Champions Perth RedStar celebrated their third consecutive NPLWA – Women’s triumph when they were presented with the title trophy at RedStar Arena following an entertaining 3-3 draw with Balcatta Etna.
For large parts of Sunday afternoon Carlos Vega Mena’s side looked set to lift silverware on the back of an eighth successive win. But they were pegged back by an in-form Balcatta, who struck twice in the last six minutes to extend their unbeaten run to four games.
RedStar were off and running inside two minutes when Momoko Sakairi clipped forward for Caitlin Doeglas to cross for an in-form Olivia Wood to score and continue her excellent second half of the campaign.
The lead was doubled courtesy of a clever volley which Doeglas looped over Rebecca Bennett and in to give her side a 2-0 half-time buffer.
Balcatta made the perfect start to the second period 40 seconds in when Gabby Dal Busco’s sliding save landed at the feet of Monique Prinsloo who lifted smartly over the retreating RedStar defence to pull one back.
RedStar responded on 66 minutes when Doeglas lifted over Bennett from distance, but Etna were up for the fight and hit back with a double strike to continue their late season resurgence.
Prinsloo capitalised on a rare mistake at the back from the holders as she intercepted a pass, stepped past a challenge and curled beautifully into the bottom corner.
And with a minute to play, Abbey Meakins scored a brilliant free-kick from 20 yards out which beat Dal Busco all ends up to earn the visitors a point.
Balcatta are all but assured to host a home final in week one of the Top Four Cup thanks largely to last Wednesday’s 3-1 win over Fremantle City.
At the other end of the table, the battle to avoid finishing bottom and likely automatic relegation will go to the final weekend after UWA Nedlands held Fremantle to a 0-0 draw at Hilton Park.
The result means Lawrence Lewis’ side are three points and one goal behind second-bottom MUM FC but with a game in hand.
Sophie Meaden rifled just wide of the mark early in the second half after a UWA corner was only cleared as far as the midfielder on the edge of the box.
Freo’s best chance arguably came a minute from the end when Morgan Springer made a terrific one-on-one block to deny Abbey Green as the Perth Glory A-League winger looked to carve out an opening.
Uni had collected their first NPL win at this venue back in round six and had a late sighter again when Mackenzie Rastatter’s free-kick was driven straight at Dayle Schroeder as it ended in a stalemate.
It was a third game without a win for Freo, while UWA’s hopes of extending their stay in the NPL were helped by Murdoch University Melville’s 5-0 home loss against Perth SC at Besteam Stadium.
Midfielder Georgia Cassidy arrived in the box unmarked to volley Ella Lincoln’s cross into the bottom corner on eight minutes.
A second was scored inside the first quarter-of-an-hour when Charli Wainwright was fouled in the box by Danielle Brown with Lincoln making no mistake to score a 23rd goal of the season.
Cassidy’s low cross from the right was finished at the back post by Sam Mathers for 3-0, and the former MUM FC forward made it four at the break with a pinpoint finish into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.
Kim McCartney’s stunning free-kick gave Perth a fifth after the restart, and that was how it stayed. The Azzurri need just a point in their final two matches against Hyundai NTC tonight or Subiaco on Saturday set to see them wrap up the runners-up spot for the third straight year.
MUM FC stay seventh with a buffer on UWA Nedlands as they take on Freo at home next Friday night.
Elsewhere, Hyundai NTC kept their outside hopes of reaching the Top Four Cup alive after a come-from-behind 7-3 victory over Subiaco at Rosalie Park.
The youngsters are now five points off fourth placed Fremantle City with a game in hand, albeit they do have to play the top three sides in the run home.
NTC came in fresh from a week off after last Saturday’s game with Perth was washed out and they led on 26 minutes when Klaudia Houlis picked out the bottom corner from 18 yards.
Marianna Tabain’s powerful finish from just inside the box levelled it up moments later for the home side, and Subi took a lead to the interval thanks to Cass Harvey’s pearler from long range.
NTC equalised on 50 minutes through Ischia Brooking only for Tabain’s second goal to put Subiaco into their second lead of the day as the former W-League forward beat Jess Skinner to a loose ball, poked past the goalkeeper and finished into an empty net.
However, the hosts lead only last four minutes, as Ben Anderton’s side scored twice in 120 seconds to turn the game on its head and trigger a run of five goals in the final 20 minutes.
Emily Garnett’s curler from the left beat Isobel Robinson to open the striker’s account for the season, before Violet Longmore’s looping header from a Brooking corner made it 4-3 NTC.
It was five when Brooking struck sensationally with venom from outside the box before Theodora Mouithys held off her marker to finish into the bottom corner.
Nelli Johnson capped the win with a late curling effort on a day of great goals across the division. NTC now faces Perth in Tuesday night’s catch-up game at Dorrien Gardens, while Subiaco lost for a third straight game.