Boroondara Eagles soared to new heights on Sunday, defeating South Yarra by a margin resembling a converted rugby union try at Fawkner Park.
The usual suspects did the damage, with all of Sarah Jacobs, Amy Jackson and Taryne Boudreau scoring braces, while Aliesha Newman added a single to the Eagles’ tally.
Despite a competitive first half, the hosts crumbled under the weight of physical and emotional exhaustion in the second half, following a heartbreaking defeat against Sandringham the week before.
In a quick start by Boorondara, Jacobs scored within 90 seconds after ghosting into the box to meet Newman’s cross from the right flank, following a training ground move involving combination play between the front third.
Jacobs had another goal eight minutes later, finishing a loose ball in the box to double the visitors’ lead.
South Yarra were quickly forced to find their feet, and for the majority of the half were able to restrict Boroondara to long shots and half chances, fashioning a golden opportunity of their own just before the break.
It came in the form of a slick passing move that culminated in a through ball for Sara Alberici, though the ball didn’t sit for her to hit comfortably enough, skewing the effort agonisingly wide.
The hosts did earn a corner moments later, with the resulting delivery saved expertly by Anna Lanning from just under the crossbar.
The visitors rubbed salt into the wound with a quick break, getting the ball up the other end immediately for Taryne Boudreau to score from the edge of the area past Claire Imray, who was already suffering a badly jarred thumb from an earlier save.
The injury was so bad it required treatment across the road at the Alfred Hospital at half time, as Imray returned with a cast around the thumb.
By the break Yarra were both physically and mentally wounded, having lost their ‘keeper and spurning a chance to make the scoreline 1-2, falling 0-3 behind in the next passage of play.
It led to a deluge of possession and shots from the Eagles, who put their foot down and showed no mercy to their opponents, scoring moments after the restart and just before full time, with two more goals sandwiched in between.
Amy Jackson got proceedings going in the second half, scoring a brace, including one cracking free-kick from around 35 metres near the sideline that caught everybody off guard and nested itself into the back of the net.
With time ticking away and coach Shaun Ontong looking to bring on Sarah Petty for Aliesha Newman deeper into the match, the winger responded by scoring a goal after converting a cross.
She was then duly rewarded with a rest on the pine.
With the contest well and truly over, Boudreau then wrapped up proceedings with the final goal before the whistle, beating a number of players through the middle before finishing with aplomb.
It capped off a near flawless day for the Eagles, who will now face Bundoora United in a tantalising 1st vs 2nd clash at Knox Regional Football Centre on Sunday, while South Yarra will have to regroup and face the NTC, who are coming off a 7-1 victory over Caulfield Cobras.
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South Yarra SC 0 defeated by Boroondara Eagles 7 (Jacobs x2, Jackson x2, Boudreau x2, Newman) at Fawkner Park
Referees report currently unavailable