Essendon VFLW’s three-game winning streak has come to an end in an 11-point loss to the undefeated Port Melbourne on Sunday.

The Bombers fought hard all day but the pressure from the league leaders proved too much, with the Boroughs winning 6.2 (38) to 4.3 (27) at the NEC Hangar.

The intensity was high from the first bounce with both teams fighting hard at contests.

Georgia Nanscawen and Eloise Ashley-Cooper competed in midfield to lock the ball in the Bombers’ attacking half and create multiple forward entries.

The Bombers were first to hit the board, with Federica Frew converting on the run. The Boroughs answered with consecutive goals, changing the momentum and establishing control over the opening term.

Both teams were locked in a tough contest throughout the second quarter, with neither team giving their opposition any space.

Alex Morcom and Eloise Gardner stood strong, taking contested marks and cutting off the opposition’s forward entries, while Emma Mackay provided great run along the wing.

Port Melbourne broke free from the pressure of Essendon to score two quick goals and take a three-goal lead into the main break.

Defenders from both sides were working overtime in the third quarter as the ball went back and forth. Alana Barba fought with intent through the midfield, snapping a goal from a forward contest to break the deadlock.

The Bombers kept Port Melbourne goalless in the last term and managed to reduce the deficit through a major from Felicity Theodore.

Vice-captain Courtney Ugle was impressed with the Bombers’ intent across the four quarters, but disappointed in their inability to maintain the high-intensity game played by the Boroughs.

“We knew they were going to come out hard at the ball and against us. We knew that they were bigger body quality side, obviously haven’t lost a game this season so far so we knew the fight was going to be brought,” Ugle said.

“We probably owned the first five minutes of every quarter, but then they kind of ran on top of us. I think we kind of broke down on the field and we looked a little bit tired, but our thought and endeavour and intent couldn’t be questioned.”

Despite the defeat, Ugle was impressed with the individual performances of Barba, Mackay and Gardner.

“Alana Barba was exceptional. You can see the way when she doesn’t have any pressure on herself, she just glides and uses the ball really well. I thought that Emma Mackay was great out on the wing as well, confidence to just get the ball and go,” Ugle said.

“'Logger’ (Gardner) was strong down back as well and took some really great marks. She looked really composed when she was hitting up targets.”

Although disappointed, Ugle believes the loss to the competition’s benchmark will better the team in future games.

“I think it is really good for us to be hit with a tough game like that. I think it’s only going to drive us to come back and be hungry for the back half of the season,” she said.

“But what Port did really well was they used the ball well and they were a lot cleaner than us. They were able to execute better than us and they are a quality side and we fully respected that. Playing against a quality side like that is only going to make us better.”

Ugle was pleased with her team’s ability to push Port Melbourne until the final siren, looking to the upcoming Easter bye as an opportunity to reset ahead of the rest of the season.

“I think attitude is a big thing. As we came off, some emotions were pretty high and I think that just goes to show how invested we are about this group, this club and the growth of our football,” she said.

“It’s nice to see the emotion but we really need to regroup, come back together. We’ve got two weeks off now to rest our bodies, rest our minds, and come back and regroup because we know that we can play great footy. We just need to believe in ourselves.”

The VFLW will have a competition-wide bye over Easter before the Bombers return for their round six clash with Hawthorn at Box Hill City Oval on April 10.

ESSENDON 1.1 2.1 3.1 4.3 (27)
PORT MELBOURNE 3.0 5.1 6.1 6.2 (38)

Goals: Frew 2, Barba, Theodore

Best: Ashley-Cooper, Ugle, Barba, Morcom, Frew, Nanscawen