PERTH SC 1-1 BALCATTA ETNA
By Ben Gilby
Honours were even in the second league encounter between the Azzurri and Balcatta in three days this afternoon at Dorrien Gardens.
These are two teams that know each other well. At one point during the second half, the visitors were fielding six former Perth players, being marshalled by former Azzurri boss Pete Rakic on the sidelines.
It was a tough encounter with chances at a premium. The two goals came in a five minute spell midway through the second half thanks to a typical Kim McCartney rocket of a free-kick putting the hosts ahead, only for former Azzurri duo Jaime Duncanson and Abbey Meakins to combine for the Balcatta equaliser.
Perth boss Tom Glavovic named an unchanged starting line-up from the side that clinched a first NPLW WA league title at Balcatta on Wednesday.
It was the visitors who carved out the first half-chance of the half with Jamie-Lee Gale, who was so influential on the right all afternoon, hitting a low shot.
Shortly afterwards, the Azzurri responded as Maja Archibald threaded the ball through for Louise Tana who advanced through, but was denied by a well-timed tackle from Izzy Foletta just as she was about to pull the trigger.
Perth were confident on the ball, and looked to play a rapid passing movement game whenever possible, but the action remained largely in the middle third.
Just before the break, Balcatta had two opportunities to go in ahead. First, Gale’s free-kick from the right was held by Dayle Schroeder. Then, a header on target was swept off the line by Violet Longmore. It remained goalless at the interval.
The visitors carved out the first chance of the second half three minutes in when Meakins slotted a pass through to Liana Cook who went one-on-one with Schroeder, and the Perth custodian came out on top.
With 52 minutes played, Perth came the closest so far when Jess Flannery’s turn and shot hit the left-hand post and rolled along the line, hit the right-hand post, and Rebecca Bennett dived on it.
Then, with 64 on the clock, Flannery was brought down just outside the box to the right of centre. Up stepped McCartney to arrow the ball straight into the net.
The lead was short lived though, as just five minutes later, Duncanson’s ball across from the left was turned home with aplomb by Meakins.
Both sides had one further opportunity to claim all three points. First, it was Perth, and from Ella Lincoln’s corner on the right, Matilda Boehm’s shot was deflected out for a corner. For Balcatta, Meakins advanced one-on-one with Schroeder, who saved.
This was a tight and tough battle, with the draw ultimately a fair result. Perth now have one final regular season game remaining, at home to the Football West Academy next Sunday, when they will be presented with the NPLW WA championship trophy before beginning their Top Four Cup campaign.
Teams: PERTH SC: Schroeder, Nossent, McCartney, Boehm, Longmore, McAllister, Collins, Archibald, Mathers, Flannery, Tana. Substitutes: Ottobrino (for Nossent 90’), Lincoln (for Archibald 70’), Insch (for Tana 90’), Cavill, McKenna (for McAllister 57’).
Scorer: McCartney 64’.
BALCATTA ETNA: Bennett, van Heurck, Davis, Murray, Foletta, Meakins, Marwick, Jarvis, Duncanson, Gale, Cook. Substitutes: Comito, Britton, Hargreaves, M. D’Opera, Spadano (for Cook 57’).
Scorer: Meakins 69’.