In NPLW WA Round 1, the reigning Champions succumbed to their first defeat since 2021, the 2021 Gold Medal winner returned to action, title favourites put in a strong performance and there was an upset victory for one of the youngest teams in the league.
With all eight sides playing on Sunday there was plenty of action. The round kicked off at 1pm with Fremantle City and Perth RedStar hosting MUM FC and Hyundai NTC respectively.
Perth RedStar 0 – 2 Hyundai NTC
This was undoubtedly the shock of NPLW WA Round 1. The result at RedStar Arena showed that last season’s Champions are vulnerable to teams that press and work hard, and NTC were good value for their win with fine performances across the park. NTC’s Tanika Lala troubled the home defence on a number of occasions and her hard work was rewarded when she scored the opener in the 25th minute. She also earned an 82nd minute penalty when she was brought down in the box by RedStar keeper Maya Diederichsen. Her captain, Georgia Cassidy, converted the kick to seal the win.
NTC will cause problems for many teams during the campaign with their mixture of flair and hard work. They look set to challenge for a Top 4 spot.
RedStar will be keen to put this performance behind them as they looked very flat and almost unrecognisable from last season’s all-conquering unit.
Fremantle City 1 – 2 MUM FC
In the Southern Derby, MUM FC shocked their opponents by taking the lead in the 23rd minute with a well-taken goal by Sophie Meaden. The ex-NTC player curled a delightful shot over the head of Dayle Schroeder in the Fremantle goal. MUM FC then doubled their lead in the 61st minute when Meaden broke free, running half the length of the field before putting the ball in the back of the net.
Fremantle pulled one back in the 85th minute through Mikayla Lyons but were unable to score another and left MUM FC celebrating their first win at Fremantle since 2021.
MUM FC will be delighted by a win that their young squad can build from, as they won’t face many tougher challenges than Fremantle at home.
For the home side, this will obviously be disappointing, but there is enough experience in the squad to recognise that there is a long way to go. Fremantle have the know-how and skill to once again be strong contenders for the Top 4.
Balcatta Etna 9 – 0 Curtin University
Balcatta Etna got their league campaign off to a flying start with a resounding 9-0 win against a hapless Curtin University. Monique Prinsloo led the charge with four goals whilst 2021 NPLW Gold medal winner Tia Stonehill grabbed a brace. Kim McCartney marked her first league appearance since rupturing her ACL with a goal and Lauren Continibali scored with a long range effort. An own goal by Curtin’s Ferne Carter wrapped up the scoring.
Balcatta will face much sterner tests than this one, but you can only beat what’s in front of you. The game showed the beginnings of what may be a fruitful goalscoring partnership as Prinsloo and Stonehill combined well on a number of occasions.
For Curtin, there are few positives to take from this performance as they were comprehensively outplayed and their collective lack of NPLW experience was brutally exposed. Even though this is only Round 1, the signs for Curtin are not good and this defeat comes off the back of three similarly heavy losses in the Night Series. They face plenty of work on the training pitch to try and turn things around.
Perth SC 4 – 0 Subiaco AFC
The final game of NPLW WA Round 1 saw newly crowned Night Series champions, Perth SC, entertain Subiaco AFC at Dorrien Gardens. Due to Perth SC’s home ground being used as a World Cup training venue, the Azzurri will play most of their home games in the first half of the season – they will be keen to take advantage.
They certainly opened the season in style with a convincing 4-0 victory against last season’s most improved team, Subiaco AFC, and opened proceedings with a 25th minute goal from Ellie La Monte. The 2022 Launceston United Best and Fairest showed neat control in the penalty area to chest down a Gemma Craine cross before firing the ball high into the net.
The lead was doubled in the 42nd minute when Craine latched onto a clearance from keeper Becky Bennett and ran half the length of the field before sliding the ball into the Subiaco net.
Craine was also heavily involved in the third when she broke free on the right hand side and slid a ball to La Monte. Her cross was met first time on the volley at the far post by Jamie Duncanson to give the Subiaco keeper no chance.
The icing on the cake arrived in the 77th minute when Abbey Meakins fired home from the edge of the box after Subiaco failed to deal with a corner.
This was a strong performance by Perth and it will make the rest of the competition take note that even at this early stage of the league they look like the team to beat.
Subiaco will be disappointed to lose in such a manner and may point to the side being in a rebuilding stage, but this result will be a reminder to them of the hard work required if they are to be competitive with the top sides in the league.
Click here for all the Rd 1 goals!
ROUND 2 FIXTURES
Friday 31st March
MUM FC v PERTH REDSTAR – Besteam Stadium 7:30pm
CURTIN UNIVERSITY V SUBIACO AFC – Edinburgh Oval 7:30pm
Sunday 2nd April
HYUNDAI NTC V BALCATTA ETNA – E&D Litis Stadium 3:00pm
PERTH SC V FREMANTLE CITY FC – Dorrien Gardens 4:00pm
