When the NPLW WA was launched in March, little did Football West know just how unique the inaugural season would be.
With two brand new teams at this level and two other teams making their foray into the top level of women’s football in WA for the first time in a number of years, it promised to be a season of intrigue – and this was exactly what it delivered.
After many twists and turns over the 14 rounds of the season, the top 4 teams in the competition faced off against each other in two semi-finals that could not have been more different in the way they played out.
MUM FC vs Northern Redbacks
In the first semi-final, newly crowned champions took on Northern Redbacks who only booked their place in the top 4 in the last game of the season.
The opening half was played mainly in the middle third of the field, and the two midfield units were engaged in an absorbing contest as they both tried to wrestle control of the game.
In such games, having someone who can produce something out of nothing will often determine the winner, and MUM FC have that with Katarina Jukic. The golden boot winner nearly put her team in the 15th minute when she produced some neat skills to get past Bronwyn Studman. Her shot seemed too tame to trouble Morgan Aquino in the Redbacks’ goal, but the keeper mishandled the ball in the dewy conditions and had to scramble to recover it before it went over the line.
Jukic then created something out of nothing in the 22nd minute when she cushioned the ball with her head and fired a volley at Aquino, but this time the keepers handling was more assured. The keeper then rolled the ball to young defender Andreia Teixeira and she was immediately pressured by Sadie Lawrence who robbed her of possession. Her shot was blocked by the covering defenders.
Going into the break at 0-0, Redbacks would have been content knowing that they were still keeping the champions at arm’s length. However, within five minutes of the restart, they went a goal down when Lawrence’s header from a corner took a deflection off a Redbacks defender and wrong-footed Aquino to end up in the back of the net.
Earlier in the season, this may well have been enough to seal the game for MUM, but Redbacks had shown signs in the last couple of games that they were still a force to be reckoned with. In the 53rd minute the hard-working Lauren Continibali wriggled free on the right and sent a ball into the box. Larrisa Walsh proved to be enough of a distraction to force MUM FC keeper Danelle Cornish to lose control of the ball and it spilled out to Georgia Cawley on the edge of the box who returned it with interest to equalise.
Redbacks then had a penalty shout turned down in the 57th minute when Walsh fell in the box under the challenge of Baxter Thew, but referee Adrien Liechti waved their appeals away.
Both teams were now pushing hard for a second goal that would surely end the tie, and in the 60th minute Ellie LaMonte flashed a shot just wide. The same player volleyed just over the bar in the 82nd minute with extra-time looming.
With the game in injury time, Redbacks Emma McMurdo was challenged heavily by Charli Wainwright in midfield, and she received a yellow card for the tackle. McMurdo’s injury proved to be serious enough that she had to leave the field, having only come on as a substitute in the 83rd minute.
The time taken to treat McMurdo meant that referee Liechti finally blew the whistle in the 98th minute to signal an additional 30 minutes of extra time.
Within 5 minutes of the first period of extra time, Cotinibali had a chance to seal the deal but she took too long on the ball and the MUMFC defence were able to clear before she took her shot.
With both sides visibly tiring, chances were becoming fewer and fewer, until, in the 110th minute, MUM FC’s Jaymee Gibbons struck a shot towards goal which forced Aquino into a smart save. Redbacks then had a final push in the 115th minute when Janelle St Pierre broke free but chose to pass rather than shoot and the opportunity was gone.
The extra time couldn’t separate these two teams and so the game went to penalties.
The first 3 were converted. Controversy then erupted when Cornish saved from Cawley’s spot-kick but was adjudged to have moved too far. The kick was retaken and Cawley’s second effort was not well struck but still managed to squeeze past Cornish.
Both teams converted their next 3 penalties each and then young Poppie Hooks missed for MUM. The next 2 penalties were converted, meaning that Teixeira only had to score to send her team through. She was up to the task, signalling the beginning of wild celebrations by her teammates.
Perth SC vs Fremantle City
The other semi-final at Dorrien Gardens pitted second-placed Perth against third-placed Fremantle City.
The visitors immediately rocked the hosts when they scored inside the 1st minute of the game. Jamie-Lee Gale started and finished the move. She exchanged passes with Annabelle Leek who got to the bye line and pulled the ball back for Gale to touch the ball into the corner of the net.
Perth were understandably rocked by this but got back into the game in the 9th minute when Abbey Meakins pounced on a loose pass by Fremantle just outside their penalty area and fired a low shot into the bottom left.
The port side then went back into the lead in the 26th minute when Gale picked the pocket of Jenna Onions and steered the shot past Rebecca Bennett to make it 2-1.
Fremantle were now demonstrating why they had been made pre-season favourites for the title, with their strength and power proving to be too much to handle for the hosts. It was not really surprising when Fremantle went 3-1 up in the 41st minute. Gemma Craine surged into the box despite the attention of two Perth defenders and planted her shot into the back of the net.
The only way back into this game for Perth was to try and get a goal early in the second half. But the Fremantle defence was being superbly marshalled by Laura Waltman and Perth were kept at arms length.
The game was sealed in the 59th minute when the hard running Craine picked out Leek with a cross. The shot was deflected past her own keeper by Nadia Harvey to make it 4-1.
More misery followed for Perth when, in the 65th minute, the impressive Craine raced onto a ball from Mikayla Lyons and finished her second of the game and her team’s fifth.
10 minutes later it was six of the best from Fremantle. A storming run down the right by Perth Glory skipper Natasha Rigby saw the full-back pull the ball back to Georgie Ireland who made no mistake with her finish.
A superb performance from Fremantle was marred only by the sight of a limping Gemma Craine who appeared to have suffered a bad ankle injury after falling towards the end of the game. It is to be hoped she will be fit for the final on Sunday.
Grand Final Preview
At the beginning of the season, many pundits tipped that Fremantle would be THE team to beat this season, but surprising losses to Perth and Curtin and a big loss to the NTC meant that they couldn’t match MUM FC.
However, their form in the last 4 rounds has been ominous and they appear to be peaking at the right time. Their defence has only let in 13 goals. It is from that foundation that they have been able to mount their challenge for the top 4. They have been a little goal shy though, and there have been few games this season when they have been able to beat teams after going behind.
Northern Redbacks have been plagued by injuries, using 25 players in the campaign. They were also guilty of throwing away leads, and draws against Balcatta (twice) and Curtin basically prevented them from mounting a serious title challenge. They have also suffered from a lack of goals with only Curtin and Subiaco scoring less. It is their defence which has kept them in the competition, with just 14 goals against.
Given that both teams have such mean defences, it’s hard to see this grand final being a high scoring affair. The game may well swing on which team blinks first. The worry for Fremantle will be how bad the injury is to Gemma Craine, as she is a vital part of their hard-running game, while the Redbacks’ concern will be just how fatigued they may be from Thursday night’s game.
The game will be packed with current and ex W-League players and is sure to be a fascinating encounter.
Prediction
Fremantle City 1-0 Northern Redbacks
