Maya Woodruff, Makiah Suttie, Georgia Power and Natalia Petrovai. Credit: Laurie Benson
Hundreds of eager soccer fans packed into Albany’s Retravision Stadium on Saturday to watch four of the State’s top-flight teams fight it out in the Belt-Up Regional Festival of Football.
The double-header kicked off at 2pm when Perth Azzurri took on Hyundai Football West Academy in round eight of the National Premier League WA.
Spearheaded by rising Albany star Ella Lange, Academy battled nonstop for 90 minutes, giving keen young fans a true taste of hungry play.
A lucky header from Azzurri’s Ruby Marshall found the back of the net resulting in a 1-0 win that locked in the unbeaten side’s winning streak.
The grandstands thickened with spectators approaching 4pm as Perth Glory and reigning premiers Bayswater City were about to step onto the field for round 10 of the NPL WA men’s competition.
With many rugged up against the incoming chill in their purple and orange beanies and scarves, Glory likely felt well-loved by the away crowd.
That support bolstered the underdogs to a 1-0 win secured in the 84th minute of the game, leaving no time for a deflated Bayswater to find an equaliser.
Boaz van Burgel, Arlo Mulder and Brodie Mulder. Credit: Laurie BensonEvette Wilson and Demi Stenhouse. Credit: Laurie BensonDenmark and St Joseph’s players who got to walk out with the women’s sides. Credit: Laurie Benson
Nathan Mackay, Robbie Mackay and Sonny Winchesteer. Credit: Laurie BensonAlbany's Festival of Football attracted an enthusiastic crowd. Credit: Laurie BensonLewis Italiano, Lourdez Noderey, Maria Noderey, Enzo Manera and Jason Razmovski. Credit: Laurie BensonCaptains and officials before the start of the Festival of Football's women’s game between Perth Azzurri and Hyundai Football West Academy. Credit: Laurie BensonBayswater City's bench players wait their turn. Credit: Laurie BensonMason Shirley and Ashton Shirley. Credit: Laurie BensonTeams enter Retravision Stadium for the men’s game between Bayswater City and Perth Glory. Credit: Laurie BensonPerth Azzurri's Epril Nossent, Kimberly McCartney and Charli Wainwright. Credit: Laurie Benson
Jimi Gorman, Felix Rowden, Arthur Colliss and Jaego van Senden. Credit: Laurie BensonStevie Donohoe, Nat Rufus and Rohani McEwan. Credit: Laurie BensonPerth Glory and Bayswater City line-up pre-game. Credit: Laurie Benson
