Report by Tommy Doleman

Northern Redbacks are again three points clear of second-place MUM FC. Photo by FotoEnzo

Jacinta Coleman's 65th minute goal ensured Northern Redbacks defeated Subiaco 2-1 and finished Round 11 back on top of the Women's NPL.

Coleman's third goal of the season saw Redbacks again move three points clear of Murdoch University Melville, who had taken over the lead on goal difference with their 5-0 win over Balcatta on Friday night.

Redbacks had to work hard for Sunday’s win in wet conditions at Celebration Park.

Kim Carroll was denied the opener inside two minutes with Marissa Pidgeon equal to her free-kick before the goalkeeper got down well to deny Jayna Ridley soon after.

Laura Hunt's free-kick nearly caught out Maya Diederichsen but Redbacks looked more dangerous and took the lead on the half-hour mark. Shawn Billam headed on a ball forward and Larissa Walsh lifted over Pidgeon to move second in the Golden Boot race with her seventh goal in 2021.

Walsh brought another good save from Pidgeon, but Subi pulled level just before half time as Keziah Burgis' cross was headed in by Anna-Lena Dymowski, who scored for the second time in three games.

Dymowski fired wide of the post shortly after the restart as the visitors took confidence from that goal. However, as the rain tumbled down the leaders gradually regained control and went ahead again midway through the second period.

Carla Bennett stood up a corner to the back post and Coleman drifted in to plant a header between the post and a Subiaco defender on the line.

That proved the game's decisive moment as Redbacks held Subi at bay for the remainder, and Coleman may have added a third when shooting at Pidgeon.

On Friday, MUM FC had temporarily moved to the summit after their big win over Balcatta at Wormall Civil Stadium.

Grace Betti and Jaymee Gibbons hit the bar in the first 20 minutes and the hosts’ strong start led to an opener, as Ellie LaMonte registered her first for the season with a curler over Gabby Dal Busco.

Balcatta's best chance of the half came when Cass Harvey's strike zipped wide of the post, but the defending champions showed their ruthless streak against Balcatta for the second time this season, following a 6-0 win at Grindleford Reserve in Round Four.

Betti calmly converted Thalia Organ's cross eight minutes after the break before LaMonte bagged her second for the night after capitalising on a fumble from the usually reliable Dal Busco.

Late gloss was then added to the score line by Tia Stonehill, who headed in Betti's cross for 4-0 before another late strike made it five as she moved up to six goals for the season.

Elsewhere, four goals from Mikayla Lyons helped Fremantle City surge up to third place following a 7-0 win over Curtin University at Wauhop Park.

City's skipper got them off to a flyer inside four minutes with her opener in off the post, before Stacey Cavill's wonderful reaction stop to prevent an early second when Waltman's cross was diverted toward her goal.

Dayle Schroeder was alert to deny Laikha MacWilson, but Fremantle looked the more cohesive unit throughout and doubled the lead when Lyons hammered a volley into the top corner.

Waltman's low drive skipped under the goalkeeper to make it three, then Ella Hoy bagged her first senior NPL goal to make it 4-0 at the break when she followed in another Lyons effort.

Hoy has scored seven goals to lead the goalscoring charts at U23 level in 2021 and she found the bottom corner after the restart to complete her brace.

It was proving a tough evening for the visitors, who announced earlier in the day on their website that Domenico Gangemi would be replacing Morrison Deane as head coach from this coming week.

But for Fremantle, goal difference could prove key with the Top Four Cup race heating up and they boosted that column further with two more Lyons strikes.

She volleyed into an open net after Waltman stood up an inviting cross and then completed her quartet with a cool one-on-one finish for her sixth of the season.

The final game between Hyundai NTC and Perth SC, scheduled for Sunday, was postponed.

Results

Fremantle City 7-0 Curtin University
Hyundai NTC P-P Perth SC
Murdoch University Melville 5-0 Balcatta
Northern Redbacks 2-1 Subiaco