Perth RedStar have extended their margin at the top of the NPLWA – Women’s competition to eight points after coming from behind to defeat UWA Nedlands 5-2.
The visitors went into Sunday’s Round 17 fixture bottom of the league yet hit the front after four minutes in Joondalup when Franca Dobbin headed in Chloe Rodrigo’s corner from the right.
However, up stepped in-form Olivia Wood whose 14-minute hat-trick quickly turned the fixture in favour of the two-time defending champions.
The first goal came when she beat the offside trap before turning back inside and rifling home to make it goals in five consecutive matches.
It was 2-1 when Wood’s effort from distance took a slight deflection to loop up and over UWA stopper Katie Paul. And her third was a classy finish with the forward taking one touch to control Caitlin Doeglas’ cut-back before lashing a brilliant left-footed volley into the top corner.
Another Doeglas cross broke nicely for Renee Leota to finish low past the goalkeeper for four, and a fifth came when the same pair combined again with Doeglas’ free-kick headed in by the former New Zealand international.
To their credit, UWA regrouped at the break and scored the only goal of the second half as Melina Franklin beat Gabby Dal Busco to Michaela Thawley’s pass and rolled into the back of the net for a late consolation.
But the damage was done in the first half as the visitors lost for a fourth successive game, while RedStar’s fifth win on the bounce means they have one hand on the title after Perth SC lost 1-0 at home to Balcatta Etna.
An inspired goalkeeping display from Rebecca Bennett aided Balcatta’s strong defensive display with the shot-stopper saving from Ella Lincoln, Epril Nossent and Samantha Mathers in the first half.
The game’s decisive goal came on 54 minutes for the visitors when Lucy Jerram’s corner inadvertently hit Kim McCartney before Rachel Jarvis forced over the line and scored for a second time against her former side this season.
Danielle Brogan’s side pressed hard for an equaliser and continued to enjoy the majority of the play, only for an in-form Bennett to once again thwart her former side when they did have opportunities.
Bennett did well to get across her line and palm away Georgia Cassidy’s drive, before getting her angles right to deny Charli Wainwright when the midfielder found herself through on goal.
In the end, there was no way through as Perth suffered back-to-back losses for the first time in 2024 and lost ground on the leaders to now look as though they will be preparing for the post-season Top Four Cup with their opponents.
Three second-half goals helped Fremantle City win 3-0 over Hyundai NTC which saw them take a giant step towards a top four finish.
Freo’s sixth victory in seven matches see’s them extend their lead over fifth-placed NTC to four points with Faye Chambers’ side also having two games in hand on the chasers below to try and cement a fifth successive finals finish in the NPL era.
Conversely, NTC face an uphill task to make the post-season for a third year in a row, having not recorded back-to-back wins since rounds eight and nine.
Fremantle started sharply in the sunshine at Hilton Park with Jess Skinner excellent in the first half. The Junior Matildas stopper made three excellent one-on-saves to deny Tanika Lala twice and Sophie Meaden once during the first 45 minutes.
Theodora Mouithys lifted over the bar after bursting into the box and Nelli Johnson struck just wide of the post as the sides went into half time goalless.
NTC came out firing in the second period and had the better of the possession and territory for large spells. Mouithys fired high and wide from the edge of area, Johnson had a couple of long-range sighters and Klaudia Houlis struck straight at Dayle Schroeder.
But against the run of play Fremantle found the front on 70 minutes thanks to ex-NTC striker Lala, who latched onto substitute Mikayla Lyons’ ball over the top, rounded Skinner and slotted into a vacant net.
The in-form Goldfields forward has netted in each of her last seven NPLW matches and now has 16 for the season to trail the league’s leading scorer Ella Lincoln by one.
It was 2-0 with quarter of an hour remaining as Abbey Green set off on a trademark run down the left wing before pulling back for Olivia Trueman, who stepped around her opponent and struck home.
That took the wind out of NTC’s sails as they were unable to find a goal to set up a nervy finish for the hosts. Eventually, a third was scored by Anna Powell who turned home Green’s cross from close-range to leave Freo with a parting gift ahead of her departure to the US college system.
Finally, Subiaco and Murdoch University Melville completed the afternoon’s action with a 0-0 draw at Rosalie Park.
Both sides were denied by the woodwork in the final 20 minutes of the match with MUM FC coming close when Ashley Sabean’s corner was hooked onto the crossbar by Sophie Patience.
At the other end Cass Harvey hit the post having beaten Thia Eastman to a loose ball on the edge of Murdoch’s box.
The point means Subiaco are now unbeaten in three matches, but stay sixth and are six points behind fourth-placed Fremantle.
Steve Atkins’ side may have won it in stoppage time when Luana Ascenzo-Cabello’s cross was volleyed straight at Isobel Robinson by Ellis Glanfield. But a first league clean sheet of the season and the draw was good enough to see MUM FC move a point clear of bottom side UWA Nedlands in the standings.