Report by Tommy Doleman

Perth celebrate with goalscorer Abbey Meakins, second left. Photo by Rob Lizzi

Perth SC scored five goals in the final 20 minutes as they defeated Curtin University 5-0 at Dorrien Gardens on Sunday.

It was a welcome result for the Azzzurri, who had lost their previous two.

Jaime Duncanson scored twice and assisted for another two to help the Azzurri move into fourth above Fremantle City on goal difference.

Craine had the best of the early efforts from range which skidded straight to Stacey Cavill, while at the other end last year's hero in this fixture Jess Darmago fired straight at Rebecca Bennett.

Laikha MacWilson tested Bennett again moments later while Cavill was also kept busy by Zoe Spadano and Abbey Meakins as the half ended goalless.

Perth had the better of it in the second half as Curtin continued to look every bit the bogey team the hosts had run into in their previous three NPL meetings, where the Azzurri were yet to taste victory. But a 20-minute blitz from Perth proved decisive as Danielle Brogan's side found their ruthless streak late on.

The first came on 70 minutes when Tessa De Leo put Cavill under pressure from a corner and forced the ball over the line before Meakins tapped in after excellent work from Duncanson down the right.

A bizarre own goal from the unfortunate Erin Hannaway made it 3-0 before Duncanson showed another touch of class to volley a brilliant fourth and cap a spell of four goals in 11 minutes.

The winger then added her sixth of the season to join Larissa Walsh and Thalia Organ on six goals for the season as Perth's stunning second half was completed.

Elsewhere, Balcatta defeated Subiaco 3-1 at Grindleford Reserve to jump up to third.

Cass Harvey put wide of the post inside two minutes as Balcatta started on the front foot. They would go on to take the lead on 16 minutes when Christi Astorp's strike was well saved by Marissa Pidgeon, but Giorgia Alford followed in to finish the rebound.

Subiaco could have equalised immediately when Samantha Narra was put through on goal, but Gabby Dal Busco stepped out to make an excellent save.

Laura Hunt's shot took a slight deflection on its way to being comfortably gathered by Dal Busco, while at the other end Ashleigh Panaia's strike was hammered straight at Pidgeon.

Balcatta led by the solitary goal at the break but they doubled their advantage quickly after the restart when a goalmouth scramble broke for Harvey to net in the 48^th minute.

But Subiaco responded well from conceding in the first half and they did so again when Amy Sarandopoulous headed in Hunt's corner to halve the deficit.

Anna-Lena Dymowski brought the best out of Dal Busco as Iain Jolly's side continued to press hard, but they were undone by a slice of luck on the hour mark as Panaia's mazy run and cross flew in from a tight angle to restore Balcatta's two-goal break.

That's how it stayed as Subiaco remain bottom despite another encouraging performance, while Balcatta win for a third straight game and sit three points behind MUM FC ahead of next weekend's meeting.

On Friday, both Fremantle City and Hyundai NTC were defeated by the top two sides as they dropped out of the top four spots.

Redbacks won 5-1 against NTC to remain three points clear of Murdoch University Melville FC, who needed Baxter Thew's first NPL goal to defeat Fremantle City 1-0.

Reports of Friday’s matches here

Results

Balcatta 3-1 Subiaco
Fremantle City 0-1 Murdoch University Melville
Northern Redbacks 5-1 Hyundai NTC
Perth SC 5-0 Curtin University