BALLARAT Eureka Strikers have cruised to a comfortable round two win in the Football Federation Victoria Team App Cup.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Strikers beat a hapless Monash University 4-0 on the road on Sunday.
The tone was set early when Jordan Ivey got on the end of an Alyson Pym cross at the back post to slot home in the first minute.
Tessa Curtain doubled the lead four minutes later with a lovely left-footed shot that sailed over the goalkeeper’s head.
The early cushion allowed the Strikers to experiment early in the game, with Molly Esmonde, Claire Demuth and Georgia Morgan all getting extended time on the pitch.
Ballarat dominated possession, which saw Monash unable to mount any attack on goals.
Kate Lyons, who made her debut as the senior goalkeeper, had a quiet day between the sticks.
The second half started in the same vein as the first.
Curtain slotted home her second in the 55th minute before Jasmine Emselle successfully headed in an Ivey corner in the 61st.
Monash was limited to making speculative long balls forward which were easily cut out by Ballarat’s defence, led by Millie Martin.
Curtain, the Strikers’ only leadership member on the park, was particularly impressive, despite being rested for much of the second half.
Pym and Martin were instrumental in providing experience and guidance to the younger players around them.
Natalie Barbara, 15, led the way in showing what the next crop of players can produce.
Switched from right midfield into a pivotal central midfield role, she was responsible for controlling much of the Strikers’ possession and had a passing efficiency rate of 80 per cent.
Esmonde and Demuth both showed attacking promise and offered a high degree of pressure on the Monash defence, while Morgan looked comfortable in the defence.
Next week, the Eureka Strikers take on Doncaster Rovers in women’s state league one.
Jasmina Zdelar, Holly Williamson, Lily McLean and Lulu Al-Huneidi are all expected to return to the senior squad.