Report by Tommy Doleman

Shawn Billam and her Redbacks teammates lifted the Top Four Cup last season, a success whe hopes will stand them in good stead against MUM FC on Friday

The NPLWA – Women’s Round Seven begins on Friday with leaders Northern Redbacks putting the last unbeaten start on the line at second-place Murdoch University Melville.

Champions MUM FC completed a league double over their opponents in 2020, before Redbacks got their revenge with a Top Four Cup semi-final penalty shootout win at Murdoch.

Redbacks went on to win the final, also on penalties against Fremantle City, and skipper Shawn Billam reflected on an excellent weekend for the club which she hopes will hold them in good stead for the weekend.

“That was one of the toughest weeks we’ve had because they were big challenging games,” the former Perth Glory midfielder said.

“It’s a bit of a double-edge sword. When you beat a team in a final at their home ground, it’s a momentous occasion which gives us confidence. But playing them again at their ground with the points up for grabs, they’ll want to make sure they don’t lose again.

“So we’re expecting them to play harder and for it to be a tougher game. We have a lot of excellent players who have played W-League and so do Murdoch, and for any of us playing we want to be in these big games and big moments.

“When we play against MUM FC, it’s always a fight that we have to be up and about for, and I know the girls are really looking forward to it. We’re top at the moment and we want to stay there, so we have to prove we’re capable of doing that on Friday.”

Billam picked up an ankle injury in Round One and was one of several Redbacks stars who were unavailable earlier in the season. Kim and Sarah Carroll were still on W-League duty while the likes of Carla Bennett and Lauren Continibali have also missed games.

But despite those absences they have emerged from their first five games unbeaten and with a one-point lead over a MUM FC side who have won their past four games. Billam puts that down to a strong mindset within the club which has rubbed off on the younger players who have come into the team.

“The girls played so well to come out of that (Round One) game (against Hyundai NTC) with a point. They’ve managed to hold things together, and I think we’ve become stronger and stronger since,” she said.

“It’s a testament to the young girls coming through who have stepped in and the more experienced girls who have stepped up and shown leadership, so I’ve been really proud.

“I feel we were perhaps underestimated a little bit coming into the season and now people have come around to the fact we’re unbeaten, top of the league and have players still to come back.

“We’re seeing games out and scoring goals, so we’re really in the mindset of pushing for the whole 90 minutes. We’ve really got that mongrel inside of us where we keep fighting, so hopefully we can keep that up and continue to do really well this year.”

Redbacks’ revival in the league has not gone unnoticed either at MUM FC and skipper Katie Schubert is hoping last season’s league winners can leapfrog their opponents in the standings.

“There’s lot of motivation to get back to the top of the table. The defeat in Round One (to Fremantle) put us in our place a little and we’ve focused on where we’re heading as a team since then,” she said.

“Getting back to the top is where we want to be, even though it’s still a long season ahead. We’re excited to see where we currently stand in what’s always a tough game, and to see how we’re progressing.

“These types of games are what we play for. There’s high-quality players across the board in both teams so it’ll be a battle and an excellent game, but also an exciting challenge.”

Elsewhere on Friday night, two out-of-form sides meet at Wauhop Park when Fremantle take on Balcatta. City remain third despite losing their previous two games to Perth and Redbacks, while Balcatta will aim to collect their first points since back-to-back wins in Rounds One and Two.

On Saturday, Curtin University host an NTC side looking to win a third straight game in May, while on Sunday the round finishes with Perth SC looking to continue their recent resurgence against Subiaco at Dorrien Gardens.

Fixtures

NPLWA - Women's Round Seven

Friday 7.30pm

Fremantle City v Balcatta
Murdoch University Melville v Northern Redbacks

Saturday 5pm

Curtin University v Hyundai NTC

Sunday 3pm

Perth SC v Subiaco