Report by Tommy Doleman
Champions-elect Perth Azzurri continued their push towards an unbeaten season by beating Subiaco FC 4-2 on Sunday.
Ella Lincoln scored a hat-trick in the win as Azzurri moved to within three points of retaining their New Balance NPL WA Women’s title.
Perth Glory A-League striker Lincoln supplied the game’s opener for Jess Flannery, who tucked home her 10th league goal of the campaign on four minutes.
Lincoln made it 2-0 on 12 minutes when Daisy McAllister’s effort from distance looped up kindly for Lincoln to side-foot in.
Subiaco halved the deficit thanks to Savannah Oolsthorn’s smart turn and strike just before the half-hour mark. Perth then missed the chance to restore their two-goal cushion quickly when Flannery won a penalty, only for the Goldfields forward to blaze her spot-kick so high over the bar that even she found it funny.
But it mattered little as Charli Wainwright released Lincoln to run in and finish with conviction for 3-1 at the interval.
Subi pulled another back in the second half when Oolsthorn’s cross was finished by substitute Tara Meeres, who scored her first NPL goal.
The visitors did push but could not find an equaliser despite a creditable display on the road. And Lincoln would finish off the job with a fine strike from outside the box to make it 17 unbeaten this season for the Azzurri.
Ella Lange scored twice as Hyundai Football West Academy boosted their hopes of a top four finish by winning 4-1 against Sorrento FC at the Sam Kerr Football Centre.
The Academy’s Round 17 victory ended a run of three defeats and saw them close to within two points of fourth-placed Perth RedStar, who play their game in hand away to Subiaco this Tuesday night.
Sorrento stay seventh and three points clear of bottom side UWA Nedlands, who now have a game in hand after their fixture against Fremantle City was postponed.
Chances were few and far between in a first half where windy conditions were tricky for both sides. Stella Zampogna flashed across the face of the Academy goal, while at the other end Cate McAuliffe’s effort trickled just wide of the post.
It took something special to open the scoring on 34 minutes and Lange delivered with a spectacular strike into the top corner for her third goal of the campaign, all of which have come from outside the area.
The State U16s captain doubled the lead in the second half when her inswinging corner dipped under the bar, despite the best efforts from Sorrento’s defence to clear on the line.
The three points were all but sealed when Theodora Mouithys’ struck left-footed from 18 yards after a free-flowing team move involving Messaline Mpunga and McAuliffe.
Sorrento struck back through Georgia Cassidy’s free-kick to make it 3-1 but the Academy were intent on finishing things off with Madison Large making a good double save from McAuliffe and Piper Dowe.
The Gulls did threaten a second briefly with one of several set pieces leading to a blocked shot from Zampogna. But Andy Ord’s team wrapped up the win late on when Mouithys’ cross deflected off Lucy Hope and onto the post with McAuliffe following in to net from close range.
The Academy moved within striking range of fourth after Perth RedStar fell to a 5-1 defeat at home to Balcatta Etna on Saturday.
Pete Rakic’s side led on 19 minutes when Jamie-Lee Gale’s corner broke the way of Rachel Jarvis who volleyed in from a narrow angle to score for the second time in four days.
RedStar almost equalised immediately when Jasmine Gray’s shot deflected off Zoee Spadano and forced a fine reaction save from Rebecca Bennett.
Instead, Balcatta took control of the contest as Caitlin Doeglas’ cross was cleared straight to Ella Marwick who rifled into the roof of the net.
Doeglas then raced onto Spadano’s superb pass to slot in for 3-0 at the break, before the league’s leading scorer made it 15 for the season with a stunning long-range lob a minute after the restart.
Gray teed up Grace Monteiro who struck sweetly from the edge of area to give RedStar a consolation on the hour mark. But the scoring was completed by Abbey Meakins in stoppage time with the midfielder curling in her ninth of the campaign from another Spadano assist.
Balcatta moved above Fremantle City into second place but remain 10 points behind leaders.
