With the season now in full swing Penner TannerHoath updates the latest action in the Smarter than Smoking Womens Premier League.

UWA 2 Balcatta 1

Balcatta have had to endure 2 weeks of postponed matches, whilst UWA had rebounded from a dissapointing first game against Northern Redbacks with two wins on the trot.

What followed was a pulsating match and a great advertisment for the women’s game in WA.

Both teams were inseparable in the first half of a game that was mostly played in the middle third of the field, neither team had many clear shots on goal as the midfields of both teams battled for to get clear possession. The UWA midfield closed down their opponents quickly to get posession back whenever they lost it, Balcatta stuck to their game plan and tried switching to catch UWA off guard.

Come the second half, both teams stepped up a gear hoping to kill off the game and a number of yellow cards were dished out as players started to vent their frustations at the referee.

Balcatta broke the deadlock first as a beautifully flighted ball from the right wing caught out the UWA centreback allowing the Balcatta striker to finish for a 1-0 scoreline.

This only fired up UWA and within 5 minutes the scores were level. After a period of sustained pressure Magalie Kolker scored one of the goals of the season only metres in from the by-line just inside the 18 yard box, she lofted the ball over the keeper to see it hit the post and rebound in. UWA’s momentum had arrived and quickly hit Balcatta with a second scored by Frankie Simmons.

The pendulum swung between UWA and Balcatta as both teams tried desperately to equalise. Balcatta’s coach Lisa Tana put herself in goals to free up the Chloe Coglan to play up front. Whilst she was proving a handful for the UWA defence she failed to get the equaliser and UWA took the spoils from a great match.

Nedlands v East Fremantle

Tony Carvajal must have been licking his lips watching his young East Fremantle side play the passing game that has half his teenage side pressing for state team places.  14 year old right midfielder A.Keissler was a stand out in the midfield.  The youngster showed plenty of skill and coordination in relieving the Nedlands attack of most of the 50/50 balls and turning the play around to release some fine balls to the East Fremantle attack.

The away attack had plenty of supply from East Fremantle’s hardworking midfield. Katarina Jukic caused the Nedlands defense constant headaches from some great passes.  Jukic scored once in each half. The first from corner play where she received the ball and dribbled easily past defenders to slot into the near post underneath the keeper. The second after the keeper caught a backpass given unexpectantly from short distance. The ensuing direct free kick rebounded off the wall to her and was easily sent with fire straight into the top of the net with the Nedlands team all on the goal line. 

Rana Amsha, Rae Stanton and Michelle Kent providing some great defensive work along with solid goalkeeping by TannerHoath to keep Jukic from tallying up more goals.

Sarah Hughes capitalised on a home team defensive mix up in the second half to make it 3 nil.  Hughes picked her spot in the far corner when the 2 defenders both left the ball for and gave a clear shot between them from the top corner of the 18 yard box.

Nedland’s Katy Rutter up front stood in for absent speedster Ash Harling and had to be player of the match for the home side.  Rutter was strong on the ball and inspired her team to worked hard. Fellow attacker and pocket dynamo Nat Spyvee just couldn’t find the space through the solid East Fremantle defense to worry the keeper.

Nedlands Coach John Warrington must be reflecting heavily after the team worked hard with little outcome, yet again.  While Tony Carvajal would be satisfied his teams work ethic had paid off.

Northern Reds v Mandurah

A Lindsay Jobling hatrick complimented J.Nellany and Nicola William’s goals to firmly dispose of Mandurah 6-2.

Coach Tim Hodgson rued the many missed opportunities including a fair penalty after some pushing to lay claim to the ball in the 18 yard box.

Jobling was sent to hospital with a dislocated thumb and on the other side Mandurah’s Coach Jason Washington-King could only dispair at the smooth interplay between the Reds players.

Nicola Pritchett and Skye McKenzie at one goal in each half showed the team can put it together when they focus. 

Champion Premier League Keeper for Mandurah, Sara King, simply getting frustrated that her team just wasn’t consistently displaying the potential that has so far put them up in the top half of the table. 

Beckenham 2 Subiaco 3

In a hard but fair game, Beckenham were defeated narrowly 3-2 with perhaps having a player sent off for lip service being the difference.

Queens Park 4 Cockburn 0
The Woodfin family via sisters Stacey and Kylie shared the goals with First Division promotee Gemma Coulsen.  Coulsen scored a longe range cracker. The Premier team was short on players and drew on their more than able first division stocks. A handball inside the 18 yard box gave Stacey Learmont (formerly Woodfin) her second goal.  The referee dissalowed a goal by Lindsay Easton earlier for a ball that went right through underneath the net. Cockburn’s lone striker was causing all kinds of problems with her speed but could not penetrate a dependable Queens park defense.