Round Seven of the NPLWA – Women’s competition kicks off on Friday night as Murdoch University Melville host Subiaco AFC at Besteam Stadium.
For MUM FC, this is an opportunity to move into the top four ahead of the weekend’s three remaining fixtures, as David Biancuzzo’s team chase a fourth successive win in all competitions.
Subiaco, meanwhile, sit second bottom but continue to be competitive under head coach Greg Farrell, who is in his second year with the club after a 2022 campaign which saw them double their combined points tally from the first two years of the NPL era.
While acknowledging there is still plenty for his young side to work on, Farrell believes there is scope for optimism given the improvement he is seeing.
“I was probably more disappointed with the way we went down 1-0 than anything else. It was just a lack of concentration five minutes in,” Farrell said on last week’s 4-1 defeat to Perth RedStar.
“We are still learning on the go, but our ability to possess the ball has improved enormously and we are in a situation where we have become more successful in playing out from the back and through teams.
“Even at 2-0 down, we had a sweeping movement after a lot of passes from our 18-yard box and we were able to get a goal back. We defended resolutely but couldn’t find the equaliser and after they scored a third, we weren’t quite able to get back to touching distance.
“We want to become a club that has a winning mentality, but it does take time because a lot of players are new to the club. There’s still a bit of a stigma that Subiaco hasn’t been a winning team in the league, so we have to build and develop that culture.
“But we’re getting to a point where we are going to get a good result and I believe when it comes will have a real positive flow-on effect.”
Despite their only wins of 2023 coming against Curtin in league and cup, Subiaco have put themselves in positions against NTC, Fremantle and RedStar in the past few weeks where they have had opportunities to earn credible results.
Farrell says an increased workload physically and some structural changes in the women’s program have helped progress the team and keep them in games longer.
“It was a big focus of ours during the pre-season to bring in the right people, and that included a fitness coach who has done a lot of work with the players in strength and conditioning,” he said.
“The fitness levels of the players have been excellent. It’s meant that in those games where we’ve been down at times, we’ve been able to work our way back and stay in it.
“But we’ve also done that by playing good football and not just trying to lump it forward and hoping for the best. Even late in the game, we’re trying to play still, and I feel the physical work the players have put in is really starting to pay off.”
Another chance to find a circuit-breaking victory arrives this weekend when Farrell’s Subiaco travel to Murdoch to play under the Friday night lights.
With two-thirds of the season still to play after this week’s round of games, the former Northern Redbacks coach is hopeful that a push for the post-season is not out of the question.
“MUM FC have a very good young side but for us it’s about continuing to grow into a side that isn’t scared to take opportunities within games,” he said.
“In every game, we’ve created situations where we could and should have capitalised but haven’t for one reason or another. We want to continue to push on, play the way we want to, and work hard for each other.
“I still believe it’s possible (to reach the top four). To make finals would be a very good achievement, but whatever the result we want to be in a situation where we hold the players to account and expect performances to keep improving.
“We’ve recruited well, we’ve got some very good young players, and we just need to continue building the club with the long-term goal to have that culture of doing well.”
On Saturday evening, leaders Perth SC play Balcatta Etna in the second game of a Ferrari Cup double-header at Dorrien Gardens, with the clubs’ respective men’s sides facing off beforehand.
Pete Rakic’s team emphatically returned to winning ways against Curtin last week to reclaim their position at the summit, and three points should see them remain there barring a massive swing in goal difference.
Balcatta, meanwhile, are looking for their first win since Round One and need to hit back soon to have hopes of reaching the top four, despite having a game in hand.
On Sunday, second meets fourth as Perth RedStar host Fremantle City in a battle between two in-form sides hoping to continue their good runs.
The defending champions are unbeaten in five league games, while Faye Chambers’ team are four without defeat and inflicted a first loss of the season on Hyundai NTC last time out.
NTC will expect to bounce back at E&D Litis Stadium on Sunday when they face Curtin University, who are still awaiting their first win as well as their first goals.
All games live and free on Streamer.
Round Seven fixtures (3pm unless stated)
Friday
MUM FC v Subiaco (7.30pm)
Saturday
Perth SC v Balcatta Etna (7pm)
Sunday
Hyundai NTC v Curtin University
Perth RedStar v Fremantle City