Report by Tommy Doleman

Abbey Meakins of Perth SC and RedStar's Larissa Walsh battle for the ball. Photo by Rob Lizzi

NPLWA - Women’s champions Perth RedStar advanced directly to the Top Four Cup final after a 1-0 win over Perth SC.

RedStar’s quest to win all the season’s silverware on offer and stay unbeaten in 2022 now comes down to one last match at Dorrien Gardens on Sunday, where they will play the winner of a midweek preliminary final between Perth SC and Hyundai NTC.

Games between RedStar and the Azzurri are generally tight affairs and that was the case again at RedStar Arena on Sunday. In a first half where clearcut chances were at a premium for both teams, RedStar striker Sarah Carroll had a shot blocked while at the other end Liana Cook put a chance just over the bar.

Carroll lifted over the bar from Olivia Wood’s pass early in the second half and the Perth Glory player then brought a flying save from Rebecca Bennett in the Azzurri goal.

The game’s decisive goal came on 57 minutes when Carla Bennett broke from midfield to fire in via the underside of the crossbar with the ball having crossed the line before it spun back into play.

Perth threw one final flourish at the champions, with Faye Phillips’ shot blocked and Caitlin Doeglas’ deflected effort bouncing and spinning over Maya Diederichsen’s crossbar.

Their best chance of all fell to the usually deadly Abbey Meakins, who headed Doeglas’ corner over from six yards.

Perth will now play Hyundai NTC for the chance to meet RedStar next weekend after Ben Anderton’s team won 2-0 away at Fremantle City.

It was Freo who began the brighter and NTC keeper Lily Bailey was forced into a double save from Jess Darmago inside the first four minutes at Wauhop Park.

The youngsters then hit the front midway through the first half when Ischia Brooking’s strike took a wicked deflection off Natarsha Smith and looped into the back of the net.

Back came City and Jamie-Lee Gale’s shot was deflected behind by a retreating Grace Johnston, while after the restart Mikayla Lyons fired over after Tash Rigby had got forward and crossed low into the area.

Tanika Lala was denied by Laura Waltman’s last-ditch challenge as NTC set about wrapping it up. Then with Freo needing a goal to keep their season alive, Gale tried her luck from range with Bailey getting down to save.

Ava Richards was unable to hook home for the visitors from close range as the game became stretched, but it was another NTC defender in Jenna Harnwell who got back and brilliantly positioned herself to clear Kate Nolan’s effort off the line with Bailey beaten.

Eventually, NTC landed a killer blow late in the piece after an exciting second period. The league’s second-top scorer Lala went on a solo run, came inside from the left and scored past Dayle Schroeder to give the visitors the win.

- Hyundai NTC are in with a chance of an U21s league-Top Four Cup double.

The champions beat Perth RedStar 2-0 in their major semi-final to book their spot in Saturday's decider.

RedStar take on Perth SC in the preliminary final on Wednesday after the Azzurri knocked out Balcatta Etna FC 2-1.