The Eureka Strikers powered past the Eltham Redbacks in emphatic fashion on Sunday, rifling home seven goals to push themselves into top four contention.
After recording a series of losses to the league’s top three sides in South Melbourne, Melbourne University and South Yarra, the Strikers had a point to prove when they took to the wet pitch at Morshead Park.
While they had eased past the Eltham 6-2 in their round five encounter, the greatly-improved Redbacks had gone on to register wins against a number of top four opponents.
When the visitors managed to capitalise on a penalty in the 31st minute, it looked as though they were out to seek revenge for the previous result.
However it was Alison Pym who came to the rescue for the hosts seven minutes later, finding the back of the net with assistance from Lisie Dodds to keep the score level at half time.
A reinvigorated Strikers side took to the pitch after the restart, with star recruit Keryn Walters scoring her first goal for the club en route to a hattrick.
Some sharp passing enabled Nat Barbara to get on the board in the 50th minute, while Claire Demuth also got in on the action in the 85th .
With the result beyond doubt, the dynamic duo of Pym and Walters both managed to score in the last five minutes to help the Strikers register a 7-2 victory.
Strikers coach Laura Brady said her girls showed a heightened level of discipline in the encounter which she hoped would be sustained for the rest of the season.
Brady also praised the efforts of youngsters such as Vanessa Yung, who were pivotal in dismantling the Redbacks’ defence.
“In the first half the girls were still playing the ball a little bit too long, bit in the second half it was just a lot of one and two-touch football which opened up Keryn and Alison.
“It’s was just about being more patient and waiting for the gaps to open up.”
Influential midfielder Tess Curtain pulled up well from her 60 minutes on the pitch despite an injury concern earlier in the week, however an ongoing hip problem restricted defender Holly Williamson to just five minutes.
The Strikers will be hoping Williamson is fit for next week’s fixture against the Melbourne Knights, after she played a crucial role in the two side’s last encounter.
