5 Things from NPLW WA Round 20

Round 20 has finally seen the make-up of the top four looking more or less complete, with only fourth spot up for grabs.

Before the round started though, MUM FC and Fremantle City played a rescheduled game at Bestadium on Thursday evening. Both sides knew that a win would go a long way to help them fulfil ambitions of a top 4 spot.

Fremantle ran out 3-0 winners with a display of grit and determination, as well as lots of skill, against a dogged and resilient MUM FC team. A brace from the returning Mikayla Lyons and one from Janice Kiama earned the points, putting a little breathing space between Freo and their opponents. The result also meant that Hyundai NTC and Balcatta Etna stayed within striking distance of fourth spot.

On Friday evening Hyundai NTC took advantage of those dropped points by MUM FC, moving into fourth spot by condemning Curtin University to their 17th defeat of the season with a 3-1 win. Skipper Grace Johnston, Tanika Lala and Louise Tana netted for the visitors, whilst Taylor Reid scored a spot kick for the home team.

There were three games on Sunday and all of them went according to the form book.

Fremantle City opened the proceedings with a comfortable 4-0 win against Balcatta Etna FC. Lyons and Kiama were on the score sheet again, along with Jess Darmago who bagged a brace.

Perth RedStar proved too strong for MUM FC later in the afternoon, running out 3-0 winners at their home ground with goals from Olivia Wood, Renee Leota and captain Shawn Billam, giving the champions their 17th win of the season. At the end of the game, the team were officially crowned league champions, receiving the league trophy to the obvious delight of their supporters.

The final game of the round saw Perth SC play Subiaco at Grindleford Reserve rather than their home ground of Dorrien Gardens. The change of venue didn’t seem to affect them too much though and they scored a 1-0 win, courtesy of a second half wonder strike from Abbey Meakins, to all but seal second spot. 

The Top 4 make up is almost complete

The results from rounds 19 and 20 have left just the fourth spot up for grabs heading into the final round on the weekend.

Perth’s win practically guarantees them second spot, as their vastly superior goal difference means that even if they lose their last game and Fremantle City win theirs, there would have to be a thirteen-goal swing for Fremantle to overhaul them and claim second spot. 

Fremantle is assured of third spot as they are now five points clear of fourth-placed Hyundai NTC, but both Fremantle and Perth will have a significant part to play in determining who will end up in fourth spot at the end of the season.

MUM FC entertains Perth SC at their home ground, Bestadium on Friday evening, whilst Fremantle travels to the E&D Litis Stadium on Sunday to take on Hyundai NTC.

For MUM FC to finish fourth they must win against Perth SC and then hope that Hyundai NTC drop points against Fremantle City. If Hyundai NTC win they will finish fourth and play in the top 4 cup for the first time in the NPLW era.

Head-to-head results this season between Perth SC and MUM FC suggest a home win is not out of the question, whilst Hyundai NTC and Fremantle City have yet to record a win against each other. A win by MUM FC on Friday evening will put huge pressure on the young NTC team to get a result against a Fremantle team that has suddenly found some form again, scoring seven goals and conceding none in their last two games.

Squad depths are being seriously tested

As the season draws to a close, a number of teams are starting to feel the effect of the long campaign, as well as the impact of COVID and illnesses on their squads.

In the game between Perth RedStar and MUM FC, the visitors were forced to play a number of their U21 squad as they were missing Charli Wainwright, Rachel Gillies, Sam Mathers, Andrea Preiato and Clara Hoarau, whilst Poppie Hooks has not been a part of the team since leaving in July. 

RedStar was also forced to bring in U21 players as they were without Grace Monteiro (suspended), plus the injured Tess De Leo, Bronwyn Studman, Ruby Cohen and Sarah Carroll.

The situation is particularly dire at Curtin University, with no less than nine of their first team players having to play in an U21 game just 24 hours after playing an NPLW game against Hyundai NTC, to avoid a third forfeit of the season by their U21’s.

Perth SC also has injury issues and with Zoee Spadano’s departure to play Futsal in Italy, they have to do without their skipper and influential midfielder for the rest of the season.

Fremantle City on the other hand is in the enviable position of welcoming players back. Mikayla Lyons, in particular, has had an impact, scoring three goals in her two games since returning from the recent AFF U18 women’s competition, where she was part of coach Rae Dower’s backroom staff.

Young forwards are doing well

With the ALW season just around the corner and a few spots still available in the Perth Glory squad, there are some young strikers pressing their case to be included for season 2022/23.

Hyundai NTC’s Tanika Lala scored her 13th goal of the campaign on Friday night and now occupies second place in the golden boot race, behind leader Larissa Walsh who has 18. Lala’s goal against Curtin was her 4th in three games and she is a striker who is capable of causing any defence in the NPLW some problems.

Another young striker enjoying a run of good form is Olivia Wood from Perth RedStar, who has nine goals. Her goal on Sunday was her fifth in the last four games and she is another player who can trouble any defence in the league. Wood operates as a wider player than Lala, but has also been deployed in central midfield by her coach Carlos Vega Mena. Wood’s close control and dribbling skills make her a very difficult opponent to mark.

Fremantle City’s winger Kate Nolan is perhaps not yet ready to make the step up into ALW, but in her first season at the NPLW level she has certainly caught the eye, with three goals and five assists for the campaign. Her pace and final ball have caused many defences problems this season and she is certainly one for the future.

Abbey Meakins adds to her collection

The game between Subiaco and Perth on Sunday was a tight affair, with the only goal being a fine strike from Perth SC’s Abbey Meakins. This was her 10th of the season and was yet another that she can add to her list of eye-catching goals in 2022.

Coach Peter Rakic was fulsome in his praise for Meakins when speaking to Footballwa.net after the game:

“Thankfully though, a moment of magic once again from Abbey Meakins, which has been nothing shy of normal for us this season, and she has proven time and time again that she has the ability to win the game off of her own boot.”

Can Perth RedStar go undefeated?

Perth RedStar’s win on Sunday against MUM FC was their 17th of the season and with just two games to go, there is now the real possibility of the team finishing the campaign undefeated.

Their next two games are both away from home. RedStar face Curtin University on Wednesday evening before their final game against long-time rivals Balcatta Etna at Grindleford Reserve next Sunday.

The form book suggests they can win both games, but with tired bodies and the determination of other teams to be the one that defeats the champions, nothing can be taken for granted.

If they were to achieve an unbeaten season it would be the first in the NPLW era. The feat has been achieved before in the old Premier League, with Queens Park being the last team to do so in 2018. In their previous incarnation as Northern Redbacks, Perth RedStar has also had an unbeaten season and that was back in 2013.

Click here for Round 20 goal highlights

Round 20 Results

Curtin University FC 1 – 3 Hyundai NTC Women
Fremantle City FC 4 – 0 Balcatta Etna FC
Perth RedStar FC 3 – 0 MUM FC
Perth SC 1 – 0 Subiaco AFC

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