Balcatta beat Perth to win NPLW Night Series
Balcatta Etna have ended their four-year wait for silverware with victory over Perth SC in tonight’s NPLWA – Women’s Night Series final.
Peter Rakic saw his Balcatta side beat his former club 1-0 at the Sam Kerr Football Centre thanks to a first-half own goal by Dayle Schroeder.
The Azzurri keeper looked to punch clear Jamie-Lee Gale’s 13th-minute corner but only succeeded in diverting the ball into her own net.
Balcatta looked certain to double their advantage when Gale rounded Schroeder and was about to tap the ball into the net, only for Matilda Boehm to get back and make a brilliant saving tackle. Schroeder saved well to thwart Lucy Jerram on the follow-up.
Perth almost levelled when Ruby Marshall’s overhit cross almost caught out Rebecca Bennett, who then got down to keep out Maja Archibald.
Schroeder was in the action again after the break, first saving Jerram’s speculative effort from distance before making an excellent near-post stop from Gale, who received the Tracey Wheeler Medal as player of the match.
The last trophy Balcatta won was the 2021 Night Series when they beat MUM FC 2-1 in the final at Macedonia Park.
