14/09/2024
Football West Women's Division 1 match review: Mandurah City FC vs Fremantle City Football Club
A last round match between Fremantle city fc and Mandurah city fc at poolmart Mandurah stadium. Both teams need a win to stay in the running to win the league, with Mandurah city also playing for the potential to be promoted into the national premier league of western Australia.
Mandurah city’s speedy young winger, Lola Price, is causing Fremantle a lot of problems down the left wing. Ever present is Mandurah stalwart Mel Loreto as striker.
For Fremantle, former Fulham player Sian McCreary marshalled the defence until succumbing to injury part way through the second half. Former Curtin University and Subiaco AFC NPL player Stephanie Walcott was a key Fremantle playmaker, especially in the absence of Ash Byrne.
Chances were being created by both teams in the first half, with the turning point being around 30 minutes. Fremantle city player Lauren Gio accidentally blocked a goal bound shot from Mandurah with her arm and saw a straight red from the referee. Mandurah converted the subsequent penalty and hence took a 1-0 lead into half time.
In the second half, Mandurah understandably dominated possession, but despite only having 10 players, Fremantle continued to create opportunities. Most notably was a shot from Alice Vandermeiren from the right side of the box that was caught comfortably by the Mandurah keeper. Stephanie Walcott also broke through into the box, only to be denied by a quality sliding tackle from a Mandurah defender.
About 10 minutes into the second half, Mandurah went 2-0 ahead when Price broke down the left on a counter attack, and her shot was deflected into the net via a Fremantle city players foot, leaving keeper Tessa Cliff unable to effect a save.
The home crowd in Mandurah was large and vocal, having just watched their mens side take down Perth Glory youth in a playoff match.
Coach Chris Arturo injected some fresh legs in the second half via Maria Garcia and Bianka Grdjan and the visitors continued to fight towards a comeback.
Mel Loreto continued to threaten, with a number of snap shots at goal not quite reaching the mark. Closest was her header on a Lola Price corner, that just bobbed over the crossbar.
Just before full time, Mandurah made it 3-0 when a dribbling ball from the right managed to evade Tessa Cliff only for Price to tap in at the far post.
Alice Vandermeiren had an excellent effort parried away by the Mandurah keeper with meer seconds to go, the ball fell to Rachel Oliver who was unable to keep her shot on target.
As news came through during the second half that Subiaco AFC had won their match against UWA-Nedlands, it became apparent that the win would still not be enough for Mandurah city to secure the league title. We now await tomorrow's match between Perth AFC and Hamersley Rovers SC. If Perth AFC win, the will take the league title. If not, Subiaco AFC will.
