Ben Gilby and Ava-Marianne Elliott provide a full report each along with all the details from the round’s other two matches plus photography from Cat Bryant and Denyse McCulloch (27/5/24)
Above: Sophie Meaden fires home Fremantle City’s equaliser against Perth SC yesterday. Photo supplied to Impetus by: Cat Bryant.
Game of the week
Fremantle City 1-1 Perth SC
by Ben Gilby
Freo and Perth SC fought out a tight battle at a grey and damp Hilton Park on Sunday afternoon, producing a result that favoured neither team.
The Azzurri‘s failure to seal a win allowed Perth RedStar to extend their lead at the top of the ladder to five points. Balcatta Etna were also able to close the gap on Perth SC to just a single point with their success over Murdoch University Melville. Fremantle are now five points behind fourth place as a consequence of this score-line.
Fremantle City went into the game on the back of their 2-1 win at Murdoch University Melville last weekend which awakened their Top Four Cup hopes after having to mould a new squad this season, something which has been made even more challenging after the departure of key player Laura Waltman after the campaign opened.
The Azzurri are really starting to purr and there was a first start for Young Matilda Tijan McKenna in a hugely talented youthful midfield alongside the likes of Georgia Cassidy and Charli Wainwright.
Freo started the game on the front foot with Alex Poad particularly influential along the right. She was linking up excellently with Maya Spatafore. Whilst she did not see as much of the balance of play as Poad, Abbey Green’s presence on the opposite flank was always a source of danger to Perth with her pace and powerful balls into the box.
It took the visitors around 18 minutes to balance out the share of possession and territory. Cassidy found Jess Flannery with a well-weighted pass on the left of the box, with the attackers’ shot going across the face of goal. Cassidy was showing both sides of her game, the strong tackles and the eye-catching delivery of passes. In this period, McKenna was also busy, looking to thread passes through to her attackers.
Despite the rise of the Azzurri, it was the hosts who had a golden opportunity to hit the front after 27 minutes as Anna Powell was brought down on the right-hand edge of the box by Sophia Papalia as she looked to dance through. There was no hesitation from referee Stephen Knight who pointed to the spot. Up stepped Annabelle Leek, but her spot kick flew over the top.
Moments later, Leek was in the thick of the action at the other end as she diverted Cassidy’s pacey cross over the top – going out for a corner when at one stage it looked likely to be an own goal. From the resulting flag kick, substitute Epril Nossent directed a shot goalwards that Janice Kiama cleared.
Back came Freo and following an underpowered clearance from Perth keeper Lilly Bailey, Poad lifted a high shot goalwards from outside the box that fell into Bailey’s arms.
Fremantle were back to frustrating the visitors’ powerful attack. They had clearly studied Perth SC’s build-up play, filling their regular channels with bodies. Whilst they let the Azzurri have the ball in their own half, they set a multi-player press in offensive play. Leek was sticking tight to Flannery throughout, and Ella Lincoln was largely kept on the periphery of the action with two Freo shirts sticking tightly to her.
Just before the break, Cassidy was shown her second yellow card of the afternoon after an off-the-ball incident with Janice Kiama. In the short spell between this and the half-time whistle, McKenna took on a more defensive midfield role in order to ensure no damage was done to the scoresheet before the interval.
At the opening of the second period, Freo signalled their intent to take advantage of having an extra player by bringing on the pace and poise of Tanika Lala in a central position.
However, it was the visitors who asserted themselves despite being a player in areers, and they were rewarded for their brave attitude 11 minutes into the second period. Substitute Anika Stajcic’s free-kick inside their own half came in high for Wainwright. The talented young midfielder played a 1-2 with Lincoln before possession returned to Stajcic centrally on the edge of the box. Her pass was deflected into the path of Wainwright who turned her marker, twisted away from another and laid off to Lincoln outside her to control and then fire impressively into the net.
Confidence was coursing through Perth now with Lincoln driving up the left and holding off Leek all the way. When Fremantle did get any possession and territory, the quality of the final pass was lacking.
