Fremantle City remain in touch in the NPLWA - Women’s competition after Laura Waltman’s last-minute goal gave them a 3-2 win over Balcatta Etna on Sunday.
A fourth successive win for Faye Chambers’ side means they remain four points off the pace following RedStar’s 11-goal hammering of Curtin University.
In an open first half at Hilton Park, Carys Hawkins headed a corner wide for Fremantle while at the other end Epril Nossent saw her drive beaten away by Dayle Schroeder.
Both teams hit the bar, too. City’s Olivia Trueman’s looping header from Jamie-Lee Gale’s cross clipped the woodwork, while Sadie Lawrence’s curler cannoned back off the frame and away to safety as Balcatta threatened.
The hosts made the breakthrough just before the hour mark when Waltman advanced to the edge of the box and Balcatta keeper Gabby Dal Busco was unable to keep out her strike from 18 yards.
Dal Busco then made a terrific double save to deny Mikayla Lyons and soon after her team pulled level when Monique Prinsloo beat Schroeder to a long ball and headed into a vacant net for 1-1.
Freo’s response was prompt with Gale rounding the goalkeeper to restore their lead,. But the former Perth Glory player then collected a second yellow card eight minutes from time to give Etna hope of rescuing something from the game.
Moments later they levelled when Tia Stonehill played a one-two with Lauren Continibali and ran in to find the bottom corner, but Waltman provided the decisive moment a minute from time.
The 2019 Gold Medal winner picked up the ball 35 yards out and went on a mazy run, beating four players, before finishing across the goalkeeper on her right foot to give Freo a big three points.
The win gives Fremantle a three-point buffer on third-place Hyundai NTC, while Balcatta sit four points off the top four after their first loss in five matches.
The team to catch, however, are still Perth RedStar after they cruised past Curtin University 11-0 in the top-versus-bottom clash at RedStar Arena.
They led after two minutes when Quyen Doan’s shot beat Danielle Petch from a tight angle, before Renee Leota picked out the bottom corner and Jay Coleman headed in a third from a corner.
It was 4-0 when Olivia Wood slotted in left-footed, with Chiori Ikeda unmarked to pick her spot for a fifth, while Leota finished the Japanese’s cross to bring up half a dozen before the break.
With goal difference potentially important in the title shake-up, Carlos Vega Mena’s team put their foot down in the second period and Leota and Sarah Carroll combined for Reina Kagami to cap a nice team move for seven.
Wood brought up eight after Leota’s shot came back off the post, while Abbey Woolley scored her first goal of the season to make it nine with an hour played.
RedStar hit double figures when Leota’s crisp strike rattled into the bottom corner to complete a hat-trick. Katie Ritchie’s first goal since arriving at RedStar in the off-season ended proceedings, as RedStar remain clear of the rest while Curtin are without a point in 11 matches.
Elsewhere on Sunday, NTC put themselves back in the top four places as they overcame Subiaco 3-1 at E&D Litis Stadium.
The youngsters were without a win in three games, but Grace Johnston’s sensational curler from 20 yards set them on their way after 17 minutes.
Subi answered and made it 1-1 five minutes later when Marianna Tabain volleyed home Savannah Oolsthorn’s cross from six yards for a third goal in two games.
Ischia Brooking put Ben Anderton’s team back in front after the restart when she took on all-comers and hit a shot which deceived Marissa Pidgeon in the Subi net.
The visitors stayed in striking distance until late in the piece when Tanika Lala expertly brought down Johnston’s cross and rifled into the bottom corner.
NTC are third after leaping above Perth SC and Murdoch University Melville, who kicked off Round 11 with a 3-3 draw on Friday night.
Iona Mitchell’s stoppage-time goal meant it was the second week in a row that the Azzurri had rescued a late point, while for MUM FC it was back-to-back 3-3 draws. Peter Rakic’s Perth side sit fourth after the weekend with Murdoch one point further back and still in the hunt for the top four.
Perth’s Poppie Hooks struck against her former side for the opening goal on 39 minutes with a header from Cameron Barreiro’s corner, but the hosts levelled early in the second half when Sophie Meaden’s effort inadvertently went in off keeper Rebecca Bennett.
A miscued clearance from Bennett then allowed Samantha Mathers to whip in a fine finish from 18 yards, before Stella Zampogna curled home brilliantly to leave Stacey Cavill with little chance in the MUM FC goal for 2-2.
Mathers’ second looked to have won it for David Biancuzzo’s team as she drove in a low strike from outside the box a minute before time. However, Perth levelled for a second time with almost the last kick of the game. Ella Lincoln’s cross evaded Gemma Craine at the near post, but Mitchell arrived unmarked to score her first NPL goal and earn Perth a point.
Round 11 results
Fremantle City 3-2 Balcatta Etna
Hyundai NTC 3-1 Subiaco
Murdoch University Melville 3-3 Perth SC
Perth RedStar 11-0 Curtin University