New Boroondara coach Shaun Ontong has made a dream managerial debut, with his Eagles running out comprehensive 6-2 winners over heavyweights South Melbourne at Knox on Sunday.
Amy Jackson starred with her second hat-trick of the season, Taryne Boudreau and Aliesha Newman added singles of their own, while an own goal rounded out the Eagles’ tally.
Meanwhile, Alison Baker and Natalie Martineau scored South’s goals.
The hosts raced out of the blocks, catching the visitors napping right from kickoff when Boudreau was played through on the edge of the area and placed a shot past fill-in keeper Lauren Farrugia.
More poor defending let Amy Jackson in less than 15 minutes later, with South failing to clear their lines and letting the W-League midfielder in the box to put the ball away with a right footed effort.
South Melbourne pulled one back when Martineau – pushing up from fullback – put a first time ball into the box, which Saphri Lines took and cut back for Brittany Dudley-Smith to strike into the keeper, with Baker pouncing on the clearance and smashing it in from distance.
South pushed high, but it was to their detriment as the Eagles were fast in transition and got in behind their opponents, with Newman skipping past Farrugia and walking the ball into the net.
The home side added one more goal before the break right from a throw in, with Sarah Jacobs receiving the ball in attacking midfield and playing Jackson in on goal, who made no mistake for her second.
Dudley-Smith almost pulled another goal back, going on a mazy run down the left wing but ultimately hit the woodwork.
Emma Hubbard then missed a simple chance on the stroke of half-time, skying a ball after being left alone on the back post.
South Melbourne mirrored Boroondara’s early start in the second half, with Natalie Martineau – now pushed into the midfield – striking after the restart.
Amy Jackson then won a free-kick and curled in a set-piece for Hubbard to meet, though Farrugia pulled off a top diving save.
The visitors were agonisingly close to clawing the deficit back to one goal when keeper Maddie Webster’s clearance ricocheted into Tiff Eliadis and missed just wide of the post.
Yet all their good work was undone when Jackson’s corner kick went through Farrugia’s arms and in off Sarah Sumner for an own goal.
Jackson completed her hat-trick in the 62nd when her drive from distance caught out Farrugia off her line, whose touch wasn’t enough to prevent the ball from flying into the net.
Boroondara were content with sitting off their opponents towards the end of the contest, holding off South comfortably, though Webster did pull off a great save to deny Lines a late consolation goal.
The Eagles now travel to Comets Stadium to face Casey, while Melbourne will play the ‘South’ derby – as we’re dubbing it – against Yarra.
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Boroondara Eagles 6 (Boudreau 1′, Jackson 14′ 40′ 62′, Newman 26′, O.G 60′) defeated South Melbourne Women’s 2 (Baker 17′, Martineau 47′)
Boroondara Eagles: 1. Maddie Webster. 3. Ally Gayfer, 9. Alex Gummer (22. Aurore Martin 65′), 16. Alex Littlewood, 5. Sky Jensen, 15. Amy Jackson (11. Emma Gross 81′), 6. Ash Callaghan, 2. Sarah Jacobs, 17. Emma Hubbard, 7. Taryne Boudreau, 11. Aliesha Newman (18. Sarah Petty 73′)
Yellow Cards: None
Red Cards: None
South Melbourne: 1. Lauren Farrugia, 2. Brittany Dudley-Smith, 3. Jade Feakes (9. Sarah Sumner 46′), 5. Natalie Martineau, 6. Alex Cheal, 8. Carol Howes, 11. Saphri Lines, 10. Tiffany Eliadis, 13. Marianna Anthony (4. Chloe Dinoczky 46′), 14. Natalie Brajanovski (7. Rhea Schreuder 67′), 17. Alison Baker
Unused Sub: 50. Coco Majstorovic
Yellow Cards: None
Red Cards: None