Balcatta Etna 1-4 Perth RedStar
Above: Perth RedStar celebrate after their NPLW WA Night Series Final win over Balcatta Etna. Photo: Football West.
by Ben Gilby (24/3/24)
Perth RedStar’s know-how in playing Grand Finals shone through again on Saturday night as they took their chances at key moments of the game to defeat Balcatta Etna in the NPLW Night Series Final at the Sam Kerr Football Centre.
Balcatta went into the game fielding six players who won the Night Series Final with Perth SC last year, having followed head coach Pete Rakic across from Dorrien Gardens in the close season.
For RedStar, former Balcatta talisman Gabby Dal Busco was in goal, and there was the creative experience of former Perth Glory stars Sarah Carroll and Caitlin Doeglas on display. Both sides could also point to quality on the bench, with the likes of Monique Prinsloo of Balcatta, and Olivia Wood for Carlos Vega Mena’s side.
It was Balcatta who came out firing from the start, with Godding calm in possession and fellow new arrivals Kat Jukic and Jamie-Lee Gale busy in the opening exchanges. Lucy Jerram, back in Western Australia after time at Broadmeadow Magic in the Northern NSW NPLW was influential once more. Given space to drive forward, Jerram is a constant menace.
However, if any team are masters of the ‘slow and steady wins the race’ approach, it’s Perth RedStar. With Carroll alert and looking to thread balls through to spread the play, the defending NPLW WA champions edged their way into the game. They were well briefed on how to take apart Balcatta’s high line, and the patient approach reaped rewards. It was precise low balls behind and between the Balcatta line that was key.
There was a warning shot across Balcatta bows 10 minutes in when Carroll drove the ball low across the box, but Rebecca Bennett was able to get in ahead of the red shirts to save.
Less than 60 seconds later, RedStar hit the front. Jayna Ridley eventually picked up the ball from the clearance of the previous chance and advanced along the right to feed a low ball across for the intelligent move of Doeglas to slot home.
RedStar upped the ante and had great success funnelling their attacks along both flanks with Doeglas along the left and a combination of Ridley and Doan creating along the right. From one such play, Ridley accelerated along her channel to provide a perfectly judged cross which Bennett claimed after an acrobatic attempt on goal.
Carlos Vega Mena’s side were comfortable in possession and probing patiently, an approach that led to them doubling their advantage on the half hour. Kaitlyn Bellanca spread the play from the centre out to Quyen Doan on the right flank. Doan continued the joy that Ridley was experiencing down this part of the pitch to float in a cross. Bennett came for the ball, but was agast as it came off her defender Andrea Bulgaru and rolled into the empty net.
After this moment of adversity, Balcatta rallied. Within moments of conceding, the dangerous Jerram used her pace and power to advance through the middle to find herself one on one with Dal Busco. Not for nothing is RedStar’s new keeper known as arguably the best shot stopper in the league, as the former Perth Glory custodian produced a sensational one handed save to deny Jerram.
However, five minutes later, Pete Rakic’s charges were rewarded for their efforts as a corner came in which an unmarked Jukic rose to get a touch on for Godding to direct the ball home.
There was one further chance just before the break when Gale’s free kick on the right was played in high towards Jukic at the back post, but her former Perth Glory and Fremantle City teammate could only direct the ball over the top.
Any hopes that Balcatta had of maintaining that momentum in the second half were destroyed within three minutes of the re-start. Doeglas showed her searing pace along the left to leave both Bulgaru and newly arrived substitute Rachel Jarvis trailing in her wake before pulling back a low pass for Carroll to sweep home. This was just another example of Doeglas’ dominance throughout.
RedStar’s third goal not only demonstrated their idiosyncratic clinical approach to lifting their performance levels when it really counts, but also took the sting out of the game.
Just after the hour mark, Doeglas was involved again with a finely judged curled toe poke through to Olivia Wood, just on as a sub on her return from injury, but one on one with Bennett, the youngster couldn’t get enough power behind her shot. Shortly afterwards, Carroll took advantage of a loose pass and looked to lift a shot over Bennett from outside the box, but the Balcatta keeper managed to push it away with the extremity of her right hand.
Balcatta had a golden opportunity with seven minutes remaining as Abbey Meakins played in substitute Monique Prinsloo. The attacker went one on one with Dal Busco, who slid the danger away.
Perth RedStar confirmed the win a minute into stoppage time with more vision from Doeglas. Taking advantage of a free-kick centrally on the edge of the box, she fooled Balcatta by hitting a low pass to Wood who was totally unmarked on the left and had all the time in the world to slot home the fourth goal.
Meakins had one final opportunity for Balcatta on the final whistle as she broke through and, with Dal Busco advancing from her goal, steered the ball wide of the right-hand post.
The old adage applies when it comes to trying to beat Perth RedStar – take your chances when they come, because Carlos Vega Mena’s side will always take theirs. The result was hugely impressive for them. This may only be a pre-season tournament, but it was an important marker for them to lay down against a Balcatta side who are expected to have an extremely strong campaign. They know how to take their chances when they matter, and in Caitlin Doeglas, have a player who will do sensational things at this level.
Teams: BALCATTA ETNA: Bennett, van Heurck, Cook, Davis, Bulgaru, Meakins, Jukic, Godding, Jerram, Connolly, Gale. Substitutes Doust, Comito, Bricklebank, Prinsloo, M. D’Opera, Hughes, Jarvis.
Scorers: Godding 36′.
PERTH REDSTAR: Dal Busco, Carroll, Teixeira, Studman, Bellanca, Ridley, Dunn, Leota, Ritchie, Doan, Doeglas. Substitutes: Vega Mena, Wood, Malicky, Continibali, Mogridge.
Scorers: Doeglas 11′, Bulgaru (OG) 30′, Carroll 48′, Wood 90+1′.
Referee: Jasmine Bremner.
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