Ben Gilby provides his weekly round-up of all the action from the Western Australia NPL Women’s competition. As usual, there is a detailed report on one game and a wrap of all the other matches along with photos (25/4/22).
Above: Abbey Meakins, who had another impressive game for Perth SC, in action against Fremantle City in a previous encounter. Photo: Rob Lizzi.
MAIN REPORT OF THE WEEK:
Fremantle City 0-0 Perth SC
The battle of the teams placed second and third respectively ended in a goalless draw which helped neither side in their aim of chasing down leaders Perth RedStar.
Both teams went into the encounter missing several key players, with Judy Connolly, Siobhan Longmore, and Mikayla Lyons all out for the home side. Perth SC were missing Jaime Duncanson and Zoe Spadano.
The encounter at Hilton Park was played in temperatures in the mid to high 20s which necessitated drinks breaks in both halves.
Freo were dominant from the off with Laura Waltman and Tash Rigby particularly prominent in marauding runs getting forward. The home side were forcing a high press and working hard to reduce the time on the ball that key Perth SC defender Alyssa van Heurck had, in a bid to force errors.
As the Azzurri gradually settled into the game and earned a greater percentage of the possession, they earned a first real chance on 10 minutes as Emma McMurdo’s free-kick on the right came to former Perth Glory W-League player Taneeshaa Baker to turn and shoot from the edge of the box, with her effort held by Dayle Schroeder in the Fremantle goal.
The home side were still looking dangerous with Jamie-Lee Gayle and Rigby combining with menace. This was the best avenue for Freo’s attacks as Perth SC were working hard defensively to get out quick to smother any attempt at creating down the central channel.
Such was the impact that Rigby was having along the right, it was a major blow for Fremantle when she went down with what initially looked to be a knee injury. After lengthy treatment, the Perth Glory A-League Women captain was forced to leave the pitch. Freo’s attack never quite had the same menace again.
The Azzurri picked the pace as Cameron Barreiro found Liana Cook who in turn played in Jaymee Gibbons to get a shot away which was blocked by Coral Buxey.
A key figure in Perth SC earning the momentum shift was Ella Lincoln who buzzed around making herself available and looking to get shots away. One such effort from outside the box called on Schroeder to palm away.
Freo fashioned one chance before the break when Matilda Boyle got free and fed Kat Nolan who had timed her run to perfection. Boyle’s pass may have forced Nolan slightly wider than was ideal, but it was a great move and real opportunity for the hosts.
Perth SC leapt on the offensive from the re-start and created three chances within the opening eight minutes of the second half.
Gibbons’ long ball through released Liana Cook. Lincoln was outside her on the left and when played in, hit a fierce shot into the side netting. The next opportunity fell Baker’s way, but her attempted drive was well blocked by the impressive Waltman, who was one of Fremantle’s stars on the day.
Abbey Meakins, always a key threat for the Azzuri, was then denied after a fine sweeping move that started inside the Perth SC half. Barreiro played in Cook from the centre of the park. Cook advanced and found Meakins just outside the 18-yard box and Schroeder had to get down well at the left-hand post to deny her.
After this flurry of chances, the game somewhat fizzled out, not helped by the hot conditions. The remaining opportunities all went to the visitors, who also had to ride out a second yellow card for Gibbons.
Faye Phillips drove in a tempting low ball with pace from the right, but there was just a bit too much on it for Cook to make a connection. Then at the death, there was an almighty scramble on the goal-line as Meakins went in with Shroeder to try and force the ball in, but amidst the kerfuffle, a mixture of Fremantle bodies and their keeper ensured the score ended goalless.
Squads: FREMANTLE CITY: Schroeder, Rigby, Gayle, Waltman, Darmago, McCulloch, Boyle, Leek, Buxey, Kiama, Siah. Substitutes: Poad, Lush, Nolan.
PERTH SC: Bennett, Harvey, van Heurck, Barreiro, Phillips, Cook, Meakins, Lincoln, McMurdo, Gibbons, Baker. Substitutes: Papalia, Zampogna, Ritchie.
Referee: Kai Bartusch.
ROUND FOUR WRAP:
Perth RedStar produced a ruthless performance in dismissing Subiaco 9-0 at RedStar Arena to extend their lead at the top of the table.
RedStar were utterly dominant, earning 15 corners to the visitors’ one. It took them just three minutes to go ahead from a long-range effort from Grace Monteiro.
It was 2-0 seven minutes later with a classy piece of interchange play which saw Larissa Walsh play a 1-2 before sidefooting home.
A spell of two goals in five minutes removed any doubt as to the outcome of this match. Andreia Teixeira’s third will be a goal of the season contender for sure. Subiaco lost possession in the centre of the pitch. Teixeira profited, took a touch, and then lifted a glorious shot over Zoe Board in the Subi goal. Sarah Carroll made it 4-0 after Walsh found her in space for an easy finish.
In stoppage time at the end of the half, Carroll grabbed her second after a perfectly threaded through pass allowed her to slot home.
A flurry of three goals within 13 minutes of the re-start completely put Subiaco to the sword. Walsh comfortably slotted home her second before Olivia Wood made it 7-0 after Board initially made a superb save only for the ball to come back across from the left. Sarah Carroll completed her hat-trick from the penalty spot.
The scoring was completed with five minutes remaining. A move on the left found former New Zealand international Renee Leota who turned her defender beautifully and sidefooted home.
This result, combined with the 0-0 draw between their closest rivals in the table Perth SC and Fremantle City, allowed RedStar to increase their lead to five points at the top. All eyes will be on RedStar Arena next weekend for the visit of third-placed Perth SC. The Azzurri need to get something from the game to keep the race for first place alive at this point in the campaign.
The other scheduled matches, Curtin University v Murdoch University Melville and Hyundai NTC v Balcatta Etna were postponed with no new dates set at the time of writing.
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | GD | |
| Perth RedStar | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 3 | 12 | +20 |
| Fremantle City | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 7 | +4 |
| Perth SC | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 7 | +3 |
| Murdoch University Melville | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 5 | +1 |
| Hyundai NTC | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 4 | -4 |
| Subiaco | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 1 | -12 |
| Balcatta Etna | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | -3 |
| Curtin University | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 0 | -9 |
Round Five Fixtures: Murdoch University Melville v Fremantle City, Balcatta Etna v Curtin University, Perth RedStar v Perth SC, Subiaco v Hyundai NTC.
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