Boroondara Eagles have held off a spirited NTC 4-1 at another arctic night at Knox Regional Football Centre on Sunday night.
Whilst the entertaining Mother’s Day encounter was closer than the scoreline suggests, with NTC enjoying good periods of possession throughout the 90 minutes, it could paradoxically have also have been a much bigger margin in favour of the hosts if not for the efforts of Teresa Morissey between the sticks.
The foundations of the win were built on two early goals by Amy Jackson and Emma Hubbard before the visitors settled into the contest, with late goals in each half by Aliesha Newman and Taryne Boudreau ballooning the margin, despite Emily Harbis pulling one goal back for the NTC in the second period.
Spectators barely took their places before Sarah Jacobs won the ball in midfield after kickoff and played Boudreau through on the right wing, who cut back in and curled a left footer just over the bar.
Only two minutes later Amy Jackson was also put through on goal and made no mistake with her effort, giving the Eagles the quick lead.
Not even 10 minutes had elapsed before Boroondara had another goal courtesy of Sarah Jacobs, who went on a mazy run down the left wing and crossed in a peach of a delivery for Hubbard to nod home.
Adriana Taranto looked to spark an NTC comeback, darting through the middle of the pitch before hitting an effort that was blocked by a defender.
The Eagles onslaught looked to continue as Teresa Morissey was tested again on multiple occasions, saving Boudreau’s shot after a Hubbard through ball, before then also denying the latter’s strike.
NTC settled thereafter, more comfortable on the ball with Harbis and Whitney Knight looking threatening up front, though Anna Lanning remained untroubled for the remainder of the half.
Despite their ascendancy, the visitors were blitzed in transition, with the Eagles getting numbers back well and releasing Newman – via Gummer’s piercing diagonal ball – who made no mistake with the finish.
Happy Mother’s Day to all the lovely crazy soccer Mum’s watching #BEvNTC #WPLVIC @wplvictoria @BoroondaraEagle cheering from afar!
— Little W Wren (@LWWren) May 10, 2015
The Eagles were close to extending their lead after the break as Jackson hit the crossbar and Boudreau was again denied by Morissey after exquisite build up play.
Despite the home side looking most likely to score, in no way were the NTC out of the contest, often doing well in possession without finding a killer ball into their forwards.
The moment finally arrived when Knight was played through on the right wing, but she hit her shot over the bar.
NTC’s pressure told just minutes later when Harbis hit a powerful shot that Lanning stunningly saved with her leg, but it was to no avail as it landed back to Harbis for the second time finish.
With the contest nearing to a close, the NTC kept pushing and hit a couple more shots off target.
However, they were undone when Boudreau pounced on a loose ball at the back and was finally able to slot past Morissey, who had denied a number of her shots throughout the night.
Boroondara Eagles (Jackson 3′, Hubbard 9′, Newman 43′, Boudreau 89′) defeated Senior NTC 1 (Harbis 73′) at Knox Regional Football Centre
Boroondara Eagles: 1. Anna Lanning, 8. Ellen Turner, 5. Sky Jensen, 16. Emma Littlewood, 9. Alex Gummer, 6. Ash Callaghan, 15. Amy Jackson, 2. Sarah Jackson, 17. Emma Hubbard, 7. Taryne Boudreau, 11. Aliesha Newman, 21. Alondra Villa, 10. Emma Gross, 28. Bindi Bryce, 12. Sarah Petty, 22. Aurore Martin
Yellow Cards: Jackson 85′
Red Cards: None
NTC: 16. Teresa Morissey, 9. Joey Cartwright, 14. Edith Fordyce-Croker, 7. Emily Harbis, 11. Whitney Knight, 33. Ashleigh Lefevre, 25. Melindaj Barbieri, 8. Melissa Taranto, 6. Adriana Taranto, 31. Coby McInerney, 3. Natasha Dakic, 30. Celia Kelsall, 17. Hayley Richmond, 2. Jaimee Williams, 28. Nikolina Bucalo, 22. Molly Burke
Yellow Cards: None
Red Cards: None