Ben Gilby provides a full report from the game of the week plus all the details from the other matches in Western Australia’s NPL Women’s competition whilst Rob Lizzi and Cat Bryant provide EXCLUSIVE photo galleries from two of this weekend’s games (12/6/23).
Above: The battle between Perth SC’s Gemma Craine (in possession) and Perth RedStar’s Kim Carroll was one of the highlights of yesterday’s dramatic clash between the two sides. Photo supplied to Impetus by: Rob Lizzi.
Main report of the week:
Perth RedStar 1-1 Perth SC
There was huge drama at the death as Monique Godding scooped an equaliser for Perth SC three minutes into stoppage time at RedStar Arena.
The former Balcatta Etna star’s goal could have major implications in this season’s top four race as the home side were looking to go nine points ahead of The Azzurri. However, Godding’s late goal means that not only are these two sides still six points apart, but Fremantle City, who have moved into second are now just four points adrift of the league leaders.
RedStar went into the game with Perth Glory legend and Matilda Kim Carroll a solidifying presence at the back, with her fellow A-League Women star Sarah Carroll on the bench.
The Azzurri had last week’s win over their opponents in the State Cup fresh in their minds, but whilst it provided them with a huge confidence boost, they would also be aware that Carlos Vega Mena’s side would be out for revenge.
RedStar started the match in controlled fashion, dominating the possession and territory. Their energetic high press on Perth whenever the visitors were looking to play out from the back was combined with a patience on the ball, looking for the right moment to thread through that killer pass.
Peter Rakic’s Perth SC were well organised and working hard to deny the hosts time on the ball. Youngsters Poppie Hooks and Judy Connolly were showing impressive strength on the ball to escape from several would-be tacklers, and Abbey Meakins’ work rate to support her defenders as well as looking to offer herself as a threat in her more familiar attacking role was a notable feature in The Azzurri‘s efforts.
The first real chance of the game fell just before the quarter of an hour mark as RedStar’s Olivia Wood broke through right of centre and hit a shot that rolled agonisingly wide of the far post with Perth SC keeper Rebecca Bennett beaten.
Perth SC responded five minutes later with Ella Lincoln’s low effort from the edge of the box that Shivani Battaglia got down well to deal with.
The chess-like opening to the match was now a thing of the past with chances coming regularly. Abbey Woolley broke along the right and saw a low shot held by Bennett at the left-hand post. Four minutes later, Battaglia was called into action as Meakins, Gemma Craine, and Hooks played an intricate high-speed passing triangle move on the right-hand edge of the RedStar box that ended with the ball eventually coming back for a long-range strike that Battaglia parried, but the ball still headed goalwards and needed a further two interventions from the RedStar keeper to prevent a goal.
Just before the half-hour mark though, a goal came. The visitors lost possession which led to a squared pass from the right for Chiori Ikeda to hit a glorious lofted shot from the edge of the box that sailed over Bennett and into the net. A moment of real class.
Whilst RedStar controlled the possession for the remainder of the half, Perth SC had two opportunities. First, a long-range shot that Battaglia pushed round for a corner, and then Cameron Barreiro had a near miss with an Olimpico attempt that Battaglia gathered at the second attempt.
Perth SC began the second half in top in terms of possession, but could not turn it into clear-cut chances, and just before the hour mark, it was RedStar who were presented with a golden opportunity to extend their lead when Emily Dunn was fouled in the box. However, Kim Carroll’s penalty cannoned back off the bar, and the Azzurri were still in the game.
Ikeda had the next chance shortly afterwards, when Renee Leota combined with Dunn who crossed for the RedStar goalscorer to turn and shoot narrowly wide.
The battle between two former Perth Glory team mates Gemma Craine and Kim Carroll on the right was one of the highlights of this match, and it was the former who showed her characteristic skill and control to dance through along the flank and cut inside to shoot, but Battaglia had it covered in the RedStar goal.
The home side had one further opportunity to seal the win with just under 20 minutes remaining when Leota saw an effort from the edge of the 18-yard box just miss the target.
Perth SC pushed for the equaliser, and Battaglia saved brilliantly from point-blank range, but she could do nothing about what was about to happen as the game approached its conclusion.
A ball in from the left found Craine who knocked it back across the box for Godding to pounce from close range. Perth SC were level, and the NPLW WA top-four race just got even tighter.
In a season that keeps delivering incredible results, Perth SC delivered another – once again they showed their ‘Never Say Die’ spirit.
Teams: PERTH REDSTAR: Battaglia, Teixeira, Studman, Dunn, K. Carroll, Coleman, Kagami, Ritchie, Ikeda, Wood, Woolley. Substitutes: Ridley, Diederichsen, Leota, S. Carroll, Neal, Goud.
Scorers: Ikeda 28′.
PERTH SC: Bennett, Cook, Barreiro, Hooks, Marshall, Connolly, Godding, Craine, Meakins, Papalia, Lincoln. Substitutes: Phillips, Duncanson, Zampogna, Caceres, Flannery.
Scorers: Godding 90+3′.
