The weekend saw NPLW WA Round 2, plus the Women’s League Night Series Final between University of WA and NTC U21.
There was a record winning margin, a return to the winner’s circle for the Champions, a Top 4 contender losing for the second week running and two teams with maximum points.
The round kicked off with two games on Friday evening and concluded with two on Sunday. Goals were aplenty on both days.
Curtin University 0-13 Subiaco
Coming after a heavy opening day 9-0 loss, Curtin’s hopes of restoring some pride were dealt a blow before the game as they were without their first-choice goalkeeper and one of their key defenders, Ava Malata.
Subiaco was also coming off a first-round defeat, having lost 4-0 to Perth SC, and they were the first out of the blocks with a goal inside 15 minutes from Dakota Van-Vugt.
This marked the end of any meaningful resistance from Curtin with the visitors then scoring 12 more times to register the highest-ever victory in the NPLW era. This eclipses the previous mark set by Balcatta in the inaugural season when they beat, rather ironically, Subiaco 11-0.
Van-Vugt grabbed a hattrick, as did ex-Melbourne City and Perth Glory striker Marianna Tabain. Frankie Murray also hit three, whilst Sienna Crevacore scored four.
Speaking after the game, Subiaco coach Greg Farrell was pleased with the way his team played and was happy with their discipline.
“The manner of the football was more important than the result. If we could remain disciplined and play as a team, then we knew there would be positives that could come from the game.”
He also had this to say about the result:
“It’s difficult to look at and hopefully the Curtin players and staff can continue to grow because having as good a competition as possible is what we need to help players to progress.”
It’s hard to draw any positives from this for Curtin. Even at this early stage of the season they appear to be looking at another winless season and wooden spoon. For Subiaco, this was a big bounce back after their opening-round defeat, but they know they have much harder tests in the coming weeks, starting with a game against Balcatta on Sunday.
MUM FC 0-2 Perth RedStar
The other NPLW WA Round 2 game on Friday night was a much tighter affair with Perth RedStar coming out on top against a spirited and energetic MUM FC.
For RedStar this was an important win to restore some much-needed confidence after going down in the first round against Hyundai NTC. They looked a little shaky in the first 15 minutes of the game, with MUM FC pressing hard and snapping into tackles.
However, the visitors’ nerves were eased in the 17th minute when Chiori Ikeda’s corner was met by skipper Jay Coleman. Her excellent header beat Stacey Cavill in the MUM FC goal to open her account for 2023.
A penalty converted in the 47th minute by Sarah Carroll after Renee Leota had been fouled doubled the lead, and from there on the Champions looked comfortable. RedStar could have had one or two more but for some wayward finishing.
Coach Carlos Vega-Mena had this to say afterwards:
“This was an important game for us. MUM FC are a well-organised team with a lot of energy. It was an intense game against good opposition.
I’m very happy with the team’s performance. We have several new players in key positions and I’m happy with the way the team is working together. We created several opportunities and remained solid at the back to keep a clean sheet.”
Both sides can take positives from the game. MUM showed they will be a tough side to beat as they are compact and well-organised at the back, with pace up front.
For RedStar it was important to get their campaign up and running and as the game progressed, the signs were that their passing and pressing game was coming back after a lacklustre display against NTC in the opening round. They face a tough game next weekend as they travel to the in-form Perth SC.
Hyundai NTC 1-0 Balcatta Etna
Sunday’s NPLW WA Round 2 games started at E&D Litis with the youngsters from NTC hosting Balcatta Etna.
Both teams were coming off opening day wins and there was no shortage of confidence on the field. However, it was NTC who had the early running and they picked up where they left off from Round 1 with lots of early possession, pinning the visitors back.
Balcatta’s goalkeeper Gabby Dal Busco was the busier of the two as NTC mounted numerous attacks. The visitors were working overtime in defence but nearly pinched a goal late in the first half when 2021 NPLW Gold Medal winner Tia Stonehill pounced on a mistake from NTC, only to drag her shot wide.
