Ben Gilby and Ava-Marianne Elliott provide a full report each along with all the details from the round’s other two matches in a weekend with goals galore! (22/4/24).
Above: Epril Nossent (centre, sky blue shirt) and Jess Flannery (left, sky blue shirt) were key figures in Perth SC’s win at UWA-Nedlands yesterday. Photo supplied to Impetus by: Rob Lizzi.
Game of the week:
Balcatta Etna 4-2 Hyundai NTC
by Ben Gilby
Balcatta Etna got back to winning ways at the first attempt with a vital win over previously unbeaten Hyundai NTC in an exciting game of attacking football in front of a big crowd at Grindleford Reserve on Friday Night.
The packed grandstand and area outside the club rooms and barbeque included a large number of youngsters who were all eager to get a glimpse of NPLW WA football.
Visiting head coach Ben Anderton was without at least five potential starters for his unbeaten side for this showdown, with attacker Klaudia Houlis a key absentee along with Jess Skinner, Hannah Collinson, Ella Marwick, and Emily Garnett.
Despite this, it was the visitors who made the fast start with Violet Longmore finding Mia Britton out on the right flank. Britton would be a hugely influential figure for the NTC throughout with her ability to beat players along the channel and supply targeted balls into the box. On this occasion, Monique D’Opera initially dealt with the danger, only for the ball to come to Angelique Clayton whose effort was charged down.
Shortly afterwards, Britton was involved again as she supplied the equally outrageous young talent of Jess Johnson, but the attacker, who lit up last season with Murdoch University Melville at the age of just 13 saw her long-range effort held by Bennett.
Balcatta could point to Jamie-Lee Gale’s effort which came crashing back off the bar ahead of them building their way into the game from the 10-minute mark onwards.
The catalyst initially was the vision and ball-playing ability of Faye Phillips who began to link the play with real craft. This in turn brought in the midfield skills of Abbey Meakins and the danger of Lucy Jerram on the right – Balcatta were starting to fire.
D’Opera’s free-kick on the edge of the box, to the right of centre caught the NTC napping as she played it low to Gale outside her on the flank to play it into the box. Whilst the danger was initially cleared, Gale was supplied once more to pull a cross in for Monique Godding to find Jerram on the edge of the box. Whilst Jerram put the ball over the top, it would prove to be the sighter she needed.
Meakins was now pulling the strings in midfield. With the former Perth SC star influential, along with Phillips, Gale, and Jerram, Balcatta were imposing their fast passing style allied with vision to make the runs in possession, with an extreme rapid press on the NTC when without the ball – and the reward followed.
Jukic found Gale who then returned a pass for Jerram to let fly with her trademark rocket of a left foot to fire home for Balcatta to hit the front with 17 minutes played.
At this point, the NTC’s trademark routine of playing out from the back at all costs was playing into Balcatta’s hands. Pete Rakic’s side were employing the rapid press which was squeezing their teenage visitors into their own half, and for much of the time, their own final third.
With 25 minutes on the clock, Balcatta doubled their advantage as Jerram advanced along the left and played the ball for Godding who perfectly threaded a diagonal pass for Meakins to direct into the net from close range for her fourth goal from four games this season.
The home side were now displaying their best football of the season. They were visibly confident in imposing their game plan.
The NTC’s key to their spell of attacks in the early stages of the game was getting Britton into the action along their right. Her team’s gradual reintroduction into the game from an attacking sense in the final 15 minutes or so of the half was largely due to her being supplied with possession once more.
Just after the half-hour mark, Louise Tana was fouled on the right-hand side edge of the box. The resulting free-kick was played in for Chloe Gaspar to fire in a shot before Longmore’s follow-up was dealt with. Five minutes later, Tana had a real chance after she was able to advance into the box after a misplaced clearance from Balcatta’s Liana Cook. However, when it came to the final shot, there wasn’t quite enough power to beat the diving Rebecca Bennett.
The final chance of the half went the way of the hosts as Jerram supplied Meakins, who in turn fed Godding but her shot was well saved by Megan Phillips in the NTC goal.
