Box Hill United have returned to winning ways with a clinical 6-0 display at home on Friday night against Caulfield United Cobras.
Five players got on the scoresheet, including a double from Madelaine Richardson and bizarrely even a late effort from Matildas goalkeeper Melissa Barbieri.
Georgia Koutrouvelis gave Box Hill an early lead inside five minutes, with a long range effort that bounced right at United stopper Emily Woodward’s feet, forcing a mistake and an unfortunate missed save.
Caulfield’s usual fight was on display and after regaining some composure, Anita Les had a chance to level the match.
Barbieri was up to the task however, with a near post save at close range denying an early response from the visitors.
The struggle continued for much of the first period; Box Hill continued to build play and hold the ball for long periods while Caulfield’s attack was a constant threat with quick combinations providing a handful of opportunities to score.
As half-time approached, Caulfield gave away a free-kick just inside their own half for a hand-ball.
Richardson stepped up and sent in the most unlikely of shots, dipping under the crossbar and into the net.
The second half began in much the same way as the first, with an array of chances at both ends.
Woodward began to find her feet in goal for Caulfield, denying Box Hill with a pair of strong saves, until a costly turn-over saw the keeper off her line, which allowed Richardson to convert a second long range attempt.
Richardson was still completing her turn when she fired away, and it was this sense of urgency that gave her the edge on Woodward, as the keeper managed a finger on the shot but it wasn’t enough to prevent Box Hill’s third of the night.
A short time later, Les found space down the left wing and having drawn a defender, chipped a light pass across goal to an un-marked Amy Kane.
The pass, even as light as it was, was just a touch too heavy and Kane couldn’t bring it under control with time to shoot.
Caulfield struggled to contain Box Hill as the match wore on, as Emily Hulbert got in on the action, steering a snapshot in front of goal through traffic onto the inside of the upright and in.
Just a few minutes later, Koutrouvelis found Hayley Geurts through a number of defenders across goal with quite simply, the perfect ball.
Geurts wasted no time taking a quick touch to put the ball past the on-rushing Woodward.
With five goals and a win just ten minutes away, Maddie Webster took the place of Barbieri in goal, but the keeper didn’t leave the field.
Instead, the Matilda swapped the green of her keepers top for the blue of the outfield and took up position as a striker at the other end of the field.
Woodward popped up again to deny Box Hill yet again, with a superb split-second save, denying Cristina Cardaci right in front of goal.
The save however did allow Box Hill another chance with a corner, and it was Barbieri who put the final nail in the coffin from close range, burying a inch-perfect corner-kick and ensuring the points were banked by the home team.
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Box Hill United 6 (Koutrouvelis 4’, Richardson 41’ & 60’, Hulbert 73’, Geurts 78’, Barbieri 90’) defeated Caulfield United Cobras 0 at Wembley Park on Friday 10 July.
Box Hill United: 11. Melissa BARBIERI (GK), 32. Penny BAKOPOULOS, 21. Cristina CARDACI, 7. Emily HULBERT, 14. Georgia KOUTROUVELIS, 4. Madelaine RICHARDSON, 17. Kate FOTOPOULOS, 15. Hayley GEURTS, 19. Selena KARLSON, 18. Annie REMMAN, 5. Sarah WALSH
Substitute(s): 16. Rachel TOOSE, 8. Maia HEYSEN, 25. Stephanie SKARAS, 23. Alexandra AMORE, 1. Maddie WEBSTER
Yellow Card(s): Hulbert 52’
Red Card(s): Nil
Caulfield United Cobras: 2. Hannah WOODWARD (GK), 23. Victoria ARGYROPOULOS, 19. Ruby BINGHAM, 24. Hollie MCDONALD, 33. Louise MCMULLEN, 36. Ange DURSTON-RYAN, 14. Danielle JACKSON, 16. Irena MALLIARAS, 12. Bree GURR, 3. Amy KANE, 8. Anita LES
Substitute(s): Cassie MAYSTON, 17. Zoe HARACTSIS, 1. Jayde SHORTER, 21. Naomi ROBERTS, 34. Stephanie WOODS
Yellow Card(s): Jackson 83’
Red Card(s): Nil