Freo up to third, NTC hit nine

Round-up by Tommy Doleman

Isabelle Bridger opened the scoring for Fremantle. Photo by Football West

Fremantle City moved up to third place in the NPLWA Women’s league and on the fringes of the title race following a 2-0 win over Northern Redbacks.

The result continued the home side’s recent run of just one defeat in six games while Redbacks lost for the first time in five.

The hosts started well as torrential rain fell during the early stages, with Steffi Nadilo turning on the edge of the area and firing wide before Mikayla Lyons lifted over the bar from six yards when a cross bobbled through to her.



City then opened the scoring on 18 minutes as Gale's corner was taken short to Nadilo, who took a touch and crossed for defender Isabelle Bridger to head home her third goal in two games.

The visitors came close to levelling when Dayle Schroeder claimed bravely under pressure from Renee Leota following Kim Carroll's nod down from a free-kick, and it was a timely intervention from the goalkeeper as Fremantle doubled their lead moments later. Lyons skipped past two defenders down the left before her deflected effort was diverted into her own net by the unfortunate Cheyenne Wise-Jarvis.

Shawn Billam's free-kick then sailed wide of the upright for Redbacks before Lauren Continibali's teasing cross drifted narrowly beyond Leota, as last year's League and State Cup double winners tried to mount a response.

Redbacks came close to pulling one back early in the second half as Sarah Carroll's corner caused chaos, but neither Leota nor Billam were able to force the ball over the line in a goalmouth scramble.

After the break chances dried up, unlike the weather. Fremantle went close to a third when Gemma Craine's effort was inadvertently blocked by her own teammate, but it mattered little as City claimed three points.

The result sees Fremantle move six points behind the top two Murdoch University Melville and Perth SC with four matches to play. Redbacks, meanwhile, drop to sixth.

Teams and match details here

Hyundai NTC replaced Northern Redbacks in the fourth finals spot with a stunning 9-1 win over bottom side Subiaco in the early kick off at Celebration Park.

Monique Prinsloo's shot was well saved by Annaleisha Pickering early on before Victoria Wright's stunning block saved a certain goal as Judy Connolly followed in.

But it was a sign of things to come unfortunately for Subiaco as NTC struck twice inside the first 20 minutes through Prinsloo and Connolly to hold a commanding lead

Connolly curled home a superb third to make it 3-0 on 23 minutes before Perth Glory W-League midfielder Leiticia McKenna showed her class by rounding Pickering to make it 4-0 four minutes later.

Two more goals were added before the break as Prinsloo scored her second before McKenna did the same from close range.

Daisy McAllister then bagged her first goal of the season to make it 7-0 early in the second half as Subiaco continued to endure a difficult afternoon.

Pickering was doing her bit to keep the score down with a double save from Prinsloo and Abbey Green, but respite would only be temporary as McKenna's deflected shot went down as a Jeanette Gordon own goal before Hana Lowry added a ninth.

Subiaco got themselves on the scoresheet late on when Amelia Andrew scored a stunning long-range consolation goal to open her account for the season.

Teams and match details here

Balcatta's game with Curtin University at Grindleford Reserve did not survive the rain as the game was called off at half-time due to a waterlogged pitch with the hosts leading 1-0.

Under competition rules, the abandonment of the game at half-time means the result will stand.

The visitors started well as Jess Darmago sidefooted over the bar inside three minutes before Nina Boorman tried her luck from range.

Wet and windy weather arrived on the half-hour mark, which made things challenging for both sets of players. But Balcatta adjusted slightly better and ended the half strongly.

Angelique Alberts' angled drive from inside the area was saved superbly by the fingertips of Rochelle Hondema, before Caitlin Doeglas’ seventh goal of the season gave Balcatta the lead on 41 minutes.

The players would not return for the second half as referee Stephen Knight deemed the pitch unfit to continue.

Teams and match details here

Perth Soccer Club set up an exciting finale to the inaugural NPL Women’s season by defeating Murdoch University Melville 1-0 on Friday night.

The crucial goal was scored from the penalty spot by Abbey Meakins as the Azzurri moved level with the leaders at the summit with 22 points.

It was a fourth win on the spin for Perth, while MUM FC suffered defeat for the first time since a 3-2 defeat to Balcatta in Round One.

With four matches remaining, MUM are eight goals better off than Perth.

Full match report, teams and match details here





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