by Ben Gilby and Ella McShane (8/6/25)
Above: Subiaco goalkeeper Monique Todd gets a hand to the ball under Perth SC pressure today. Photo: Rob Lizzi.
Balcatta Etna 8-3 UWA-Nedlands
by Ben Gilby
Three goals in an eight-minute spell in the second half ensured that Balcatta Etna finally put a stubborn UWA-Nedlands side to the sword at Home Group Stadium.
Whilst the home side ran out comfortable winners in the end, the visitors showed real character and skill to keep hitting back. In doing so, they scored three goals of the highest quality.
There were new faces across both teams, with Balcatta bringing in Izzy Foletta after the defender had a break at the end of her A-League Women commitments with Perth Glory, along with former NTC midfielder Ella Marwick. The visitors gave a first start to striker Taylor Reid, who has been among the goals for both Murdoch University Melville and Curtin University in the league previously.
It was an action-packed first half with six goals in a 34-minute spell. The hosts took the lead eight minutes in when UWA-Nedlands paid the price for a loose pass across their penalty box, with the ball falling perfectly for Lucy Jerram to hit a first-time shot in from around 10 yards.
UWA-Nedlands levelled in a similar vein when an errant pass from Balcatta enabled Chloe Rodrigo to hit a spectacular first-time shot which flew in from the right-hand edge of the box.
Parity lasted just eight minutes before the home side regained the lead. A superb flick pass in the middle of the park from Zoee Spadano released Jerram, who accelerated away into space and hit a shot that visiting goalkeeper Madison Large pushed to the right, but only as far as the on-rushing Abbey Meakins to slot home from close range.
UWA-Nedlands have been more than capable of scoring goals all season, and they struck yet again just after the half-hour mark when the ball was played back to Emily Dinsdale on the right-hand edge of the area. Her effort floated straight into the top left-hand corner of the net. Quite possibly, it was meant as a cross, but regardless, the visiting side had their second spectacular goal of the half.
This time, the scores were only level for three minutes as Meakins was played in from the right by a centimetre-perfect pass to dispatch past Large from the edge of the area.
Balcatta grabbed a two-goal advantage three minutes before the interval when a lofted pass was played through for Jerram to run onto. In these situations, there is only going to be one outcome – the attacker raced through the wide open space to smash home her second of the afternoon.
The home side grabbed their fifth of the afternoon just before the hour mark when Meakins fed Jamie-Lee Gale, who advanced and rounded Large to slot home.
However, still UWA-Nedlands would not lie down, and with 68 played, a lofted pass was too high for Marwick to get a head on and Dinsdale was able to run through and lift a sumptuous shot over Bennett and in.
Then came the decisive period of the game as Balcatta stepped down harder on the accelerator. Two minutes after Dinsdale’s goal, a superb one-two between Spadano and Meakins resulted in a ball going across to the back post for Liana Cook to turn in.
With 74 on the clock, A free-kick on the left ended with Meakins letting fly with a superb effort that flew into the top right-hand corner.
The 11th and final goal of the afternoon came when Gale broke clean through, but saw her shot parried by Large, only for the ball to fall perfectly for Cook to dispatch her second of the game.
This win extends Balcatta’s winning run to four in a row – a period in which they have scored 21 goals. It sets the scene perfectly for next Saturday’s showdown with Perth SC, which will be some game.
Teams: BALCATTA ETNA: Bennett, van Heurck, Davis, Murray, Foletta, Marwick, Jarvis, Spadano, Meakins, Gale, Jerram. Substitutes: Phillips, Comito, Cook, Hargreaves, Britton.
Scorers: Jerram 8′, 42′. Meakins 25′, 35′, 74′. Gale 57′, Cook 70′, 78′.
UWA-NEDLANDS: Large, C. Gaspar, Cain, Dadswell, Preiato, Rodrigo, E. Gaspar, Short, Dinsdale, Riches, Reid. Substitutes: Hartley, Visic, Beese, Carr, Vulin.
Scorers: Rodrigo 17′, Dinsdale 33′, 68′.
