Ben Gilby provides a review of all the action from the final full weekend of regular season league action (1/9/24).
Above: Perth RedStar’s Reina Kagami (centre, red shirt) seen here in action earlier in the season, hit a superb hat-trick in the champions’ win over the NTC yesterday. Photo supplied to Impetus by: Rob Lizzi.
UWA-Nedlands 0-2 Balcatta Etna
Balcatta Etna’s win at UWA Sports Park on Saturday afternoon ensured that UWA-Nedlands will finish bottom of the NPLW WA.
Lawrence Lewis’ side now face a wait to discover the outcome of the race at the top of the Hyundai Women’s League Division One which will ultimately decide their status for 2025.
The visitors took the lead on the hour mark as Olivia Cornall played a high ball forward from the centre of the park for Lucy Jerram to pick up on the left-hand side of the box. UWA-Nedlands goalkeeper Morgan Springer came out in a bid to narrow the angle, but Jerram cooly finished into the far corner of the net.
Ultimately the game was settled with eight minutes remaining. Monique Prinsloo gathered possession inside her own half on the right-hand side and played a well-weighted pass up to Liana Cook inside her who advanced and lifted a shot from 25 yards that flew into the right-hand corner of the net away from Springer’s grasp.
Balcatta have one game remaining during the regular season before they head into the Top Four Cup. Pete Rakic’s side has hit top form results-wise at the right time – this was their fourth game unbeaten, a run that has also seen them keep three clean sheets.
Whilst UWA-Nedlands have ended their debut NPLW WA season bottom of the ladder – albeit with one game still to play in midweek – they have added a lot to the competition. They have been a well-organised side with players who have really grown into the competition, shown great character and an ability to cause problems consistently.
They now face a wait to see who finishes top of the Hyundai Women’s League Division One and who wishes to make the jump up.
Murdoch University Melville 0-0 Fremantle City
Click on this link to read the in-depth report of the match published on the site on Friday: https://impetusfootball.org/2024/08/30/freo-cement-top-four-place-as-mum-fc-wait-to-confirm-nplw-wa-status-continues/
Perth RedStar 6-0 Hyundai NTC
Three-peat champions Perth RedStar concluded another NPLW WA regular season with a strong victory, ending the NTC’s faint hopes of a place in the Top Four with Reina Kagami hitting a hat-trick.
Carlos Vega Mena’s side hit the front with three minutes on the clock when Caitlin Doeglas’ corner on the right-hand side looked to come off the NTC’s Hannah Collins, in the centre of the six-yard box, with the referee judging that the ball had crossed the line.
It was 2-0 just before the 20-minute mark as Reina Kagami skillfully controlled a high pass played into her and turned Mia Britton centrally, around 30 yards from goal. The Japanese star then threaded through a perfectly weighted pass to Jayna Ridley outside her to take into the box and fire a powerful shot into the far right-hand corner.
With 31 minutes played, Kagami got on the scoresheet herself after taking advantage of a poor clearance from Jess Skinner which was snaffled up by Ridley on the edge of the box, with Kagami coming in to dispatch a shot into the net.
There was still time for a fourth before the break as Manami Arai crossed into the mix from the right-hand side. Nelli Johnson’s block fell for Kagami to lift a sumptuous volley over Skinner from just outside the six-yard box.
Five minutes into the second half, RedStar extended their lead further. The ball bobbed around 30 yards from goal before Momoko Sakairi laid off an excellent pass into Caitlin Doeglas who advanced into the box to hit a low shot that squirmed into the net out of Skinner’s reach.
The scoring was completed 20 minutes from time with Kagami completing her hat-trick. Olivia Wood gathered possession out on the left-hand flank just inside the NTC half and played a brilliantly judged diagonal ball into the feet of Renee Leota. The New Zealand international picked up play in the centre and drove forward, beating Violet Longmore as she ran into the box and squared a low pass for an unmarked Kagami to guide into the net from inside the six-yard box.
Perth RedStar have found the goals, clean sheets, and performances at exactly the right time again. With a State Cup Final next weekend and the Top Four Cup to follow, their potential opponents have been warned.
Perth SC 3-0 Subiaco
The Azzurri ended their regular season with a comfortable win over Subiaco in a ‘home’ game played at Sorrento’s Percy Doyle Reserve.
Perth SC made one change from the starting line-up that defeated Hyundai NTC in the week, with Ruby Marshall coming in for Tijan McKenna. Subiaco were missing Mariana Tabain.
After an opening 20 minutes that were largely transitionary in nature, thanks largely due to Subiaco’s aggressive press which nullified the space Perth needed to play their passing game, the Azzurri hit the front. Kim McCartney gained possession inside her own half before laying a ball off to Nadia Harvey outside her. The number two accelerated along the right flank and crossed into the box for Daisy McAllister to volley home at the back post.
Subiaco had a golden chance in the early stages of the second half to level matters when Keziah Burgis progressed up the right flank and played a ball in for Stella Zampogna coming in at the back post, but the effort went over the top. That was largely the last chance for Subi as the Azzurri dominated the remainder of the match.
With 53 minutes played, Mathers took advantage of loose play to beat Burgis on the left and cross into the box. Lincoln turned both Danielle Suckling and Wallwork with fancy footwork and fired home a beauty.
With Subiaco being kept at arm’s length, a third goal was added with nine minutes remaining, and it was another strike of real skill. Substitute Tamsyn Hannan gained possession in the left of centre channel and threaded a perfectly weighted pass through for Marshall to escape between Burgis and Wallwork to slide home a cool finish to the in the box.
Ladder: Perth RedStar P: 21 Pts: 55, Perth SC P: 21 Pts: 49, Balcatta Etna P: 20 Pts: 41, Fremantle City P: 20 Pts: 30, Hyundai NTC: P: 20 Pts: 24, Subiaco P: 21 Pts: 19, Murdoch University Melville P: 21 Pts: 12, UWA-Nedlands P: 20 Pts: 8.
Midweek catch-up Fixtures – Wednesday 8pm: Balcatta Etna v Hyundai NTC, UWA-Nedlands v Fremantle City (at Dorrien Gardens).
Hyundai Women’s League Division One:
Round 19 of 21: Perth AFC 3-0 Sorrento, UWA-Nedlands 1-3 Fremantle City, Mandurah City 0-0 Hamersley Rovers, Subiaco v Murdoch University Melville – result not in at time of publication.
Ladder: Perth AFC P: 19 Pts: 38, Fremantle City P: 19 Pts: 37, Mandurah City P: 19 Pts: 36, Hamersley Rovers P: 19 Pts: 35, Subiaco P:18 Pts: 34, UWA-Nedlands P: 19 Pts: 19, Sorrento P: 19 Pts: 9, Murdoch University Melville P: 18 Pts: 4.
Follow Impetus on social media –
Twitter (X): @impetusfootball TikTok: @impetusfootball
Facebook: @impetuswomensfootball Instagram: @impetusfootball
impetusfootball.org 