A dominant Perth RedStar defeated a brave Hyundai NTC side 3-0 in the NPLW WA Top 4 Grand Final at Dorrien Gardens on Saturday. This win completed an unprecedented clean sweep of all the trophies on offer with RedStar having previously won the Night Series, the State Cup and the League, going unbeaten in the process. The team played a total of 31 games this season, scoring 115 goals and conceding just 15.
Hyundai NTC came into the Grand Final after two excellent performances against Fremantle City and Perth SC in the semi-finals, but there was always going to be a question mark about how much those high-pressure games had taken out of them. They were also dealt a blow when Junior Matilda Georgia Cassidy was ruled out of the final due to suspension after picking up two yellow cards in the finals series.
Perth RedStar were also missing players, with Grace Monteiro ruled out due to a suspension and centre-back Andreia Teixeira unavailable because of work commitments. Ex-Young Matilda, Canberra United and Perth Glory player Bronwyn Studman was called up for only her seventh game of the season to play in the centre of defence alongside Kim Carroll. The team also suffered a blow in the pre-game warm-up when goalkeeper Maya Diederichsen fractured her wrist – however Diederichsen played the full game regardless.
As has been the case all season, RedStar quickly established a high press against their opponents and was soon forcing the NTC defenders to play the ball under duress. NTC’s midfielders were also given little time to try and feed their forwards and in the fifth minute, the pressure resulted in Grace Johnston under-hitting a back pass to her teammates. In a flash, Olivia Wood picked up the loose ball and fed Shawn Billam, who laid a pass off to Sarah Carroll. She then took a touch and rolled a delightful through ball to Larissa Walsh who had ghosted in behind the NTC defence, and her first-time right-foot shot beat Lilly Bailey in the goal to register the first goal of the game and her 29th of the season in all competitions.
Going behind so early made the task facing NTC even harder, but coach Ben Anderton has instilled a strong sense of self-belief in his young team and they came very close to an equaliser in the 18th minute. Breaking quickly from a RedStar corner the ball was released to Tanika Lala. The exciting striker had one thought in her mind as she drove towards the RedStar goal and she unleashed a powerful strike from outside the box that Diederichsen was able to get her body behind.
RedStar then suffered an injury blow when goalscorer Walsh was forced from the field with a hamstring injury in the 25th minute and was replaced by Jayna Ridley. This seemed to disrupt the Champions’ rhythm for a period, and with the NTC supporters rallying their team to try and get an equaliser, the youngsters produced their best football of the game.
NTC supporters thought an equaliser had been scored in the 27th minute but Johnston’s long-range effort sailed just wide of the post, much to the relief of the RedStar defence, who were beginning to produce some errors as NTC lifted their intensity.
Another chance went agonisingly close for NTC in the 32nd minute when Lala refused to give up on a cross from Louise Tana and her shot was deflected away for a corner.
With the momentum seeming to swing towards Hyundai NTC, Perth RedStar then doubled their lead in the 40th minute. Quyen Doan spotted Billam’s run and lifted a delightful ball into her path. Billam carried the ball into the penalty area and slid it between the legs of Bailey in the NTC goal to double RedStar’s lead at a crucial time.
NTC came out brightly at the start of the second half and once again Lala was at the centre of their attacking endeavours as her wicked cross from the right-hand side nearly caught Diederichsen by surprise. The RedStar stopper was grateful there were no NTC attackers close by as she palmed the ball away.
Slowly but surely though RedStar gained more and more control and the NTC forwards were forced to drop deeper and deeper to try and make things happen, as the pressure mounted on the youngsters.
Bailey was called into action to make vital saves from Sarah Carroll and Ridley, and substitute Renee Leota was guilty of a miss when she put the ball over the bar from just outside of the 6-yard box in the 75th minute, following an intricate passing movement that involved Emily Dunn, Wood and Carla Bennett.
A third goal eventually arrived two minutes later when some excellent wing play by Wood saw her put in a dangerous cross that NTC couldn’t clear. Jacinta Coleman fed the ball to Ridley and the substitute rammed the ball into the net, effectively ending the game as a contest.
NTC continued to try and find a consolation goal, but the meanest defence in the league stood tall, and when the final whistle blew it signalled the completion of a season that is unlikely to be equalled for a very long time.
Perth RedStar’s Coleman was selected as Player of the Match for her tireless work rate in the engine room, but every RedStar player had their part to play in a true display of teamwork.
The combination of youth, experience and excellent coaching by Carlos Vega Mena has produced a side that is one of the best women’s football in WA has seen. It would be fascinating to see how they would fare against the Champions of other leagues around the country.
Earlier in the day, the U21s NPLW Grand Final took place, and it featured the same two sides, with the NTC U21s defeating Perth RedStar U21s 3-1. There were some exceptionally talented young players on display for both sides with Ischia Brooking of NTC standing out as a player to watch for the future. The win added to the Night Series and League title, capping off an excellent season for the state’s brightest young talent.