However, as the game moved into the final 20 minutes, they stepped it up. Mikayla Lyons came off the bench, and within moments were level in some style. Leek played a perfectly judged crossfield pass out to Green on the left flank. The Perth Glory A-League Women attacker in turn fed Sophie Meaden ahead of her before getting the ball back. Tightly marked by two defenders, Green got a pass away aided by a Perth boot for Meaden who fired a rocket into the top right-hand corner of the net to level the scores.
The Azzurri had one final chance to take the win. Wainwright found McKenna 30 yards out who let fly, with Schroeder getting down at her left-hand post, but the ball escaped her grasp and fell for Lincoln, however, the home defence scrambled the ball away only for Kiama to foul McKenna 25 yards from goal. Stajcic’s resulting free-kick went over the wall but into the arms of Schroeder.
Freo had a flurry of chances in the final three minutes to claim the points, with Lala involved each time. First, the Perth Glory player went on a trademark dancing run centrally before laying off to Clara Hoarau fed Meaden, but Lilly Bailey saved.
Then, Lala developed a move to feed Meaden in the box who then played a pass back to Tiana Boots who was denied by Bailey. Finally, Lala looked to close down Bailey’s clearance, but her former NTC teammate got the ball away.
This was a frustrating result for both sides. Indeed, the real winners today from this outcome were Perth RedStar, Balcatta Etna, and Hyundai NTC.
Teams: FREMANTLE CITY: Schroeder, Adams, Leek, Osborne, Kiama, Spatafore, Meaden, Hoarau, Green, Poad, Powell. Substitutes: Siah, Lyons, Ierino, Mayoe, Lala, Boots, Boyle.
Scorers: Meaden 70′.
PERTH SC: Bailey, Harvey, Marshall, Bohm, Papalia, Wainwright, Cassidy, McKenna, McAllister, Lincoln, Flannery. Substitutes: Mathers, Stajcic, Nossent, Insch, McCartney, Cavill, Hannan.
Scorers: Lincoln 56′.
Referee: Stephen Knight.
More of Cat Bryant’s photos from the match yesterday
In-depth review:
Subiaco 0-5 Perth RedStar
by Ava-Marianne Elliott
Perth RedStar completed a convincing victory at Rosalie Park yesterday in order to extend their lead at the top of the ladder.
The visitors wasted no time in trying to fashion an opener. A chance for Lauren Continibali came within the first minute, although she was just unable to find the right connection to strike the shot with enough power. The ball was parried away before Emily Dunn ambitiously attempted from range, albeit the chance fell straight into the gloves of an awaiting Monique Todd for an easy save.
Despite Subiaco’s superb defensive efforts, plus a valiant spell of control from the midfield, it didn’t take long for RedStar to hit the front. With eight minutes on the clock, Andreia Teixeira’s vision and perfectly executed long-range pass over the top of the field was collected in space by Reina Kagami, who was able to convert and give the visitors an early advantage.
Falling behind in the game’s early moments, it was key for Subi to remain level-headed. With mistakes arising and miss-placed passes being played straight into a relentless RedStar’s feet, it was clear that the away side were going to make the 90 minutes as challenging as possible for the Subiaco.
Surely enough, the chance to double the score line arose in the 18th minute, and Redstar capitalised. After Continibali pressured the Subiaco backline into rushed passes to try and send the ball away from the advancing attacking threat, Jaalah Rudd’s clearance only landed as far as Kagami on the edge of the box.
Renee Leota was there to collect the ball, before sending it back across to Kagami who had made a run into better space and completed her brace in under twenty minutes when a convincing strike with her left foot hit the back of the net.
RedStar still were relentless in their possession, giving Subiaco few chances to break down the pitch. In the 27th minute, a quality run from Savannah Olsthoorn resulted in Teixeira forcing her to the ground, conceding a free kick, and providing the home side the opportunity to pull one back. Unfortunately, Frankie Murray-Hocking’s delivery had too much power and was sent flying over the top of the bar.
Quickly, the champions were flying out on the counter. Momoko Sakairi’s cross in the penalty area found Leota, but with the pressure of the defence no luck came from an excellent string of build-up play.
