Nossent screamer rescues Balcatta
Report by Alex Vlahos
There was no splitting Northern Redbacks and Balcatta at Kingsway Reserve on Sunday. Photo by FotoEnzo
A late Epril Nossent wonder strike secured Balcatta a crucial 1-1 draw with Northern Redbacks in their NPLWA Women’s clash on Sunday.
In front of a large home crowd at Kingsway Reserve, Redbacks opened the scoring on 24 minutes courtesy of a powerful left-footed strike from Sarah Carroll.
Carroll skilfully collected an exceptional lofted through ball from Emma McMurdo before netting her sixth goal of the season from the edge of the 18-yard box.
Redbacks then seemed happy to protect their advantage, continually relying on the assuredness of centre-backs Kim Carroll and Emily Dunn to thwart Balcatta attacks.
As the second half progressed, Balcatta became relentless in their pursuit of an equaliser with wingers Angelique Alberts and Giorgia Alford combining productively with central midfielders Monique Godding and player of the match Caitlin Doeglas.
Despite the visitors' dominance, it took a special strike from Nossent in the 84th minute to break the home side's resistance.
The right-back collected the ball just in front of the halfway line before advancing and unleashing a long-range strike that flew in to the top right-hand corner of the net.
Nossent claimed the point was vital after a disappointing 4-1 loss to Murdoch University Melville last weekend.
“We definitely needed this today,” Nossent said.
“We worked hard and played as a team and it was great to bounce back from last week.”
As for the strike itself, Nossent said finishing has been a focus at training.
“Throughout the whole season we’ve struggled with scoring and finishing so we’ve done plenty of it at training,” she said.
Both teams are well in the hunt for spot in the post Top Four Cup, although this result did neither any good in their bids to catch title favourites Murdoch University Melville.
Fifth-place Balcatta are a full 10 points behind the leaders with five rounds to play, while Redbacks in third are seven points off the pace.
Fremantle City were the big movers in Round Nine after two goals from Isabelle Bridger gave the Night Series winners a 2-0 win away at Hyundai NTC.
On a day where the teams from third to sixth all met and with the top-four race heating up, it was a cagey first half at Celebration Park ignited by Bridger's 43rd minute opener.
The full-back netted the opener from a corner in the March's pre-season final and she rose at the back post in similar fashion to nod past Miranda Templeman for the game's opening goal.
A second followed 12 minutes into the second half when Jamie-Lee Gale's driven corner took a couple of deflections before rebounding off Bridger and into the net.
Taneesha Baker had NTC's first real shot on target midway through the second period when her drive was collected comfortably by Dayle Schroeder.
At the other end, Gale's cross took a slight deflection off Grace Monteiro, which required Templeman to palm over her crossbar.
The home side pushed hard to set up a nervy finish as Monteiro's through ball wasn't quite reeled in by substitute Kate Armstrong, who was through on goal with a better first touch.
No goal was forthcoming, though, as City moved into the top four for the first time since Round Two and exacted revenge on an NTC side who thrashed them 6-1 at Wauhop Park earlier in the season.
Murdoch University Melville maintained their three-point cushion over Perth SC at the summit as they defeated Curtin University 5-2 at the Curtin campus.
MUM FC have been in irresistible form, winning seven of their last eight games since a first round defeat to Balcatta. And they hit the front early when Ellie La Monte's corner found Stacey Learmont with the final touch coming off the unfortunate Jess Paul.
The leaders doubled their advantage on 13 minutes when Katarina Jukic headed in Poppie Hooks' cross for her 10th goal of the season. That moment was marred by Curtin keeper Stacey Cavill being stretched off, having landed awkwardly while competing with Jukic for the aerial ball.
Curtin showed spirit and pulled a goal back midway through the first half as Penelope Clayton's flighted free-kick deceived Danielle Cornish in the MUM FC goal and floated in via the post.
But the visitors’ firepower proved difficult to defend against and Jukic notched No.11 five minutes into first-half added time when she volleyed home.
Rochelle Hondema made a superb save on 65 minutes when she clawed Learmont's flick-on from the goalline, but from the subsequent set-piece Thalia Organ was left unmarked to score for a second consecutive week.
MUM FC's fifth arrived two minutes before the end as Organ's corner was partially cleared and Jaymee Gibbons rifled home her first goal of the season.
Curtin bagged a late consolation as Clayton dribbled nicely down the right and crossed for Nina Boorman to scramble home at the second attempt. But it was MUM FC’s day as they maintained their 100% record on the road.
Jamie Duncanson scored four goals in the individual performance of the day as Perth SC maintained their stranglehold on second place with a 5-0 win at Subiaco.
The Azzurri got off to a flyer at Rosalie Park as Zoe Spadano slipped Duncanson through on goal inside the first 60 seconds and the forward finished with aplomb from close range.
Perth's skipper then doubled her tally in the sixth minute when Liana Cook teed up the striker to fire first time on the turn and into the bottom corner.
Halle Williams nearly scored a superb solo effort as she danced past two defenders from deep before scooping her effort over Rebecca Bennett's crossbar.
That gave the home side belief and Williams nearly pounced moments later as Perth failed to clear a corner with the striker blazing over.
In the second half another set-piece nearly broke the way of Opal-Rae Wright before Bennett intervened, and those misses would prove costly as Perth careered away with the game.
Melissa Shepherd nodded in her first goal of the campaign with an unmarked header, before Duncanson completed her hat-trick minutes later with a goal of the season contender. The former Queens Park and Melville player intercepted a pass coming out of Subiaco's defence near the sideline before whipping a wonderful curling strike over Annaleisha Pickering into the top corner.
There was time for Perth to score a fifth and Duncanson to join Sarah Carroll and Christiane Astorp on the list of players to score four goals in the NPLW WA this season when she volleyed home from the edge of the area.
Comments
Comment Guidelines: The SportsTG Network is made up of players, families and passionate sports followers like you who have a strong opinion about sport. That's great - we want you to have your say and share your thoughts with the world. However, we have a few rules that you must follow to keep it fun for all. Please don't be rude, abusive, swear or vilify others. Apart from some pretty serious sport sanctions, we also can ban you and report you if things get out of hand. So play fair and have fun, and thanks for your contribution.