While it was a tightly contested first half of the Football Federation Victoria’s women’s state league two north-west clash, with the home team just one goal ahead at the break, Strikers capitalised in the second half.

Sophie Emota scored twice in 10 minutes, before Natalie Barbara managed her second and Renee Boag put the icing on the cake with the Strikers’ fifth at the 77-minute mark.

Strikers coach Adam Vranesic said his team adapted well after contending with a strong wind in the first half.

“I think we were trying to play the ball a little bit too long and just weren't hitting our passes, but in the second half we shortened up and made sure we used the wind to our advantage,” he said.

“I found in the first half our midfielders weren’t dropping back close enough to our defenders to get the ball, so while our defenders were trying to play the ball out, the wind just kept holding it up, so it wasn’t getting to our targets.”

While Vranesic said the players had a lot more opportunities they could have put away to produce an even bigger winning margin, the game marked a good turnaround from the previous time the two teams met.

Melbourne University defeated the Strikers comfortably, 3-0, in round three at Princes Park Oval.

Vranesic was happier with Sunday’s performance.

“They didn’t trouble us too much in front of goal,” he said.

“But in the first half they did have a lot of the ball because of us giving it back a little bit too easy, but they didn’t really do too much with it to hurt us.”

The home outing also marked a special occasion for Jasmine Emselle, who played her 150^th game.

“We made sure everyone had that in mind before we went out and she actually had a really good game herself – her and Nat really stood out,” Vranesic said.

Alysha-Grace Reisacher missed the game due to an ankle injury sustained at training on Thursday night.

After pulling up sore in the warm up, the Strikers took a cautious approach with Reisacher and rested her.