The first Women’s State Cup Final of the NPLW era takes place on Saturday when Murdoch University Melville meet Balcatta at Inglewood Stadium.
The fixture is a repeat of March’s 2021 Night Series Final when goals in the first 10 minutes from Kimberly McCartney and Cass Harvey helped Tim Cash’s team defeat MUM FC 2-1.
But the league meetings between the sides since have told a different story, with Mark Jones’ side coming out on top in both with an 11-0 aggregate.
MUM FC will be likely favourites again this weekend. The reigning league champions are two points clear at the top of the table, while Balcatta are in a scrap to book a Top Four Cup spot.
But Balcatta head coach Cash says knockout football has suited his team and he believes they can upset the odds once more.
“The girls have performed well when they have that singular focus and the cup games have helped with that this season,” Cash said.
“We’ve got nine league games left after this weekend, but we will park that for the moment and hopefully we can peak on Saturday.
“If the team get themselves fired up they can beat anyone on their day, whilst looking happy doing it too. That means everything to our girls and they really want to win for each other.
“Mark has done a good job with MUM FC and we need to be ready for the challenge and understand how to set up and play against them. They’ll bring lots of energy, passion and we’ll have to match that to stay in the game.
“We can’t just let them dictate, so we have to try and match that fire with fire and that’s what cup finals are all about. But we also know it was a completely different game to the one in March.”
The final will be the third game of four games at Inglewood Stadium on Saturday and comes directly before the Men’s State Cup final. Cash said hosting the two senior deciders together is a positive for the local game.
“The cup is special because I grew up with it meaning so much. To turn up at a great stadium, with the whole build-up, I’m excited and the girls are too,” he said.
“To be part of the men’s day, I think it will reflect with what we saw in October’s Grand Final last year where it was a good day, with good games, plenty of emotion and a healthy crowd. It’s really important, particularly with the Women’s World Cup coming up, that we can join up the men’s and women’s matches.”
Meanwhile, Murdoch University Melville captain Katie Schubert said last season’s inaugural NPLW winners are enthusiastic about the prospect of adding another trophy to the cabinet.
“The club are very excited to be a part of the day with all the games building up over the course of it,” she said.
“They’ve been so supportive to us, so we will do the best we can to hopefully bring home some silverware. We were obviously disappointed to lose the Night Series Final against Balcatta, so this is a chance to redeem ourselves.
“Cup finals always bring that extra level of excitement. But we have to try and psychologically keep a level head and play our football.
“Both teams are going to come out all guns blazing, so we have to make sure we settle into the game and hopefully that’s mine and the senior players’ role at the weekend.
MUM FC had been on a four-game winning streak in the NPLWA - Women's competition prior to two tough fixtures against Northern Redbacks. In the first, the State Cup semi-final, they prevailed 5-2 after extra-time. They then drew 2-2 in the league.
But Schubert believes the intensity of those matches will hold them in good stead ahead of another big game on Saturday.
“We obviously had a heavy workload last week with two games against Redbacks, so we’ve adjusted things a little given we played 120 minutes on the Wednesday,” she said.
“The speed of play from those fixtures and the decision-making all leads into how we want to play at the weekend. Those good, competitive games can form that building block for us.
“But essentially the build-up remains as it does for any other game and hopefully we can come away with a good result.”
Saturday's Men's State Cup final kicks off at 3pm.
Earlier, Division One side Subiaco face top-flight Bayswater in the Men's Senior U18s State Cup final at 10am. Subi has lost just once in the league this season, having eliminated NPL side Sorrento on penalties in the semi-final. But Bayswater have won the last two cups in 2018 and 2019 and will be favourites to complete a hat-trick.
Bayswater also play in the day’s second fixture when they meet fellow NPL outfit Sorrento at 12.30pm. City are league leaders and advanced to the final with a 5-0 win over Mandurah City, while the Gulls sit fifth and needed penalties to get the better of Division One Swan United in the other semi-final.
And at 5.30pm ECU Joondalup and Balcatta meet in the Men’s State Cup final.
All four finals will be live streamed on the Football West Facebook and YouTube pages.
Entry to Inglewood Stadium is $10 adults, $5 concessions and free for U16s. Parking is $5.
Filed Under: Women's State Cup