Women’s Match Report: Royals winning streak comes to an end at the hands of the Eagles
Essendon Royals’ three game winning streak came to an end on Saturday evening, after losing 5-0 to Boroondara-Carey Eagles at the Veneto Club.
A hat-trick from 2023 NPLW Victoria Golden Boot winner Kurea Okino, and strikes from Rosie Curtis and Golden Boot leader Gabby Hollar capped off a resounding performance for the Eagles who were too strong for the Royals from the word go.
The loss, coupled with FC Bulleen Lions and South Melbourne’s clash on Sunday afternoon ending in a 1-1 draw, meant Royals dropped to third on the ladder, on goal difference behind Hellas.
Watch the highlights from this weekend’s defeat.
They’re now also four points behind the league leaders, Bulleen, but still have a game in hand.
Fresh off a game three unbeaten run, coach Vince Battiato made two changes with Emily Sutcliffe and Raquel Deralas coming into the starting XI for Kendrah Smith and Marie Rampal.
However, it didn’t take long for the Eagles to hit the scoreboard, firing home not once, but twice inside the opening five minutes, stunning the visitors.
A lovely through-ball down the right-wing played through Anais Josefski, and her cross found the on-running Okino who sweetly hit the ball off the bounce and over Bethany Mason-Jones to open the scoring.
Royals found themselves under pressure immediately from the restart, after a clearance was blocked into the path of Okino, who composed herself yet again and fired home her second from range to give the Eagles a two goal advantage.
Essendon were able to steady things a little as the first-half progressed, but in the dying embers, the Eagles added a third before the break.
A free-kick from the right-hand side was swung into a dangerous area from Hayley Geurts, which sailed over the arms of Mason-Jones and into the path of Hollar, who nodded home her 16th goal of the season.
After half-time, Boroondara kicked ahead and put the result beyond doubt. Geurts tried her luck with a long-range free-kick, with her effort slamming off the crossbar and into the path of Curtis to nod home the Eagles’ fourth.
Less than 10 minutes later, Geurts was in the thick of the action again, feeding through Okino with a lovely through-ball and the Japanese attacker made no mistake, firing home her third.
Royals will be looking to bounce back next Saturday afternoon, when they return to face reigning champions South Melbourne at Cross Keys.