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 with photos from the Subiaco v Perth SC match supplied by Rob Lizzi (10/7/23).
Above: Fremantle City’s match-winner on Sunday, Olivia Trueman in action earlier in the season Photo: Denyse McCulloch.
Main report of the week
Fremantle City 1-0 Murdoch University Melville
Fremantle City gained a vital win in this second-against-fifth clash at Hilton Park to close the gap on leaders Perth RedStar to four points, with the defending champions not in action this week.
It was a hard-fought encounter on Sunday afternoon, but the home side had the better of the possession and territorial count, and eventually made it pay thanks to Olivia Trueman’s goal on the hour mark.
Fremantle City head coach Faye Chambers was without Dayle Schroeder, Mikayla Lyons, and Kayla McCulloch, with MUM FC fielding Ava Hayes in goal.
Whilst the home side had the better of the possession count in the first half, it was largely a battle of attrition with clear-cut chances few and far between. The spectators at Hilton Park were presented with a game between two good teams with genuine Top Four Cup aspirations – and the reality of the impact of a defeat in this vital match could well have gone some way to dictating how the game went.
Freo were making hay along the right in the opening stages and forced some early corners as they looked to patiently build, however, it was the visitors who had the first real chance of the afternoon.
With 11 minutes on the clock, Sophie Meaden’s shot from outside the box had to be tipped over by Danelle Cornish in the City goal. The hosts replied instantly with the ever-dangerous Laura Waltman breaking, but she was unable to get enough power into her shot to concern Hayes.
Fremantle had the next opportunity as a corner on the right was played back with the resulting ball in from the left coming crashing back off of the bar with Hayes beaten.
This was a golden period for the port city side as Tash Rigby created along the right before finding Janice Kiama inside her. The move continued as Maya Spatafore was played in, but her shot went wide.
MUM FC’s attacking threat, which is considerable, was largely being kept at arm’s length by Freo, but at the back of the home side’s mind was the fact that they were still not able to transfer their control of possession into a scoreboard lead – and the law of averages dictates that Murdoch University Melville would eventually get chances, and a side with the likes of Sophie Meaden and Jess Johnson in don’t tend to miss too often.
Before the break, Freo created two further opportunities as Olivia Trueman’s ball in from the right found Jamie-Lee Gale who hit a shot narrowly over the top. The former Perth Glory player slid an effort narrowly wide of the right-hand post shortly afterwards. It would remain goalless at the break.
Fremantle City began to turn the screw after the break, and it was only strong defence and goalkeeping from MUM FC that limited the number of shots on goal.
However, the introduction of Kate Nolan from the bench provided new impetus to Freo, and she played a crucial role in creating what turned out to be the winning goal with an hour on the clock. Nolan skipped along the left and squared a pass for Trueman to slot home in the box.
Gale saw an opportunity to extend the home side’s lead go wide of the upright after breaking through, and then Nolan was involved again as she was found in the area from the right but was unable to get enough power on the shot, which ended up dribbling wide of the right-hand post.
Opportunities for MUM FC were severely limited in the second 45, their best chance came with 15 minutes remaining when Jess Johnson was brought down 25 yards from goal in a central position, but Clara Hoarau’s free-kick went over the top.
The remaining chances went Freo’s way with sub Erin Siah seeing a shot blocked, and then Murdoch goalkeeper Hayes saved bravely at the feet of two onrushing attackers in stoppage time.
This was a vital win for Fremantle City – anything less than three points would have ended the championship race. With leaders Perth RedStar not in action this week, Freo’s win has reduced the gap back to four points between the top two. They go head to head next week at Hilton Park – a mouthwatering prospect.
Teams: FREMANTLE CITY: Cornish, Leek, Adams, Rigby, Osborne, Kiama, Waltman, Boorman, Gale, Spatafore, Trueman. Substitutes: Nolan, Poad, Siah, Tyne.
Scorers: Trueman 60′.
MURDOCH UNIVERSITY MELVILLE: Hayes, C. Meaden, Brown, Hope, Lehane, C. Wainwright, Hoarau, Johnson, Mathers, S. Meaden, Preiato. Substitutes: S. Wainwright, Ierino, Clayton.
Weekly Wrap
Balcatta Etna 5-1 Curtin University
Balcatta made it 11 goals in their last two games with victory over bottom club Curtin University.
Etna are looking to make a concerted push for the top four, and with Murdoch University Melville dropping points again, and Hyundai NTC facing a scramble of rearranged matches in midweek ahead, the side from Grindleford Reserve could be poised to pounce.
They took the lead with 11 minutes on the clock as a ball through from Baxter Thew found Tia Stonehill and the attacker drew Curtin keeper Emmanuella Adu-Pipim Boaduo and slotted home. It was 2-0 nine minutes before the break as Monique Prinsloo sent a cross-shot in from the left that flew into the far corner of the net. With Lauren Continibali stationed in the six-yard box on that side of the area, it could well have been a cross meant for her, but Prinsloo clearly took a good look up before hitting the ball – so maybe it was meant as a shot!
It took until 66 minutes into the encounter for the third goal to come, and it ended up being the beginning of a spell of three goals in seven minutes.
The hosts went 3-0 up when Adu-Pipim Boaduo and one of her defenders left the ball for each other, allowing Lucy Bricklebank to profit with the ball ending in the net. Within moments though, Curtin reduced the deficit as Tiana Botha hit an absolute rocket into the net from long distance that flew into the top right-hand corner.
However, within two minutes, Balcatta restored their three-goal cushion as Stonehill headed home Kim McCartney’s corner. The attacker completed her hat trick two minutes into stoppage time when she hit a shot from 25 yards that bounced in front of Adu-Pipim Boaduo and into the net.
Subiaco 0-7 Perth SC
Perth SC continued their goal-laden recent run with a comprehensive win at Subiaco in the late match on Sunday afternoon.
This win, which extended The Azzurri‘s unbeaten run to six, and their goal-scoring record to 20 in their last four matches saw Ella Lincoln grab a hat-trick in some style.
Peter Rakic’s side went ahead with 12 minutes played as Cameron Barreiro combined with Lincoln who found Judy Connolly, with the former NTC player dispatching from close range.
Two goals in two minutes ahead of the 25-minute mark put Perth SC in the box seat. First, Gemma Craine broke along the flank before cutting inside to find Jess Flannery outside her who smashed home her sixth goal in the last three games. Then, Ruby Marshall combined with Barreiro with Lincoln profiting as her low shot went in.
The visitors made it 4-0 on the hour as Rachel Larsen was adjudged to have fouled Jaime Duncanson in the box, and Connolly stepped up to smash the penalty home.
This was the start of a run of four goals in 10 minutes. Next, Duncanson, on the right looked up and curled a high shot of absolute beauty into the top left-hand corner. Within two minutes, Lincoln ran through the centre of the park and let fly with a shot that bounced in front of Subi keeper Louise Gishubi. Lincoln completed her hat-trick with 20 minutes to go as she ran along the right, cut along the by-line, and was allowed to smash home.
Perth SC are finding top form at the right time. If they can take points from fellow top four challengers, then the prospect of more silverware finding its way to Dorrien Gardens later this season is very much alive.
Perth RedStar P-P Hyundai NTC
This clash, a repeat of last year’s Top Four Cup Final, was postponed due to Hyundai NTC’s involvement in the NTC Challenge.
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