SUBIACO 0-4 PERTH SC
By Ben Gilby
The Azzurri overcame challenging conditions and a battling Subiaco side to claim an impressive victory that sees them remain seven points clear at the top of the NPLW WA with just four matches remaining of the regular season.
Perth head coach Tom Glavovic made three changes to his starting line-up from last weekend’s game with UWA-Nedlands. Violet Longmore, Georgia Cassidy, and Ella Lincoln came in for Hannah Collins, Louise Tana, and Maja Archibald.
The Rosalie Park pitch had stood up extremely well to all the rain that had been thrown on it this weekend.
The visitors were rapidly out of the block with Jess Flannery driving along the left to play a ball in for Lincoln whose shot was held by Monique Todd in the Subi goal. Shortly afterwards, Mathers was also denied by the shot stopper.
It was all Perth, and with a quarter of an hour played, they took the lead. Lincoln put in a cross on the right for Flannery to turn and hit the ball into the net for a superb goal.
Just three minutes later, it could have been 2-0 when Mathers benefitted from a loose pass out of defence by Subi to hit a curler that Todd pushed away for a corner.
Conditions then took a major turn for the worse as the heavy rain returned, accompanied by extremely gusty winds that made much of the exchanges during the spell somewhat of a lottery. However, to their credit, Perth looked after the ball exceptionally well and did the necessary to remain on top. They would also have the one remaining good chance of the half when Mathers’ turn and shot from the edge of the area came off the right hand post and out for a corner that Subiaco dealt with.
After the break, the weather eased slightly, but the wind remained a feature of the game. Just three minutes into the second half, Lincoln scored a superb second when she received the ball some 25 yards out with her back to goal. The Azzurri attacker beat Tayna Campos and curled a shot that hit the right hand post and then rolled along the line to hit the other post. The goal was awarded.
Six minutes later, Perth made the game safe after clearing a Subi free-kick which saw Daisy McAllister released to break free and direct the ball calmly into the net.
McAllister grabbed her second and the Azzurri’s fourth with 12 minutes remaining – and it was an absolute peach. A Perth free-kick just inside the Subi half was headed on the edge of the box, and McAllister went bang with a stunning first time volley from the edge of the area. It was superb goal to put the icing on the cake.
Given the conditions, all that mattered today was gaining the three points. Perth did a whole lot more than that. They played intelligent football in trying conditions, and scored some glorious goals along the way. It all sets up next Sunday’s trip to second placed Perth RedStar rather nicely.
Teams: SUBIACO: Todd, Wallwork, Rudd, Hope, Olsthoorn, Campos, McCulloch, Hughes, Papalia, Tabain, Zampogna. Substitutes: Burdett, Harvey, Suckling, Caceras, Edwards, Tyne.
PERTH SC: Schroeder, Nossent, McCartney, Boehm, Longmore, McAllister, Cassidy, Mathers, Lincoln, Flannery, Marshall. Substitutes: Ottobrino, Ingrey, Warburton, Collins, McCready, Archibald.
Scorers: Flannery 15’, Lincoln 48’, McAllister 54’, 78’.