Two points separated Melville from Quinns FC in the State League Division One at 1pm today. After a 2-1 win at Len Shearer, and with only one game left in the season, Melville can now boast an unreachable 5 point gap at the top of the table. In the 100+ crowd today were Premier League Coaches and players curious to see the quality and potential in their new 2013 opponents.
In a season where potential was explored and expressed, Melville started with a loss to a highly organised and intense Quinns FC side that defeated Melville in the Night Series Final at Coker Park in March. This was followed by a slick Leeming Strikers performance, defeating a still unwise Melville 2-0 in April. The two game Division One stutter ended and State League mentality kicked in with an unbeaten 13 game winning streak, ending Coach Jonny Gibson’s sideline nerves. Gibson has been the guiding hand for the squad and the majority of the players since junior football at Melville.
Melville is not short of talent. With strikers across the forward and midfield, including Laura Waltman, Noi Pukkaew, Steph Simmons, Kelsey Lyons and Talyah Griffiths, the club amassed an enormous 66 goal haul. Raffi Waltman and goal keeper Evie Gooch can lay claim to the minimal 9 goal concession. Any team in the Womens Premier League would be happy to boast these stats and indeed it took the most decorated Premier womens club, Northern Redbacks, to defeat Melville in the quarterfinals of the Cup, 7-0.
The club is well fortified to cover injury and student absences with a strong junior girls programme. Girls from the 15s supported the table topping Reserves side throughout the year. The Reserves are likely to take out their competition being 7 points clear with 2 games left. The club is represented at 13’s and 15’s and is in the top 3 of each of their respective leagues. The 15s premier side is equal top of the table with a whopping 54 goal to 6 goal for and against statistic. The 17’s from 2011 having been moved up into the State League Division One to support the first team.
They say women’s football is the fastest growing sport in the world. For their part, the future looks solid for the biggest club in WA.