A gripping race for the WA NPLW 2021 league title was decided in the final round of the season on Friday night. Murdoch University Melville FC (MUM FC) defeated Northern Redbacks 2-1 to win back to back league titles and claim the league / cup double.
Going into the game, Redbacks were top of the table by just one point and they knew that a win or a draw would earn them the title, but MUM FC was unlikely to give their title up easily and their incredible record of 79 goals scored and just 14 against in 20 games meant that the visitors would have to be at their very best if they were to prevail.
Wormall Civil Stadium at Murdoch University was host to a large and boisterous crowd. The game started cagily, with neither side prepared to commit themselves and both of them anxious not to make a costly mistake.
Redbacks had the best of the opening 10-15 minutes, but the home side gradually started turning the screw, with winger Ellie Lamonte proving to be a handful for the Redbacks defence, and it was Lamonte who created the first real chance of the game when she flashed a shot just over the bar in the 16th minute.
Redbacks were still well in the game though and on 20 minutes Sarah Carroll nearly put them in front when she capitalised on some indecision by MUM FC keeper Danelle Cornish, but her rolled shot was just wide of the post.
The visitors had another chance to take the lead in the 28th minute when their leading goalscorer, Larissa Walsh, broke free and sent a ball to an unmarked Jayna Ridley on the edge of the box, but her shot was well blocked by Baxter Thew.
The arm wrestle continued with both sides working hard to deny their opponents any time on the ball in midfield, but some good play in the 29th minute saw Tia Stonehill break free and bear down on goal only to be denied by a fine tackle from youngster Ruby Cohen.
With each passing minute, the odds were growing in favour of the Redbacks, but a decisive breakthrough for MUM FC was made in the 32nd minute when Lamonte was released down the right wing by Grace Betti. Her first touch took her inside the defender and she then curled a delightful left footed shot into the opposite corner of the net, opening the scoring and allowing MUM FC to put one hand on the trophy.
Redbacks now knew they had to score and could no longer try and hit MUM FC on the break, but they also knew it was vital to keep the home team to just one goal before halftime.
They nearly grabbed an equaliser in the 38th minute when a long ball from Shawn Billam put Walsh clear, but she couldn’t keep the shot down and the chance was spurned.
This proved to be a costly miss, as just two minutes later Grace Betti put the champions two goals up when she sent the ball over the head of Redbacks keeper Maya Diederichsen after the ball found its way to her on the far side of the box from a corner.
Redbacks now had a mountain to climb and MUM FC must have felt that the title was theirs. However Redbacks had pushed for the title all season and were not prepared to give up without a fight. On 74 minutes Cornish spilled a Kim Carroll freekick and Walsh was the first to react, stabbing the ball home for her 15th goal of the season to make it 2-1 and set up a tense 15 minute finale.
Billam came close in the 78th minute for Redbacks when her snapshot was just wide, and then MUM FC nearly scored four minutes later when Grace Monteiro headed off the line from a corner.
The tension was palpable now, with the home team trying to eke out precious minutes when they had the ball, and the visitors just as desperate to get the ball forward quickly in search of an equaliser.
The final whistle in the 93rd minute signalled great scenes of celebration for the home team as they clinched the title. MUM FC are now in the box seat to complete the treble by winning the Top 4 Cup.
For the Northern Redbacks, it was a case of close but not close enough, and they now have to regroup to try and defend their Top 4 title from last year.
Both sides have been the dominant force in the local game this season and it was a fitting climax to the season that they should play in the league decider and in a manner that was a fine advert for the local game.
