by Ella McShane and Max Parris (10/8/25)
Above: Sam Mathers about to score Perth SC’s opening goal at RedStar Arena this afternoon. Photo: Rob Lizzi.
State Cup Semi-Finals
On Wednesday night, both of the rescheduled State Cup semi-final ties took place. At the Sam Kerr Football Centre, Balcatta Etna defeated Perth RedStar 2-1. Renee Leota scored for RedStar, with Abbey Meakins and Lucy Jerram striking back to put Balcatta into the final.
Across at Wauhop Park, Fremantle City saw off the Football West Academy 3-2. Two goals from Mikayla Lyons and an opener from Janice Kiama sealed the deal for Freo. Cate McAuliffe and Theodora Mouithys were on target for the Academy.
Perth RedStar 0-2 Perth SC
by Ella McShane
This afternoon’s clash of the summit was as closely contested as predicted, with everything to play for.
Seven points separated Perth RedStar from league leaders Perth Soccer Club, but there was more than a feasible margin of hope that the defending champions could gain the win.
Both sides were without key attacking players – Caitlin Doeglas for the home side, and Ella Lincoln for the visitors – and they managed to keep each other out of the final third for the opening 20 minutes, with the Azzurri cutting off any promising RedStar plays and quick to counter.
The Azzurri got themselves on the front foot at the 25-minute mark when a run down the left flank from Jess Flannery was crossed into a Sam Mathers darting in towards goal. Mathers’s threatening header was expertly anticipated by RedStar goalkeeper Gabby Dal Busco, but Mathers was able to catch on the unfortunate rebound and netted a deserved opening goal.
RedStar began to build some momentum as the half moved to a conclusion. A diagonal long ball from Andreia Teixeira created space on the left-hand side of the box. Quyen Doan, Jay Coleman, and Carla Bennett then combined brilliantly to hold off the Azzurri with slick link-up play. Jayna Ridley then took a shot but couldn’t quite convert the chance.
The ultimate 0-2 scoreline was determined in the 54th minute when Daisy McAllister played a pass out to Flannery, allowing her a familiar run down the left wing for Louise Tana to pounce on near the back post.
Whilst RedStar had much of the rest of the game, they could not find a way through the well-organised Azzurri backline. Perth SC now need just one more victory to clinch their first NPLW WA title.
Teams: PERTH REDSTAR: Dal Busco, Teixeira, Dunn, Monteiro, Doan, Coleman, Bennett, Carroll, Bellanca, Leota, Ridley. Substitutes: Woolley, Skinner (GK), Lornie, Mogridge, Finnegan, Gray, Devitt.
PERTH SC: Schroeder, Nossent, McCartney, Boehm, Longmore, McAllister, Collins, Archibald, Mathers, Flannery, Marshall. Substitutes: Ottobrino, Ingrey, Warburton, Insch, Tana, McCready.
Scorers: Mathers 25′, Tana 54′.
Around the grounds
Murdoch University Melville 0-4 Fremantle City
by Ella McShane
Fremantle City hit four goals in the final half-hour to see off Murdoch University Melville (MUM FC) and keep their top-four hopes alive.
After holding possession in their half of the pitch for the majority of the first 63 minutes of game time, Fremantle City finally broke the deadlock when Leyna Woods’ run found the feet of Janice Kiama on the charge, who was able to net the goal despite the best efforts of a closely marking MUM defence.
In trademark fashion, Abbey Green added another one to the away side’s tally, when a searing run down the left wing left exposed an open goal. Green netted with a calm authority.
Mia Yeo expertly built on the port side’s second-half momentum, reading the space to her left. Making a horizontal run, she caught everyone in the box off guard and volleyed the ball flawlessly into the back of the net.
To wrap up a jam-packed second half for Fremantle City, Alex Poad’s sharp header converted a corner. The powerful header finding the net after rebounding inside as close as close can be in the penalty area.
Teams: MURDOCH UNIVERSITY MELVILLE: Skinner, Ascenzo-Cabello, Symons, Denona, Sabean, Glanfield, Dunn, Mastrantonio, Jorquera, Hotchin, Baldin. Substitutes: Cook, Richards, Mello, Cleminson, Siah.
FREMANTLE CITY: Phillips, Poad, Leek, Osborne, Spencer, Kiama, Meaden, Healy, Green, Wood, Lyons. Substitutes: Reynolds, Yeo, Khiati.
Scorers: Kiama 63′, Green 78′, Yeo 79′, Poad 89′.
UWA-Nedlands 1-1 Football West Academy
by Max Parris
UWA-Nedlands gained a superb point against the Football West Academy (FWA) – an outcome that puts them within touching distance of safety.
They did it the hard way as well, coming from behind as Lacey Heys scored for the FWA just before halftime, but Samara Riches equalized for UWA-Nedlands with a superb finish. Despite being outshot 17-11, UWA Nedlands managed to secure a point.
Next Saturday at 3pm, UWA Nedlands face Fremantle City at UWA Sports Park. The Football West Academy take on Subiaco at the Sam Kerr Football Centre with a kick-off time of 1pm.
Depending on other results, UWA Nedlands could close the gap to just five points behind Subiaco, while the FWA could move into second place with a win over Subiaco.
Ladder
- Perth SC P 18 Pts 47 GD +46
- Perth RedStar P 18 Pts 37 GD +38
- Football West Academy P 18 Pts 37 GD +24
- Balcatta Etna P 15 Pts 31 GD +25
- Fremantle City P 19 Pts 30 GD +23
- Subiaco P 18 Pts 16 GD -20
- UWA-Nedlands P 18 Pts 8 GD -62
- Murdoch University Melville P 18 Pts 1 GD -74
Fixtures
WEDNESDAY: Balcatta Etna v Perth SC (7pm), Football West Academy v Perth RedStar (6:30pm). SATURDAY: Football West Academy v Subiaco (1pm), Perth SC v Balcatta Etna (3pm), UWA-Nedlands v Fremantle City (3pm). SUNDAY: Perth RedStar v Murdoch University Melville.
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