PERTH SC 1-1 SUBIACO
By Ben Gilby
The Azzurri had the lions share of possession, territory, and chances, but their 100% start to the season was shattered with six minutes remaining this afternoon at Dorrien Gardens as Subiaco left with a point.
The home side had led after 33 minutes after another superb long range free-kick for the Kim McCartney scrap book, only to be denied by former Perth Glory star Marianna Tabain’s equaliser following a cross in from former Perth SC player Stella Zampogna near the end of regulation time.
Perth head coach Tom Glavovic made four changes to his starting line-up from last weekend’s win at UWA-Nedlands with Epril Nossent, Sam Mathers, Jess Flannery, and Matilda Boehm coming in for Alanna Ottobrino, Tamsyn Hannan, Ruby Marshall, and Hannah Collins.
Whilst Chloe Taylor looked dangerous for the visitors in the early exchanges breaking through on several occasions, the home defence and keeper Dayle Schroeder were largely comfortable.
The Azzurri were noticeably moving the ball around quicker and looking to find space between Subi, with Mathers at the heart of some dangerous runs and deliveries from the right. With 19 minutes on the clock, from one such ball in from Mathers, Daisy McAllister headed narrowly wide. The Perth attacker also kept visiting goalkeeper Monique Todd busy with a series of challenging high corners.
Subiaco responded with Chloe Taylor breaking through, forcing Schroeder into a superb save, pushing the ball over the top. Taylor was at the heart of her side’s forward bursts throughout.
Just after the half hour mark, Flannery was felled just outside the box to the left of centre. Up stepped McCartney to drive a trademark free-kick into the right hand corner of the net.
There was time for one further opportunity before the break when an excellent patient build up from the home side ended with a powerful shot from Louise Tana to the left of centre of the box that Todd got down to well.
The Azzurri had the dominance, but it has to be said that Subiaco were incredibly well organised and disciplined in their defending, forcing Perth to play across them.
After the break, Violet Longmore was extremely industrious along the left, earning several corners. Five minutes in, from one such flag kick, Mathers fed McAllister, who curled a shot in which Todd saved.
As the match entered its final 20 minutes, Perth forced Todd into two further saves. First, Mathers’ high corner had to be pushed over as it curled dangerously in, and then Flannery’s shot from the left of centre in the box was repelled by the visiting keeper at full stretch.
The final 10 minutes saw the visitors have their best spell of possession and territory of the match. Their reward came with six minutes remaining when Zampogna’s low ball in from the left was turned in by Tabain at the back stick.
Perth tried to rally and created two half chances to retake the lead. With two minutes remaining, Nossent broke through but was denied by Todd, and then three minutes into stoppage time, McAllister’s shot on the turn from outside the box went over the top.
The last chance of the game fell to the visitors when Tabain pounced on a loose ball in the box, but fired over the top.
It was a frustrating outcome to a match that Perth had so much of the play in. Focus now turns to next Saturday’s big game with champions Perth RedStar visiting Dorrien Gardens for a 5pm kick-off.
PERTH SC: Schroeder, Nossent, McCartney, Hope, Boehm, Longmore, McAllister, Archibald, Flannery, Tana, Mathers. Substitutes: Ottobrino, Collins (for Hope), Insch, Marshall (for Archibald), Cavill (for Schroeder), Hannan (for Flannery).
Scorer: McCartney 33’.