NPLW WA Round 13 Review

Murdoch University Melville FC 3 – 1 Hyundai NTC

Congratulations to Murdoch University Melville FC who have become the first-ever champions of the NPLW in WA. Coach Peter Rakic’s team wrapped up the league title with a convincing 3-1 win against the Hyundai NTC last Sunday.

Going into the penultimate round, they were 3 points clear of second-placed Perth but had a vastly superior goal difference. They also knew that a win against the Hyundai NTC would basically ensure they picked up the inaugural title.

The initial period of the first half saw both goalkeepers tested but MUM FC put the game to bed with ruthless efficiency in a 5-minute spell. In the 38th minute Katarina Jukic was released down the right-wing by Sadie Lawrence. She then crossed low into the box to pick out Thalia Organ who finished from close range.

Two minutes later Lawrence doubled the score when a long ball out from Katie Schubert cleared NTC’s very high line and allowed the MUM midfielder to run into open space. She calmly slotted the ball past Miranda Templeman as the NTC keeper rushed out, putting her team within touching distance of the championship.

MUM’s third goal came in the 43rd minute when Jaymee Gibbons intercepted a pass out from the NTC defence and squeezed the ball to Jukic. She slipped past a defender and tucked the ball away for her 15th goal of the campaign and effectively sealed the three points for her team.

This also meant Perth would now have to produce an extraordinary performance in their later game to prevent the University team from claiming the title. The second half saw MUM quite content to sit back and hit NTC on the break, nearly adding a fourth in the 75th minute when Ellie La Monte pulled the ball back to an unmarked Jukic. However, the league’s leading goalscorer dragged her shot wide.

NTC finally managed to get on the score sheet in the 77th minute, when a corner was only half-cleared to Jaspa Cargill Fletcher and she sent the ball straight back into the net. That was the end of the scoring, and for MUM the victory meant that Perth would have to beat Redbacks by 18 goals to prevent them from claiming the title.

Northern Redbacks 3 – 0 Perth

All eyes now turned to Kingsway Reserve, where 5th placed Northern Redbacks entertained 2nd placed Perth who faced an almost impossible task of trying keep their title hopes alive.

The visitors started off the brightest of the two and dominated possession for the first 20 minutes. Katie Holtham and Abbey Meakins both had chances inside the first five minutes but didn’t really test Redbacks keeper Morgan Aquino. With Redbacks being pinned back by Perth’s high press and not able to get out of their half it seemed that the Azzurri were going to the first to score.

From the 20th minute onwards Redbacks slowly clawed their way back into the game and served notice that they would be a threat when long balls out from the back asked questions of the Perth defence twice in the space of five minutes. Perth was still a threat though, and Liana Cook came close in the 25th minute when she dragged a shot just wide.

It was Redbacks who broke the game open through two goals from Sarah Carroll in quick succession. In the 38th minute Janelle St Pierre capitalised on a poor touch from the Perth defence and floated a ball into space on the edge of the box where Carroll was waiting. She took one touch and then curled a delightful left-footed shot over Perth goalkeeper Rebecca Bennett and into the roof of the net. She was to add a second in the 42nd minute when she beautifully took down a long ball from Georgia Cawley and raced clear of the last Perth defender. As Bennett advanced from the Perth goal, Carroll calmly slotted the ball into the net to double the lead and leave Perth shell shocked. This also meant MUM could now celebrate the league title.

More was to come from the Redbacks in the second half when Carla Bennett added a third in the 51st minute. From the halfway line Kim Carroll sent a ball into the Perth penalty area. The headed clearance only found Bennett on the edge of the box. She flicked the ball up with her left foot and then with the outside of the right foot lifted the ball over her namesakes head into the net.

With a three-goal buffer, Redbacks could afford to sit back but they had to try and keep a clean sheet to help with their goal difference, and they very nearly conceded in the 67th minute when Meakins crashed a shot against the bar. Redbacks then almost added another of their own in the 70th minute, when a delightful through ball from substitute Emma McMurdo released fellow substitute Larissa Walsh. Her effort was pushed just wide by Bennett in the Perth goal.

Perth had further chances through Melissa Shepherd and Emily Henderson but they couldn’t convert. Redbacks ran the game out to win 3-0 and keep themselves in contention for a top four spot.