Shortly after one failed chance to send the scoreboard up to three, RedStar found yet another. After being granted a corner in the 34th minute, Caitlin Doeglas first connected with the ball ahead of the mass of defensive reinforcement in the box, and Todd was sent to ground in the scuffle, leaving the net open. Clever movement and anticipation from Quyen Doan at the far post secured another excellent goal for the visitors.
As the last few minutes of the half ticked by, RedStar saw more opportunity when Continibali cut a cross back to Doeglas, whose attempt just crept over the top of the bar. The former A-League Women star had better luck shortly afterwards. Dunn’s throw into Leota was concluded by Doeglas’ strong-footed shot that was sent soaring past Todd’s grip, extended the visitors’ lead to four at the break.
The second half predictably opened with RedStar immediately aiming to show more quality, surging forwards, and dominating the field from the get-go. Despite their strengths to undo the Subiaco side so far, the home side’s defensive work in the first half, regardless of the fact they conceded four, mostly met the RedStar forwards with equal fight. In the first five minutes of the half, it was still RedStar holding the majority of the ball, making it evident Subi’s defence were going to have to keep up the tireless effort.
In the 50th minute, the first promising chance arose for RedStar. Doeglas charged down the wing, cutting the back to Leota who just put a touch too much power on her shot, which soared over the bar and proving no worry for Todd between the sticks. Just a minute later, Doeglas continued to prove herself as an enormous source of danger, picking up the ball after Sarah Caroll poached possession from Shelby Cochran. Despite her strength on the break, Doeglas’ shot was collected calmly by Todd.
Subiaco had a glimpse of a promising break in the 55th minute of play when Olsthoorn took control of the field and bypassed the surrounding players in RedStar shirts before passing back to Marianna Tabain. The chance was cut short when Tabain’s pass searching for Olsthoorn was intercepted.
Olsthoorne’s influence continued. She yet again charged down the left-hand side of the pitch with one destination in mind. Yet again to Subi’s dismay, nobody was able to jump on the end of her cross into the box.
Despite not playing with quite the same intensity after the break, RedStar extended their lead when Doan stormed through the cluster of opposing players, thriving in the limited space to send the ball to Kagami on her right. Kagami’s expertly executed pass followed, spying Arai’s run into the box which she sealed with an excellent finish.
Cass Harvey found a chance for the home side in quick succession, going toe-to-toe with Mischa Anderson and coming away with the ball in yards of space, right in front of goal. Although it was a huge glimpse of quality, her shot was collected easily by Gabby Dal Busco in the 63rd minute.
Rudd’s role in the Subi backline after her admirable strength for the course of the match so far shone through yet again in the 70th minute, when she took control of the possession and blocked Doeglas’ cross.
Subiaco found another chance to pull one back in the 78th minute when they were awarded a corner. Although the original cross was boldly blocked by Anderson, Danielle Suckling was able to send the ball back in for a second attempt. Much to Murray-Hocking’s dismay, her header, despite looking as if it was going to hit the net, rolled past the post.
For the final ten minutes of the fixture, RedStar continuously maintained the majority share of the ball, appearing threatening but unable to convert any more chances after several stellar saves from Todd and last-ditch blocks from the Subi defence.
Despite a massively valiant attempt from Subiaco for the full 90, the formidable RedStar side orchestrated a stunning display of football, proving exactly why they’re such a dominant force in the NPLW WA. Their clash with Perth SC after the week’s break for the State Cup looms large. Subiaco will return to NPLW WA action after their own cup tie against UWA Nedlands, who are just three points below them in the ladder.
Teams: SUBIACO: Todd, McQueen, Suckling, Wallwork, Rudd, Cochran, Murray-Hocking, Tabain, Campos, Harvey, Olsthoorne. Substitutes: Riddle, Biegun, Linnell, Taylor, Silver, Edwards, Batson.
PERTH REDSTAR: Dal Busco, Teixeira, Dunn, Anderson, Doan, Sakairi, Kagami, Carroll, Doeglas, Continibali, Leota. Substitutes: Woolley, Bennett, Arai, Odonohoe, Bellanca, Vega Mena.
Scorers: Kagami 8’, 18’. Doan 34’, Doeglas 44, Arai 62’.
