Report by Max Hayden-Evans

Ellie La Monte, second left, scored a late winner to put MUM FC five points clear. Photo by Rob Lizzi

Ellie La Monte struck the decisive blow five minutes from time as Murdoch University Melville defeated Hyundai NTC 1-0 in an absorbing NPLWA Women’s Round Six encounter on Friday night.

This was touted as a clash between experience and youth and it did not disappoint, with in-form La Monte’s late goal the only thing that could separate the two sides in what was a technical arm-wrestle.

After a tense first half of few chances, both sides would have their opportunities to go in front as the game began to open up after the break.

The first real opening fell to NTC defender Isabella Wallhead, who mistimed a header from a corner when unmarked six yards out.

Then within the space of a minute, both goalkeepers were forced into making excellent one-on-one saves to keep the scoresheets level.

First NTC’s Miranda Templeman pushed over a drive from Katarina Jukic. Then Kate Armstrong robbed Baxter Thew on the halfway line, raced through, but was denied by the feet of MUM FC’s Danelle Cornish.

It looked like neither side would break the deadlock. But five minutes from the end Stacey Learmont laid off a lovely pass in to the path of La Monte. The striker took her shot early from 20 yards, which meant Templeman was unable to move her feet in time to get across and stop the ball going into her bottom right-hand corner.

The result extends MUM FC’s lead at the top to five points before the remainder of the weekend games and sees them stretch their winning run to five matches.

It also ensured head coach Peter Rakic could enjoy getting one over his NTC counterpart Ben Anderton, to whom he was once an assistant.

The defeat was NTC’s first of the season but they can console themselves in knowing they played their part in a high-quality game.

Teams and match details