An impressive Boroondara has sent nine goals past Caulfield United Cobras, with Amy Jackson the undoubted star of the contest, scoring over half her team’s goals.
The tone was set early after the Cobras failed to safely clear a dangerous corner, conceding after just six minutes when Emma Hubbard – though many still claim it was Aliesha Newman – converted through traffic.
Emma Littlewood helped launch Jackson’s night, sending in a delightful throw-in into space that allowed the Victory W-League player room to take a touch on the edge of the box and shoot for the opposite corner of the net.
The lead was out to three in the 17th minute when Rani Cavarretta split the hosts’ defence and slotted home calmly past the onrushing shot stopper.
Caulfield’s frustration was beginning to show, giving away a penalty by knocking Jackson off the ball inside the 18-yard-box.
The referee showed little hesitation in making the call, with Ash Callaghan wasting no time in taking the spot-kick.
The home side had an almighty mountain to climb after the break following a four-goal half from the joint ladder leaders.
Yet as play restarted, the task was made all the more difficult when the visitors pounced upon the Cobras once more, forcing a turnover just seconds into play.
Amy Jackson resumed her second half with an opportunity in space down the right wing, with her effort curling beautifully away from Jayde Shorter’s hands almost as if it had tempted the goalkeeper, only to curl away at the perfect moment.
The midfielder followed up with back-to-back attempts that smashed into the woodwork, meaning for now her hat-trick would have to wait.
With the scoreline at 0-5, Caulfield found a crack in the Boroondara defence when Durston-Ryan came close to scoring an unlikely goal, but unfortunately for the substitute her attempt rose over the bar.
Her effort certainly inspired the Cobras for a period of time.
The Caulfield defence was just beginning to cope with the relentless pressure applied by the Eagles when Jackson popped up to score her hat-trick with 20 minutes to play; the visitors had managed five, even six attempts at goal from within the box before Jackson finally found the net.
Cavarretta, playing superbly, sent Jackson through on goal with a gorgeous ball curling in behind the Caulfield defence, finding her left foot for a bullet of a finish to take her personal tally to four from a team total of seven.
Jackson still wasn’t done just yet, as with ten minutes to play, she broke through the middle to score her fifth and final goal.
Jackson’s performance was but one out of a team of standouts, her killer instinct in front of goal complemented a team playing in complete unison.
A horror occasion for the home team was capped off with a second penalty awarded in the dying minutes, with Alex Gummer stepping up and sending the ball down the middle of the net, while Shorter dived wide.
Caulfield were perhaps unlucky on the night to come up against a team that barely put a stud wrong all night, as everything went Boroondara’s way in what was a clinical and emphatic team display.
The final score of 0-9 to the Eagles goes a long way in their hunt to secure top spot outright.
Caulfield United Cobras 0 defeated by Boroondara Eagles 9 (Hubbard 6’, Jackson 15’ 46’ 68’ 72’ 80’, Cavarretta 17’, Callaghan 26’, Gummer 86’) at Knox Regional Football Centre [HT: 0-4]
Caulfield United Cobras SC: 1. Jayde SHORTER (GK), 19. Ruby BINGHAM, 35. Shelby SWINEY, 23. Victoria ARGYROPOULOS, 24. Hollie MCDONALD, 16. Irena MALLIARAS, 34. Stephanie WOOD, 14. Danielle JACKSON, 3. Amy KANE, 25. Luda LAVERDURE, 8. Anita LES.
SUBS: 22. Cassandra MAYSTON, 36. Ange DURSTON-RYAN, 17. Zoe HARACTSIS, 13. Aicha PHIPPS-BOOTH
Boroondara Eagles FC: 1. Anna LANNING (GK), 3. Ally GAYFER, 16. Emma LITTLEWOOD, 5. Sky JENSEN, 22. Olivia ELLIS, 6. Ash CALLAGHAN, 31. Rani CAVARRETTA, 9. Alex GUMMER, 17. Emma HUBBARD, 15. Amy JACKSON, 11. Aliesha NEWMAN
SUBS: 55. Jess TAY, 8. Ellen TURNER, 10. Emma GROSS