Weekly wrap:
Murdoch University Melville 3-3 Hyundai NTC
Round 10 opened on Friday night with a thriller at Besteam Stadium which saw Murdoch University Melville (MUM FC) come from 3-1 down with under 10 minutes remaining in a match that saw all six goals scored in the second-half.
With both these sides pushing for a top-four spot and in fluctuating form of late, this was a game of major importance.
It was the NTC who went ahead just after the hour mark when a long ball clearance from deep inside their own half fell perfectly for Goldfields sensation Tanika Lala who used her explosive pace to race through, hold off the attentions of Katie Schubert, and finish with aplomb.
However, six minutes later, MUM FC levelled. Schubert’s free-kick, out on the right touchline around 30 yards out, came back to her via an NTC player, and at the second attempt was played in towards the back post where Andrea Preiato got a toe to the ball and it squirmed into the net past Megan Phillips.
Yet, within two minutes, the NTC restored their lead and it was another piece of Lala magic responsible. The ball was played inside to her and she motored along the left-hand flank before cutting in and hitting a trademark finish into the near corner of the net. It was a deadly strike.
Shortly afterwards, the visitors extended their lead as Klaudia Houlis hit a low shot from the edge of the box that escaped the clutches of Stacey Cavill in the MUM FC goal and rolled into the net for her ninth of the season.
However, MUM FC, who went into this match on the back of a short turnaround, having only played Hamersley Rovers in the State Cup on Monday, got a foothold back in the game with 10 minutes remaining with a relatively soft penalty was awarded for a shove in the back, and Claudia Hoarau confidently dispatched it into the right-hand corner of the goal.
Less than two minutes later, Murdoch University Melville were level – and it was from the spot once more after a shot from the edge of the box struck the arm of an NTC player. Up stepped Hoarau once more – this time, she hit the ball to the left of centre, but Phillips got a hand to the ball, only for it to roll for the onrushing Horarau to tap home from close range into the right-hand corner once more.
NTC will rue the two lost points, but for MUM FC – this is a vital salvation of a match against a rival.
Balcatta Etna 3-3 Subiaco
Balcatta’s top four hopes suffered a set-back on Sunday after twice holding the lead against Subiaco, but the visitors produced an expressive display to earn a point.
The home side went ahead with six minutes on the clock thanks to a sensational long-range rocket from Tia Stonehill. Seeing the attacker playing so well and scoring regularly is a joy to behold after her horrific injury before the start of the 2022 season.
Just before the 20-minute mark, Subi were level after former Perth Glory star Marianna Tabain sidefooted home Keziah Burgis’ cross from the left. The visitors would hit the front seven minutes later as a sustained bout of head tennis on the left-hand edge of the Balcatta box ended with Danielle Suckling cracking home a stunning volley.
Yet, seven minutes before the break, the hosts levelled when Epril Nossent’s cross was headed in by Monique Prinsloo.
Balcatta would regain the lead with 75 minutes played as Kimberley McCartney’s corner was met by the head of Sadie Lawrence from close range. However, within three minutes the scores were level again. Savannah Olsthoorn was brought down in the box and Tabain stepped up from the penalty spot to score.
Curtin University 0-12 Fremantle City
Fremantle City rocketed into second place in the NPLW WA after a comprehensive defeat of struggling Curtin University at Edinburgh Oval.
This was a total demolition of winless Curtin, as across the match, Fremantle City had a staggering 46 shots to Uni’s one, and 26 on target to the hosts one.
Freo hit the front with 15 minutes on the clock as Laura Waltman broke through the close attentions of the home defence and squared a ball from the right for Abbey Green to pounce on to put them ahead.
This was the start of a red-hot spell of six goals in 12 minutes with the same duo involved two minutes later. This time Green was the provider with her cross from the left being repelled by Curtin keeper Danielle Petch. Waltman gathered at the back post, turned, beat markers, and fired home a low shot.
Green made it 3-0 on 20 minutes after she profited from a cross from the right. Jamie-Lee Gale was on target from close range shortly afterwards before Carys Hawkins supplied a pass to Green to steer home from just outside the six-yard box.
Just before the half-hour mark, Waltman grabbed her second with a superb long-range effort. It was 7-0 at the break with Gale securing her brace as Green found her at the back post to hit a shot from an acute angle which was adjudged to have crossed the goalline.
Two minutes after the break, Gale completed her hat trick after running through to slot home. Substitute Matilda Boyle got in on the act to make it 9-0 just before the hour mark as she looked up and lobbed the ball into the net from long range.
Tash Rigby tapped home to ensure Freo made it double figures with 25 minutes remaining. Kayla McCulloch took the score up to 11 when she got a touch on Green’s ball from the right.
The scoring was complete from the penalty spot as Ferne Carter brought down Annabelle Leek, and the Freo player picked herself up, dusted herself down, and fired home.
Cat Bryant’s photo gallery from Edinburgh Oval for Impetus:
Follow Impetus on social media – we’re @ImpetusFootball on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
impetusfootball.org 