Perth SC 0-1 Balcatta Etna
by Ben Gilby and Rob Lizzi at Dorrien Gardens (4/8/24)
Above: Ella Lincoln (azure shirt) looks to break through for Perth SC this afternoon against Balcatta Etna. Photo: Ben Gilby for Impetus.
A supremely well-disciplined defensive display from Balcatta Etna ensured that they ran out winners against a Perth SC side who had the better of the possession and territory at a sunny and warm Dorrien Gardens this afternoon.
This outcome pretty much ended the home side’s hopes of taking the NPLW WA championship this season, with Perth RedStar now eight points clear at the summit. However, it could have been so different for The Azzurri. They had were on top for much of the game. Their midfield trio of Charli Wainwright, Georgia Cassidy, and Tijan McKenna were strong and dangerous, but this was a game crying out for Jess Flannery.
With their pocket rocket watching on from the sidelines on crutches after long term injury, Perth SC were not quite able to hit the heights at the pointy end as they were earlier in the campaign. Attacker Ella Lincoln was having to drop back deeper to gain possession, and trouble the high Balcatta line with her excellent touch and turns, but it meant she was over 10 yards further back than from the penalty box which made it harder to break through and trouble the visiting defence.
The opening exchanges saw the home side that bit faster and crisper to the ball. Cassidy was dominant along the right flank looking to take on the Balcatta defence and provide balls across. Allied with McKenna, who was a creative ball of energy all afternoon with the crunching tackles, visionary passing and looking to crack shots in on goal.
Balcatta were holding a high line, which was able to reduce the impact of the Perth attack, and when the Azzurri did break through they were up against an inspired Rebecca Bennett in goal.
Just after the quarter hour mark, Daisy McAllister broke through along the right to feed Lincoln who advanced, but was denied by Bennett. Moments later, Epril Nossent hit an high effort from the left that Bennett palmed away. Following up was McAllister who sent a shot wide of the left hand post.
The Balcatta keeper made it a hat-trick of saves with 24 minutes played. Lincoln was fouled out on the right, parallel with the box. Cassidy’s free-kick came in for Sam Mathers to direct a shot that Bennett saved.
For the remainder of the half, chances were few and far between. Perth SC had the time to play and pass, with McKenna leading the way with those surging runs and passes.
The final opportunity of the half fell to the home side, and it came from a stunning build up of passing. McKenna, McAllister, and Cassidy all interchanged before the latter let fly with a powerful effort that Bennett pushed away.
Whilst the territory and chances were all Perth’s they couldn’t find a way through. For Balcatta, the key creative outlets of Abbey Meakins, Jamie-Lee Gale, and Lucy Jerram were largely on the periphery. They would need some ball if Pete Rakic’s side were to find a breakthrough.
The first change of the second 45 fell the home side’s way with Lincoln surging along the left to play a ball in for Cassidy to send another powerful shot goalward that Bennett held. The Azzurri came even closer on 51 minutes as Mathers’ curling corner from the left came off the near post. Shortly afterwards, Wainwright was brought down centrally 25 yards outside the area by Meakins. McCartney’s free-kick went just wide of the left hand post.
Then came the game changing moment. Gale hit a shot on the right which was saved by Stacey Cavill at the cost of a corner, and from a resulting scrimmage in the box, the ball took a deflection off an azure shirt and into the net to put Balcatta ahead.
Balcatta pushed forward again on the hour with Jerram finding space to drive through the middle to find Kat Jukic outside her, with a corner the outcome.
Perth SC looked to press back in search of an equaliser that would have been the least they deserved for their possession and territory. With just over 20 minutes left, Nossent played a ball in from the left for Cassidy to direct a shot goalwards outside the box which Bennett saved. Just two minutes later, the same Azzurri star picked up a loose back pass but hit her shot wide of the right hand post.
There were three further goalscoring opportunities – all for the hosts. With a quarter of an hour to go, substitute Grace Johnston cut in along the right, but her shot lacked the power to trouble Bennett.
Then, the real chance with 78 on the clock as Wainwright, who had another strong afternoon broke through and was one-on-one with Bennett in the box, but the Balcatta keeper maintained her superb afternoon’s form by denying the Perth youngster.
Three minutes into stoppage time, Nossent cut through along the right, but saw her shot go just wide, and Balcatta claimed all three points.
This was a real frustrating loss for Perth SC who, on another day could have run out comfortable winners. However, there has to be real credit paid to Balcatta. They were exceptionally well organised at the back and did something that very few sides manage to do – keep Perth SC goalless. Rebecca Bennett was superb and they forced the goal when it mattered.
More of Ben Gilby’s photos from Dorrien Gardens today:
Teams: PERTH SC: Cavill, Thew, Nossent, McCartney, Marshall, Wainwright, McAllister, McKenna, Lincoln, Cassidy, Mathers. Substitutes: Johnston, Insch, Bohm, Harvey, Papalia, Hannan.
BALCATTA ETNA: Bennett, D’Opera, van Heurck, Jarvis, Phillips, Gibbons, Jukic, Meakins, Cook, Jerram, Gale. Substitutes: Davis, Comito, Featherstone, Prinsloo, Cornall, St. Pierre.
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