Azzurri five points clear as Balcatta's challenge gets stuck in the mud
Balcatta Etna’s title ambitions suffered a serious blow on Sunday as Fremantle City came from behind to defeat the hosts 3-2 in Round 16 of the NPLWA – Women’s competition.
Freo’s win was their fifth in six matches and saw them close the gap on fourth-placed Etna to seven points, although they have played a game more.
Balcatta, meanwhile, are now seven points behind Perth SC, who streaked clear of the rest following a big win over Murdoch University Melville.
NPLW RESULTS, FIXTURES & STANDINGS
Wet and windy conditions across the city made it challenging for all concerned around the grounds, with the fixture at Home Group Stadium kicking off 15 minutes late following a pitch inspection.
The game got under way and few clear-cut chances transpired in the opening period, with one moment of quality providing the half’s only goal for Balcatta. Jamie-Lee Gale burst down the right flank and crossed for Abbey Meakins, who finished brilliantly on the volley at the near post to bring up goal number 15 of the season.
Freo knew they had to come out firing and levelled 60 seconds into the second half when Abbey Green released Leyna Wood and she ran in to finish one-on-one past Rebecca Bennett and bring up double figures for the season.
With flowing football almost impossible due to the heavy surface, it was fitting that Sam Geddes’ side went in front on 52 minutes via a scramble as the ball came off Sophie Meaden and Alex Poad arrived to finish into the bottom corner via a deflection.
As in their loss to the Hyundai Football West Academy last week, Balcatta twice hit the frame of the goal. Gale’s long-range effort struck the bar with Meakins’ follow-up bravely blocked by Annabelle Leek, then Jaime Duncanson suffered the same fate after she met Meakins' cross. Instead, Fremantle went up the other end and extended their lead. Wood was thwarted by Balcatta keeper Bennett only for Green to sweep home from the edge of the box.
In the final few minutes, Leek’s clearance cannoned off Mia Britton and broke the way of Gale, who applied a simple finish from close range to join Meakins on 15 for the season and set up a grandstand finish.
They came close to a late equaliser as Megan Phillips saved from Duncanson in stoppage time, before Meakins curled inches wide of the post. Freo, though, held firm.
Only three games were played over the weekend with the Academy’s clash with Perth RedStar postponed until mid-August due to their players’ involvement in the CommBank Emerging Matildas Championships taking place in Sydney.
That allowed Perth SC to move five points clear at the summit following a 6-0 win over bottom side MUM FC.
The Azzurri led on six minutes when Ruby Marshall latched onto Violet Longmore’s perfectly weighted through ball and finished at the second time of asking.
Ella Lincoln doubled the lead when first to react to Marshall’s shot being saved by Jemma Skinner, and Marshall was involved again for the third goal when crossing for Louise Tana to net from close range.
Isabela Baldin sent a shot over the bar with the visitors' best attempt of the half, but Matilda Bohm made it 4-0 at half-time with a terrific goal which saw her bring down Hannah Collins’ diagonal and volley low past Skinner.
Jess Flannery and Marshall both netted in the final 13 minutes as Perth took control of the title race and opened up a handy buffer on the chasing pack.
Finally, Subiaco defeated UWA Nedlands 5-1 at Rosalie Park to notch back-to-back victories for the first time since the opening two rounds.
Greg Farrell’s side were two up inside five minutes with Savannah Oolsthorn’s effort turned into her own net by Ginger Cain, before Greta Bailey slipped a pass through for Stella Zampogna to score her third goal of the season.
Andrea Preiato’s left-footed curler beat Amalia Caceres to halve the deficit on 18 minutes. But Bailey’s one-on-one finish and Zampogna’s confident finish across the goalkeeper had an efficient Subi 4-1 up at the interval.
Tayna Campos completed the scoring with the second half’s solitary goal when scrambling in from a Bailey corner. Subiaco are now nine points clear of their opponents, while UWA remain six points clear of bottom side Murdoch in the fight to avoid relegation.