More of Denyse McCulloch’s photos from the match yesterday
Round Wrap
by Ben Gilby
Balcatta Etna 4-1 Murdoch University Melville
Balcatta Etna moved level on points with Perth SC in second place on the ladder with this come-from-behind win over Murdoch University Melville (MUM FC) with Abbey Meakins hitting a hat-trick to extend her goal tally for the season to 11 in eight games in the process.
Pete Rakic’s side welcomed Tia Stonehill into their squad for the first time this season after her spell with Perth Glory in the A-League Women. Last season’s NPLW WA top scorer with 24 goals, Stonehill is now the latest member of the dangerous attacking force that Balcatta have assembled this season.
The visitors, who despite being bottom of the ladder, have been producing greatly improved performances in recent weeks, hit the front with seven minutes on the clock. Emily Dewar’s corner from the right came in high to the back post and was met by the head of Emma Ylias. The ball came back off the bar, rebounded back off Ylias, and in.
Balcatta turned things around with two goals in four minutes just before the break. They levelled when Stonehill was brought down in the box. Abbey Meakins gathered the ball and rolled it into the left-hand corner of the net under the dive of MUM FC keeper Manon Gebauer.
The hosts went ahead three minutes from half-time when Meakins, eight yards inside the visitors half, laid a pass off to Lucy Jerram outside her on the left flank. Jerram ran between two defenders to pick up possession and drive into the box before lashing a powerful finish that Gebauer could only help into the net.
Pete Rakic’s side scored the game-breaking goal on the hour mark in some style as Meakins’ free-kick on the right, around 30 yards out flew straight in for a sensational goal.
The icing on the cake came with a fourth goal with 63 minutes played. Liana Cook gained possession from a throw tight on the right-hand flank and played in a high cross that bounced towards Jerram on the edge of the box. She ran on the with the ball and played back a low pass into the path of Meakins who turned and side-footed home with her first touch to complete her hat-trick.
Hyundai NTC 4-1 UWA-Nedlands
Round Eight opened on Saturday afternoon with Hyundai NTC ending their four-match run of defeats with this success over UWA-Nedlands at the Sam Kerr Football Centre.
The NTC took the lead just before the half-hour mark with a sweeping move that started with the ball at the feet of goalkeeper Jess Skinner and ended with a perfectly weighted ball into the stride of Theodora Mouithys. The NTC midfielder initially lost possession but ran onto a short attempted back pass to advance to a one-on-one with UWA-Nedlands goalkeeper Morgan Springer before rolling the ball into an empty net.
However, within two minutes the visitors were level. Michaela Thawley gained possession from an NTC throw on the left midway between the halfway line and the penalty area. The American laid off to Chloe Rodrigo outside her who then passed to Andrea Preiato ahead of her. Preiato then played a sumptuous back-heeled return ball to Rodrigo that allowed the midfielder to run diagonally into the box unmarked to lift a glorious finish into the far corner of the net.
Within eight minutes of the second half’s commencement, the home side restored their lead as Nelli Johnson ended a fantastic patient move that built from the back with eight passes (with one UWA-Nedlands interception in between) to cut in from the left to fire home from just under 25 yards.
With 20 minutes to go, the teenage side finally established a two-goal lead as Lacey Heys’ high ball into the box from the right-hand edge of the box caused all sorts of problems for Springer in the visitors’ goal, and substitute Cate McAuliffe came in unseen at the back post to send a first time side-footed volley into the net from close range.
Three minutes into stoppage time, the NTC completed the scoring with another beautiful passing move that started with Jess Skinner in their goal and saw Jess Johnson showcasing her talent – first with a centimetre perfect pass with the outside of her boot to McAuliffe outside her on the left – and then beat Springer one-on-one to play a low ball across for Mia Britton to tap home from close range.
Ladder Round Eight:
Round Nine will take place on the weekend of 8th/9th June, with next weekend seeing State Cup Quarter-Final action.
STATE CUP QUARTER-FINAL FIXTURES: Saturday: Perth RedStar v Murdoch University Melville, Sunday: UWA-Nedlands v Balcatta Etna, Subiaco v Perth SC, Fremantle City v Hyundai NTC.
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