A heroic display of goalkeeping by Northern Redbacks & Young Matildas stopper Morgan Aquino determined the destination of the final piece of silverware for the inaugural NPLW WA season at a packed Dorrien Gardens on Sunday evening.
Aquino was the difference between the two teams as neither side could score in 120 minutes of football, and her display epitomised the attitude of a Redbacks side who refused to lie down in the face of sustained pressure from Fremantle City.
The opening 45 minutes were pretty much played in the Redbacks half, with Gemma Craine and Mikayla Lyons a constant threat. On the rare occasions that Redbacks could release the pressure and provide Sarah Carroll with some scraps of possession, Laura Waltman quickly snuffed out the threat. Carroll was able to break the shackles in the 20th minute, but Fremantle keeper Dayle Schroeder was quickly off her line to prevent the Perth Glory player from opening the scoring.
Redbacks then suffered a serious blow to their attacking options on 35 minutes when speedy winger Larissa Walsh was forced to leave the field due to injury. She was replaced by ex-New Zealand international Renee Leota.
For all their possession though, Fremantle struggled to seriously test Aquino, due in no small part to the excellent defending of the Redbacks back four who were superbly marshalled by ex-Matilda Kim Carroll.
The second half saw both teams up their attacking intensity and within five minutes of the restart Schroeder again had to come off her line quickly to deny Sarah Carroll. Fremantle then responded with a chance of their own in the 50th minute when Jamie-Lee Gale couldn’t quite control a ball in the box and Redbacks were quick to clear.
There was much more of an ebb and flow to the game now, although Fremantle was still enjoying most of the ball. The Redbacks midfield trio of Carla Bennett, Shawn Billam and Georgia Cawley were having to work overtime to deny the port team clean possession.
With Redbacks sitting deep and soaking up pressure, there was always a risk that Fremantle would leave themselves open to a quick counter. On 57 minutes Redbacks winger Lauren Continibali was released by Sarah Carroll, but she snatched at her shot and sent it over Schroeder’s crossbar.
Fremantle then nearly scored twice within five minutes as first Lyons and then Matilda Boyle threatened, with Boyle being denied by Aquino’s smart save in the 73rd minute.
As time started to run out and Redbacks players began to show signs that Thursday’s marathon semi-final was taking its toll, Fremantle continued to exert pressure. However, in the 86th minute a corner for Redbacks nearly ended the deadlock. The ball fell to Billam in the six yard box, but the skipper could only poke the ball over the bar.
By this stage, the crowd at Dorrien Gardens was growing as fans started to arrive for the Men’s final that was to be played immediately after the conclusion of this game. Those neutrals were treated to an exhilarating end of the contest as the clock ticked down to the end of 90 minutes.
In the 89th minute, Sarah Carroll was released by a ball from Cawley, but once again Schroeder was up to the task and pulled off a crucial save.
With the clock now showing four minutes of injury time, Fremantle won a free kick just outside the box. Steffi Nadilos’ delivery didn’t look to be causing any problems, but Redbacks full-back Bronwyn Studman’s attempt to head clear only diverted the ball towards the top corner. Aquino then produced the save of the match to somehow claw the ball out of the net and ensure the game would head into extra time.
The first half of extra time ended with scores still locked and both sides looked dead on their feet. However, the second half of extra time opened with the best chance of the game as Craine somehow managed to find the energy to burst clear into the box, dragging her shot agonisingly wide.
As the clock moved towards 120 minutes, Sarah Carroll coaxed a rare error out of Schroeder as she was left beaten outside her area, but the recovering Fremantle defenders were able to prevent her cross reaching the onrushing Redbacks attackers. Just a minute later referee Jessica Byrd signalled the end of extra time with the score still locked at 0-0.
By this stage the crowd was completely absorbed by the contest and with spectators gathering behind the goal that had been nominated as the end for the shoot out, a real sense of theatre developed.
Craine was the first to take a spot kick, but her effort struck the post and bounced out. Sarah Carroll then opened for Redbacks, however Schroeder saved meaning the game was still locked at 0-0. Saves kept coming as Aquino pulled off a great stop to deny Fremantle skipper Lyons.
Kim Carroll restored some sanity to the proceedings by calmly slotting her penalty to make it 1-0 to Redbacks. Waltman took Fremantle’s third and Aquino made another outstanding save to put Redbacks firmly in the box seat.
Now the atmosphere was electric and the large crowd was enthralled by what they were witnessing. Georgia Cawley walked to the spot, knowing she had needed two bites of the apple in the semi-final shoot out to convert. Her penalty lacked conviction and Schroeder was able to save, keeping her side in the contest.
It was now Annabelle Leek’s turn and she scored Fremantle’s first penalty of the night, making the score 1-1 with just three penalties left in the regulation shoot out. Redbacks skipper and ex-Perth Glory player Billam was next, calmly despatching her spot kick to make it 2-1 and put unbelievable pressure on Boyle, who had to score to prevent Redbacks claiming the title.
Aquino then produced her third save of the shootout, sparking huge celebrations from her teammates who converged from the halfway line and bench to shower her with congratulations.
It was a truly epic shoot out. Both sides can feel proud of the part they played, as it showcased the women’s game in front of thousands of fans.
Fremantle City 0
Northern Redbacks 0
(Northern Redbacks win 2-1 on penalties)
