By Peter Stephenson
Barkerettes (second) travelled to Alphington Park Oval hoping to improve their Jekyll-and-Hyde home-and-away form (won last eight at home, lost last four away). Hosts Alphington sat eighth on the ladder, but had taken points off Monash last week, so were not to be underestimated.
The hosts caused a scare after two minutes when Barkers’ Alexis Sketchley cleared off the line, then Amy D’Ortenzio hit a shot straight at home keeper Natalie Stewart. On seven minutes, D’Ortenzio had two shots blocked as Barkers began brightly in the lunchtime sun.
Then on 10 minutes, Kelly Butera and D’Ortenzio had further shots blocked before Emily Stokes stuck the ball into the top corner for 1-0. Less than a minute later, sheer persistence and pressure from Alizah Jones saw her double Barkers’ tally to 2-0.
Alphington had another dangerous chance on 17 minutes, but this time it was Hannah Lee who cleared from a forward who seemed certain to score. Seven minutes before the break, Anita Caro Salve had a free kick on the left wing. She lined it up with a few sidesteps a la Johnny Wilkinson before floating the ball beyond the far post.
Before the break, the hosts lobbed a shot over, then had a dangerous attack thwarted by Sketchley. Half-time – Alphington 0-2 Mooroolbark, with Barkers well in control.
Five minutes into the second half, Alphington’s Elizabeth Motton hit a dangerous free kick, but Ashleigh Fraraccio held well. Then the hosts’ Sophie Uwland was released by a through ball and scored a lovely goal, but the flag was up for offside.
Barkers now peppered the hosts’ goal. D’Ortenzio had a shot saved, then a Caro Salve free kick was headed wide by Butera. Then Jones hit the ball over from close range. Finally, an absolutely sublime passing move led to a ball in from the right which Jones flicked over Stewart into the corner of the net – it was either a fluke or a stroke of genius. Less than a minute later, D’Ortenzio won a crunching tackle and her shot was saved, but Jones mopped up the crumbs for her first Barkerette hat-trick and 4-0.
The final action was surreal. As Barkers converged on the Alphington goal, a defender simply caught the ball –penalty to Barkers. Butera dispatched the kick, and the final score was Alphington 0-5 Mooroolbark, a win just as comprehensive as the scoreline indicates. Barkers will stay second assuming Collingwood have beaten Lilydale, and next week host Malvern at Esther Park.
