Murdoch University Melville 0-0 Fremantle City
by Ben Gilby (30/8/24)
Above: Abbey Green, seen in action earlier in the month, was a creative ball of energy for Fremantle City at Murdoch University Melville tonight. Photo: Ben Gilby for Impetus.
Fremantle City have virtually guaranteed their place in the Top Four Cup after drawing with Murdoch University Melville at Besteam Stadium tonight.
The point for Murdoch University Melville means that they will be guaranteed NPLW WA football for another year if UWA-Nedlands fail to get at least a draw at home to Balcatta Etna tomorrow (Saturday).
Whilst in theory, the NTC could still deny Fremantle a place in the top four, Ben Anderton’s teenage charges would need a freakish set of results in their final two games – winning both (away to Perth RedStar and Balcatta Etna) and overcoming a goal difference deficit of 34.
Murdoch University Melville made one change from the side that went down 5-0 to Perth SC last weekend, with Australian international Ella Mastrantonio coming in for Ingrid Gomez Basallo. For the visitors, top scorer Tanika Lala, who took a knock in their 0-0 draw with UWA-Nedlands at the weekend was out, replaced by former Balcatta Etna attacker Mia Yeo. Karin Kronberg also dropped to the bench with Catherine Adams coming in.
Both sides developed half chances in the opening minutes with Ellis Glanfield and Yeo breaking through respectively, but to no avail. Mastrantonio was regularly in possession, a calming influence on the young heads in the MUM FC side around her, and looking to thread balls through.
The opening 20 minutes was largely played in the middle third with both sides having very little time on the ball. Play was transitionary in nature and chances were rare.
It took until the 18th minute for the next opportunity when Abbey Green motored along the left and played a tempting ball into the back post towards Yeo, but Ashley Sabean tidied up brilliantly for the home side.
Whilst Freo had more possession in this spell, Murdoch University Melville were looking largely comfortable in defence with Sabean and Brooke Burdett marshalling the back line well and goalkeeper Ashley Cook had little to do.
The hosts conjured up an opportunity just before the half-hour mark as Sophie Patience was played in by Isabella Baldin on the edge of the box, but Fremantle goalkeeper Dayle Schroeder came out to gather. Shortly afterwards, Taylor Reid fed Mastrantonio centrally on the edge of the box, but the shot was parried by Schroeder and Reid’s follow-up was dealt with too.
Moments after this, Fremantle produced two opportunities. First, Green fed Sophie Meaden on the left-hand side of the box for a shot that went wide of the near post, and then, 10 minutes before the interval, Burdett lost out to Olivia Trueman busting through who let fly with a powerful shot that Cook got a touch to, ensuring it went out for a corner. The game remained goalless at the break.
Clear-cut chances remained few and far between in the second half, but the home side had the better opportunities in what became an increasingly feisty affair.
Reid was involved in three excellent chances within 10 minutes. First, the Murdoch University Melville attacker skipped past three on the left and hit a high shot that was grabbed by Schroeder. Just before the hour mark, Reid had another opportunity when she was played through by Mastrantonio. The ball cleared Shroeder, but Annabelle Leek got back to head away brilliantly just as it looked like MUM FC were going to hit the front. Then, she broke through again and hit a shot that went agonisingly wide of the left-hand post.
With just under 20 minutes to go, substitute Ingrid Gomez Basallo found fellow newly introduced Emmanuella Adu Pipim Boaduo on the right flank, but Schroeder once more intervened.
Bad luck struck the home side in the second half as they lost both Danielle Brown and Boaduo to injury, and it was Fremantle who had the next opportunity.
With nine minutes remaining, the visitors were awarded a free kick on the edge of the area, on the left-hand byline. After a delay that saw two yellow cards brandished to either side, Green’s free kick wended its way to Mikayla Lyons on the edge of the box, but her effort was well over the top.
Murdoch University Melville had the two final chances, both deep into stoppage time at the end of the 90 minutes. Three minutes into the added-on time, Mastrantonio’s corner on the left was fisted away by Schroeder, but only as far as Baldin who tried hard to get the ball back into the danger area, but was fouled on the right flank, parallel to the penalty spot.
Mastrantonio floated the free-kick into the mix, but Glanfield couldn’t make contact at the near post and Kiama was able to clear.
Whilst MUM FC’s league program is over for 2024, they face a wait to discover if they will remain safe from potential relegation. UWA-Nedlands must take at least four points from their final two games – at home to Balcatta Etna tomorrow and against Fremantle City in midweek to leapfrog the 2020 and 2021 NPLW WA champions.
As for Freo, miracles withstanding, they have secured a top-four spot and will be looking to regroup after their final game with UWA-Nedlands ahead of the Top Four Cup.
Teams: MURDOCH UNIVERSITY MELVILLE: Cook, Burdett, Brown, Sabean, Eastman, Patience, Reid, Mastrantonio, Denona, Baldin, Glanfield. Substitutes: Jayme, Pipim Boaduo, Baiamonte, Ellis, Wiese, Gomez Basallo, Hoath.
FREMANTLE CITY: Schroeder, Poad, Leek, Adams, Osborne, Siah, Kiama, Meaden, Green, Trueman, Yeo. Substitutes: Cain, Stiles, Lyons, Mayoe, Kronberg.
Referee: Josh Pycroft.
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