Report by Tommy Doleman

Tanika Lala has made an immediate impact with Hyundai NTC. Photo by JASP Photography

Hyundai NTC will aim to keep their hopes of reaching a first NPLWA - Women’s Top Four Cup series alive when they host Perth Soccer Club at E&D Litis Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

In a tightly bunched fight for fourth place, Balcatta Etna, Murdoch University Melville and NTC are split by two points going into the final seven weeks of the regular season.

With Balcatta and MUM FC meeting on Sunday, it provides the youngsters with an opportunity to apply pressure on the sides above.

Ben Anderton’s team have already beaten the Azzurri home and away in the league this season, and leading scorer Tanika Lala says they will need to be wary of Perth’s desire for revenge.

“Perth’s going to want it a lot (on Sunday), given they’ve lost against us twice so far this season. It’s going to be a hard game, but an interesting game because we’re both quality teams who like to pass and attack,” she said.

“We just have to keep being brave on the ball and push hard for the whole game. We’re obviously focused on developing as players at NTC, but we do want to make that top four and experience those extra games in finals, which would be great.”

Lala believes NTC can take a lot from their display last week against Perth RedStar, where they pushed the runaway leaders all the way before going down 3-1.

“For us to be in the game until late on was good against a strong RedStar team, particularly after a 5-1 loss (in their last meeting). We played well as a team and worked hard on our set-pieces after they had let us down last time,” she said.

“I think it’s a mindset thing for us when we come up against the top teams and knowing we really need to put it in against them. But we need to be consistent in having that every week against the other teams too.”

Lala, who joined NTC this season, is proudly flying the flag for the Goldfields region. The South-African born forward moved to Kalgoorlie when she was two years old and discovered a love for the game while playing throughout her school years.

Having asked her father if she could join a local team, Lala played for South Kalgoorlie Junior Soccer club up until U15 level, before a couple of years at Kalgoorlie College, and then moving to Perth to play with NTC in the NPLW competition.

“I was so stoked to make it into NTC with the reputation it has and the players who have played there. All of the girls have been so friendly since I’ve joined and I’ve really enjoyed it,” Lala said.

“Being the first player from Goldfields to make it was really exciting. It’s good because hopefully it lets some of the other girls in Kalgoorlie know they can do these things as well, and just because we’re from a small town doesn’t mean we’re closed off from having these opportunities as well.

“It’s great to open up that gate for the Goldfields. For me, Kalgoorlie really has been the stepping stone in finding my passion for football and I really owe it to all my coaches that have pushed me over the years. The support I received from the community there really motivates me to keep improving and to see how far I can go.

“There’s plenty of talented players in the Goldfields. One of my team mates from last year at Kalgoorlie College is Jess Flannery, who is currently playing with Perth SC’s U21s. She’s one of many who are capable of coming to Perth to learn and improve.”

Lala has adjusted well to the NPLWA – Women’s competition with nine league goals already in her maiden season, trailing only Larissa Walsh and Sarah Carroll in the goalscoring charts.

With plenty of time left in the season, Lala hopes to continue working hard on evolving her game, where she’s learning a slightly different role on the pitch.

“I definitely didn’t expect to be up there with those types of goalscorers coming from Kalgoorlie. I really just wanted to keep developing further both physically and technically,” she said.

“I’ve always been a midfielder but it’s been a really good challenge this season to try and be more of a goalscorer. Being versatile, being a striker, is something really different but I’m enjoying playing in that false nine position which allows me to drop in and provide assists for the team, too.

“Game awareness is something I’ve worked on here. There’s a lot less time on the ball and if you’re not checking your shoulder the ball will be taken off you very quickly. Coming up against the likes of Tash Rigby and Kim Carroll is such a challenge because they’re quality players who have achieved so much and are well known from Perth Glory and the Matildas.

“They’re hard to play against but it’s exciting because they help you develop your game, too. You just have to keep adjusting, learn what you need to do different next time, and keep taking it all on board to improve.”

Elsewhere on Sunday, fourth-placed Balcatta meet fifth-placed MUM FC.

Steve Atkins’ Balcatta will hope to rebound after three straight losses to the top three sides, which was compounded by Wednesday’s Hyundai Women’s State Cup semi-final defeat to Perth SC, following a thrilling penalty shootout. MUM FC, meanwhile, have recorded back-to-back wins over Perth and Subiaco to put themselves right back in the mix.

Sunday’s other game sees Subiaco host Fremantle, who aim to maintain their stranglehold on second place and a double chance in September’s Top Four Cup. Subiaco created plenty of chances in defeat to MUM FC last week, though, while they were undone by three goals in the final eight minutes in the side’s last meeting.

Curtin’s home fixture with Perth RedStar has been postponed, but the pair did meet in Tuesday’s other State Cup semi-final. Two goals from Carla Bennett helped RedStar to a 4-0 win as they advanced to the 24 July final against Perth SC at Inglewood Stadium.

- All games will be live streamed on NPL.TV. Sign up for FREE here: https://npl.tv/

Round 16 fixtures

Sunday (3pm unless stated): Balcatta Etna v MUM FC, Hyundai NTC v Perth SC, Subiaco v Fremantle City (3.45pm).