Report by Tommy Doleman

Two-goal Tanika Lala, centre, is congratulated by her Hyundai NTC teammates. Photo by FotoEnzo

Hyundai NTC closed the gap on the Top Four Cup places to one point with three games remaining after a 3-1 win over Balcatta Etna on Sunday.

A third win in four outings was well deserved for Ben Anderton’s side who stay in the mix for a first post-season appearance in the NPL era. Balcatta’s hopes took a hit, however, with Steve Atkins’ team now five points from fourth place after a third straight defeat.

Things began well for Balcatta, and they took the lead in the opening couple of minutes after referee Stephen Knight pointed to the spot when Mia Yeo’s cross struck Wilma Thodhlana on the hand. NTC keeper Lily Bailey saved Monique Godding’s penalty with her foot, but Knight ordered a retake for encroachment and Godding made no mistake second time round.

It was an open first half at E&D Litis Stadium. NTC’s Grace Johnston hit the bar and then Godding fired straight at Bailey. But it was NTC who eventually took control with an excellent finish to the first half. Gabby Dal Busco made two brilliant saves to thwart Tanika Lala, but she still could not stop the home side scoring twice before the interval.

Violet Longmore headed in her first goal of the season from a Johnston corner, then Lala’s pinpoint strike from outside the box found the bottom corner for 2-1.

The second half was more measured from the youngsters who kept Balcatta at arm’s length, and they added a third from the penalty spot on 53 minutes. Up stepped Lala to make it a dozen for the season and join Sarah Carroll in a tie for second in the goalscoring charts.

Lauren Conintibali’s free-kick was the closest Balcatta came to getting one back and late on, while NTC substitute Georgia Cassidy – back from helping the Junior Matildas win the AFF U18 Championships in Indonesia – also hit the frame of the goal from a free-kick as the home side ran out deserved winners.

Saturday’s action saw Perth RedStar continue their relentless season with a 6-2 win over Subiaco.

Carlos Vega Mena’s side are now four games away from an unbeaten 2022, and they hit the front in the northern suburbs when top scorer Larissa Walsh rounded keeper Marissa Pidgeon to score an 18th of the season.

Andreia Teixeira soon added a second directly from a corner, before Subiaco promptly halved the deficit when Ella Mastrantonio’s cross looped over Maya Diederichsen and dropped in.

A sensational Olivia Wood strike restored RedStar’s two-goal buffer moments later and Kim Carroll’s penalty a minute before the break put the leaders into an even stronger position.

Melissa Shepherd scored from the spot in the second period to make it 4-2. But Renee Leota’s cool finish and Quyen Doan’s header, her first senior goal for RedStar, capped off another solid showing from the champions.

On Friday night, Perth SC took control of second spot as they came from a goal down to win 5-1 against Fremantle City at Wauhop Park.

Peter Rakic’s team are two points clear of City in pursuit of a Top Four Cup double chance with a game in hand.

Yet they trailed after only a minute when the ball broke for Jess Darmago to net for the seventh time this season.

The Azzurri levelled midway through the opening half when Jaime Duncanson coolly dinked over Dayle Schroeder after being released by Jaymee Gibbons.

And having put 10 past Curtin last week, Perth again showed a new-found ruthless streak with a four more goals in the second period. Abbey Meakins’ long-range shot took a wicked deflection on its way in, before Ella Lincoln rolled her marker and curled brilliantly into the bottom corner.

It was 4-1 after an hour when Meakins struck a sensational free kick into the bottom corner from 30 yards out. Stella Zampogna then applied a finishing touch with her first senior goal for Perth, having scored 26 times in the U21’s competition this term.

Murdoch University Melville also took three points on Friday as they remained in fourth spot after a 3-0 win away at Curtin University.

Luke Thompson’s side needed a victory with games against the top three sides to finish their regular season. They broke through on 37 minutes in stunning fashion when Perth Glory midfielder Sadie Lawrence fired left footed from range into the top corner.

Taylor Reid almost capitalised on an error at the back, but Rachel Gillies made a good recovery block, and the visitors scored twice more in the second half to win for a fifth time in six games.

A curling strike from distance scored by Andrea Preiato made it 2-0 on 65 minutes, before a Gillies free kick confirmed that MUM FC’s fine form would continue.

There are two matches this midweek. On Tuesday, Curtin take on RedStar at Edinburgh Oval in a rescheduled Round 16 fixture (7pm), then on Wednesday it's Subiaco v Perth SC in a match from Round 13 (7.45pm). Both will be live streamed for free on NPL.TV.

Round 18 results: Curtin University 0-3 MUM FC, Fremantle City 1-5 Perth SC, Hyundai NTC 3-1 Balcatta Etna, Perth RedStar 6-2 Subiaco.