The pressure continued in the second half and Balcatta frustrated the home side with some resolute defending. Just when it seemed as though the game would end scoreless, NTC struck in the dying stages. Tanika Lala went on a surging run into the penalty area, then fired a low shot across Dal Busco to earn her side three points.
Balcatta’s coach Tim Cash had this to say about the game afterwards:
“I appreciated the attitude and application of the team against a strong NTC squad. Without the ball, we did well most of the time, but we didn’t make the most of our possession which we will work on. There were many positives in a great test to build upon.”
NTC again showed they will be a hard side to beat and had the majority of possession. The only downside for coach Ben Anderton would be their inefficiency in terms of converting chances, but he will be delighted with NTC’s start to the season.
For Balcatta, the game became one of containment and they struggled to create any meaningful attacking threat. They remained in the game though, and if they continue to remain strong defensively they will always be a threat with Stonehill and Monique Prinsloo in attack.
Perth SC 6-0 Fremantle City FC
Perth SC hosted Fremantle City in the final game of NPLW WA Round 2. The away team were smarting after their Round 1 loss to MUM FC, whilst the home team were looking to build on their impressive pre-season and opening round form.
Perth SC were the first to strike when Ellie La Monte fired home after 15 minutes and the striker would go on to bag a hattrick, adding to her goal against Subiaco. Ex-Perth Glory striker Gemma Craine also got in on the act, scoring with a solo run that started inside her own half and ended with her rounding Fremantle keeper Dayle Schroeder to score in an empty net.
A brace from Faye Phillips rounded out the scoring. Perth’s 6-0 win leaves them and Hyundai NTC as the only two teams with unbeaten records after two rounds.
Perth SC coach Peter Rakic was happy with the way his team played but felt the scoreline didn’t really reflect the nature of the contest:
“It was very physical and hard-fought between both sides (with) a lot of transitions and unsettling moments for both teams, but we were just fortunate enough to take our chances.
“That can be football though, we still take the wins even when I thought we had the potential to be a lot better, and to score six goals on the back of that, I think it’s very promising to see.”
Fremantle have now lost their opening two games, and they lost Laura Waltman and Jamie Lee Gale to injuries at halftime. Their defence was brutally exposed in the second half by Perth and even though they have what appears to be a certain three points in their next game against Curtin, coach Faye Chambers must be more than a little concerned that they have already conceded eight goals in two games.
Perth are riding on a wave of confidence, and with Gemma Craine playing her best football for Perth since joining from Fremantle in 2021, they look to be the title favourites already. They face one of their season’s toughest games on Saturday when they take on Perth RedStar, but Perth SC must be considered favourites for that given the form they have shown already.
Click here for all of the NPLW WA Round 2 goals.
The weekend was rounded out by the Women’s League Night Series Final. UWA defeated Hyundai NTC U21 2-0.
The goals from Serena Lin and Erin Armstrong came in quick succession during the first half. Despite the NTC youngsters pressing hard after the break, UWA were able to withstand the pressure and lift the Cup.
UWA’s Erin Armstrong was Player of the Match.
League Standings
| P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Points | ||
| 1 | Perth SC | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | +10 | 6 |
| 2 | Hyundai NTC | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | +3 | 6 |
| 3 | Subiaco AFC | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 4 | +9 | 3 |
| 4 | Balcatta Etna | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 1 | +8 | 3 |
| 5 | Perth RedStar | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 6 | MUM FC | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 3 |
| 7 | Fremantle City | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 8 | -7 | 0 |
| 8 | Curtin University | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 22 | -22 | 0 |
Round 3 Fixtures
Sat 8th April
PERTH SC vs PERTH REDSTAR – Dorrien Gardens 5:00pm
Sunday 9th April
HYUNDAI NTC vs MUM FC – E&D Litis Stadium 3:00pm
FREMANTLE CITY FC vs CURTIN UNIVERSITY – Hilton Park 3:00pm
BALCATTA ETNA vs SUBIACO AFC – Grindleford Reserve 3:00pm
