Report by Tommy Doleman

MUM FC head coach Luke Thompson. 

A few questions remain ahead of this weekend’s final round of the NPLWA - Women’s competition …

• will Hyundai NTC or Murdoch University Melville take the final Top Four Cup place?
• are champions Perth RedStar going to complete an unbeaten season?
• can Curtin University finally celebrate a league win in 2022?

MUM FC had held fourth spot since Round 17 following their 2-0 win over NTC, where they were in the midst of a five wins in six games run. But back-to-back losses against Fremantle City and RedStar have seen them lose their spot to Ben Anderton’s NTC team.

Luke Thompson’s side must win on Friday night at home to Perth SC, while hoping for NTC to drop points later on Sunday against Fremantle.

It will be a tough task with the Azzurri more or less securing second place and a finals double chance, following a six-game unbeaten run. But two-time champions MUM remain hopeful of a third successive Top Four Cup appearance given they are unbeaten against Perth in 2022.

“We’ve been through a lot this season and I know all the other teams have as well, but I feel hit after hit has just kept coming our way,” Thompson said.

“So the girls are really excited to be in with a shout, they’re really looking forward to the game and hopefully we can give a good account of ourselves.

“We know how strong Perth is, but we have been able to get some points off them this season with a win and a draw so far. So that will give us confidence to go and get a result.

“We always go into every game with a plan in place in terms of what we want to do, but it will come down to who wins their individual battles on the day. I quite like that we’re playing first because sometimes playing second, knowing what you need to do, can have that added pressure.

“Then it’s out of our hands. If we get a good result and NTC get a result as well, so be it, they will deserve to be there.”

NTC are the current holders of fourth spot after last Friday’s 3-1 win over bottom side Curtin moved them back into the finals places for the first time since July 29. They have a two-point cushion over MUM FC and will know what they are required to do by the time Sunday’s game with Fremantle arrives.

The youngsters are looking to make the post-season for their first time in the NPL era, having finished fifth in each of the previous two years since the competition’s inception. It would be a great accomplishment according to assistant coach Fernando Barreiro, who emphasised the importance of finishing their campaign on a high, regardless of events elsewhere.

“For the girls to get where they are now is such an achievement in itself. It’s a credit to their application at training and believing in what Ben and I want them to achieve. We are very proud of them,” Barreiro said.

“We’ll obviously keep an eye on MUM FC versus Perth on Friday, but at the same time we can only worry about ourselves and what we can control. And that’s our performance and how we go about our business. We want them to be fully focused on Sunday’s game against Fremantle.

“When the girls move on from the program eventually, they will all go on different journeys whether it’s A-League Women’s, Glory, or even Matildas, but every game when you represent those teams is like a final they want to win. So, it’s a great experience for our girls to be able to play in these types of games.”

Elsewhere, champions RedStar end their stellar league campaign on Sunday afternoon when they face Balcatta at Grindleford Reserve.

RedStar’s rampant form in front of goal continued on Tuesday night with a 7-0 win at Curtin University to make it 18 wins from 20 matches. Larissa Walsh moved to 21 league goals for the season with a hat-trick in the Round 16 catch-up match, while Carla Bennett also bagged a treble and Renee Leota netted the other.

Should they avoid defeat at the weekend, Carlos Vega Mena’s side will become the first side in the NPL era to go through a season undefeated. It would add to the list of accolades achieved by RedStar in 2022 following Night Series, State Cup and NPLW trophies, while they continue to build momentum towards the Top Four Cup.

Balcatta would only be the second side to take points off RedStar in the league this season, should they avoid defeat. A fourth defeat in five games last weekend at Fremantle extinguished Etna’s hopes of extending their season into September.

The final game of the regular season sees Subiaco host Curtin University at Rosalie Park. Greg Farrell’s much-improved Subi side will be trying to end a year of progress on a high, while the visitors aim to avoid a winless campaign.

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Round 21 fixtures

Friday (7.30pm):MUM FC v Perth SC.

Sunday (3pm unless stated): Hyundai NTC v Fremantle, Balcatta Etna v Perth RedStar, Subiaco v Curtin University (3.45pm)