Perth RedStar took a giant stride towards defending their NPLWA – Women’s title after beating Perth SC 4-2 in entertaining top-of-the-table clash at RedStar Arena.
The league leaders are now six points clear with a game in hand going into the final four rounds of the season.
It is now 15 games unbeaten for Carlos Vega Mena’s side, while this was the Azzurri’s first loss in nine.
RedStar made a perfect start in Joondalup when Rebecca Bennett’s clearance went straight to Renee Leota, and the former New Zealand international lifted her shot over the keeper for her 10th goal of the campaign.
Perth had a decent spell midway through the opening half and levelled when Poppie Hooks’ brilliant cross-field pass found Jaime Duncanson. The Azzurri’s leading scorer crossed for Ella Lincoln, who applied a simple finish to make it 1-1.
Bennett palmed over Kagami’s curler 10 minutes before the break to keep the sides level, but it was RedStar who took the initiative with two late goals in the opening period.
Sarah Carroll scored a stunning free-kick which picked out the top corner to make it 2-1 a minute before the interval. Then two minutes into first-half added time, Jay Coleman looped in a header from Bronwyn Studman’s free-kick to give RedStar daylight.
Perth breathed life back into the contest when Lincoln prodded Jess Flannery’s cross past Jayde O’Donohue for her second of the game and 10th of the season.
RedStar still looked the likelier and Abbey Woolley had a couple of golden chances when through on goal to kill off the game. And they eventually sealed the win with 10 minutes remaining when Woolley’s first-time cross was steered into the bottom corner by Reina Kagami, who now has 16 goals.
The defeat leaves Perth with a steep hill to climb if they are to get back in the title race, but they do have this Wednesday night’s Hyundai Women’s State Cup semi-final against Hyundai NTC to look forward for.
Perth RedStar are on track to retain their NPLW title after victory over Perth SC. Photo by Rob Lizzi
Third-place Fremantle City closed the gap on Perth to two points after a 5-0 win over Curtin University at Hilton Park.
Olivia Trueman met Carys Hawkins’ cross with a first-time volley to net the opener on 10 minutes, before Catherine Adams scored a first goal of the season when her free-kick sailed over everyone and into the goal.
Alex Poad’s shot trickled into the back of the net for her first senior goal this term, and Laura Waltman finished Trueman’s cross from close range to make it four at the break.
Waltman added the only goal of the second half late on from another Hawkins cross, as Freo bounced back from successive defeats. Curtin, meanwhile, lost for a 16th time in as many games this season.
In the game between fourth and fifth, Hyundai NTC and Murdoch University Melville drew 1-1 at E&D Litis Stadium.
NTC retained fourth spot with games in hand over their finals rivals, while Murdoch still have a four-point deficit to make up on Ben Anderton’s side and dropped a place by the end of the weekend.
MUM FC keeper Stacey Cavill got down well to save Grace Johnston’s snapshot inside the area, while at the other end Sophie Meaden thundered a long-range effort at Megan Phillips.
The opening goal was scored on 39 minutes when Louise Tana released Tanika Lala down the right. The striker advanced on goal and had her shot saved by Cavill, but Tana followed in to nudge the ball across the line.
It was 1-0 at half-time but MUM FC found a response a minute after the restart as Charli Wainwright’s corner inadvertently hit Nelli Johnson and went in for an own goal.
Clearcut chances dried up in the second half as Lala tickled Johnston’s cross just past the post, while Rosie Lehane’s long-ranger was easily caught by Phillips.
That draw was a good result for Balcatta, as they went fifth and moved within three points of NTC after a 6-1 win over Subiaco.
Tia Stonehill bagged a hat-trick on her return as Yash Pratap’s side won after back-to-back losses.
Etna opened the scoring with 12 minutes on the clock when Stonehill skipped down the right and crossed for Monique D’Opera to arrive from midfield and score.
Stonehill then collected Elizabeth Doust’s long pass and ran in to drill a low shot past Subiaco goalkeeper Annie Leyland for 2-0.
The 2021 Gold Medal winner was in the mood for goals and made it 17 goals for campaign when rifling in a third after a loose ball broke her way.
Marianna Tabain tip-toed her way through several challenges and finished to register a fine solo goal in the shadows of half time which made it 3-1. But Balcatta put the foot down and added three more after the restart, which could prove important for their goal difference come season’s end.
Kim McCartney swept in a fourth and fifth goal in similar fashion when clearances from Subiaco’s defence fell to her on the edge of the area.
Stonehill then burrowed her way through a couple of Subiaco defenders to strike a sixth, which moved her two goals clear of Kagami in the NPLWA – Women’s goalscoring charts.