A FIVE-goal closing stanza has seen Ballarat Eureka Strikers swamp Doncaster Rovers in Football Federation Victoria women’s state league one on Sunday.
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The Strikers secured a dominant 7-2 victory in round four on the road at Anderson Park.
It took just three minutes for Lulu Al-Huneidi to slot home the Strikers’ first after a great run through the Doncaster defence.
Doncaster scored the equaliser in the 16th minute in a passage of play that saw Tessa Curtain sidelined with a blood nose for 20 minutes.
The home side frustrated the Strikers with an effective off-side trap in the opening half, with the visitors only finding the back of the net once more – through Jordan Ivey from long range in the 38th minute – for a 2-1 lead at the break.
Ballarat came out firing on the restart, with Hannah Kozaris capitalising on offensive pressure to curl one home into the top left-hand corner from outside the box.
Doncaster continued to apply pressure with a second goal shortly after, finally sparking the Strikers into action.
Al-Huneidi made her brace when she found the back of the net three minutes later and subsequently brought up a hat-trick when she headed in a cross from Alyson Pym.
Pym would go on to score a goal of her own in the 65th minute with a tap in from a Nat Barbara cross, before Curtain, recovered from her nose injury, drilled home another with a blistering strike.
Despite the result, Ballarat’s passing lacked the crispness that has been evident in recent games, and it took the side a full half to foil Doncaster’s off-side trap.
The Strikers are facing the potential loss of Lily McLean to a nasty foot injury, who will be X-rayed to determine the damage.
Earlier in the day, the development squad won 10-0 in a clinical performance, with Sally Gentle netting seven.
Despite the result, Strikers officials acknowledge there is more work to be done ahead of this Sunday’s clash against Cairnlea.
Cairnlea, which was relegated from the women’s premier league last season, was on the end of a shock 5-3 loss to Brighton at the weekend.
In a testament to Ballarat’s improved form, the rebranded club has already scored one more goal (13) than in the entire 2014 season.
Meanwhile, the Strikers also have the meanest defence in the league, conceding just three goals in four matches.
