Whittlesea Ranges v Darebin Falcons
Darebin Falcons enjoyed a day out at Lalor on Sunday, blasting eight goals past Women’s State League Division Two North West strugglers Whittlesea Ranges.
The 8-1 stroll catapulted Darebin back into the top four, and wins in their remaining two matches would probably ensure that remained the status quo at the season’s end.
When these teams met earlier in the season, a sloppy display from the Falcons resulted in a nervy 5-4 victory.
Carolyn Monk saw red in that fixture but made amends on Sunday, making a habit of being in the right place at the right time to net a hat-trick.
Two of those came in a dominant first half from the Falcons, who were 7-0 ahead by half-time.
Lauren Proudfoot opened the floodgates with a shot on the turn 20 minutes in, and Kathryn Sparks (two), Niddy Morgan and Nicky Leitch also got themselves on the scoresheet by half-time.
Facing another demoralising result, the youthful home side resorted to roughhouse tactics in the second half, which did little to enhance the game as a spectacle.
Darebin continued to boss the possession without really looking like adding to the score, although there was time for Monk to complete her hat-trick from one of the moves of the match 10 minutes from time.
Minutes later Sparks went off with a hamstring injury, leaving Falcons a player short, and as they were adjusting their formation, Whittlesea struck from a breakaway to gain the slightest of consolations.
A welcome bye next weekend gives the Falcons’ walking wounded time to recover before crunch games against La Trobe University (sixth) and Keilor Park (third) decide their fate.