Round 9 of the W-League saw the top of the table clash between Perth Glory and Sydney FC produce the most ever goals in one match.  The 7-5 win kept the Glory at the top of the league with wins to Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Victory propelled them up the table while Canberra United and Western Sydney remain in striking distance just outside the Top Four. 

Here are the talking points.

1.  The object of football: Johann Cruyff once said about football is that "it's all very simple: if you score one more than your opponent, you win."  That just about summed up the game between Sydney and Perth. 

Two potent attacks went head to head; Sydney with Simon, Kerr, Kete, Billson and Perth with Gill, De Vanna, D'Ovidio and Tabain and the end result was 90 minutes of crazy.  In essence the two defences were bystanders as individual brilliance shone.  It was the best, and the worst, of women's football but a memorable match nonetheless. 

2.  Play to the final whistle: How many times do you hear that from your coach in any given game.  This year, more than any other, this adage is correct and on Saturday another W-League match was decided essentially in the last play of the match. 

This time it was Jessica Fishlock, the team Melbourne Victory and the victim (for the second time this season) Canberra United.  A tight league has meant that margins are tight and how these close finishes affect a team's finals prospects are yet to seen. 

3.  Referees: Speaking of playing to the whistle, I don't like to make comments about the officials in the middle but we need a little more of the that whistle being blown.  Many have howled that the A-League referees are too punitive and I would argue that the W-League referees are too lenient.  There are several times in the three matches I watched last week where things threatened to boil over. 

The W-League players are like footballers the world over, if they can get away with it they will.  The refs need to take more control of the matches and do more to protect the early in the matches because as time wears on the challengers are becoming later and more crunching.  Because they are footballers and because they can. 

Top 5 players of the week (in no particular order)

1.  Lisa De Vanna (Perth Glory) produced a match winning performance (a hattrick and two assist) as the front woman for Perth Glory.  De Vanna's attributes are known and she was in full flight last Saturday.   

2.  Jessica Fishlock (Melbourne Victory) was again involved in everything.  That final cheeky lob of the 'keeper with the seconds winding down epitomises Fishlock in one action; classy. 

3.  Kristy Moore (Adelaide United) made an immediate impact in her first match for the Lady Reds.  Signed on a guest stint the experienced international's presence and skill steered Adelaide to their second win of the season. 

4.  Katrina Gorry/Tameka Butt (Brisbane Roar) double act blitzed Western Sydney in the opening half hour.  In that time it was enough for Butt to score the opener and Gorry to orchestrate the second.  Although its cheating, it is difficult to separate this dangerous Brisbane duo or establish who is most influential. Both are a joy to watch. 

5.  Louise Fors (Western Sydney) is making a habit of scoring wonderful free kicks.  Her 25 yard effort on the weekend was another stunner but it's not just the goals that make her an asset.  There is no harder worker or clinical passer at Western Sydney making her a fan favourite.