Belt Up Regional Festival of Football: Marshall puts Azzurri joint top

Reigning champions Perth Azzurri joined Balcatta Etna at the top of the New Balance NPL WA Women’s competition after edging past Hyundai Football West Academy 1-0 in the annual Belt Up Regional Festival of Football fixture on Saturday.

The Azzurri’s victory kept their unbeaten start to the season going in what was their first regional contest since beating the same opposition at the same venue in 2020.

Meanwhile, it was a second defeat in three matches for the Academy, which ultimately saw them drop out of the top four.

Perth had the majority of possession and territory in the opening period but were largely restricted to long-range efforts and set pieces thanks to a stubborn defensive display from the youngsters. In fact, it was Andy Ord’s side who had the best chance of the half when Ella Lange released Cate McAuliffe, who was denied one-on-one by Dayle Schroeder.

McAuliffe hit the post with a long-range effort while Savanna Glavovic forced a save from Schroeder as the Academy continued to create the better opportunities.

Perth then had their best moment in front of goal just before the hour when Charli Wainwright released Maja Archibald, whose shot was turned around the post by Daisy McGreadie-Cole.

Then on 66 minutes they broke the deadlock with the game’s decisive goal as Ruby Marshall ghosted behind the opposition defence to head home Kim McCartney’s free-kick.

It was a goal that gave Perth a platform to manage the game and keep a sixth clean sheet in eight matches. They are now only goal difference behind Balcatta Etna, who drew 3-3 in a Friday night thriller with Fremantle City.

Jaime Duncanson hit the post from Jamie-Lee Gale’s cross early on as Etna sought a swift start. But it was Freo who went in front on 10 minutes after forcing a turnover high up with pitch and Leyna Wood chipped Rebecca Bennett.

Moments later, the lead was doubled as Alyssa Van Heurck’s last-ditch sliding challenge was cleared only as far as Wood with the American again beating Bennett from outside the box in similar fashion. 

But Balcatta were the league’s leading scorers coming into the weekend and pulled one back by the midway mark of the first half. Duncanson turned Gale’s pass around the corner and continued her run to finish from Caitlin Doeglas’ cutback.

Freo took the setback in their stride and restored their two-goal buffer on 25 minutes as Abbey Green beat the offside trap to latch on to Annabelle Leek’s long ball to round the goalkeeper and score into a vacant net.

Balcatta hit back to trail 3-2 at the break with Doeglas linking up with Abbey Meakins and receiving the return pass to slot home. And it was then almost three-all as Doeglas forced Freo stopper Cassia Souza to tip a drive over the bar.

It was a calmer start to the second half until 63 minutes when Doeglas stole the ball off Souza deep in Fremantle territory and scored to tie it up at three each.

The game was finely poised with both teams having chances to win it as Erin Siah was denied by Bennett at one end, while Souza got down to save from Gale at the other. 

Balcatta remain top on 18 points alongside Azzurri, while Freo are in third three points behind.

On Sunday, Perth RedStar returned to the top four after a 1-0 victory over Subiaco at RedStar Arena.

The winner was scored on 62 minutes when Toko Satsuma released Abbey Woolley, who marked her return from injury with a pinpoint finish into the bottom corner.

Ana Denona came closes to levelling when she forced Gabby Dal Busco into a flying save from range, but they ended the weekend five points off the finals places.

Finally, Sorrento FC won the meeting of the league’s bottom two sides with a 3-1 win at UWA Nedlands.

Daisy Snowden pickpocketed UWA goalkeeper Janina Sauer to roll into an empty net on 14 minutes.

Annie Farrell’s side were given a chance to double their lead from the penalty spot just before half-time when Sophia Papalia was brought down in the box. Elllie-Jay Silver scored from 12 yards for the second time this season to make it 2-0 at the interval.

Lucy Hope’s hand-ball gave UWA a penalty of their own which was converted by Samara Riches on 67 minutes. But the Gulls went on to seal a second win of the campaign when Ruby Walsh’s cross ran for Nikayla Hughes to coolly finish.

The result has put Sorrento five points ahead of UWA are just one point behind sixth-placed Subiaco.