BALCATTA ETNA 1-0 PERTH SC
by Ben Gilby
Perth’s season-long unbeaten run in the NPLW WA came to an end after a hard-fought game at Balcatta Etna this afternoon.
In the end, it was Lucy Jerram’s goal 11 minutes into the second half that separated the teams after an intense battle between these top four rivals.
There was one change to the Azzurri starting line-up going into the game, with Epril Nossent coming in to the 11 in place of Georgia Cassidy.
Balcatta had the better of the first half. From the earliest exchanges, it was apparent they would be pushing up hard and fast whenever Perth were in possession, particularly targeting the Azzurri when playing out from the back. This rapid press earned the hosts a lot of turnover ball, and forcing of throw-ins and corners, which made it challenging for the visitors to break out of their own half.
Despite consistent periods of possession being hard to come by for Perth, the visitors’ defence remained strong.
Midway through the half, the Azzurri began to gain a foothold in possession by looking for space with the pass and being able to pull Balcatta around as a result, but despite excellent work by Ella Lincoln and Louise Tana in the build-up, they weren’t quite able to force former Perth keeper Rebecca Bennett into making saves.
The hosts had the better of the final quarter hour of the half and forced three openings. With 32 minutes played, from a free-kick inside their own half, Balcatta’s Izzy Foletta fed Jerram who in turn found Frankie Murray on the left. Her pass across for Abbey Meakins resulted in shot that Tijan McKenna cleared off the line.
Four minutes later, Foletta started another move down the left when the Perth Glory A-League Women defender found Jerram once more and the attacker’s shot was pushed across goal by Azzurri keeper Dayle Schroeder.
Then, just before the break, more high pressing by Balcatta saw them win possession on the right which saw Jamie-Lee Gale hit a shot that Schroeder repelled strongly.
McKenna cut an impressive figure for the Azzurri both defensively and in a creative role. Her pinpoint vision and passing was hugely important, and just six minutes into the second half, her drive forward ended with a long range shot from a central position that Bennett held.
However, with 56 minutes on the clock, the hosts hit the front. Ella Marwick took up possession in the middle of the field and fed Jerram who advanced dangerously on the left again and drove a shot in from the edge of the box on that flank.
Perth responded well, and played a patient passing game into space that delivered them more opportunities and territory, but whilst the build-up was successful, they weren’t quite able to force Bennett into making saves.
Balcatta had two further chances to increase their lead in the final 10 minutes. First, Meakins combined with Jamie-Lee Gale who put a cross in for Jerram, but her effort was over the top. Then Gale herself was denied by a superb diving save by Schroeder after she drove up the right.
Then, two minutes into stoppage time, the Azzurri had a chance to take a point. Lincoln, on the left edge of the box showed great strength and control to hold off a defender and then sent a shot curling towards the top right corner of the net, only for Bennett to produce a superb flying save to push it over the top.
Perth now have a trip to the Sam Kerr Football Centre next Friday to face the Football West Academy in defence of the State Cup which has reached the Quarter-Final stage. They then welcome Perth RedStar to Dorrien Gardens in a huge NPLW WA showdown on Saturday 28th June in the club’s annual Pink Game to raise awareness and support for Breast Cancer Care WA.
Teams: BALCATTA ETNA: Bennett, Davis, van Heurck, Foletta, Murray, Jarvis, Marwick, Spadano, Meakins, Jerram, Gale. Substitutes: Comito, Cook, Hargreaves, Britton, Duncanson.
Scorers: Jerram 56’.
PERTH SC: Schroeder, Nossent, McCartney, McKenna, Longmore, Collins, Archibald, Mathers, Lincoln, Flannery, Tana. Substitutes: Ottobrino, McAllister, Ingrey, Marshall, Rennie.