Evado Studios Women’s Match Report: Four on the Bounce as Royals Dismantle Victory at Home of the Matildas

Four wins on the bounce was the ask after three consecutive victories, and Melbourne Victory away – at one of the country’s best surfaces, against a side that has troubled teams above them this season – was a proper test of whether this run is built on something real. The Royals went to Bundoora on Sunday and answered before half time.

An own goal from A. Dovaston on 30 minutes opened the scoring, and B. Peel added a second three minutes later, giving the Royals a 2-0 lead at the interval they had barely needed to strain for. Two goals in three minutes from a side that had been far and away the better team through the opening half is the kind of first 45 minutes that dictates everything to follow.

Kelli McGroarty completed the scoring on 82 minutes. It was, as it tends to be, the confirmation rather than the decision – but that is the measure of what McGroarty has built this season. Eleven goals from nine appearances. Scoring in every match since returning from her Round 5 suspension. The nickname is earned.

Melbourne Victory sit 10th on ten points from eight games. They beat Bulleen in Round 1 and drew with Heidelberg – this is not a side without quality. At the Home of the Matildas on Sunday, they could not produce it against a Royals team operating at something close to their ceiling.

The table after nine rounds: Box Hill United Pythagoras lead NPLW Victoria on 21 points, Boroondara Eagles second on 19 with a game in hand, and FC Bulleen Lions and Essendon Royals share 18 points in third and fourth, separated by goal difference. The run that built this position reads: Avondale away (3-1), Keilor Park away (3-2), Melbourne City at home (5-1), Melbourne Victory away (3-0). Three of the four wins came on the road. That is not a run that flatters the fixture list.

Sophie Dehne continues to deputise capably in goal for the still-absent Zara Board. The defensive platform in front of her has quietly become one of the reasons this side is climbing.

Four wins on the bounce is the kind of form that earns the right to look upward and mean it.