Report by Tommy Doleman
Perth Azzurri won a top-of-the-table clash for the second week running to extend their lead in the New Balance NPL WA Women’s competition to eight points.
Sunday’s 2-1 win over Fremantle City means Tom Glavovic’s side are unbeaten after 13 rounds this season and are firm favourites to make it back-to-back league titles following a sixth win in a row.
Fremantle’s defeat was their first on the road this term and saw them drop to third and nine points off the pace.
Sam Mathers got the home side off to a superb start at Dorrien Gardens when heading in Jess Flannery’s corner on six minutes.
Freo had their spells of pressure, but Dayle Schroeder was largely untested in the Azzurri goal. instead it was Perth who doubled their lead in first-half stoppage time.
Daisy McAllister’s low cross eventually came to Ella Lincoln whose attempt was pushed behind by Cassia Souza. From the resulting corner, Mathers stood up a ball to the back post and Matilda Bohm rose to head home.
Lincoln had a great chance to put the game to bed but sidefooted wide from Ruby Marshall’s cross as Perth looked to have things under control.
But Freo threw a bit more caution to the wind in a bid to come away with a result with Harper Collinson’s effort saved down low by Schroeder. And they pulled one back on 89 minutes when Janice Kiama bundled in Erin Siah’s corner at the back post, just the third goal Perth had conceded all season.
Freo sent several set pieces forward after that in trying to equalise, with Sam Brady’s header from another corner the closest they came. The reigning champions held firm, though, to make it 10 wins out of 13 this season and maintain their charge toward another league title.
Elsewhere, Caitlin Doeglas scored a hat-trick as Balcatta Etna moved back into second place with a 3-0 win at Subiaco.
Both teams had their chances in a goalless first half at Rosalie Park. After the restart, Subi’s Savannah Oolsthorn shot straight at Rebecca Bennett, while at the other end Doeglas was denied by Briana O’Dell after being released by Jamie-Lee Gale.
Doeglas did break the deadlock just past the hour mark when unleashing a powerful finish past the goalkeeper after being picked out by Jaime Duncanson’s cross.
The striker then latched onto a magnificent through ball from Zoee Spadano to tuck away goal number two, and she completed a treble in the final 10 minutes when racing clear down the right to slot in.
That was an 11th goal of the season for the former Perth Glory forward and saw her move three goals clear of Jess Flannery in the Golden Boot race.
At RedStar Arena, Sarah Carroll scored a late equaliser as Adam Kirk’s first game in charge of Perth RedStar ended in a 2-2 draw with Sorrento FC.
Alkira Mogridge set RedStar on their way when rising unmarked to head in Sarah Carroll’s inswinging corner on 35 minutes.
But the Gulls got an equaliser just before half-time courtesy of Georgia Cassidy’s brilliant free kick which was curled in left footed from the corner of the box.
Sorrento then hit the front with six minutes remaining as Stella Zampogna quickly closed down Gabby Dal Busco’s attempted clearance to score for the second time this season.
RedStar responded a minute from time when Sophia Papalia nudged Toko Satsuma over just outside of the area with Carroll superbly scoring the resulting free-kick.
That was how it stayed as RedStar stay fourth while Sorrento moved three points clear of bottom side UWA Nedlands.
On Saturday, Hyundai Football West Academy needed a goal in the final 10 minutes to defeat UWA 1-0.
Chances were few and far between throughout the fixture at the Sam Kerr Football Centre in gusty conditions. Janina Sauer made the first notable save on 73 minutes when turning away Savanna Glavovic’s drive from outside the box.
But despite a gallant defensive display, Uni came unstuck in unfortunate circumstances when Glavovic’s corner was glanced in at near post off visiting defender Phoenix Brownlie.
It was enough for Academy to snap a two-game losing run and they ended the weekend just two points behind fourth-placed RedStar.
