Azzurri, Freo set up top-of-table clash

Fremantle City continued their unbeaten start to the season as they defeated Subiaco 2-1 in Round Four of the New Balance NPL WA Women’s competition.

The back-to-back wins see Sam Geddes’ side move to second in the standings, which sets up an exciting top-of-the-table clash at reigning champions Perth Azzurri on Friday night.

Subi, meanwhile, have lost twice in as many games but remain just one point outside of the top four early in the season.

After a goalless first half at Hilton Park on Easter Sunday, Subi were reduced to 10 players when Ella Mastrantonio was shown a second yellow card before the second half began. The visitors did not let that deter them with Savannah Oolsthorn firing just over within a minute of the restart.

However, it was Fremantle that went ahead nine minutes into the second half as Abbey Green collected Lacey Heys’ pass and drove between two defenders before dinking cooly over Briana O’Dell.

An excellent last-ditch challenge from Ebony Ntumenopoulos prevented the hosts from going two up, and moments later Subi were back on level terms.

Poppy Derhun kept the ball alive on the left wing and slid it forward to Oolsthorn, who pulled back for Sara Klott to arrive on the edge of the area and finish brilliantly.

Subiaco pressed again and Catherine Curwood-Wagner won the ball high up and showed nice footwork before firing over. But Freo scored what proved to be the winner on 73 minutes when Heys received Green’s reverse pass and drilled a rising shot high into the roof of the net.

O’Dell saved Green’s effort late on but two was enough, and Freo stay two points behind Perth, who scored twice in the final 16 minutes to see off a stubborn Sorrento FC 2-0 at Percy Doyle Reserve on Easter Monday.

The Gulls nearly led on two minutes when Daisy Snowden’s effort from a tight angle forced Perth stopper Emme Ingrey into action, with Louse Tana clearing the danger before Nikayla Hughes arrived. Perth’s Xuri Dalton then whistled two efforts over the bar as the first half ended goalless.

The deadlock was broken with just over a quarter of an hour remaining when Kim McCartney put in Jess Flannery’s corner from six yards.

Sophia Papalia’s free-kick for Sorrento from wide on the left flew over the bar before the Azzurri made the game safe when Ruby Marshall lifted past Sorrento goalkeeper Amalia Caceres from an Alanna Ottobrino pass.

Elsewhere, Hyundai Football West Academy and Perth RedStar drew 0-0 at the Sam Kerr Football Centre on Saturday.

RedStar had the better of the first half chances with Jayna Ridley’s strike saved by Daisy McGreadie-Cole, with Grace Monteiro’s follow-up crashing off the bar.

Klaudia Houlis put wide of the post from Holly Tancin’s pass, but the home side could have led late in the opening period when Theodora Mouithys was denied one-on-one by Gabby Dal Busco.

Ridley was denied again by McGreadie-Cole after the restart, while Toko Satsuma volleyed another good opportunity over as it ended goalless. The Academy sit third and are unbeaten with three draws in their four matches, while RedStar are in the bottom half having only played two games so far.

Round Three started all the way back on Wednesday night with Balcatta Etna defeating UWA Nedlands 3-0 to earn a first win of the campaign.

Pete Rakic’s side led on 19 minutes when Caitlin Doeglas clipped over the UWA defence and Jamie-Lee Gale slid in to roll home the opener.

Gale should have made it two when her shot came off the post and UWA keeper Janina Sauer reacted well to block the winger's second effort. But a second Balcatta goal was coming and arrived when Meakins’ powerful shot from just inside the box was too hot for the goalkeeper to handle.

A third goal early in the second half all but sealed the points when Doeglas burst down the left and saw her effort hit the woodwork with Gale there to tap in the rebound. Balcatta ultimately ended the weekend fourth after results elsewhere, while UWA sit second from bottom despite a third loss in a row.