The NPLWA – Women’s title race is alive after Perth Soccer Club’s thrilling 4-3 win over Perth RedStar in the northern suburbs.
Sunday’s battle of the top two sides did not disappoint as the Azzurri ended RedStar’s 100% start to the season in the ninth match to cut the defending champions’ lead to two points.
It was also Perth’s first win at RedStar Arena in their eighth attempt since the NPL era began in 2020.
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Danielle Brogan’s side made the perfect start with five minutes played when Daisy McAllister played up the line for Ruby Marshall, who looked inside to find Ella Lincoln. The in-form striker shifted it onto her favoured left foot and fired brilliantly into the top corner to score for a sixth successive league game.
RedStar were back on terms with a dozen minutes played when a mix-up between Kim McCartney and keeper Stacey Cavill led to Caitlin Doeglas sneaking in to equalise, as she did when these sides met in Round Two.
But Perth regained the lead soon after as McAllister’s killer pass found the run of Lincoln, who got the byline and pulled back for Marshall to net a timely first goal of the campaign.
Carlos Vega Mena’s side could have levelled again after Renee Leota superbly picked out Manami Arai. However, the Japanese flyer was denied by Cavill’s low save, and it proved important as the visitors went 3-1 up before half-time.
Lincoln was again involved as she came to the aid of Jess Flannery on the edge of RedStar’s area before releasing the Goldfields forward into the box. Flannery pulled across to McAllister who arrived late from midfield to extend Perth’s lead.
RedStar did not lie down and pulled one back early in the second period as Doeglas streaked clear before finishing past Cavill at the second attempt.
In keeping with the open nature of the game, Perth nearly restored their two-goal cushion immediately from kick-off. Lincoln threaded through for McAllister, only for RedStar keeper Gabby Dal Busco to come off her line quickly to block and keep the score at 3-2.
Yet Perth soon again gave themselves breathing room though as Kim McCartney struck a brilliant free-kick over the wall which curled beyond the Dal Busco.
The home keeper then made another big save from McAllister as Flannery picked her out at the near post before RedStar gave themselves a lifeline with seven minutes left.
Reina Kagami got the goal to make it 3-4 as Cavill tipped Mischa Anderson’s corner down to the midfielder. But that was how it stayed despite Andrea Teixiera’s goalline clearance from a Marshall header and Sarah Carroll blazing wide late on.
Perth are now unbeaten in seven games and have gone four points clear of Balcatta Etna, whose fixture at Fremantle City was postponed on Friday night due to a floodlight issue.
That allowed Hyundai NTC to close the gap on third-place Etna to three points thanks to a 4-2 win over Murdoch University Melville at Besteam Stadium.
Theodora Mouithys capitalised on an early mistake to strike into an empty net inside the opening five minutes.
The lead was doubled when Sakura Leong played a one-two with Mouithys and blazed a trail down the left before finishing low past the goalkeeper.
MUM FC pulled one back soon after when Mia Britton’s back-pass for Megan Phillips was a little short with Emmanuella Boadou profiting to run in and bag her first NPL goal.
Britton skipped down the right and finished from the tightest of angles to give NTC a 3-1 lead at the interval, and it was four early in the second half as the youngsters crafted a flowing team move which resulted in Jessica Johnson’s low finish.
Boaduo released Taylor Reid who went through one-on-one with the goalkeeper to slot another back for the hosts. And they may have even set up a nervy finish for NTC, but Georgia Wiese’s shot hit the underside of the bar and bounced back out, as Ben Anderton’s side maintained their grip on fourth spot.
The weekend’s other fixture saw Subiaco win 3-0 against UWA Nedlands which saw them leapfrog Fremantle City into fifth place.
Two early goals set Subi on their way at Rosalie Park as Marianna Tabain’s wicked free-kick flew into the top corner, before Cass Harvey raced clear from Tayna Campos’ perfect pass to poke past Morgan Springer.
Frankie Murray-Hocking squared for Dakota Van Vugt to tap in a third for Greg Farrell’s side with 15 minutes remaining. Subiaco sit five points off fourth place following their third win of the season, while UWA remains second from bottom and a point clear of MUM FC in the drop zone.