5 Things from NPLW WA Round 18

Round 18 of the NPLW was another goal fest with 21 goals from the four games, just one shy of the previous round’s total.

There were two games on Friday evening. Second-placed Fremantle City hosted third-placed Perth SC, and bottom-of-the-table Curtin University entertained fourth-placed MUM FC.

Both games ended in victory for the away teams, as Perth SC recorded an emphatic 5-1 win to swap places with their opponents. MUM FC ran out 3-0 winners to consolidate their top 4 spot and are now within a point of third-placed Fremantle.

On Saturday newly crowned league champions Perth RedStar continued their unbeaten season with a 6-2 win against visitors Subiaco AFC, who had Lisa De Vanna and Ella Mastrantonio in their lineup.

The last game of the round was between Hyundai NTC and Balcatta Etna at E&D Litis Stadium on Sunday. Hosts NTC condemned their visitors to a third successive defeat by winning 3-1 in comfortable fashion. The win keeps NTC firmly in the race for a top 4 spot, whilst defeat for Balcatta has made their top 4 quest very difficult.

Perth SC have found their mojo

Prior to the State Cup Final, Perth SC was struggling for goals and points. However, since that game they have played three, won two, and drawn one, scoring 15 goals and conceding just three in the process. That run includes one of their best performances of the season, their visit to Fremantle City on Friday evening.

Arriving at Fremantle they knew that a win would enable them to leapfrog their opponents into second spot and give them the box seat, in terms of setting themselves up for a second chance in the top 4 finals.

Despite going 1-0 down inside two minutes via a Jess Darmago goal, Pete Rakic’s team kept their composure and slowly worked their way into the game, eventually scoring an equaliser in the 22nd minute thanks to Jamie Duncanson.

Perth SC then played some disciplined and composed football. Despite Fremantle having 17 shots to Perth’s 12, the Azzurri were far more clinical in their finishing and ran out 5-1 winners, which included another Abbey Meakins free kick special.

There seems to be new-found confidence within the team, and with their next game being against Subiaco, Perth SC will be hopeful of extending their lead over third-placed Fremantle City to five points, which may well be insurmountable at this late stage in the campaign.

Perth RedStar continue their unbeaten season

On Saturday the newly crowned league champions played their first game since claiming the title last Sunday. RedStar hosted a Subiaco team which was not only brimming with confidence after two consecutive league wins for the first time in their NPLW history, but also boasted Matildas legend Lisa De Vanna and fellow Matilda Ella Mastrantonio in their line up.

The champions were without their second-highest goalscorer Sarah Carroll and influential midfielder Carla Bennett, so there were some who may have been harbouring thoughts of a possible upset.

Within 30 minutes though the game was over in terms of a contest as RedStar raced out to a 3-1 lead and ended up 6-2 winners after a dominant display. They ended up with 32 shots to Subiaco’s eight and despite the odd moment of individual brilliance from De Vanna and Mastrantonio (who scored her first goal for Subiaco), RedStar’s pressing game meant there was never any sustained attacking pressure by the visitors.

With Larissa Walsh scoring the opener to take her season tally to 18, there is now every likelihood she will take out the Golden Boot, and after sharing the award last season Walsh appears to be on target to claim it outright this time around.

Fremantle City suffering loss of form

There are some worrying signs at the crucial part of the season for Fremantle City. Two consecutive defeats at the hands of Perth RedStar and Perth SC have seen them slip from second to third. They are now just one point clear of fourth-placed MUM FC, whom they meet on the synthetic turf at Murdoch University next Saturday, and a loss there could see them being dragged into a real fight for a top 4 spot.

All season long Fremantle have struggled to get a consistent first eleven on the field. Players such as Katarina Jukic and Jamie-Lee Gale juggle work demands with game time, and they have been without influential striker Mikayla Lyons over the last couple of weeks as she has been part of the backroom staff for the successful Junior Matildas AFF U18 campaign in Indonesia.

The constant adjustments that coach Garry Church has had to make could be a major reason why Fremantle has the worst defensive record of the current top four, with 32 goals conceded compared to 19 by MUM FC, 11 by Perth SC and 8 by Perth RedStar. Indeed, only three other teams in the league have a higher goals against record and this is something that Church will be keen to address as he tries to steer his team into the top 4.

Hyundai NTC is a genuine top four chance

The 3-1 win on Sunday for Hyundai NTC against Balcatta Etna has lifted them to fifth place on the ladder, just one point behind fourth-placed MUM FC and two points behind third-placed Fremantle City. As MUM FC and Fremantle play each other on Saturday, an NTC victory against Subiaco will see them move into the top four and be well placed to make a serious finals challenge for the first time in the NPLW era.

Their win was once again based on fluid passing movements, as well as the finishing abilities of Tanika Lala, who scored a brace on Sunday. Lala is now the third highest scorer in the league with 11 goals, one behind Perth RedStar’s Sarah Carroll and seven behind leading scorer Larissa Walsh, also of Perth RedStar.

The youngster from Kalgoorlie has been in sensational form this season and she had this to say about her time in the Goldfields when interviewed by Football West’s Tommy Doleman recently:

“It’s great to open up that gate for the Goldfields. For me, Kalgoorlie really has been the stepping stone in finding my passion for football and I really owe it to all my coaches that have pushed me over the years. The support I received from the community there really motivates me to keep improving and to see how far I can go.”

Lala’s goals will be critical for NTC as they make the final push for what is shaping up to be the tightest top 4 race in the NPLW era.

MUM FC’s solid foundation provides the base for their top 4 challenge

MUM FC’s 3-0 win on Friday night against bottom-of-the-table Curtin was one that came as no surprise to anyone. However, the clean sheet was still noteworthy as it was the fourth in their last five games, and this solid defensive base has been a major reason for their move up the ladder in recent weeks. 

Coach Luke Thompson has been working hard to make his team difficult to break down and if they take a lead it’s very unusual for them to relinquish it.

The engine room of Charli Wainwright and Perth Glory player Sadie Lawrence form an effective shield in front of the back four, and goalkeeper Monique Todd has been in excellent form since her off-season move from Perth RedStar.

Lawrence also scored a fine goal in the victory on Sunday. The young MUM FC team will lean heavily on her experience and skill, as well as their new defensive resilience if they are to stay in the top 4, as they have the hardest run-in of the five teams aiming for the three remaining top four spots. MUM FC’s final three games are against Fremantle City, Perth RedStar and Perth SC.

Click here for Round 18 goal highlights

Round 18 Results

Curtin University FC 0 – 3 MUM FC 
Fremantle City FC 1 – 5 Perth SC
Perth RedStar 6 – 2 Subiaco AFC
Hyundai NTC Women 3 – 1 Balcatta Etna

League Ladder