Red-hot Walsh insists more to come

Report by Tommy Doleman

Larissa Walsh has been ins ensational form this year. Photo by Football West/FotoEnzo

Round 11 of the NPLWA - Women’s season passes the halfway mark this week with Perth RedStar out to continue their sensational start to 2022.

Carlos Vega Mena’s side head to Subiaco on Sunday having won their opening nine matches. Last Sunday’s 3-1 win at closest rivals Fremantle City put them 10 points clear.

It was also another weekend in which Golden Boot frontrunner Larissa Walsh found the net as she brought up her 15th goal of the season and continued a streak of scoring in every league game so far. The forward will look to make it 10 straight at Rosalie Park, but admitted the nature of the run has caught her by surprise.

“In the off-season, I got straight back into training aside from a few weeks off over Christmas and New Year, and set a few goals I wanted to achieve,” she said.

“I’m on track to make some of them, which is good, but I didn’t expect to score this many goals by this point. I must admit it's a bit of a shock.

“I’ve got to keep telling myself that, because I know there’s a game that’s going to come where I don’t score and it’s bound to happen, so I’ve got to make sure it doesn’t get me down considering how well it’s gone so far.”

Walsh was also quick to acknowledge that her goal tally is a byproduct of the fine form and hard work shown by her team-mates.

“The goals just go to show that things are working well within the team. A lot of them are a result of passing play from goalkeeper, to defence, to midfield and attack. We know as players where we want the ball and also when to slow things down and speed it up,” she added.

“I think it’s what makes these goals extra special in terms of how good our build-up has been, and it’s not just fallen in the right spot luckily.

“Sometimes that may happen of course, but most of the time it’s been a full team effort. And when the team does put together a nice move and a goal goes in, it lifts the spirits because it means you’re all believing in what you’re doing.

“I keep trying to improve and keep trying to work on my list of goals. Scoring was one of them, as were little things like confidence in certain aspects of my game. I also like sitting at home, watching the (NPLWA – Women’s) games, and seeing who’s up and coming, how other teams have been playing and if I can take anything into my game when I come up against them.

“I’ve just always loved football, so when I go out on the field it’s quite easy for me to forget about title races, Golden Boots and so on, and it’s more about what I can do to help my team win games.”

Despite her incredible season so far, Walsh admitted there was one individual target she would still like to tick off.

“I also want to score a header! It’s one of my fun goals I have, because if I do then one of my mates has to buy me lunch,” she said.

“It’s obviously something I want to try and do this season and hopefully it’s a good one, but more importantly one which helps me and my team-mates win a game.”

A double-figure lead at the top of the table means RedStar could be forgiven for wanting to manage their season, with a view to emulating Murdoch University Melville in winning a league, State Cup and Top Four Cup treble. They have already taken out the Night Series when under the Northern Redbacks name.

But Walsh says that is far from the case.

“The main thing Carlos reiterates to us is that we can’t be complacent, and that just because we’re top doesn’t mean we can start taking games easy,” she said.

“We want to make a statement that this is what we want to be as a club, and this is also the standard we want other teams in the league to strive for. We see sometimes that teams play the bottom sides, rest players or take it easy, but we want to keep our momentum going of being a strong team, and we don’t want to lose that cohesion we’ve built by changing players unnecessarily.

“There’s always something to improve and work on. We’re never perfect and that’s something which also drives us.

“We also know we are now the team everyone wants to try and beat, which is a big motivator for the girls. Shawn (Billam) in particular is a great captain, who is good at motivating and firing us up in a good way, to make sure we stay on the same wavelength and don’t let those standards slip.”

If RedStar do falter at Rosalie Park, then it could offer a glimmer of hope for Fremantle and Perth SC. They meet at Dorrien Gardens on Sunday with a win vital to both if they are to keep have a chance of mounting a challenge.

The Azzurri missed a chance to make ground in Tuesday’s goalless draw at MUM FC, while City will aim to bounce back from last week’s loss to RedStar knowing their only two league defeats have come to the leaders.

At Grindleford Reserve, there is a key game in the race for the top four when Balcatta host Hyundai NTC.

The visitors side have won back-to-back games to sit two points clear of Steve Atkins’ fifth-placed side, having played a game more. The two sides met last night in the Women’s State Cup with Balcatta advancing to the last eight with a 3-0 win. Monique Godding, Emily Englebert and Georgia Cawley got the goals.

The first match of the weekend is tomorrow when Curtin travel to the Besteam Stadium in pursuit of a first win of the season while hosts MUM FC need points to stay in the finals picture.

- Larissa Walsh was among the goals in the Women’s State Cup last night, scoring the fifth in Perth RedStar’s 5-0 win over State League side UWA Nedlands. Olivia Wood, Sarah Carroll, Rene Leota and Kim Carroll got the others.

Round 11 fixtures

Friday (7.30pm): MUM FC v Curtin University. Sunday (3pm unless stated): Perth SC v Fremantle City, Balcatta Etna v Hyundai NTC, Subiaco v Perth RedStar (3.45pm)




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