Football West Academy 4-0 Murdoch University Melville
by Ella McShane
The Football West Academy (FWA) put on a dominant display as they earned a 4-0 victory against Murdoch University Melville (MUM FC) at the Sam Kerr Football Centre on Saturday.
The home side seized the initiative from the start as a combination of powerful overhead clearances and a confident build from the backline posed an immediate threat to the visitors
Theo Mouithys made FWA’s early dominance a reality, striking against the already grappling away side just 11 minutes in. The attacker, a recent call-up to the national team set-up, analysed MUM’s efforts to neutralise the threat and positioned herself perfectly to openly receive the ball from her surrounded teammate Ava Santos. Mouithys’ momentary but powerful dribble forward created unstoppable momentum to bury the opener with confidence.
As the first half progressed, FWA sustained its dominance. This made for a demanding shift for goalkeeper MUM FC Kaitlyn Mohan. Called to action on multiple occasions, Mohan maintained composure and confidence between the posts.
In a desperate bid to prevent a goal-scoring opportunity, the visitors’ Luana Ascenzo-Cabello fouled FWA skipper Klaudia Houlis inside the box which resulting in a yellow card and a penalty awarded.
Houlis stepped up to take it. Mohan briefly got a glove to it, which provided hope for a dramatic save. But the power behind the strike saw the ball deflected into the net, the home side 2-0 up 31 minutes in.
The second half commenced, and the youngsters did not take long to find their goal-scoring groove. Loose passes from MUM allowed FWA to take possession and exploit clearances. Sam Brady’s cross from the right wing was put into the net for an own goal, securing a 3-0 lead at 48 minutes.
In a similar bid to gain control, MUM’s Monique Baiamore fouled Houlis, resulting in a yellow and a free kick at a distant but prosperous spot for FWA. Xuri Dalton stepped up to take the shot and powerfully rocketed the ball into the back of the net, confidently securing the decisive 4-0 scoreline.
Teams: FOOTBALL WEST ACADEMY: Borg, Santos, Johnson, Williams-Jones, Collinson, Houlis, Dumont, Dalton, Brady, Mouithys, Garnett. Substitutes: McAuliffe, McGreadie-Cole, Santich, Heys, Barlow, Kuzamba, Leong.
Scorers: Mouithys 11′, Houlis (pen) 31′, OG, Dalton 70′.
MURDOCH UNIVERSITY MELVILLE: Mohan, Cleminson, Ascenzo-Cabello, Symons, Jorquera, Denona, Patience, Baldin, Richards, Ellis, Baiamonte. Substitutes: Saraceni, Bui, Swarbrick, Johnson, Skinner, Hotchin.
Scorers:
Perth RedStar 4-1 Fremantle City
by Ella McShane
Perth RedStar secured their sixth straight win after coming from behind to defeat Fremantle City.
The opening 40 minutes were a midfield tug-of-war, with RedStar’s sharp passing repeatedly challenged by Fremantle’s disciplined defensive structure. With only a handful of breaks forward for either side, play remained locked at the halfway line.
Fremantle’s Abbey Green was finally able to make a break forward on the left wing towards the port city side’s goal. Green crossed it into box delivering to teammate Erin Siah, whose initial shot was parried by RedStar goalkeeper Gabby Dal Busco. Quick to react, Siah followed up on the rebound, slipping past Dal Busco and heading the ball home to give Freo the halftime lead.
The second half had barely begun when RedStar found the equaliser. In an effort to break down the visitors’ tight defensive block, Renee Leota sent the ball back to Jay Coleman, who struck a clean volley toward goal just outside the box. Initially intercepted by goalkeeper Megan Phillips, the save was not secured, and the ball went in.
As they are so successful at doing, RedStar were now able to maintain possession in their favourable half of the pitch, and the goals came in rapid succession. Despite a congested box, Leota managed to launch an ultimately successful overhead shot on target, which put her side 2-1 ahead in the 53rd minute.
A mere three minutes later, and a clean run from the RedStar backline, travelled through midfield and delivered the ball at an open Jayna Ridley, who was able to secure the comfortable 3-1 lead for the home side.
