PERTH REDSTAR 0-2 PERTH SC
By Ben Gilby
The Azzurri took a major step towards their first ever NPLW WA title with a clinical victory over defending champions Perth RedStar.
RedStar have been the team to beat for many years. Indeed, today’s success at RedStar Arena was only Perth’s second since the NPLW began.
Tom Glavovic’s side were without Georgia Cassidy (on international duty), Tijan McKenna, and Ella Lincoln. Hannah Collins and Maja Archibald came back into the starting line-up.
Perth were out of the blocks rapidly. Jess Flannery broke along the left and provided an insightful ball across for Daisy McAllister in the middle of the box to let fly, with the ball going out for a corner. Sam Mathers’ resulting flag kick found Archibald who hit her effort wide.
Flannery was a ball of energy throughout. It was a highly intelligent performance from the Azzurri’s number 15. She made the runs along the channels, came inside to link up when it mattered, and also dropped back to defend.
Opportunities for the home side were few and far between in the opening 45, with the Perth pushing up hard to deny RedStar the ball, and working tirelessly to keep Renee Leota away from possession. Grace Monteiro was one of the hosts’ key outlets during the first half to create along the flank.
Matilda Boehm was calm and composed alongside Kim McCartney with the additional ability to play through some on the money passes through to the midfield and attack. From one such move with 18 minutes on the clock, she threaded a beauty for Flannery to run onto, with the resulting shot going just wide.
Then, with 25 minutes played, Perth got their reward. Flannery’s run along the left ended with her playing a quality ball into the box where Sam Mathers was waiting. The first effort was excellently saved by Gabby Dal Busco, but the follow up fell for Mathers to tuck into the net.
RedStar earned a half chance on the half hour when Jayna Ridley went in to challenge with Dayle Schroeder, with the Azzurri goalkeeper coming out on top.
Perth were full of hunger and desire. The amount of work being done off the ball was huge. Yet you always know when playing RedStar they will have their turn and come on strong.
That was the case after the interval as the defending champions built momentum and established the passing movements. They were precise – and it was clear that the next goal would be so telling, and it certainly turned out that way.
Despite all the possession that RedStar had at the start of the second half, an incisive counter from the Azzurri sealed the game nine minutes into the second half. Violet Longmore’s throw on the left hand side inside her own half found its way to McAllister who flicked the ball past Andreia Teixeira and out to Flannery on the flank to send a cross in for an unmarked Louise Tana to send a low volley into the net towards the back post.
Within four minutes, RedStar had a great chance to hit back as a pass through for Leota was intercepted by Kim McCartney, but rolled on to Kaitlyn Bellanca who entered the box, only to be denied by a superbly timed tackle from Tana.
RedStar controlled possession for much of the rest of the game but never quite tested the Azzurri rear-guard. The visitors were smart when in defensive mode. As well as their solid back four line, the wide players dropped towards the back line to screen as well. The reward was yet another clean sheet.
Only Balcatta Etna can now deny Perth a first NPLW WA title, and the two sides will meet twice over the next seven days in what are two key games in the history of our women’s side.
Teams: PERTH REDSTAR: Dal Busco, Teixeira, Dunn, Monteiro, Doan, Coleman, Bennett, Carroll, Bellanca, Leota, Ridley. Substitutes: Woolley, Skinner (GK), Lornie, Mogridge, Finnegan, Gray, Devitt.
PERTH SC: Schroeder, Nossent, McCartney, Boehm, Longmore, McAllister, Collins, Archibald, Mathers, Flannery, Marshall. Substitutes: Ottobrino, Ingrey (GK), Warburton, Insch, Tana, McCready.
Scorers: Mathers 25’, Tana 54’.