Freo end NTC's winning start, Azzurri hit 11 to go top
Fremantle City ended Hyundai NTC’s 100% start to the season and put themselves within striking distance of top spot following a 2-1 win in Round Six of the NPLWA – Women’s competition.
Mikayla Lyons got the winner at Hilton Park with 15 minutes left as Faye Chambers’ side extended their unbeaten run to four matches to sit three points off leaders Perth SC, who returned to the summit with a big win over bottom club Curtin University.
Sunday’s results mean the top five sides are now split by only four points, while defeats for Balcatta, Subiaco and Curtin mean they have work to do if they aspire to reach the post-season competition.
Fremantle got off to the perfect start after four minutes when Laura Waltman anticipated Lily Bailey’s pass to Natasha Tanner and stole in to finish past the goalkeeper.
They held the lead until the 74th minute when Daisy Groenewald-Shield clipped through for Ischia Brooking to run in and level with her first of the season.
But Freo would bag the game’s decisive goal a minute later when new signing Abbey Green burst down the left and cut back for Lyons to sidefoot home her third goal this season.
NTC’s loss meant Perth SC regained leadership of the division, as their 11-0 win over Curtin got them back to winning ways. Peter Rakic’s team are clear of RedStar on goal difference at the top.
They took 10 minutes to get off the mark at Dorrien Gardens when Abbey Meakins threaded through for Jaime Duncanson to score.
Matilda Bohm netted her first league goal since arriving from Poland’s First Division with a left-footed drive, and it was three goals in four minutes when Ella Lincoln stayed onside from another Meakins assist to slot in.
Lincoln returned the favour for Meakins with a pinpoint finish from inside the box making in four, and it was 5-0 after 28 minutes when Duncanson bent a brilliant strike into the top corner.
Ellie La Monte’s strike deflected to Duncanson who nodded in to complete her hat-trick and it was seven at half-time when La Monte headed in Duncanson’s cross.
There were more smiles for Perth a minute after the restart when Meakins rattled in Poppie Hooks’ cross on the volley, before the midfielder received Monique Godding’s pass to finish low and join Duncanson on a treble.
Duncanson was everywhere and her fourth made it double figures for Perth as she fired left-footed over the goalkeeper. Godding then met Duncanson’s near-post cross to cap an emphatic bounce back from the Azzurri, while Curtin remain without a point this season.
Defending champions Perth RedStar are finding their groove as Reina Kagami’s hat-trick helped them win 4-1 at Subiaco to extend their unbeaten run to five matches.
It looked to be a long day for the hosts as RedStar stuck twice in the first 17 minutes. Sophia Neal crossed for Olivia Wood to get her first of the campaign, before Kagami capitalised on an error at the back to slot in for 2-0.
Subiaco pulled one back six minutes later when Phoenix Brownlie outmuscled her opponent en route to goal and rifled high into the roof of the net.
Andreia Teixeira planted a penalty wide of the post late in the first half as RedStar missed many a chance to extend their lead and allowed a spirited Subiaco to remain in the game.
Greg Farrell’s team then got their moment to equalise when Dakota Van Vugt was through on goal, but Maya Diederichsen came up big with a save by foot to keep her team in front.
In the end, RedStar got the two late goals the chances they created warranted. Japanese import Kagami got both to make it five for the year, with her first a finish into the corner from Jayna Ridley’s pass, before a close-range finish after a miscommunication in Subi’s defence.
Finally, Murdoch University Melville recorded back-to-back wins as they defeated Balcatta Etna 3-2.
Samantha Mathers was the star of the show with a goal and two assists for the visitors, who are only a point off fourth, while Balcatta lost ground in the finals race.
The hosts were without a win since the opening round but gave themselves a footing in this contest on the stroke of half-time. Monique Prinsloo and Tia Stonehill played a one-two with the former crossing for Andrea Bulgaru to net her first senior NPL goal at the back post.
David Biancuzzo’s MUM FC were full of confidence after putting 10 past Curtin last week and equalised on the hour mark. Mathers dribbled her way to the byline and pulled across for Sophie Meaden who scored at the second attempt after her initial effort was blocked.
Two minutes later, Prinsloo again teed up Bulgaru who swiped Balcatta ahead for a second time. But two goals in five minutes for the two-time champions ultimately sealed a third win of the campaign.
Mathers whipped a curling strike beyond Gabby Dal Busco from the edge of the area to pull it back to 2-2, and she capped a fine performance with a cross from the left which found Jessica Johnson for the winner at the back post.
Round Six results
Balcatta Etna 2-3 Murdoch University Melville
Fremantle City 2-1 Hyundai NTC
Perth SC 11-0 Curtin University
Subiaco 1-4 Perth RedStar