Reigning Lotto Northern Premier Women's League champions Eastern Suburbs were no match for a Claudelands Rovers combination inspired by five of their finest players at Galloway Park on June 1, the home team prevailing 3-0 over a side which has been ravaged by injuries and absences for other reasons in recent weeks. But even had Suburbs been at full strength, they would have had their hands full containing a team boasting a quintet of quality footballers who, when they play as they can - as they did on this occasion, are an absolute pleasure to behold in action. Defensive lynchpin Kate Carlton, creative genius Olivia Chance, goalscoring goddess Helen Collins, marauding fullback Kylie Jens and midfield dynamo Kate Loye were at their devastating best at times in this clash between the last two league champions. There were times, of course, when they over-baked the cake, e.g. over-hit passes here, mis-directed ones there, but on the occasions when their combination play came together - the second goal, for instance, was an absolute work of art - they were just unstoppable. Rovers first got the mix right on the quarter-hour, and promptly took the lead. After the home team had started well, Suburbs were just beginning to make some headway when Chance atoned for a Loye error and retrieved possession for her side, before feeding Jens. The fullback pinged an early ball forward for Collins to pursue through the inside left channel, and from the most acute of angles, the striker beat Rachael Slocum all ends up with a shot which fizzed into the net by the far post. It was a blow the visitors could ill afford, given the limited options available to them in this match, but they wasted little time in endeavouring to restore parity. Melanie Gooch galloped down the right after exploiting an Eileish Hayes error, and fired over a cross intended for Jolene Muir. The ball never reached her, Carlton's timely intervention thwarting that raid and sparking a counter-attack which culminated in Slocum racing out of her area to beat Collins to the ball, only for the pair to collide seconds later. Referee Andy Holdsworth, who was guilty of one or two weird and far from wonderful calls throughout proceedings, and one or two exceptionally good ones as well, was in two minds over this incident twenty-five yards from goal, ultimately opting to play on, a decision which earned him a dirty look from a shaken striker who was gingerly getting back to her feet. After Rebecca Brown had spurned a great chance by shooting straight at Slocum upon receipt of Jens' superbly angled cross-field ball, Rovers produced another eye-popping move in the 22nd minute which was deserving of better fate. Loye played the ball wide to Jens, whose low cross was partially cleared by Chelsey Wood. Chance picked up the pieces and fed Jeanette Adams, whose shot was blocked by Rebecca Tegg, employed in this match in a central defensive role. Loye sent the resulting rebound sizzling inches over the bar from twenty-five yards, and dragged another shot across the face of goal six minutes later, concluding a super move which deserved a finish to match. Carlton won the ball off Leanne Tiffen, and Libby Williams instantly sent Collins scampering down the right, having made good space for herself with intelligent off-the-ball movement. She then delivered a gem of a cross which was destined to end up in the stride of Chance when Adams intervened, only for Erinna Wong to block her shot. Chance gathered the rebound, and set up Loye … the midfielder's disappointment at missing was obvious. Chance was causing Suburbs all sorts of problems, regularly beating two or three players at a time, often having seemingly lost possession in a tackle - you could have been forgiven for thinking the ball was glued to her left foot! After these dribbling episodes, a neat lay-off or precise pass invited a team-mate to threaten the target, and Tessa Leong was one such beneficiary in the 37th minute. Slocum raced out and saved well at the feet of the youngster, while two minutes later the 'keeper looked on as Williams, having been picked out by Chance's delicious pass, sent the ball arrowing narrowly over the bar. Four minutes before half-time, Rovers doubled their lead in sumptuous fashion with a sure-fire contender for goal of the season. In a move laden with precision one-touch passes, Chance, Loye and Leong linked up brilliantly to allow Jens the chance to deliver an absolute gem of a cross into the flight path of Collins, who directed a towering ten-yard header over Slocum's despairing dive and into the top far corner.