Balcatta came out firing at the start of the second term with Gale involved with two great chances. First, she played in Meakins who gained no reward, and then Gale herself had a shot that Phillips saved.
The home side kept plugging away, and after Meakins sent a 25-yard free-kick just wide of the right-hand upright. Rachel Jarvis played an excellent one-two with Jerram which carved their way through the NTC defence resulting in Jarvis seeing a shot saved by Phillips.
The key for NTC’s attack continued to be Britton, and she was rewarded for her efforts. With 67 minutes played, Megan Phillips released for substitute Theodora Mouithys to advance up the left and find Clayton who flicked the ball exquisitely over her marker and through for Johnson. Johnson fed Clayton once more before Britton was played in along the right. She drove up her flank and then sent a glorious curling shot high into the net beating Bennett.
This superb strike set off a hugely enjoyable final 20 minutes that produced a further three goals.
Balcatta pressed forward and regained their two-goal advantage as Meakins played substitute Monique Prinsloo in along the centre to run into the box and let fly with a powerful shot that Megan Phillips did well to push away, but it fell for Faye Phillips who couldn’t miss from close range.
With less than 10 minutes remaining, the home side had a chance to finish the game once and for all as Alyssa van Heurck lifted a pass through for Prinsloo who had acres of space to run into, but Phillips made the save.
The NTC knew that they had a way to unlock the Balcatta defence with Britton, and again it proved to be the case. With six minutes remaining, she turned in the centre channel and laid off for Mouthiys to advance and use her upper body strength to hold off D’Opera and slot home. There was just a single goal in it once more.
The clock ticked into stoppage time at the end of 90 minutes and just before the final whistle went, Gale’s run along the right concluded with her supplying a low ball into the box for an unmarked Prinsloo to comfortably direct the ball into the net first time from inside the six-yard box to finally seal the three points for Balcatta.
This was an excellent game of attacking football combined with some astute tactical play – something you come to expect when teams coached by Pete Rakic and Ben Anderton face off.
It was a vital win for the home side in defeating a top-four rival – but Mia Britton showed that players with pace and guile can trouble the Balcatta backline. Her creativity, pace, and vision caused real problems, and the NTC can take real confidence from what they were able to manufacture at times offensively despite being without a number of players.
Teams: BALCATTA ETNA: Bennett, van Heurck, Cook, M. D’Opera, Jarvis, Meakins, Godding, F. Phillips, Jerram, Gale, Jukic. Substitutes: Bricklebank, Comito, Hocking, Bulgaru, Prinsloo, Davis.
Scorers: Jerram 17′, Meakins 25′, F. Phillips 75′, Prinsloo 90+5′.
HYUNDAI NTC: M. Phillips, C. Gaspar, Hope, Johnson, Longmore, Clayton, Collins, Johnson, Tana, Archibald, Britton. Substitutes: Borg, Healy, O’Halloran, Mouithys, E. Gaspar, Brooks.
Scorer: Britton 67′, Mouthiys 84′.
Referee: Adrian Liechti.
In-depth review:
Subiaco 2-7 Fremantle City
by Ava-Marianne Elliott
In a game with no shortage of action, Fremantle City put on a convincing show away to Subiaco.
It was a high-stakes game for Fremantle who went into the game at Rosalie Park without a point to their name. Ever-improving Subiaco wouldn’t be an easy task for Faye Chambers’ team, and it became even more evident when the hosts opened the scoring.
Just six minutes into her first start of the season so far, Marianna Tabain proved exactly why she’s such a key figure, wasting no time in putting her side one goal ahead of the visitors. Tabain found the back of Dayle Schroeder’s net after an excellent run between Fremantle’s defence, cutting between the bodies in the final third and finding the space to score.
Although having the advantage, Subi had work to do to keep the game rolling in their favour as Freo upped the intensity, searching for an early equaliser. The visitors’ relentless effort quickly paid off, when Clara Hoarau, in her first start of the campaign after Perth Glory’s A-League Women campaign came to an end, pressured the home sides defence into error.
