Late penalty drama as Sorrento claim first NPL win

Sorrento FC celebrated their first victory of the New Balance NPL WA Women’s season on Sunday after coming from behind to defeat Subiaco 2-1.

The victory was in fact a maiden success in the NPL era for the Gulls, with head coach Annie Farrell making a winning return to Rosalie Park. The Round Six success sees Sorrento move off the bottom of the league and just a point behind their opponents in the standings.

Both teams had early opportunities from set-pieces with Sorrento’s Nikayla Hughes putting wide early after a scramble in the box, while at the other end Catherine Curwood-Wagner headed over from Ana Denona’s volley across the face of goal.

The hosts hit the front on 23 minutes when Sorrento switched off during a quickly taken set piece with Poppy Derhun crossing for Curwood-Wagner to nod in from six yards.

The visitors equalised in first half stoppage time when Ruby Walsh surged down the left wing and fired across the six yard box for Daisy Snowden to finish at the back post.

There were chances for both teams in the second half, but it proved to be a tale of two penalties in the final 10 minutes. Niamh Taylor-Hughes was bundled over by Tamzyn Aisbett in the box with Derhun’s spot kick palmed over by Amalia Caceres.

Soon after, Jaalah Rudd was brought down by Mia Hargreaves at the other end, and Ellie-Jay Silver made no mistake in converting her opportunity to win it from 12 yards as Sorrento gained revenge for their opening day defeat.

Elsewhere on Sunday, the top three sides all won to stay undefeated as Balcatta Etna, Perth Azzurri and Fremantle City remain level on points at the top.

Balcatta went top in midweek with their 2-1 defeat of Perth RedStar in a rescheduled Round Two game. They maintained their position on Sunday after Abbey Meakins netted a hat-trick in a 4-0 win over Hyundai Football West Academy.

Meakins’ first came from the penalty spot after Jaime Duncanson was fouled by Coco Fonseca in the box, and her second was scored on 24 minutes when nodding in after Caitlin Doeglas’ cross broke her way.

Doeglas had Etna three up at the break when capitalising on a mistake at the back to put into a vacant net. But Meakins would overtake both Doeglas and Jamie-Lee Gale in the Golden Boot race with a stunning strike from distance taking her to six goals for the season.

Perth Azzurri sit second after coming from a goal down to defeat UWA Nedlands 3-1 win on the road.

Melina Franklin became the first player to net against the defending champions this season when hooking in nicely on the volley from Chloe McGlinn’s free-kick on five minutes.

Two goals in a minute from Perth turned the game in their favour though, with Maja Archibald quickly closing down a short goal kick to level, before Daisy McAllister crossed for Ruby Marshall to slot in.

Jess Flannery’s long-range effort early in the second half sealed the three points as Tom Glavovic’s side returned to winning ways after back-to-back draws.

Fremantle City also claimed a win away from home as a late own goal gave them a 2-1 victory at RedStar.

Freo had the best chances of the first half with Gabby Dal Busco saving one-on-one from Phetchara Anne Mayoe, before pushing away Lacey Heys’ header.

Klaudia Houlis forced a save from Cassia Souza early in the second half, but Dal Busco was the busier of the goalkeepers as she blocked Abbey Green’s effort moments later.

Sam Geddes’ side hit the front on 54 minutes when Erin Siah’s drive across the box was turned towards goal by Heys with Sam Brady helping it on via the underside of the bar.

The three-time NPL WA champions were level on the hour mark when Nelli Johnson struck a low free-kick through the wall into the back of the net.

Alex Poad put a good chance wide for Freo from Green’s pass, while Dal Busco was called into action again as Leyna Wood snuck in behind the home defence.

However, there was nothing the goalkeeper could do when Green flashed a ball across the box and the unfortunate Quyen Doan turned into her own net.

That proved to be the game’s decisive moment as Freo made it four wins in their past five matches, while RedStar sit fourth but are now six points behind the top three sides.