Football West News

MUM FC head coach Peter Rakic. Photo by FotoEnzo

Murdoch University Melville are making no bones about their intention when they get the NPLWA Women’s Round 11 under way on Friday – goals, goals and more goals.

MUM FC’s 1-0 loss to Perth SC last week left the two teams level on 22 points.

MUM FC retained top spot due to their superior goal difference – they are eight goals better off than Perth and, with only four rounds to play, it is not improbable the destiny of the title could be decided in this fashion.

Which is why head coach Peter Rakic will instruct his players to fill their boots against bottom of the table Subiaco.

“This is a good game for us to have after last week, especially for our front three,” he said. “I’m hoping we can have a resounding win and increase our goal difference even more. This game is a chance for us to boost our morale.”

Rakic’s confidence of a big win is easy to understand, especially as the game will be played on their true, synthetic surface.

Subiaco have collected just two points from 10 matches and losses of 11-0 to Balcatta and 9-1 to Hyundai NTC have contributed to a goal difference of -45. They have not been helped by the injury suffered by first-choice keeper and captain Marissa Pidgeon early on in the Round Seven drubbing by Balcatta.

None of which will concern Murdoch, who were jolted by the loss to Perth.

“Last week’s result halted our momentum going in to the back end of the season,” Rakic said.

“It showed us we need to bring our A-game every week. We didn’t do enough in the final third. We didn’t play bad but it wasn’t our most relentless game – we’ve been a lot more aggressive in other fixtures.

“After Perth got their penalty we became more frustrated. We tried to force it and that made it tough to get back in the game.”

With so few matches left in the season, it is hard to look beyond MUM FC and Perth for the championship. But Rakic refused to completely rule out third-place Fremantle City, who are six points behind.

“The most obvious ones are us and Perth as we are neck and neck, but Fremantle have come through. I won’t take my eye off them,” he said.

Rakic said his squad have a near clean bill of health going in to Friday’s clash.

He said: “We are just missing Poppie Hooks, who has an ankle injury. It’s unfortunate as she’s has been providing a lot of pace and energy at full-back. But we have Rosie (Lehane) who has come in and done an exceptional job, just as she did in the Night Series before she was injured.”

Should MUM FC do as expected against Subiaco, the pressure will go back on Perth SC to match their rivals’ result when they wrap up the round against Balcatta at Dorrien Gardens on Sunday afternoon.

If Fremantle are to justify Rakic’s opinion that they are still in the title frame then they cannot afford a slip-up away at Curtin University.

The other game is between Northern Redbacks and NTC, a match which will have a bearing on who makes the Top Four Cup.

ROUND 11 FIXTURES