Misfortune struck for the hosts again in quick succession, as just ten minutes later they conceded their second goal of the half despite their original early lead. The Fremantle forwards worked to pressure the Subiaco backline yet again pushed them into error and left them to concede with Janice Kiama getting herself on the scoresheet.
The fourth goal of the half came after a sublime sequence of build-up play from Freo a minute before the break. The excellent Olivia Trueman was on target to ensure the visitors had a clear margin at the break.
The first ten minutes saw both sides come out with intensity. Although Subi had some dominant spells, Freo were arguably still the stronger side. The visitors’ first big chance of the half came nine minutes in after being awarded a corner, Kiama successfully sent the ball into the back of Subiaco’s net for the second time in the match.
However, just four minutes later, Subi hit back as Cass Harvey found her way through the Freo defensive line, finding yards of space to take a shot at goal. The stunning strike into the right-hand side of the goal officially brought the hosts back within two.
However, with 19 minutes left, the game-breaking goal was scored. Subiaco looked to have initially defended a Freo corner successfully, however Trueman was yet to have her say as she made space to hit a shot that put her side three clear. Moments later, Hoarau became the third Fremantle player to secure a brace, as in the 72nd minute she sent a shot into the bottom left-hand corner of the goal with ease.
Just 12 minutes after being substituted onto the field, Anna Powell successfully secured seventh and final goal for Freo a minute into stoppage time despite Subiaco’s best efforts to deny her.
The final whistle was confirmed Fremantle’s first win of the season. For Greg Farrell’s side, despite defeat, it was another credit-worthy performance in a competitive fixture.
Obtaining three points leaves Fremantle in the sixth-place spot in the ladder, with Subiaco still ahead of them by a single point after round four of the NPLW WA.
Teams: SUBIACO: Robinson, Thorpe, Suckling, Burgis, Biegun, Bailey, Campos, Tabain, Zampogna, Murray-Hocking, Harvey. Substitutes: Rudd, Skinner, Van-Vugt, Olsthoorn, Kifayatullah.
Scorers: Tabain 6′, Harvey 58′.
FREMANTLE CITY: Schroeder, Poad, Boots, Leek, Osborne, Meaden, Kiama, Hoarau, Spatafore, Siah, Trueman. Substitutes: Powell, Adams, Lyons, Ierino, Antunes, Yeo.
Scorers: Hoarau (2), Kiama (2), Trueman (2), Powell.
Round wrap
by Ben Gilby
UWA-Nedlands 1-7 Perth SC
Perth SC established themselves in second place on the ladder with a comprehensive victory at the UWA Sports Park in Sunday’s early match.
The Azzurri hit the front with 13 minutes played as Ella Lincoln turned her marker on the edge of the box and laid off behind her for Daisy McAllister to fire home a glorious finish into the top right-hand corner.
Just three minutes later, Perth SC doubled their lead when following a dropped ball that resulted when two footballs were on the pitch at once, Lincoln was played in on the right by a perfectly weighted pass to draw home goalkeeper Morgan Springer and roll the ball across the American and into the net.
Shortly before the half-hour mark, the visitors increased their lead once more. Jess Flannery was found in acres of space just in from the left flank and cut in on goal. Springer slid out to deny the Perth speedster, but could only direct the ball to Lincoln to dispatch home.
It became 4-0 eight minutes before the break as the home defence gave the ball away to Epril Nossent on the right flank over 20 yards from goal who took a touch and looped a spectacular shot over the top of Springer.
There was still time for the visitors to grab another before the break. Excellent partnership play along the left between Flannery and Lincoln won their side a corner which Kimberly McCartney floated over for Nossent to head in at the near post as she ran across to get free of her marker.
It took Perth SC only five minutes of the second half to extend their lead further when Sam Mathers’ low free kick from the left of centre went across the dive of Springer and into the far corner of the net.