And they weren't content with two! Straight from the kick-off, Chance won the ball and instantly unleashed a peach of a pass for Collins to exploit. She shot early, firing past Tegg and the advancing figure of Slocum, only for the 'keeper to pull off a stunning one-handed save high to her left - had she missed, it was 3-0! It very nearly was seconds later. Chance wriggled through three challenges before feeding Leong, whose low cross, intended for Collins, was turned narrowly past her own post by Tegg. Chance and Collins both went close from distance before the half-time whistle came as a relief to a Suburbs side was struggling to stay in the contest, so well were Rovers playing. Any doubts as to where the points were destined evaporated inside two minutes of the second half, as Collins completed her hat-trick. Brown knocked the ball over the top, and the striker got in behind Tegg before holding off the retreating figure of Wood prior to slotting the ball home beyond Slocum - 3-0, and game surely over. Dayna Manak looked to offer Suburbs some home straight from the kick-off, and she wasn't far away with her thirty yarder. But normal service swiftly resumed, with Rovers having a strong penalty claim denied them in the fiftieth minute. Adams, Brown and Collins combined on the right, with the last-mentioned's cross striking Tegg's hand in the area. There was no intent on the part of Suburbs' captain, and referee Holdsworth again opted to play on when the ball fell into the stride of Adams, whose fierce drive was turned round the post by Slocum. Jens sent Collins spearing down the left just before the hour mark, but the hat-trick heroine's cross, intended for Brown, was easy pickings for Slocum, whose clearance sparked a Suburbs counter-attack. Hannah Kraakman, Muir and Tiffen combined down the right, from where the last-mentioned whipped over a cross for Gooch. Emily Hanrahan hurtled out of goal and did just enough to prevent the striker from reducing the deficit. Kraakman forced Hanrahan to produce a sprawling save to her right seconds later, the 'keeper's parried denial of that twenty-five yarder encouraging Becky Hawker to close in on the rebound. Claudelands' custodian recovered well to save at her feet. Suburbs were relieved to see justice served in the 67th minute, when Brown's through ball sent Collins - who was just offside - tearing through the offside trap. She wasn't flagged, so raced on, ignoring Suburbs' calls for a flag, before battering a low drive across the advancing figure of Slocum and narrowly past the base of the far post. Six minutes later, Slocum smothered a mis-timed Collins shot after Leong had robbed Kraakman in midfield. Then it was Jens' turn to go desperately close, upon being picked out by Brown's far post corner. The fullback's powerful header crashed down off the underside of the bar and struck Wong on the line before ricocheting into the goalmouth, from where Suburbs afforded themselves a brief respite from Rovers' raids. Loye let rip a teasing twenty-five yard dipping chip which clipped the top of the crossbar thirteen minutes from time, after which Chance and substitute Chantelle Laban, with her first touch, directed close-range efforts over the bar when scoring seemed the easier option. Cue more mesmerising Rovers interplay, seven minutes from time. Loye and Jens linked up with substitute Keri O'Connell, who combined with Williams to bring Laban into play on the right. Her measured cross picked out Chance, whose bullet header prompted a super reflex save from Slocum, who, to her credit, held onto it. Collins forced another save from the 'keeper before Chance fired the game's last chance over the bar in stoppage time, after Wong had been caught in possession by Jens, one of five outstanding performers in this Claudelands side. Imagine how good they'll be when Holly Paterson and Sarah McLaughlin are available? Eastern Suburbs were glad they weren't. They've enough problems of their own to contend with, given their injury crisis, and will welcome back their three squad members who've been on Junior Ferns duty this week - at least that will allow them to field a starting line-up free of injury … touch wood! Claudelands:     Hanrahan; Williams, Carlton, Hayes, Jens; Brown (Laban, 78), Loye, Chance, Leong; Collins, Adams (O'Connell, 62) Suburbs:     Slocum; Wong, Wood, Tegg, Meyer (Trowill, 87); Manak, Muir, Kraakman; Tiffen, Gooch, Hawker Referee:     Andy Holdsworth