Fremantle City launched themselves back into top four contention with a thrilling 3-2 win over Perth SC in Round Eight of the NPLWA – Women’s competition.
It was a first win on the road for Faye Chambers’ side this season, which puts them level on points with the fourth-placed Azzurri and earned revenge for a 6-0 thumping at the same venue in round two.
Perth have now lost three of their past four games and now face a long stretch of away games due to their front-loaded home schedule with Dorrien Gardens out of action due to the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Laura Waltman could have put Fremantle ahead from the penalty spot inside seven minutes when she was fouled by Abbey Meakins in the box, but the former Gold Medal winner struck her spot-kick straight at Rebecca Bennett.
Otherwise, Perth had made a bright start with Dayle Schroeder coming out to smother Stella Zampogna’s charge toward goal. They would take the lead after 18 minutes as well when Monique Godding looped in a terrific volley which went in via the post.
But the visitors gradually got a grip on the game and deservedly levelled just before half time when Abbey Green stood up a cross and Tash Rigby nodded home for goals in back-to-back games.
Green forced Bennett into a smart near-post save as Freo came close to hitting the front, but a half-time double substitution saw former Perth Glory players Katarina Jukic and Jamie-Lee Gale enter the fray and hit the scoresheet in decisive fashion.
Jukic capitalised on an error at the back from the hosts as she received Green’s pass and lashed beyond the goalkeeper for her first goal of the season.
With 15 minutes left, Gale stayed onside from Green’s through ball to run in and roll past Bennett, which proved to be the match winner.
Perth would pull one back to reignite hopes of a late comeback when Judy Connolly struck low past Schroeder from the edge of the area, after good composure from Meakins with 10 minutes remaining.
But time ran out and Freo could have added a fourth had Matilda Bohm not made a last-ditch tackle following Green’s solo run.
The dropped points from Perth was also good news for Balcatta who moved within three points of fourth spot after a 3-0 win over Hyundai NTC.
Etna were in confident mood after winning for the first time in five games last week and they led at Grindleford Reserve inside four minutes. Monique Prinsloo pulled back for Tia Stonehill whose effort landed at the feet of Epril Nossent who poked in her first goal this year.
That lead was doubled 64 minutes in when Lauren Continibali’s free-kick met the head of Prinsloo who arrived to help it into the net.
Stonehill found Nossent again for a simple finish with 10 minutes left as Tim Cash’s team made it back-to-back wins, while for NTC it’s consecutive defeats in the space of four days and next up they’re against league leaders Perth RedStar in Albany.
With second, third and fourth all losing on Sunday, defending champions RedStar had a 1-0 win over second place Murdoch University Melville to open up a four point lead at the top of the league.
A combination of Shivani Battaglia and the crossbar denied MUM FC an early chance to go ahead in a goalless first 45 minutes.
After the restart, Jay Coleman forced Stacey Cavill into a save from close range following Reina Kagami’s corner and the Japanese was key in the only goal just past the hour.
The source was a set-piece again with Kagami’s corner deceiving Cavill and the midfielder credited with the goal which was her seventh in four games.
Chiori Ikeda’s daisy-cutter was later well held by the goalkeeper as RedStar stay unbeaten in seven, while MUM FC’s four-game winning streak came to an end.
Finally, Subiaco kept their outside hopes of reaching the top four alive as they eased to a 3-1 win over Curtin University.
Greg Farrell’s team led 17 minutes in when Phoenix Brownlie’s deflected effort was fumbled by the goalkeeper and Frankie Murray followed in to apply a finishing touch.
Midway through the opening period, it was 2-0 after a flowing team move which ended in Dakota Van Vugt pulling across for Murray to grab a second.
Van Vugt assisted again as Shelby Cochran bagged her first senior NPL goal to make it three in the first half and job done for Subiaco, as they end the weekend seven points off fourth with a game in hand.
Curtin to their credit pulled a goal back with 15 minutes remaining when Tiana Botha slipped in Pavitra Prem Kumar to finish low for a consolation, but they remain at the foot of the league.
Round Eight results
Balcatta Etna 3-0 Hyundai NTC
Perth RedStar 1-0 Murdoch University Melville
Perth SC 2-3 Fremantle City
Subiaco 3-1 Curtin University