The visitors completed their tally in the 57th minute. Flannery, on the left, supplied Lincoln with a perfectly weighted pass. The attacker turned one marker in the box but was brought down by the second. Lincoln picked herself up and rolled the penalty cooly down the middle.
UWA-Nedlands had the final say less than 60 seconds later. Isabelle Dadswell advanced along the left and played a beautifully weighted ball forward towards Emily Dinsdale. Perth failed to clear, and Dinsdale took advantage to lift a shot into the net from the edge of the box.
Whilst newcomers UWA-Nedlands have done it tough on the scoreboard over the last two weeks when facing heavyweights Perth RedStar and Perth SC back to back, those are not the opponents who will decide the team’s ability to avoid relegation. Lawrence Lyons’ side have a break next week with a bye in the first round of the State Cup and can prepare for a really important game upon the return to NPLW WA action on 5th May when Murdoch University Melville, with a point all season, come to UWA Sports Park.
Murdoch University Melville 0-7 Perth RedStar
It was another tough afternoon for bottom side Murdoch University Melville (MUM FC) as an unbeaten Perth RedStar side ran out comfortable winners at Besteam Stadium.
RedStar fielded three of their cohort of Japanese players, all of whom were hugely influential with Reina Kagami scoring a hat-trick and supplying an assist. Monoko Sakairi recorded a goal and an assist, and Arai Manami provided an assist as well.
The visitors went ahead with just four minutes on the clock. Close season arrival Manami was found at the edge of the box and laid off for compatriot Kagami outside her to fire home a half-volley.
It was 2-0 just two minutes later as Caitlin Doeglas’ free-kick just outside the box on the left caused chaos after it came flying into the box and back off the inside of the right-hand post and bounced down. The hosts failed to clear, allowing Sakairi to pounce for her first NPLW WA goal from parallel to the penalty spot.
The visitors increased their lead with 21 minutes played. A poor clearance from MUM FC keeper Manon Gebauer went straight to Sakairi on the edge of the box to play a one-to with Renee Leota before lifting a beautifully weighted pass over the top for Kagami to direct home as Gebauer went down awkwardly on the surface.
RedStar erased any lingering doubt as to the outcome of the match with two further goals in the final four minutes of the half. The first of which was a team move of the highest order involving Katie Ritchie, Sarah Carroll, Manami, Sakairi, and Andreia Teixeira playing a total of 10 passes between them which cut a swathe not just around, but through the Murdoch University Melville midfield and defence. It concluded with Manami’s low ball across from the right that totally dissected the MUM FC defence for Kagami to turn home from close range. This was Perth RedStar at their sumptuous best.
Then, right on the 45-minute mark, Doeglas’ corner from the right was only cleared as far as Carroll on the edge of the box. The former Perth Glory star took a touch and slammed a half-volley into the bottom right-hand corner of the net as Perth RedStar went in at the break 5-0 ahead.
It took 12 minutes of the second period for the visitors to further extend their advantage as RedStar delivered a move of ruthless effectiveness that cut right through the middle of Murdoch University Melville. Sakairi gained possession inside her own half and fed Kagami centrally ahead of her who beat a player and supplied Jayna Ridley who took a touch and rolled the ball into the net from just inside the box.
Into the final 10 minutes, it became 7-0 when Doeglas motored up the left flank, beating two defenders and laying the ball across low for Ridley to sweep home her second.
This was a tough day at the office for Murdoch University Melville, but in adversity they kept battling and trying hard to maintain their shape. They will face a challenging State Cup match next weekend at home to the ambitious lower division side Perth AFC before a vital showdown at UWA-Nedlands when the NPLW WA returns in a fortnight.
Next week the NPLW WA takes a break as the State Cup gets underway.
STATE CUP ROUND ONE FIXTURES FOR NEXT WEEKEND:
Hamersley United v Perth RedStar, Mandurah City v Hyundai NTC, Murdoch University Melville v Perth AFC, Balcatta Etna v Sorrento.
Byes: Fremantle City, Perth SC, Subiaco, UWA-Nedlands,
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