Report by Tommy Doleman
Perth RedStar extended their lead at the top of the NPLWA – Women’s competition to six points after a 2-0 win over Hyundai NTC in the Regional Festival of Football fixture in Albany.
Reina Kagami got both goals as the Japanese midfielder moved outright top of the goalscoring charts with nine for the season. Carlos Vega Mena’s side are now eight games unbeaten since losing in Round One to NTC, who drop out of the top four following the weekend’s results.
RedStar were on it from the off at Retravision Stadium with Jayna Ridley having three good opportunities to give the defending champions a lead.
At the other end, Mia Britton’s cross evaded Ischia Brooking and Grace Johnston’s long-ranger flew over bar in a first half where Ben Anderton’s team largely struggled to breach the RedStar press.
The league leaders eventually scored midway through the opening period as Kagami pounced on an error at the back, tiptoed past a challenge and fired into the corner to net for a fifth straight game.
It was another mistake which gave RedStar a two-goal cushion and there was no looking back as they made it six straight wins. Kagami played a slick one-two with Sophia Neal on the edge of the area before curling left-footed into the bottom corner.
Their lead at the top of the league is six points over Perth Soccer Club and Fremantle City who hold a share of second spot. The Azzurri started the day fifth but jumped three places on Sunday as Monique Godding’s goal gave them a 1-0 win at Subiaco.
Both teams had opportunities in a goalless first half, but Perth gained control in the second period with Subiaco’s rearguard called into action on several occasions.
Ash Riddle saved from Abbey Meakins, Stella Zampogna and Judy Connolly with the third of those saves resulting in the goalkeeper going off with injury.
Jemma Skinner came on in her place and she was in the game straight away saving low to her right from another Meakins shot.
But the Azzurri broke through 15 minutes from time when Gemma Craine’s cross from the right was miscued by Godding initially, but the midfielder hooked in at the second time of asking for goals in successive weeks.
They could have had a second when Flannery was put through by Craine, but the forward was denied by Skinner with Subiaco unable to equalise and one goal proving to be enough.
Fremantle City are third on goal difference after leapfrogging opponents Murdoch University Melville following a 2-1 win at Besteam Stadium on Saturday night.
Faye Chambers’ team came from behind for a second successive game, with Jessica Johnson firing low across the goalkeeper with a crisp strike to make it 1-0 for MUM on 20 minutes.
Katarina Jukic made it goals in back-to-back games with a simple header after Stacey Cavill missed Abbey Green’s cross, but the goalkeeper kept her team in the match early in the second half when she saved Annabelle Leek’s penalty.
Those efforts were in vain though as Freo won it minutes later with the game’s decisive goal. Jamie-Lee Gale swung in a cross from the left and Olivia Trueman was first to meet it and give City a fifth win in their last seven games.
On Friday night, two Tia Stonehill goals helped Balcatta Etna defeat Curtin University 4-0 which kept them on the coattails of the top four.
Stonehill rolled her marker and struck low into the bottom corner for the opener on 17 minutes and she would strike again before the break when glancing home Andrea Bulgaru’s cross.
After the restart, Monique D’Opera advanced into Curtin territory and hit a low long-range effort to make it 3-0 for her first goal this season.
The win was capped by Opal Mohammad Zainurrafiq who bagged her first NPL goal at the back post after good work from Stonehill, as Tim Cash’s team made it three wins in a row and go to within two points of MUM FC and NTC.
Round Nine results
Curtin University 0-4 Balcatta Etna
Hyundai NTC 0-2 Perth RedStar
MUM FC 1-2 Fremantle City
Subiaco 0-1 Perth SC