Box Hill United have defeated Caulfield United Cobras 5-0, in what felt like arctic conditions at Knox Regional Football Centre on Saturday night.
It was a dominant display by the away team, and although the Cobras managed to keep Box Hill to just the one conversion in the first half, the flood-gates opened soon after the second period began.
The Cobras defence struggled to contain an explosive Brush, who finish the night with a hat-trick, but could have easily had another one or two in the bag.
The Matilda played a more advanced role in the midfield, and linked very well along the middle of the park with Madelaine Richardson and Georgia Koutrouvelis, who all supported Melanie Camilleri as the lone striker.
It took seventeen minutes for Box Hill to finally break the deadlock, with Brush breaking through the Cobras line to curl her effort around the on rushing Jaye Todd to net her first of the match.
The remainder of the first period saw a handful of chances fall to Box Hill for no reward; Caulfield continued to clear the danger and were under the pump until the whistle blew to signal the break.
So far it had been a free-flowing encounter, with very few fouls committed, ensuring the spectators were kept well entertained by the play.
After the break, it was Brush again leading the charge with an early shot narrowly missing before Camilleri capitalised on a turn-over.
The forward buried her effort viciously into the top of the net from just inside the 18-yard box.
Caulfield were given no time to breathe and recover either, with Brush scoring immediately after the restart of play.
Three goals to the visitors and Caulfield finally began to find their feet in the match.
Their heads never dropped regardless of the score and they continued to fight as if it were still 0-0 deep into the second period.
Inside the remaining 20 minutes, Cristina Cardaci began to find her feet, turning inside a Cobras midfield before sending a 25-yard lob into the net from directly in front.
It wasn’t her first chance, nor her last, but Caulfield managed to contain the explosive winger for the remainder of the match.
Deep into added time, Brush capped off her hat-trick, superb finishing in tight situations just one of her many talents on show this evening.
But it was Caulfield with the last word, breaking through Box Hill’s tight defence with a clear one-on-one chance with the referee already holding the whistle in her mouth ready to end the match, but the shot was fired directly into the waiting arms of Melissa Barbieri.
An incredibly strong performance from Box Hill United, compounded by Caulfield United’s unwillingness to surrender, made the conditions completely worth it for those watching on from the sidelines.
Caulfield United Cobras 0 defeated by Box Hill United 5 (Brush 17’, 50’, 92’, Camilleri 49’, Cardaci 71’) at Knox Regional Football Centre [HT: 1-0]
Caulfield United Cobras: 32. Jaye Todd (GK), 20. Stephanie Locandro, 15. Pulli Gardiyawasam, 34. Stephanie Wood, 16. Irena Malliaras, 8. Anita Les, 23. Victoria Argyropoulos, 14. Dani Jackson, 9. Alex Vassilopoulos, 33. Louise McMullen, 3. Amy Kane
Substitutes: 10. Cassandra Siarabalos, 4. Jamie Brown, 6. Edita Mackaj, 12. Bree Gurr, 26. Sanja Vranesevic
Yellow Cards: Kane (68’)
Red Cards: Nil
Box Hill United: 11. Melissa Barbieri (GK), 6. Renee Zairis, 14. Georgia Koutrouvelis, 21. Cristina Cardaci, 7. Ellie Brush, 4. Madelaine Richardson, 32. Penny Bakopoulos, 8. Melanie Camilleri, 12. Angie Rassias, 16. Demitra Kallianis, 9. Letizia Sammut
Substitutes: 23. Alexandra Amore, 17. Katherine Fotopoulos, 18. Annie Remman, 5. Mata Heysen, 10. Julia Makridis
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil