For only the second time this season, there was a full round of NPLW WA fixtures in Round 9.
It started on Friday evening with Fremantle City beating Subiaco AFC 4-1 after going a goal down in the first half.
There was another game on Friday evening when MUM FC played hosts to Balcatta Etna FC. Both sides have had disrupted seasons so far due to COVID postponements and it was the visitors who took the three points with a 1-0 win.
On Saturday afternoon Perth SC took on Football West NTC at Dorrien Gardens, going down 2-1 to the youngsters, whilst the top vs bottom clash between Perth Redstar FC and Curtin University FC played at the RedStar Arena on Saturday evening followed the formbook. The leaders recorded an emphatic 7-0 win to rack up their eighth successive victory and maintain their 100% start to the campaign.
The results saw little change in the top two positions with Perth RedStar seven points clear of Fremantle. However, Perth’s dropped points have now opened up a 10 point gap between them and the league leaders, and they are now four points behind second-placed Fremantle City.
The three points for Football West NTC moved them into the top four and they are two points clear of Balcatta Etna who sits in fifth.
MUM FC and Subiaco AFC are on equal points in sixth and seventh respectively, with MUM FC ahead on goal difference, whilst Curtin University FC occupies the bottom spot and are now four points adrift of Subiaco.
New players bolstering squads
The impacts of COVID, injuries and player departures have led to many teams digging deep into their playing stocks so they can field teams. Round nine saw some familiar faces come back into the league and they will no doubt help those teams struggling with injuries.
On Friday evening probably the two most notable names to rejoin the league were Sadie Lawrence and Grace Betti at MUM FC. Lawerence had an outstanding season with the defending champions in 2021 and her performances earned a Perth Glory contract, whilst Betti was crucial to the team and her goals at the back end of the season pushed MUM to the title. Both Lawrence and Betti played the full 90 minutes – their experience and know-how will be valuable assets to the side.
They were joined by Andrea Preiato and Penelope Clayton, who both came off the bench in the second half. Previously at Curtin University, these two will provide some much-needed experience to the young MUM FC squad.
Also on Friday, Subiaco included Sabreena Dressler in their starting eleven. Dressler is a young Indonesian player hoping to break into their national team.
On Saturday, Perth SC welcomed Judy Connolly back from injury with a place on the bench, while Courtney Butlion has returned from a stint in the United States of America with Eastern Florida State College.
NTC enjoy playing Perth SC
With eight rounds now played, Football West NTC sit fourth on the ladder having won two, drawn three and lost three. Those two victories have come against Perth SC, both have been highlighted by defensive errors and long-range goals.
In the opening game, Perth was guilty of errors that led to two of their opponent’s goals, whilst in last weekend’s game, the youngsters were the ones whose error was punished by their opponents.
In both games though, it was a long-range bomb from the NTC that won the game and Grace Johnston’s effort on Saturday was one that fully deserved to earn the three points for her team.
Team goals are a thing of beauty
For many fans, there are few things in football that get them out of their seats more than a spectacular long-range strike resulting in a goal, but a goal resulting from neat interchange passes is often just as exciting to see.
The seven goals scored by Perth RedStar in their emphatic win against Curtin University all came from inside the 18 yard box, and were all a result of accurate passing combined with good off the ball movements. The sixth goal by Jacinta Coleman was the pick of the bunch as some neat one-touch passing by three players carved open the defence.
Fremantle also played some lovely football in their 4-1 win, featuring excellent wing play by the outstanding Kate Nolan. She came off the bench to score one goal and set up three others, making a strong case to be in the starting lineup for next week’s top of the table clash against Perth RedStar.
Fremantle leave things late
Fremantle’s win on Friday evening was the third game in a row that they have picked up points after going scoreless in the first half, and also the second time in three games that they have had to come from behind to earn a result.
Against Football West NTC they left it until the last minute to earn a draw after going two goals behind. In the game against Curtin University, it was 0-0 at halftime and Fremantle were actually trailing 2-1 before going on a rampage and scoring five goals in 25 minutes to win 6-2.
On Friday they also left things late, trailing 1-0 at halftime before equalising in the 60th minute. Fremantle then scored three times in the last 10 minutes to take the three points.
Curtin University are in trouble
The game against Perth RedStar was always going to be difficult for bottom-of-the-table Curtin University, but things were made even harder by the fact they were playing under their third coach of the season.
Dom Gangemi left Curtin after the Balcatta game in Round Five. They then had Les Cavill look after them for the games against Subiaco and Fremantle in Rounds Seven and Eight. Cavill was absent against RedStar and the club is continuing its search for a new NPLW coach.
On the field, things are not looking great either, as Curtin have now conceded 17 goals in their last three games. However, during that sequence, they have shown they can play determined football by earning a point in a remarkable 4-4 draw against Subiaco, while also keeping Fremantle goalless in the first half and RedStar goalless in the second half.
Click here for Round 9 goal highlights
Round 9 Results
Fremantle City FC 4-1 Subiaco AFC
MUM FC 0-1 Balcatta Etna FC
Perth SC 1-2 Football West NTC
Perth RedStar FC 7–0 Curtin University FC
League Ladder
| Position | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Points |
| 1 | Perth RedStar FC | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 4 | 37 | 24 |
| 2 | Fremantle City | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 23 | 10 | 13 | 17 |
| 3 | Perth SC | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 5 | 8 | 13 |
| 4 | Hyundai NTC | 8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 18 | -9 | 9 |
| 5 | Balcatta Etna | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 8 | -3 | 7 |
| 6 | MUM FC | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 8 | -5 | 5 |
| 7 | Subiaco AFC | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 26 | -18 | 5 |
| 8 | Curtin University | 7 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 8 | 31 | -23 | 1 |
