SMARTER THAN SMOKING WOMENS PREMIER LEAGUE ROUND 9 JUNE 15 2008

Wrap of the weekends games:

The top half of the Premier table is no one sided affair, with teams stealing points from each other every week. Nedlands and Cockburn, promoted from the first division, are struggling to score goals and lever themselves off the bottom of the table. It is working out to be a league that is exciting and unpredictable where lower teams are fast improving in a league with some quality coaching and entertaining football being played every week.

Renae Forth and Gemma Di Lello scored for Balcatta in Subiaco’s home loss 1-2 to a Balcatta side that has one of the best defensive records in the league.

East Fremantle defeated Mandurah 3-1 in a close game separated only by chances taken by the home side at Wauhop Park.  Coach Jason Washington-King says ‘the game was tight and could have gone either way up until the final whistle.’

UWA and Queens Park with didn’t give each other any leeway in a close game between the second and third placed sides at a windy Coker Park. Queens Park are looking a different side this year with a turnover of players and the introduction of youth team players into the squad.  With only a handful of chances, Conrad McKelvie can’t be too dissapointed with the outcome as both teams battled to get the upper hand, playing some classy football. Queens Park’s Stacey Learmont made the most one of their few opportunities and scored from long range well over UWA keeper Julie Ophel’s head to make it 1-0. Ophel turned aside a brilliant free kick and Penny Rinaldi for UWA had her shot saved by a diving keeper into the corner.

Nedlands did not handle the blustery conditions on the foreshore at all well. Anna DeFelice in goals for Cockburn was thumping the goal kicks well into the oppositions half and giving them great advantage against the wind. They played the ball on the ground and looked far more likely to score than Nedlands who were constantly putting the ball in the air. Cockburn took advantage of an unchacteristic defensive mistake from Katy Rutter which went straight across the top of the box to the feet of oncoming midfielders and was easily chipped over the keeper’s head.  Nat Spyvee stepped up to sail a sweet free kick over Defilices head, just before the end of the half, making it 1-1. The second half was a totally different ball game. Against the wind, Nedlands put the ball on the deck from kick off and besides a few errors, there it stayed.  Ash Harling scored two penalties from handballs and Michelle Colebrook tapped in a nice cross from the wing to make it 4-1 to Nedlands.

Beckenham gave the Reds a run for their money, eventually losing 2-3 at Mills Park. Goal scorer Lindsey Jobling re-joined the Redbacks after being absent last week in their draw against Nedlands.  Both teams had to work hard in the muddy and windy conditions to get the ball moving around the puddles. 15 year old schoolgirl state team player and left full back Morgan Cox scored Reds first goal. After Lizzie Scott handballed, Carys Hawkins put away a second for the Reds. Nicola Williams scored a cracking long range shot before breaking her wrist after a ball slammed into her stomach. Beckenham had chances and hit the post but couldn’t find the net more than twice, even after the Reds seemed to switch off near the end.

Full results for the round: Subiaco United 1 Balcatta 2, East Fremantle 3 Mandurah 1, Nedlands 4 Cockburn 1, Beckenham Angels 2 Northern Redbacks 3, Queens Park 1 UWA 0

Next weeks cup round match ups:

The Balcatta club hosts Wembley and the Jacks at home in round 3 of the Cup this Sunday.

First Division second placed Balcatta B play Division 2 mid table Wembley Downs at Grindleford Reserve at 12.15pm. Balcatta have been on fire, scoring 26 goals and conceding 10, to Wembley’s 15 and 13. Wembley will need to shore up their defence to deflect a consistently performing Balcatta side.

Balcatta’s Premier side, currently mid table, play Division 1’s fourth placed Jacks also at Grindleford reserve at 2.30pm. The Jacks are fast improving but they will have a tough test against a strong Premier outfit.

The only third division team left, Maccabi, play Division 2’s Ballajura, who have been conceding 3 times as many goals as they have scored.  Maccabi look a lot tidier in their defence with only a handful of goals against and a new signing that could help in their endeavours this week.

Full Cup Round is:

Sunday, 22 June 2008   
12:15 PM       Balcatta SC B    v   Wembley Downs   Proposed  GRINDLEFORD RESERVE, B

12:15 PM       Subiaco United SC B    v   Noranda SC A   Proposed  ROSALIE PARK, B

12:45 PM       Maccabi Soccer Club    v   Ballajura AFC   Proposed  MACCABEAN MEMORIAL PARK, A

01:00 PM       Northern Redbacks A    v   East Fremantle B   Proposed  RICKMAN DELAWNEY RESERVE, A

01:00 PM       Mandurah City SC A    v   Queens Park A   Proposed  HYUNDAI STADIUM, A

02:30 PM       Balcatta SC A    v   The Jacks SC A   Proposed  GRINDLEFORD RESERVE, A

02:30 PM       Nedlands FC A    v   Cockburn City SC A   Proposed  PAUL HASLUCK RESERVE, B

02:30 PM       Subiaco United SC A    v   Beckenham Angels A   Proposed  ROSALIE PARK, B

Penny TannerHoath
The World Football Programme