Murdoch wrap up title in style
Round-up by Tommy Doleman
MUM FC are the maiden NPLWA Women's champions. Photo by FotoEnzo
Murdoch University Melville wrapped up the inaugural women's NPLWA Women’s title on Sunday afternoon after they defeated the Hyundai NTC 3-1 in Sunday’s early kick-off at Celebration Park.
The win, coupled with Perth Soccer Club's defeat at Northern Redbacks a few hours later, means MUM FC sit six points clear at the summit ahead of their final league game with Fremantle City next weekend.
Meanwhile, Sunday’s result has left NTC in danger of losing the final Top Four Cup spot. They are level on points with fifth-place Redbacks and just three goals better off. NTC are at home to Perth next week, with Redbacks away to Curtin.
All of which is incidental to MUM FC, who put NTC away with three goals in a devastating six-minute spell late in the first half.
Initially chances came at both ends, Murdoch’s Jaymee Gibbons and Abbey Green for NTC forcing the opposition goalkeepers into saves. But MUM FC showed their ruthless streak as half-time approached and that proved decisive.
First, Katarina Jukic charged down the right and pulled back for Thalia Organ to score her third goal of the campaign on 37 minutes. Sadie Lawrence then netted for the second consecutive game as she beat an advancing Miranda Templeman to the ball to poke home.
And to complete the blitz, Golden Boot leader Jukic added a third when she capitalised on an error at the back to bag goal number 15 of an impressive campaign.
NTC tried to reduce the arrears after the break. Hana Lowry's free-kick slammed into the wall while Leticia McKenna's effort flew wide of Danielle Cornish's goal.
The visitors seemed content with their three-goal cushion, but NTC briefly breathed life into the contest when Jaspa Cargill-Fletcher netted with a low drive from the edge of the area.
No further scoring occurred in the final 10 minutes as Murdoch University Melville won for the 10th time in 13 games and will now look forward to celebrating the league title in front of their fans on Friday night.
Report by Louis Granich
With Murdoch University Melville having already won, Perth SC needed three points away to Northern Redbacks to keep their rivals waiting another week before completing their title formalities.
Instead, the Azzurri were well beaten 3-0 by an impressive Redbacks side chasing a place in the Top Four Cup.
Two excellent Sarah Carrol goals and Carla Bennett’s second-half strike ended Perth SC’s nominal championship ambitions and put Redbacks level on points with fourth-place NTC.
After hearing of Murdoch’s win earlier in the day, Perth could have been forgiven for a slow start. Instead, the away side dominated possession for the first half-hour. Danielle Brogan’s side maintained control and skipper Jamie Duncanson looked a dangerous outlet on the right wing.
Despite barely threatening in the first half, Northern Redbacks took a surprising lead when Sarah Carrol opened the scoring with a beautiful left-footed strike. Janelle St Pierre clipped a ball towards Carrol, who cut inside the 18-yard box and curled home the opener in the 39th minute.
Not resting on her laurels, Carroll scored her second of the afternoon four minutes later. Kim Carrol’s long ball was brilliantly brought down by her namesake, who made no mistake once she was clear of the Perth defence.
After the interval Northern Redbacks made it three and Kim Carrol was the architect once again. Her long ball wasn’t dealt with and Carla Bennett flicked the ball up and cleverly lobbed a shot into the nearest corner to extend the hosts lead.
Perth, who would have been scratching their heads after finding themselves three goals down, started to put pressure back on Redbacks. Midfielder Abbey Meakins’ well-struck shot from outside the penalty area rattled the crossbar, but the ball was eventually cleared.
More than content to play on the break, Emma McMurdo nearly set up a fourth for the hosts. Her incisive ball put Larissa Walsh through on goal, but Rebecca Bennett tipped her shot around the post.
Perth continued to push forward but could not quite find their feet in front of goal.
Fremantle City all but locked away their position in the Top Four Cup with a 3-1 win over Balcatta at Wauhop Park.
The hosts sit three points and goal difference clear of the NTC and Redbacks ahead of the final day and may yet qualify for a home final if they can defeat leaders MUM FC and Perth drop points.
The Night Series winners are finding form at the right time, with three wins in four going in to Sunday’s game. They started well when Mikayla Lyons' shot was deflected behind for a corner, before Annabelle Leek headed over from close range.
It was one-way traffic in the first half as Lyons hit the post from 18 yards before Fremantle's skipper and Laura Waltman both forced Gabby Dal Busco into good saves.
Balcatta, who are now out of the running for the top four, were fortunate to go into the break at 0-0. But they came out with more intent after the restart with an early corner which neither Angelique Alberts nor Epril Nossent could scramble home. Their hopes were short-lived, however, as the hosts went up the other end and scored twice within a minute.
Jamie-Lee Gale slipped in Leek with a nice pass and the forward slotted calmly past Dal Busco, before Lyons made it 2-0 barely 60 seconds later when she found herself through on goal.
Lyons had the ball in the net again moments before the hour mark, only to be flagged for offside, while at the other Caitlin Doeglas shot straight at Dayle Schroeder after racing clear of the defence.
Clear-cut openings for Balcatta were infrequent but they pulled one back with five minutes to play when Doeglas teed up Ashleigh Panaia, who found the top corner brilliantly from range.
But any hopes of late drama were extinguished late on when Lyons scored her eighth of the campaign, as City loom large as a serious threat for silverware in the post-season.
Curtin University can take plenty of encouragement into the 2021 season after they won a third straight game with a 2-0 win over Subiaco at Rosalie Park.
The warning signs were there for the home side early as Abena Selormey forced Annaleisha Pickering into two saves.
Subiaco had their moments in the early stages as Amelia Andrew tried her luck from range twice with the latter of her efforts straight at Stacey Cavill.
But the hosts would face an uphill battle when skipper Jennifer Walsh was sent off for a second yellow card after quarter of an hour.
Five minutes later the visitors took the lead when Nina Boorman's nicely weighted pass was gathered by Jess Darmago, who raced clear and scored for a second straight week.
Pickering was doing her best to keep Subiaco in the game with a superb low save from Penelope Clayton's drive, before Selormey trickled another effort wide of the mark.
Erin Marstrand's effort went over the bar early in the second half for Subiaco, while at the other end Darmago almost doubled her tally when she tested the goalkeeper from a tight angle.
Curtin did get their second goal though and it came in fortunate fashion as Tayna Campos' corner was headed up and somehow into her own net by Keziah Burgis.
Darmago was excellent throughout and nearly added a third late on, but it mattered little as Curtin's excellent end to the season continued.
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