NPL WA Round Five Wrap

It was also a big weekend at the bottom of the NPL WA, where the competition’s two winless sides went head-to-head.

Week Five 2022

• Murdoch University Melville hosted a Fremantle City side looking to close the gap at the top of the table.
• Balcatta Etna were looking for their first win and goals of the campaign against bottom side Curtin University.
• Subiaco and the Hyundai NTC completed the action with a fascinating battle between two improving teams.

More NPL news can be found on The Women's Game.

Round five of the National Premier League saw three matches disputed over this last weekend.  One match, Perth RedStar v Perth SC, was postponed.

Two results from #NPLWA - Women's Round Five today.

A Monique Prinsloo double helped Balcatta Etna recover from a goal down to beat bottom club @CurtinUniFC 4-1, while @SubiacoAFC also picked up their first win of the season as they downed Hyundai NTC 2-0.@HyundaiAus pic.twitter.com/Vyi2Ct5mLe

— Football West (@FootballWest) May 1, 2022

Murdoch University Melville 1-3 Fremantle City

Round Five opened on Friday night with the clash between defending champions Murdoch University Melville (MUM) and Fremantle City.

The game was ultimately decided in the opening ten minutes as visitors Freo came out of the blocks rapidly to build a 2-0 lead.

The first goal came after just four minutes when MUM lost possession in the centre of the pitch allowing Laura Waltman to advance. The ball was worked clinically through into the path of Jessica Darmago who slotted home under home keeper Monique Todd.

Fremantle doubled their lead from the penalty spot with eight minutes played. Darmago confidently dispatched the kick into the right hand corner.

The rapid rate of scoring in the early stages continued. To their credit, MUM responded well. Nikita Strickling’s turn and shot forced a good save at the near post from Fremantle keeper Dayla Schroeder.  

Shortly afterwards, with less than a quarter of an hour played, Murdoch were back in the game. Captain Charli Wainwright won the ball in midfield, turned, and fed Elysse Shore outside her on the left. Shore advanced to the by-line and lofted a cross into the box which bounced perfectly for Samantha Mathers to turn into the net.

Despite Murdoch’s improved play, Fremantle sealed the points with 33 minutes on the clock. A centimetre perfect long ball fell into the path of Jamie-Lee Gale who took a touch and smashed across Todd and in.

Fremantle were back to winning ways after taking one point from their previous two games. Whilst MUM’s new look team went down to defeat, there were positive signs that once they gel, there are some very dangerous players in their squad.

Balcatta Goal Celebration - Image credit to Fotoenzo

Balcatta Etna 4-1 Curtin University

Balcatta Etna got their league campaign on the road with a dominant 4-1 win over Curtin University in a dramatic match at Grindleford Reserve.

The Night Series runners-up went into the game winless and goalless, but they were on top from early on. Cass Harvey, Carys Davis, Monique Prinsloo and Tayna Campos all hugely influential. However, despite all the pressure, they could not turn it into a scoreboard lead at the break.

Curtin, also winless, made Balcatta pay and took the lead in some style with 59 minutes played. Sub Taylor Reid, always a dangerous player, put in a cross from the left for Sophie Preston at the back post. Preston played a ball back for Danielle Suckling who hit a glorious shot into the top corner.

Curtin University Goal - Image credit Fotoenzo

However, this was the start of a thrilling period of four goals in ten minutes. 

Just moments later, Balcatta were level. Georgia Cawley combined with Harvey who found Prinsloo. The home striker rounded Stacey Cavill in the Curtin goal to level the scores and claim her team’s first goal of the season.

There was no stopping Balcatta Etna now. Two minutes later, Cawley’s free-kick from the left bounced in the box for Monique D’Opera to place the ball under Cavill and in.

With 69 minutes played, it was 3-1. Substitute Mia Yeo was producing an outstanding performance on the left. She beat Bolton Yangi and then Suria Varatharaja and played a low cross in for Prinsloo to turn home at the near post.

The fourth came in stoppage time at the end of 90 minutes. Tahlia D’Opera’s throw came in high to the box. Emily Englebert hit the ball which went in off Yeo to seal the three points.

Monique D'Opera goal celebration - Image credit Fotoenzo

Subiaco 2-0 Hyundai NTC

Subiaco earned the points with a 2-0 win over Hyundai NTC but there were eyebrows raised about Subi’s second goal.

The hosts went ahead on 26 minutes when Frankie Murray lifted a high free-kick straight in from 25 yards on the left.

The second goal which came seven minutes into the second half, can best be described as unfortunate and worst as unfair. Subiaco won possession and advanced forward with Phoenix Brownlie running in on goal.

However, NTC goalkeeper Lilly Bailey was frantically trying to attract the officials’ attention to the fact that there was a stray dog beside her on the goal line. 

Brownlie continued to advance and lifted a shot into the net with the dog still on the goal line near the left hand post. The goal stood, and it was hugely frustrating for NTC for a game to ultimately be decided by such an unnecessary sequence of events. 

Round Six Fixtures: Curtin University v Hyundai NTC, Perth RedStar v Murdoch University Melville, Perth SC v Subiaco, Fremantle City v Balcatta Etna.

The Women's Game thanks Fotoenzo for supplying the pictures. Fotoenzo can be found on twitter at: @_fotoenzo_.