Redbacks grab Top Four Cup spot
Round-up by Tommy Doleman
Murdoch University Melville skipper Kathryn Schubert and head coach Peter Rakic receive the NPLWA Women's trophy from Football West Chairman Sherif Andrawes. Photo by Football West/FotoEnzo
Northern Redbacks took the final Top Four Cup spot after a lively final league round of the NPLWA Women’s competition.
Redbacks knew three points at in-form Curtin University on Saturday afternoon would leave Hyundai NTC needing a win against Perth SC 24 hours later.
Conrad McKelvie’s side duly delivered, beating Curtin 2-1. And with NTC only drawing 2-2 against the Azzurri, that meant Redbacks booked a Top Four Cup semi-final against league champions Murdoch University Melville this Thursday.
Perth SC face Fremantle City in the other semi on the same night.
It was a good win for Redbacks against a Curtin side coming off three straight wins. The hosts threatened in the first half with two blocked Andrea Preiato shots while Abena Selormey's effort was saved by Morgan Aquino.
At the other, Lauren Continibali was inches from heading home, but the sides went into half-time all square.
The deadlock was eventually broken on 62 minutes when Shawn Billam's pass released Larissa Walsh, who squared for Sarah Carroll to tap in her ninth of the campaign.
Seven minutes later, Larissa Walsh got on the scoresheet for the first time since returning from injury when she capitalised on miscommunication in Curtin's defence to make it 2-0.
The hosts would not give up without a fight and Tayna Campos' corner was headed in from six yards by former Redbacks skipper Rebecca Dudek.
Penelope Clayton fired straight at Aquino late on but Curtin were unable to extend their unbeaten run.
Redbacks’ result meant Hyundai NTC required a final day win over league runners-up Perth SC to reclaim fourth spot, but the youngsters could only draw 2-2 at Celebration Park.
A home semi-final with Fremantle City this midweek was already locked away for Perth after City's draw with MUM FC on Friday, but Danielle Brogan's team had a point to prove having lost their previous two games.
Grace Betti's cross was volleyed over by skipper Jamie Duncanson early on, but Perth soon went ahead when Abbey Meakins won out in a 50-50 challenge before curling brilliantly into the top corner.
Abbey Green forced Rebecca Bennett into a fine low save moments later before the attacker raced into the area again and planted an effort fractionally wide.
Emily Henderson's free kick flew beyond everyone and landed in the back of the net, but the goal was disallowed for a foul on Miranda Templeman, as the score remained 1-0 in Perth's favour.
Another Henderson set-piece ricocheted back off the crossbar early in the second half and that was a sign of things to come as the visitors doubled their lead on 55 minutes.
Meakins has made a habit of scoring spectacular goals this season and she swept home a brilliant second from Duncanson's cut back to double the Azzurri's lead.
NTC's season was slipping away at that point, but they showed resolve late in the second half to give themselves hope of a dramatic comeback.
Two goals in two minutes reignited their charge as Green whipped an effort into the corner before Taneesha Baker crashed home at the near post to set up a grandstand finish.
Jaspa Cargill-Fletcher came closest to netting a late winner, but the spoils were shared as NTC fell two points short of a Top Four Cup berth.
In the final regular season fixture of 2020, Balcatta farewelled long-serving head coach Lisa Tana in style with a 4-0 win over Subiaco at Grindleford Reserve.
Tana is a decorated figure at Balcatta, having been with the club for over 20 years, and coached her final game with the NPL women on Sunday after an influential period coaching both junior and senior female players.
On the pitch, both teams were out of contention for the Top Four Cup, but the hosts took the lead on eight minutes. Cassandra Harvey hit the post before Giorgia Alford scrambled home the opener from close range.
Alford's header was caught by Annaleisha Pickering minutes later, while at the other end both Amelia Andrew and Kanon Uchiyama fired shots off on the counter attack.
In the second half, Andrew tried her luck again from distance, before Pickering made a superb diving save to beat Caitlin Doeglas' free kick away.
The home side got the game's second goal though as Subiaco failed to clear their lines from a corner and Meg Godding poked in from close range.
Two became three when Pickering and Gabrielle Morrisey got into a tangle at the back from Angelique Alberts' cross with an own goal unfortunately credited against the goalkeeper.
Substitute Ashleigh Panaia's late solo strike added gloss to the score as Balcatta snapped a six game winless run to send Tana off on a high.
On Friday Night Murdoch University Melville received the inaugural NPLWA Women's league title following a 1-1 draw at Fremantle City.
The result locked away City's Top Four Cup position, and the hosts took the lead in the first half thanks to Mikayla Lyons’ penalty.
But the game will be remembered for an outrageous rabona goal from Golden Boot winner Katarina Jukic, which has since gone viral around the country.
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