Perth RedStar made it six wins from six to start the 2024 NPLWA - Women’s competition after recording a 4-2 win over Balcatta Etna at RedStar Arena.
Victory keeps Carlos Vega Mena’s side three points clear of second-place Perth SC, who also won their Round Six fixture. Balcatta are now six points off the lead following a second defeat to one of the top three.
Emily Dunn was presented with a framed photo and plaque pre-game to acknowledge a remarkable 300th appearance over the years with RedStar/Northern Redbacks. On the pitch, the defending champions rolled into a sixth-minute lead when Olivia Wood teed up Reina Kagami for her eighth goal of the campaign after Balcatta failed to clear a corner.
Renee Leota almost made it 2-0 only to hit the bar, before Balcatta found their feet and levelled when Bronwyn Studman pushed Abbey Meakins in the penalty area and the midfielder converted her fifth goal of the season from the spot.
But RedStar continued to pose the more consistent threat and restored their lead in the shadows of half-time. Balcatta turned the ball over cheaply in defence which allowed Japanese midfielder Momoko Sakairi to pick up the ball on the edge of the area and unleash a brilliant shot past Rebecca Bennett.
Leota added a third early in the second period when finishing unmarked at the back post, and they should have killed the game soon after as Kagami hit the post and then flashed just wide of the mark.
Balcatta had another burst, and after Gabby Dal Busco saved one-on-one from Jamie-Lee Gale, they made it 3-2 when Dal Busco spilled a cross into the path of Monique Godding, who scored for the first time since her return to Etna.
Caitlin Doeglas should have wrapped it up for RedStar late on when through on goal, but the home side did not have to wait long to close the door as substitute Jayna Ridley’s rocket sealed yet another RedStar win.
Perth SC remain in second place as four different players found the scoresheet in a 4-1 win at Murdoch University Melville.
Epril Nossent’s cross was headed in by Anika Stajcic on 25 minutes for the opener, and it was 2-0 just before the interval when Ella Lincoln’s impressive season continued with a close-range finish.
MUM FC had won their past two games in league and cup, and they reduced the deficit five minutes after the restart. Taylor Reid showed terrific persistence to win the ball off Perth’s defence and crash in a low shot against her former side.
The Azzurri’s two-goal cushion was immediately restored when Lincoln fed through for strike partner Jess Flannery to roll home for 3-1.
Daisy McAllister completed the scoring on the hour with a nicely-taken lob after the ball broke her way to make it three goals in as many games and help Perth ease to victory.
Fifth-placed Subiaco closed the gap to fourth-placed NTC after two rapid-fire goals set up the home side for a 3-1 win at Rosalie Park.
Subi struck first with 28 minutes played when they won the ball high up before Tayna Campos slipped in Stella Zampogna to drive low into the bottom corner.
Less than a minute later it was 2-0 with Campos the scorer, as she whipped a high looping curler over Megan Phillips and into the back of the NTC net.
NTC pulled one back with 10 minutes remaining when Mia Britton crossed for fellow substitute Theodora Mouithys to finish at the back post.
But Subi made the points safe soon after as Frankie Murray-Hocking took a touch from a long throw before striking low and hard to ensure Greg Farrell’s side ended the weekend two points off fourth spot.
Finally, UWA Nedlands picked up their first NPL win at the sixth attempt after edging Fremantle City 3-2 at Hilton Park.
The visitors led in the first half when Erin Armstrong fought hard to keep the ball alive after a UWA corner, and she set up Alexandra Lyons whose shot took a deflection and went in.
Lyons doubled Uni’s lead on the hour mark when her long-range effort caught the goalkeeper off guard to creep in.
Tanika Lala squared for Anna Powell to pull one back for Freo, only for the impressive Armstrong to finish at the far post from Amy Hartley’s cross to restore UWA’s two-goal lead.
Annabelle Leek’s late penalty proved too little, too late for the hosts and only goal difference keeps them above bottom club MUM FC.