RedStar loom large as Academy, Azzurri slip up
Just two points separate the top three sides in the NPLWA – Women’s competition after Balcatta Etna rocked Hyundai Football West Academy with two late goals at Home Group Stadium.
This was Balcatta’s first home game of the campaign and that injury-time double gave Pete Rakic’s outfit a crucial 4-2 win.
Etna had to do it the hard way, with the Academy hitting the front on six minutes when Cate McAuliffe made it three goals in three games.
The hosts bounced back a minute after the restart when Jamie-Lee Gale’s pass ran for Abbey Meakins, who took a touch and curled into the bottom corner.
Balcatta went ahead for the first time as Alyssa Van Heurck reacted first after Meakins’ free-kick was saved by Sofia Borg, before the visitors levelled when Nelli Johnson’s long-range effort flew over keeper Rebecca Bennett and into the net.
NPLW RESULTS, FIXTURES & STANDINGS
It seemed as though the points would be shared until Carys Davis forced home from a Gale corner before Meakins’ stunning strike found the corner to give Balcatta a third win in four matches.
The Academy remain in first place despite a second successive defeat. That is because Perth SC were held to a 1-1 draw by Fremantle City.
The Azzurri struck first through the first half when Jess Flannery cut inside Alex Poad and bent her shot brilliantly inside the far post to net for a third consecutive match.
Ella Lincoln fired a gilt-edged chance over the bar when set up by Daisy McAllister, something Perth regretted when Megan Phillips’ long kick was misread by Hannah Collins and Leyna Wood poked through for Mikayla Lyons to net.
Phillips made a good one-on-one save from Lincoln early in the second half while Abbey Green blazed when presented with the best of Freo’s late chances.
Unbeaten Perth are a point off top spot while Freo extended their unbeaten run to four games but drop to sixth after wins for their rivals.
Champions Perth RedStar are closing on the top two following a 6-2 win over UWA Nedlands.
Renee Leota kept up her good form in front of goal with a first-half treble. She intercepted a back pass to score before finishing Caitlin Doeglas’ low cross for 2-0 inside half an hour.
UWA pulled one back through Hannah Seeley sharp reaction, but Leota restored RedStar’s two-goal cushion moments later when finishing another Doeglas assist.
Doeglas was not to be outdone by her team-mate as she struck a hat-trick of her own in the second half. The first two were nicely taken strikes from outside the box before a late penalty put the icing on a comfortable home win for Chris Atturo’s side, although some sloppy defending from the home side allowed Melina Franklin to grab a last-minute second for UWA.
Finally, Subiaco ended a four-match winless run as they eased to a 3-0 win over Murdoch University Melville at Rosalie Park.
Kim So-Yi scored a hat trick inside the first 49 minutes to leave Greg Farrell’s side outside of the top four on goal difference only. The South Korean opened the scoring on 12 minutes when tapping in Greta Bailey’s cross before doubling the lead when latching onto a long ball and rounding the goalkeeper to finish.
Her treble was complete after controlling Cass Harvey’s peach of a pass to run in and score as Subi returned to the winner’s circle, while MUM FC remain at the bottom of the division.