Holly McNamara scored a hat-trick of goals from a hat-trick of Leah Davidson assists as Melbourne City ran out 3-1 winners over Perth Glory in Ninja A-League action at AAMI Park.
The first meeting of these two sides this season was played in perfect conditions in Melbourne and it was almost the perfect start for the visitors inside four minutes, with Bronte Trew firing just over the bar from a Rola Badawiya cross following an intense few minutes of Perth pressing the City defence.
Glory stuck to their game plan in the opening quarter, yet for all of their hard work it was Melbourne City who made the breakthrough thanks to a clinical Holly McNamara finish in the 23rd minute. She ran on to a lovely Leah Davidson ball through the middle of the park before firing past Teresa Morrissey for her fifth goal of the season.
And it was that combination again that saw City extend their lead on the stroke of half-time. As Perth tried to play out from the back, Chinaza Uchendu made light work of Tijan McKenna in possession on 18 yards, flicked it on to Davidson who fed McNamara for the low finish for her second of the match.
The half-time break initially seemed to be the reset that the Glory needed, and just four minutes into the second half the visitors put together a classy move to pull one goal back. A perfect long ball over the top from Georgia Cassidy found Grace Johnston down the right, before she cut it back from the byline to find a waiting Bronte Trew for a tap-in from two yards at the back post.
But City’s class shone through and on 71 minutes Davidson notched a hat-trick of assists and McNamara secured her hat-trick of goals with arguably her finest finish. Davidson found herself in acres of space in midfield and played an exquisite pass through Perth’s defence; McNamara’s first touch with her left took it away from two Glory defenders before she cooly chipped Morrissey with her right for her third of the match.
The win saw Melbourne City rise to third on the table with 13 points from just six matches, and McNamara move into top spot in the race for the Golden Boot with seven goals.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
WHAT THEY SAID
Melbourne City captain Rebekah Stott reflects on her side’s win over Perth Glory
Bronte Trew discusses her first Perth Glory goal in the Ninja A-League
