Report by Tommy Doleman

Fremantle City celebrate during their win at Balcatta. Photo by Ethan Dugan (@ethandugan_ / Instagram)

Tash Rigby scored the winner five minutes from time as Fremantle City returned to second spot in the NPLWA - Women’s competition with today's 2-1 win at Balcatta Etna.

City had fallen to a late defeat four days ago to the same opposition at Wauhop Park, but came out on top in an entertaining clash to end Balcatta’s six-game winning run in all competitions.

As they did on Wednesday night, Garry Church’s team hit the front in the first half. Katarina Jukic linked up with Jamie-Lee Gale and the latter surged towards goal before finishing past Gabby Dal Busco for a third in as many weeks and an eighth overall this season.

Rigby rattled the bar soon after, while at the other end Tahlia D’Opera’s strike was bound for the top corner before Dayle Schroeder fisted the ball to safety.

The hosts would equalise on 26 minutes after Stephen Knight spotted a handball in the area and Monique Godding scored from the penalty spot for her second goal in a week.

The referee pointed to the spot again early in the second half as the home side were given a chance to complete their comeback. Lauren Continibali stepped up this time, but Schroeder saved twice, with the retake superbly kept out with her foot. Ironically, Fremantle missed a penalty in their loss to Balcatta in midweek.

Etna winger Mia Yeo then put a good chance wide after nice work from Continibali down the right, but as the half wore on Fremantle started to believe the points were on offer for them. They would ultimately take all three home as Rigby ventured forward yet again and lifted her cross-shot over Dal Busco to win it.

City remain 13 points behind leaders Perth RedStar, who won for the 12th straight game on Saturday. Two second half goals gave them a 2-0 win at Murdoch University Melville.

Luke Thompson’s side fought hard at Besteam Stadium but were undone by goals in the final 17 minutes from Renee Leota and Olivia Wood.

The opener came after nice build-up which led to Carla Bennett forcing a good save from Monique Todd, but Leota followed in for her third of the campaign.

Bennett was on corner duties three minutes from the end as Jay Coleman’s firm header cannoned off the bar and dropped for Olivia Wood to finish matters and maintain RedStar’s 100% start.

On Friday, there was a thumping 7-0 win for Hyundai NTC against Curtin University, which would close the gap on fourth-placed Balcatta to three points by the end of the weekend.

Ischia Brooking opened the scoring on nine minutes after good work down the left from Olivia Trueman, but after that it was the Tanika Lala and Anna Powell show as both scored hat-tricks to fight it out for the match ball.

Trueman headed across goal for Powell to nudge a first across the line and she volleyed home from close range to make it 3-0 after 19 minutes.

Lala then struck twice in as many minutes after capitalising on Curtin errors playing out from the back to make it 5-0 at the midway point of the first half.

Powell completed her treble first after Stacey Cavill’s save fortuitously ricocheted off the forward and into the back of the net.

Lala joined her with a hat-trick 10 minutes from time as her penalty brought up nine goals for the campaign and moved her into a share of second spot in the Golden Boot race.

Subiaco’s fixture with Perth SC at Rosalie Park was postponed and will be rescheduled for a later date.

Round 13 results: Balcatta 1-2 Fremantle City, Hyundai NTC 7-0 Curtin University, MUM FC 0-2 Perth RedStar. Postponed: Subiaco v Perth SC.