Azzurri, Balcatta prepare for top-of-table clash

Perth Azzurri extended their lead at the top of the New Balance NPL WA Women’s competition to five points after a 3-0 win over Hyundai Football West Academy on Sunday.

The victory ensures the reigning champions remain undefeated as the league passes its halfway mark and sets them up for a big next fortnight. They face second-placed Balcatta this weekend, then Fremantle City, who are currently third, the following week.

The Academy’s defeat leaves them a point outside the top four having played a game more than fourth-placed Perth RedStar, whose fixture at Subiaco was abandoned inside the opening quarter-of-an-hour.

At Dorrien Gardens, Football West Academy's Messaline Mpunga fired an early warning shot from the visitors inside the first minute, before Perth went straight up the other end and almost went in front as Daisy McAllister crashed an effort against the bar.

The hosts did not have to wait long to go in front as Jess Flannery’s corner was forced over the line by Kim McCartney.

Mpunga flashed another effort across the face of goal while at the other end Ella Lincoln put wide of the post after being released by McAllister.

Perth’s second did arrive just before the half-hour mark when McAllister controlled Lincoln’s cross and rolled past Daisy McGreadie-Cole and into the bottom corner.

After the break, Lincoln hit one effort against the post, before she scored her first goal since returning to the Azzurri from Perth Glory A-League duty when she held off Coco Fonseca and finished emphatically across McGreadie-Cole.

That proved to be enough for Tom Glavovic’s side, who have conceded only two goals this season ahead of next weekend’s top-of-the-table clash against Balcatta.

Etna tuned up for that game with a 1-0 win over Fremantle City at Hilton Park which saw them leapfrog their opponents in the table.

The visitors should have been ahead inside the first 90 seconds when Abbey Meakins stole the ball off Annabelle Leek high up the pitch. But the attacking midfielder uncharacteristically blazed the one-on-one opportunity over the bar.

Freo's Tanika Lala forced a save from Rebecca Bennett, before namesake Carla Bennett slid wide of the post from Kalista Hunter’s cross as the end-to-end first half continued.

Balcatta continued to have the balance of the chances and four minutes after the restart Caitilin Doeglas forced an excellent save from Cassia Souza.

Zoee Spadano’s fine last-ditch challenge prevented Lala from potentially breaking the deadlock. Instead, it was Balcatta who struck on 75 minutes when Souza came out of her area but failed to properly deal with a long ball over the top. Etna's Jaime Duncanson was first to the loose ball and fired home from distance despite Leek's best efforts to get back and clear.

Freo went in search of an equaliser. Rebecca Bennett was out quickly to smother at the feet of Lala while Lacey Heys headed a free-kick wide. But they were unable to find a goal and Etna returned to winning ways after three games without a victory, while Freo’s second loss of the campaign leaves them six points off the top.

Elsewhere, bottom side UWA Nedlands picked up their first win of the season and moved to within two points of Subiaco and Sorrento after a 1-0 win over the latter.

Perth Glory midfielder Georgia Cassidy was making her debut for the Gulls in trying conditions for both teams, which led to a goalless first half.

Hailey Russell’s shot from distance was saved by Amalia Caceres early in the second half before the goalkeeper did well to palm away an effort from Lisa Evans following a set-piece.

Shalika Viandrisa headed wide from a corner as the visitors inched closer to an opener, and they got it on 77 minutes in fortuitous circumstances when Caceres failed to control a back-pass from Lucy Hope and the ball rolled over the line.

Melina Franklin saw an effort come back off the post in stoppage time as UWA almost doubled their lead, while Sorrento’s best chance came after a Cassidy corner was just about dealt with by the visitors' defence.

The other Round 11 fixture between Subiaco and Perth RedStar was abandoned after only 12 minutes with the score at 0-0. With heavy rain falling, referee Connor Richards deemed the Rosalie Park surface unplayable. The match will be replayed in full.