By Lance Jenkinson
Calder United caught fire in a scintillating second half to demolish Senior NTC 12-0 in the National Premier League Women’s competition at Knox Regional Football Centre on Saturday.
Calder produced an offensive explosion rarely seen as they piled on nine, second-half goals, including six goals in eight crazy minutes from the 70th to the 78th.
“It was very one-sided all game,” Calder president Eric Psarianos said. “We just went into another gear.”
Calder United’s defensive unit was barely tested in the first half.
Three Calder goals in 10 minutes from the eighth to the 18th from Catherine Zimmerman, Melissa Taranto and Alycia Eicke killed off the game as a contest.
The scoring dried up a little as the undermanned Senior NTC showed some resistance towards the back end of the first half.
However, any positives for Senior NTC going into the break were gone in the second half.
Calder’s constant pressure forced the Senior NTC defence to crack and then there was no stopping Calder from doing as it pleased.
Aleksandra Sinclair bookended an incredible spurt of nine goals in 33 minutes.
Sinclair scored in the 51st and 84th minutes, finishing with a double after a fine day on the front line.
In between Sinclair’s goals, Zimmerman completed her hat-trick, netting in the 64th and 71st minutes.
Substitute Raquel Deralas got in on the act in the 70th, the first of that incredible onslaught of six goals in eight minutes from Calder.
Rachel Binning scored in the 74th, while captain Emma Robers goaled in the 75th.
Emily Hulbert got a quick fire double in the 75th and 78th minutes.
It was a ruthless performance from a Calder side that is top of the table with three wins from three, including three clean sheets and a goal difference of 18+.
While the victory was pleasing for Calder, Psarianos holds concerns for the Senior NTC, the home of some of the most talented teenage players in the state.
Senior NTC was not at full strength but blowing an elite team off the park by 12 goals is not a good look, nor does it help player development.
“They were missing three or four girls who were away with the Young Matildas, so they were very undermanned, but they almost gave up in the end,” Psarianos said.
“It was demoralising for some of their younger girls and I hate seeing that, but it’s not our responsibility.
“Hopefully the people running the program will be able to set them straight.”
Calder will face a much tougher test when third-placed Box Hill United visits Keilor Park Recreation Reserve on Saturday.
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