PERTH SC 6-0 MURDOCH UNIVERSITY MELVILLE
By Ben Gilby
The Azzurri stay top of the NPLWA after a comprehensive win in difficult conditions at Dorrien Gardens this afternoon.
Breaking through the visitors’ offside trap, Ruby Marshall hit a brace, and was involved in two of the other goals as Ella Lincoln, Louise Tana, Matilda Boehm, and Jess Flannery were also on target in the victory.
Perth SC head coach Tom Glavovic made four changes to his starting line-up from last week’s win over Fremantle City. Alanna Ottobrino came in to defence for her first start since Round Three, with Hannah Collins, Maja Archibald, and Ruby Marshall also returning to the team. It made for a fearsome looking bench of Daisy McAllister, Epril Nossent, Jess Flannery, Kim McCartney, and Emmie Ingrey.
Whilst the match kicked off in dry and breezy conditions, the pitch was extremely wet from earlier heavy rainfall, with the right hand side of the park showing signs of some spray which slowed up the movement of the ball along this area of the surface.
Perth were fast out of the blocks and ahead with only six minutes played, with a goal which seemed to come about in extreme slow motion. Marshall’s first shot came back off the legs of MUM FC keeper Jemma Skinner, with the rebound falling to the Azzurri attacker to hit an effort which trickled over the line despite the visitors trying in vain to stop it from doing so.
The middle period of the half was largely transitional. The home side dominated possession, but with conditions not as conducive to passing football as it could be, passes didn’t always reach their intended destination. Whilst this should have suited MUM, they were never able to establish consistent possession to allow them to trouble to Perth defence.
It became 2-0 after 22 minutes when a ball in from the left led to Marshall hitting a shot that Skinner parried, only for Lincoln to tap home the rebound for her fifth goal in the last three games.
Just six minutes later, Marshall was involved again as the Azzurri extended their lead further. This time, it was her cross from the right that found an unmarked Tana at the back post, who smashed a first time shot into the net.
On the half hour mark, the visitors had their clearest sight of goal to date when a corner from the right led to Isabella Baldin seeing a shot fly over the top.
Perth ended the half on top and, with the rain beginning to hose down, a free-kick on the left was met with a superb volley from Boehm which flew in.
The second half opened in drier conditions, and Murdoch University Melville had their best consistent spell of possession and territory, building consistent passing movements, but were still not able to dent the home defence.
Perth responded with Violet Longmore breaking along the left to feed Marshall, who curled a shot over the top.
With just over 25 minutes remaining, the Azzurri brought on the powerful quartet of McAllister, Nossent, Flannery, and McCartney. In moments, two combined to provide MUM with a warning sign of just what they are capable of.
Flannery took up possession and danced her way between two defenders along the left of centre before feeding Nossent who saw her powerful shot go over the top.
With 13 minutes remaining, Perth made it five thanks to a move that began with Dayle Scroeder restarting play. Possession advanced up the right flank and ended with Nossent’s cross that found Flannery unmarked to turn the ball in.
Fittingly, it was Marshall who started what she finished with the final goal of the afternoon. Flannery fed Longmore out on the left and her cross was missed by a MUM defender sliding in, leaving the Azzurri attacker with plenty of time and space to dispatch the ball into the net. Marshall had had an excellent game, involved in four of the Azzurri’s six goals.
In difficult conditions, Perth responded excellently. The victory showcased the side’s strength in depth, with Emmie Ingrey coming on in the final stages as well. They did what they needed to do, and did it well.
Teams: PERTH SC: Schroeder, Ottobrino, Boehm, Longmore, Cassidy, Collins, Archibald, Mathers, Lincoln, Tana, Marshall. Substitutes: McAllister, Ingrey, Nossent, Flannery, McCartney.
Scorers: Marshall 6’, 90’, Lincoln 22’, Tana 28’, Boehm 42’, Flannery 77’.
MURDOCH UNIVERSITY MELVILLE: Skinner, Sabean, Ascenzo-Cabello, Symons, Denona, Malata, Mastrantonio, Patience, Baldin, Glanfield, Hotchin. Substitutes: Jorquera, Harding, Mohan, Cleminson, Bui.