Despite a monumental first half effort, and a host of first teamers missing, Caulfield United Cobras fell 4-0 to a Bundoora United outfit who were professional in obtaining the three points.
Lynchpin midfielder Louisa Bisby grabbed a double, with Elly Curo putting home a header and Monique Ianella weaving from defence to score a beautiful solo effort.
The first half saw the visitors Caulfield line-up with a chop and change line-up, which saw skipper Dani Jackson line up as a striker, and two midfielders shielding the back four.
A tactic to contain and counter was set out, and it was working to perfection in the opening stages as the Cobras defence held out and repelled a Bundoora attack, which nudged the ball around the 18-yard-box.
The home side offered plenty of lateral movement and hardly took a backwards first touch, as they let the football do the work in the harsh sunlight.
Rachel Alonso put in a number of early deliveries aimed at the tall figure of Curo in the middle, but instead, the ball twice found the head of the diminutive Jess Au at the far post, with both efforts going narrowly over.
Full-back Ianella waltzed forward on 10 minutes and found the ball at her feet just inside the area, but her driven effort was met by a diving save from Caulfield stopper Jaye Todd, who had a wonderful afternoon in goals.
Pulli Gariyawasam had the job watching the slippery figure of Au, but the full-back’s biggest moment was keeping out an early Bisby effort with a last ditch block.
Cobras continued to hold and like a slingshot, managed to fling the ball forward through Irena Malliaras, who found Alex Vassilopoulos over the top, but the forward struck wide under pressure.
Todd was once again sharp to deny Bundoora an opener, as the keeper dived to the feet of Alonso to claim a dangerous loose ball.
While midfielder Jess Pitts settled for watching her strike inside the box go over the bar, her partner in the middle Louisa Bisby found more success, as on 41 minutes, she controlled a long ball and slotted home low to make give Bundy reward for their control over the contest.
Just two minutes later, Bisby smashed home a second, but the ball was brought back for a tight offside call.
The lactic acid started to build in the heat and the legs became noticeable heavier as the game began to open up after a tense first half.
As a result, Bundoora were able to display their incisiveness, with the tempo up to a three beat.
It took 10 minutes of play for Bundy to grab a second, as Claudia Fruscazo swung a perfect cross in for the head of Elly Curo, who took her effort magnificently to double the lead.
With 20 minutes to play, Bisby eventually did grab her second, as she grabbed a goal directly from a corner kick, as the ball curled in off the far post.
In quick-time it was four unanswered, with Ianella scoring the pick of the goals at Hillsview.
The right back, who battled cramp in the dying embers of the clash, dashed forward with confidence, and weaved around three defenders on the edge of the area before curling past a helpless Caulfield keeper for four.
In the end, it was a deserved win for the home side, who were in control of the contest for the full 90 minutes, but there was plenty of positives for Caulfield to take into their Round 5 match against Box Hill United.
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Bundoora United 4 (Bisby 41’ 71’, Curo 56’, Ianella 72’) defeated Caulfield United Cobras 0 at Hillsview Reserve [HT: 1-0]
Bundoora United: 1. Beth MASON-JONES (GK), 2. Monique IANELLA, 13. Claudia FRUSCAZO, 10. Gulcan KOCA, 9. Tyla-Jay VLAJNIC (22. Deanna FRUSCAZO 78’), 7. Enza BARILLA (18. Hailee MESTTI 74’), 23. Jess PITTS, 16. Louisa BISBY, 11. Jess AU, 8. Elly Curo, 14. Rachel ALONSO (21. Claudia DIMASI 84’)
Unused Substitute(s): 6. Bianca ROSAJO, 20. Alissa BATTIUIOTTO
Yellow Card(s): Alonso 82’
Red Card(s): Nil
Caulfield United Cobras: 32. Jaye TODD (GK), 15. Pulli GARIYAWASAM (5. Vanessa KARAZISIS 60’), 23. Victoria ARGYROPOULOS, 20. Stephanie LOCANDRIO (10. Cassandra SIARABALOS 42’), 34. Stephanie WOOD, 16. Irena MALLIARAS, 6. Edita MACKAJ, 8. Anita LES, 14. Dani JACKSON (c) (24. Hollie MCDONALD 53’), 9. Alex VASSILOPOULOS, 12. Bree CURR (18. Grace BUCHAN 70’
Unused Substitute(s): 1. Jayede SHORTER
Yellow Card(s): Mackaj 65’
Red Card(s): Nil
Photo: Yianni Galanis/Caulfield United Cobras