKENBERG
Unused Substitute(s): 22. Deanna FRUSCASZO, 24. Mia KILLICK
Yellow Card(s): Curo 80’
Red Card(s): Pitts 75’
Box Hill United: 1. Emily SOUTHWELL (GK), 32. Penny BAKOPOULOS, 12. Angie RASSIAS (3. Elise KYRGIOS 90’), 4. Madelaine RICHARDSON, 5. Sarah WALSH (17. Katherine FOTOPOULOS 69’), 2. Renee ZAIRIS, 8. Melanie CAMILLERI (23. Alexandra AMORE 59’), 7. Emily HULBERT, 14. Georgia KOUTROUVELIS, 18. Annie REMMAN ((19. Selena KARLSON 90’), 9. Cristina CARDACI
Unused Substitute(s): 15. Hayley GEURTS
Yellow Card(s): Nil
Red Card(s): Nil