Easts Women Overpower Pride
Words: Matt Dorman
Image: Eastern Suburbs FC
Eastern Suburbs Women rebounded from last week’s first loss of the season to beat Western Pride Women 6-0 at Heath Park on Saturday night.
The league leaders scored five in a dominant second half to shake off the disappointment of their last-start 2-1 loss away to Sunshine Coast Women.
Michaela Hatzirodos inspired the hosts early, providing a fine pass for Tiffany Roberts to make it 1-0 in the 13th minute by beating Alicia Brown at the near post.
Hatzirodos had two chances of her own to increase the lead but Easts were unable to add a second before the break, although they didn’t have to wait long to make it 2-0 in the second half.
Roberts played through fellow attacker Tegan Riding just seconds after the resumption and the competition’s top scorer made no mistake, calmly lifting her finish over the onrushing Brown.
It was 3-0 seven minutes later when Riding added a second from outside the area and Garrath McPherson’s side capped a commanding period in the 58th minute as Susanne McKeen pounced on a parried shot to make it 4-0.
Pride wrestled back a share of possession after the hour without truly threatening Easts ‘keeper Anastasia Mavrick.
The home side were far more consistent in creating chances and, after twice hitting the woodwork, were rewarded with two late goals in as many minutes.
Riding first completed her hattrick with a clinical finish before Harkana Dixon emphatically sealed the 6-0 victory with a thunderbolt from range.
Speaking after the match, Riding praised her teammates for helping make her first season at the club a success to date.
“I’ve loved the move to Easts. I’m really enjoying my football at the moment and it’s a good bunch of girls,” the Easts star said.
Pride player-coach Lorena Maggio rued her team’s sloppy defence.
“I think in patches we played really well. We had a few defensive errors which really cost us, some goals we probably could have done a bit better with,” Maggio said.
Eastern Suburbs FC Women 6 (Tiffany ROBERTS 13’ Tegan RIDING 46’, 53’, 85’ Susanne McKEEN 58’ Harkana DIXON 86’)
Western Pride FC Women 0
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