Report by Tommy Doleman

Larissa Walsh (No.3) pus RedStar in front at Hilton Park. Photo by FotoEnzo

Perth RedStar took another giant stride towards this season’s NPLWA - Women’s title after a 3-1 win at nearest rivals Fremantle City gave them a 10-point advantage at the top of the table.

The victory extended the 100% start to the season for Carlos Vega Mena’s side, while Fremantle’s loss was just their second in the league, both of which have been to the leaders.

And it would not be a RedStar win without Larissa Walsh getting on the score sheet. The striker made it 1-0 in the first half to continue her streak of scoring in every game, slotting home Sarah Carroll’s through ball.

The visitors doubled their lead after an hour when Carroll broke down the right and her low cross was turned into her own net by an unfortunate Janice Kiama.

City did have a little spell as they tried to find a route back into the game with Jamie-Lee Gale’s goalbound strike tipped over by Shivani Battaglia.

Garry Church’s side did half the deficit with 18 minutes remaining as substitute Katarina Jukic followed in to score at the second attempt.

However, RedStar skipper Shawn Billam made sure any hope of a comeback was extinguished with four minutes left as she lashed high into the net after Freo failed to clear a set-piece.

Sunday’s other fixture saw Balcatta boost their top-four hopes with a 2-0 home win over Subiaco.

The hosts got off to a perfect start after two minutes when Emily Englebert fed a pass across for Monique Prinsloo to sidefoot home.

Englebert and Lauren Continibali then had shots saved by Zara Board, while at the other end Gabby Dal Busco denied Phoenix Brownlie and Chelsie Winchcombe as Subi got a run on late in the half.

Dal Busco would go on to keep back-to-back clean sheets after saving from Brownlie again early in the second half. And Balcatta eventually scored a second goal as Elizabeth Doust rose highest to head in her first of the season from Alanah Veroni’s short-corner routine.

Balcatta now trail fourth-placed Hyundai NTC by two points after the youngsters completed back-to-back wins of their own on Friday with a 2-1 win at MUM FC.

Abbey Woolley opened her account for the year for NTC on six minutes when she collected Tanika Lala’s perfectly weighted pass and shot across Monique Todd into the corner.

Grace Betti equalised after quarter-of-an-hour as she lifted an effort over Lily Bailey to score for the first time since returning to MUM FC, having netted double figures for the defending champions last year.

But it was NTC who took the points thanks to Georgia Cassidy’s penalty following a foul on Grace Johnston, with Bailey being required to prevent Betti from netting a second equaliser later on.

Also on Friday, Perth Soccer Club won 3-0 away at Curtin University to close the gap on second-place Fremantle to one point.

Rebecca Bennett had been called upon to save from Bolton Yangi before the Azzurri did find the opener on 21 minutes. Abbey Meakins’ superb pass was collected by Jaime Duncanson, who kept her nerve to round Stacey Cavill for her fifth of the season.

Duncanson then supplied the second as Zoee Spadano met her corner at the near post to lift first-time into the back of the net.

Dakota Van-Vugt came off the bench to force Bennett into a low save on 67 minutes, but Perth eventually found a third towards the end and it came in spectacular fashion with Emma McMurdo slamming home from long range via the inside of the post.

Round 10 results: Balcatta 2 Subiaco 0, Curtin University 0 Perth SC 3, Fremantle City 1 Perth RedStar 3, MUM FC 1 Hyundai NTC 2.