Fremantle 3 – 1 Balcatta

The other contenders for a top four position faced off against each other when Fremantle hosted Balcatta. For the visitors, the equation was brutally simple as anything but a win would sink their top four hopes. The pitch didn’t help either team though, as it was definitely showing signs of wear and tear.

From the kick-off, Fremantle looked determined to ensure they didn’t need to rely on a result at league champions MUM FC on Friday evening and pinned Balcatta back as they searched for an early goal. Gabby Dal Busco was by far the busiest of the two keepers and she needed to be at her best to keep Fremantle at bay. She could only look on helplessly in the 20th minute though when Mikayla Lyons struck a post. In the 44th minute she pulled off a fabulous double save to prevent Jamie-Lee Gale and it was mainly down to her efforts that Balcatta went into the break on even terms.

The second-half started at a breakneck pace and it was the visitors who twice nearly opened the scoring within three minutes of the re-start. A corner in the 47th minute saw the ball bobbing around the Fremantle penalty area like a cork in the ocean, and after a few comedy air shots from both teams the ball finally went out for a goal kick. Caitlin Doeglas then had a more conventional opportunity in the 48th minute as she went one on one with the Fremantle keeper, but Dayle Schroeder was up to the task and pulled off a smart save at the Balcatta striker’s feet.

Fremantle then decided to shake off their half time slumbers. A storming run by Gale took her deep into Balcatta territory in the 49th minute before she slippped the ball to Annabelle Leek, who was finally able to break Dal Busco’s resistance to put her side 1-0 up. A minute later the home team doubled their lead when Lyons received a neat through ball and stabbed it under Dal Busco to make it 2-0.

For Balcatta, it was all or nothing now, as they tried to get back in the game. This left them exposed at times. Fremantle had a goal disallowed for offside in the 57th minute. The visitors then produced a delightful passing move in the 85th minute to free up Ashleigh Panaia. Her first-time shot beat Schroeder to make it 2-1 and set up a nerve-wracking final 5 minutes. Freo held their nerve and an injury-time goal from Lyons secured the three points to cement their place in the top four. For the visitors, the defeat signals the end of their chances of playing finals football this season.

Subiaco 0 – 2 Curtin University

The other game of the round was between the two bottom teams with Subiaco hosting Curtin University. The visitors were on a roll coming into this game and were looking to extend their run of two consecutive wins. Meanwhile, the home team would be simply hoping to avoid another heavy loss in what has been a very difficult first season for them in the NPLW WA.

Things couldn’t really have started worse for Subiaco as their captain Jennifer Walsh was sent off by referee Stephen Knight for a heavy challenge on Curtin’s Abena Selormey in the 12th minute. They then went 1-0 down in the 20th minute when Jess Darmago’s pace was simply too much for the Subiaco defence as she burst free to slide the ball into the net.

To their credit, Subiaco showed some tenacity and grit and managed to keep the score to 1-0 at the break. They carried this attitude into the second half and could have had an unlikely equaliser in the 55th minute. A poor pass by the Curtin defence presented Kanon Uchiyama with a chance, but she couldn’t keep her shot down and lifted it over the bar.

Curtin finally scored a second in the 72nd minute when a corner was headed straight up into the air rather than out of the box. When it bounced back down Selormey was on hand to apply the faintest of touches to help it over the line and the game ended at 0-2.

Round 14 next week will see the final spot in the top four settled, with Perth playing the Hyundai NTC at Celebration Park and Redbacks travelling to Curtin University. A win for Redbacks and dropped points by NTC will see last season’s double winners sneak into the top four. If NTC win then they will need to ensure that their goal difference is better than the Redbacks to keep themselves in the top four. Perth won’t want to drop three points as this could mean they drop to third and miss out on a home final if Fremantle upset MUM FC on Friday night. All of this means that we are sure to see another round of fascinating NPLW football.

LADDER

Round 14 Fixtures 

MUM FC vs Fremantle City (2nd Oct)
Curtin University vs Northern Redbacks (3rd Oct)
Hyundai NTC vs Perth Soccer Club (4th Oct)
Balcatta FC vs Subiaco AFC (4th Oct)