Subiaco B 3 Balcatta B 0
Ballajura 0 Balcatta A 8
Nedlands 0 Northern Redbacks 7
Queens Park 1 Subiaco A 0

With goal scorer Stacey Learmont (formerly Woodfin) and solid defender Nicole Campbell missing due to participation at the National Championships, Queens Park and Subiaco fought out a physical encounter with only one goal the difference between the two sides. The Woodfins still had a strong presence with the two younger Woodfin sisters Kylie and Brittany and even mum Lynda Woodfin was backup on the bench for Queens Park.

Subiaco, having no players absent at the Junior Championships would have been thinking this game was up for grabs. 

With the absentees at the national championships and midfield playmaker Lisa Higgins injured, Queens Park drafted in semi-retired Amy Thorpe to shore up the defence, along with injured S.Sparks and manager Lynda Woodfin in reserve.

Park’s Monique Gordon made the most of one of their few opportunities to blast home a left foot cracker from 25metres out. Subiaco won a penalty from an accidental handball off Leigh Kelly, but after the first attempt had found the back of the net the second was saved by Park’s Maya Diederichsen (known to most as simply Maya). The referee had asked for the penalty to be retaken as she deemed players had encroached into the area. Maya did superbly after she stopped the second attempt and scrambled after the rebound. The one nil win was enough to see Queens Park through to the semi-finals.

Northern Redbacks, current Premier League leaders were missing Rebecca Davies, Carla Bennett and Nicola Williams to the National Championships this week. Coach Tim Hodgson was yelling instructions from the side, but it appeared that the Redbacks were doing everything right.

The Reds scored within 3 minutes via a lovely floating cross escaping Tanner-Hoath’s reach which was headed down and easily tapped in from 5 yards by Rebecca Dudek. Dudek was making the most of her team’s service out on the left wing. Carys Hawkins was dominating the midfield with some superb heading and passing and scored their second, while Hawkins and Jobling more than made up for Nicola Williams’ absence. Hawkins ended up scoring four of the Redbacks seven goals and proved she is more than capable of playing just about anywhere the coach wants a job done.

Subiaco B and Balcatta B are equal on points and only separated by goal difference from Noranda in the First Division. Ali Butler, S.Edwards and C.Bambury helped Subiaco B dispose of Balcatta B 3-0 to advance to the Semi Finals. Balcatta A, playing straight after their B side, swept Second Division side Ballajura aside 8-0. Rene Forth and Laura Turnbull scoring a hat-trick apiece and Kylie Chatto finishing with two. Ballajura were the only team lower than the first division remaining in the competition and had a comfortable passage through the lower rounds to make it to the quarter-finals. Subiaco B are the only non Premier League side remaining in the Cup.

The semi-finals draw will include Northern Redbacks, Subiaco A, Balcatta A and Queens Park.

The season is panning out to be both surprising and entertaining . It is also proving that WA has some very talented youngsters coming through the ranks. If you haven’t checked out the 17s Premier League take a look at ECU Joondalup’s pool of talent and the NTC girls team that plays in the boys 14 Premier Division, 14 of these players are playing for WA in the National Championships. The Women’s Premier League has shown that any team cannot take any other for granted. Just about every team in the league has stolen points off of every other team.

This weekend’s league fixtures make for some very hot match ups. UWA v Northern Redbacks is probably the pick of the games with UWA looking to consolidate their position in the top four.  Balcatta and East Fremantle have postponed their fixture with so many of their youngsters away at the National Championships. Still with a game in hand to be played against Beckenham, Balcatta could see themselves in the top 3 before too long, making up for a slow start to the season. 

Mandurah’s Coach Jason Washington-King will look to exploit any weakness exposed in Nedlands 7-0 drubbing against Redbacks. Despite that Nedlands are a surprise package and could steal a win with their fast improving side and if they do will end up on equal points with Mandurah. The Cockburn versus Beckenham match up is a good opportunity for Cockburn to lift themselves off the bottom of the table. Queens Park are bound to have a tough game against Subiaco, whom they only beat 1-0 in the cup quarter-finals.

See the Leagues & Cups area for full fixtures and league tables