Freo tried to rally and were seen more offensively again. Sophie Meaden’s shot at 79 minutes ricocheted off the crossbar straight down onto the goal line, but didn’t go over it.
In the final minutes, a free kick was awarded to RedStar following a foul by Sofie Obourne just outside the box. Sarah Carroll’s ball in was delivered to Caitlin Doeglas, who comfortably sealed the 4-1 win.
Teams: PERTH REDSTAR: Dal Busco, Woolley, Teixeira, Dunn, Doan, Coleman, Carroll, Bellanca, Doeglas, Leota, Ridley. Substitutes: Monteiro, Skinner, Continibali, Lornie, Gray, Devitt.
Scorers: Coleman 48′, Leota 53′, Ridley 56′, Doeglas 90+1′.
FREMANTLE CITY: Phillips, Poad, Leek, Osborne, Spencer, Adams, Kiama, Meaden, Siah, Wood. Substitutes: Lyons, Yeo, Trueman, Johnson.
Scorers: Siah 40′.
Perth SC 5-0 Subiaco
by Ben Gilby
Perth remain top of the NPLW WA after what was in the end, a comfortable win over Subiaco at Dorrien Gardens today.
Whilst the home side had to work hard to against a well-organised Subi outfit to find the initial breakthrough, once it came the goals flowed, with five different scorers on the mark.
The opening 45 minutes were akin to a bit of a chess match. Subiaco were well-disciplined and set up to push high and deny the home side space.
The home side dominated possession and territory, but as a result of the hard-working visitors, it took until a minute before time for Perth to take the lead.
Tijan McKenna gained possession in the middle of the park and played a pass out to the left flank. After a series of short passes inside and back out to the flank, a cross came in from the left that was just out of the reach of Hannah Collins. However, Sam Mathers was on hand on the right to turn the ball back in for Ella Lincoln to turn the ball home.
The second half saw the Azzurri dominance continue, and this time, with the Lincoln-Flannery combination in full evidence, the goals flowed.
With 54 played, Maja Archibald found Georgia Cassidy inside her. The Glory A-League star played a perfectly judged ball through to McKenna who let fly from 25 yards to send a rocket into the net.
On the hour mark, it was 3-0 as Lincoln gathered possession in the midfield to play in Flannery on the left who advanced and rolled a low shot into the right-hand corner of the net.
Two further goals in a four minute burst sealed the deal. Lincoln and Flannery combined once more in a move that ended with Flannery putting in a low cross for Mathers to turn home.
Finally, an excellent three pass move ended with Lincoln finding Flannery yet again with the resulting ball into the box finding Epril Nossent at the near post who sent a shot trickling into the far corner.
The Azzurri now go on to face all the other sides in the top four in successive weeks, beginning with Balcatta Etna away, before hosting Perth RedStar and travelling to the Football West Academy.
Teams: PERTH SC: Schroeder, McCartney, Longmore, McKenna, Cassidy, Collins, Archibald, Lincoln, Flannery, Tana, Mathers. Substitutes: Ottobrino (for Tana 82’), McAllister, Nossent (for Archibald 62’), Insch, Marshall (for Longmore 75’), Cavill.
Scorers: Lincoln 44’, McKenna 54’, Flannery 60’, Mathers 81’, Nossent 88’.
SUBIACO: Todd, Burdett, Suckling, Bailey, Papalia, Kim, Harvey, Tabain, Zampogna, Campos, Hope. Substitutes: Rudd, Hughes, Steele, Silver, Edwards, Robinson, Jahn.
Ladder
Perth SC P 10 Pts 26 GD +26
Perth RedStar P 11 Pts 25 GD +31
Football West Academy P11 Pts 24 GD +15
Balcatta Etna P 9 Pts 19 GD +16
Subiaco P 10 Pts 10 GD -8
Fremantle City P 10 Pts 9 GD -7
UWA-Nedlands P 11 Pts 6 GD -27
Murdoch University Melville P 10 Pts 0 GD -46
Fixtures
SATURDAY: Balcatta Etna v Perth SC, Fremantle City v UWA-Nedlands. SUNDAY: Murdoch University Melville v Perth RedStar, Subiaco v Football West Academy.
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