Report by Tommy Doleman

Abbey Meakins volleys home Perth SC's winner against Balcatta. Photo by Rob Lizzi

Perth RedStar’s rampant NPLWA - Women’s campaign continued on Sunday with a 3-1 win over Hyundai NTC which gave them a 14th straight win to maintain their 100% record in season 2022.

Carlos Vega Mena’s side are now two wins away from sealing a maiden NPLW title, while the visitors remain in finals reach despite defeat.

Kim Carroll scored the first with a direct free-kick from the left which opened her account for the season, and it could have got worse for NTC had Lily Bailey not saved twice from Olivia Wood.

Instead, the visitors hit back. First Anna Powell saw her centre hit the top of the crossbar, before Tanika Lala’s cross struck Andreia Teixeira’s arm for a penalty. Georgia Cassidy took the responsibility and she planted her spot-kick high into the corner to record only the sixth goal against RedStar this season and tie the scores at 1-1.

But RedStar showed why they are champions in waiting and they responded four minutes later via a Wilma Thodlana own goal after good work from Larissa Walsh.

Bailey made several good saves in the second half to keep NTC alive, but once Cassidy collected a second yellow card their chances of a win were reduced. Three more points for RedStar were confirmed when Walsh rolled across for Jayna Ridley to put the finishing touch on win number 14.

On Saturday, Abbey Meakins’ early volley gave Perth SC a 1-0 win over Balcatta Etna which strengthened their top-four position.

Pete Rakic’s side are now five points clear of fifth place, while trailing Fremantle City by two points with two games in hand.

Meakins’ sweetly-timed winner came on four minutes, guiding Liana Cook’s cross past Gabby Dal Busco for her sixth goal of the season.

Balcatta’s Cass Harvey was denied by a great challenge from Judy Connolly soon after, and then as the rain tumbled down Meakins sliced just wide then shot at Dal Busco from a free-kick.

Dal Busco was being kept busy as she saved from Zoee Spadano and Connolly in the second period. Alanah Veroni’s shot was tipped around the post by Rebecca Bennett with Balcatta’s best chance of an equaliser, but the visitors third straight loss to the top three sides makes their top-four spot vulnerable.

On Friday, a brilliantly taken volley from Mikayla Lyons rescued a late 2-2 draw for Fremantle City and denied Curtin University their first win of the season.

The visitors went ahead against Subiaco last weekend and hit the front on eight minutes when Danielle Suckling’s pass was collected and finished into the bottom corner by Dakota Van-Vugt.

Fremantle thought they were level when Penelope Clayton’s strike thundered off the underside of the bar, but it did not cross the line. The equaliser did arrive on 32 minutes though as Jamie-Lee Gale squared for Lyons to drive high into the net.

But Curtin were unbowed and they retook the lead before half-time when Van-Vugt did well to beat her opponent and pull back for Taylor Reid to fire home.

Van-Vugt shot at Schroeder as Curtin strived to extend their advantage in the second half, before Fremantle rallied in the final 20 minutes as Gabriele Maulga was kept busy in goal.

Curtin’s rearguard held out until the 91st minute when Laura Waltman broke down the left and crossed for Lyons who took a touch and showed terrific technique to level with a stunning volley.

Elsewhere, Murdoch University Melville enhanced their chances of reaching the Top Four Cup with a 2-0 defeat of Subiaco, which closed the gap on Balcatta to one point. The pair meet next Saturday afternoon at Grindleford Reserve.

The home side went ahead when Sophia Neal’s corner wasn’t properly dealt with by Subi’s defence and Poppie Hooks volleyed in her first goal since Round Two.

Toni Walden’s free-kick ricocheted back off the post shortly after as Greg Farrell’s side continued their push for an equaliser, while Marianna Tabain and Phoenix Brownlie had shots blocked. MUM keeper Monique Todd then thwarted Brownlie.

Melissa Shepherd tried her luck early in the second half, but Todd was in the way again, and Subiaco were further frustrated as the home side went up the other end to make it 2-0. Hooks released Neal down the right and her cross was forced over the line at the back post by Andrea Preiato.

Round 15 results: Fremantle City 2-2 Curtin University, MUM FC 2-0 Subiaco, Perth RedStar 3-1 Hyundai NTC, Perth SC 1-0 Balcatta Etna.