Report by Tommy Doleman

RedStar head coach Carlos Vega Mena

Perth RedStar put five goals past Hyundai NTC for a third time in their last four meetings as they won 5-1 at E&D Litis Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

It means Carlos Vega Mena's side sit seven points clear at the top of the NPLWA - Women's competition following a seventh win in as many outings this season.

Set-pieces were a decisive factor as they were the source of all five goals scored by the leaders. Jay Coleman got the final touch from Sarah Carroll's corner after six minutes to score the opening goal among a sea of bodies in the penalty area.

NTC looked to reply and Grace Johnston's cross-shot was just kept out by Maya Diederichsen, but RedStar would double their lead from another Carroll corner nine minutes before half-time as Larissa Walsh bundled in to extend her run of scoring in every round this season.

Carroll and Walsh both missed opportunities to make it three in the first half, but the third did arrive early in the second period as another Carroll corner was met by the head of Shawn Billam from six yards.

Clear-cut chances were few and far between for NTC but a nicely constructed move did yield a consolation, when Georgia Cassidy rolled forward for Tanika Lala to poke home her third of 2022.

But just as the youngsters pulled one back, they conceded from another set-piece as Carroll caught Lilly Bailey out of position and the ball found its way into the net.

There was still time for a fifth as Renee Leota was fouled in the area and Carroll stepped up to emphatically score her second and bring up RedStar's 34th goal in seven matches.

Elsewhere on Sunday, Perth SC opened up a seven-point gap on fourth-placed NTC after a 1-0 ‘Italian Derby’ win at Balcatta Etna.

Home keeper Gabby Dal Busco made a great block early doors to deny Zoee Spadano, while at the other end Tayna Campos' long -range free-kick was tipped away by Rebecca Bennett.

The Azzurri did break through for the game's decisive goal six minutes before half-time and it was scored in spectacular fashion as Abbey Meakins curled a free-kick over the wall beyond Dal Busco.

Emily Englebert for Balcatta could not capitalise on a misplaced back-pass early in the second half, but it was Perth who threatened a second as Dal Busco kept her side in it with a fine close-range save from Ella Lincoln.

Campos couldn't beat Bennett later in the half and that's how the game finished, as the hosts ended with 10 players after Monique D'Opera's tangle of legs with Liana Cook as the last defender.

On Friday night, Fremantle City were given a scare at bottom side Curtin University before four goals in the final 16 minutes gave them a 6-2 away win.

Remarkably it was goalless at half-time. Curtin’s Stacey Cavill saved from Jamie-Lee Gale and Mikayla Lyons in the opening 45 minutes, while at the other end Taylor Reid broke forward but hit the post.

The visitors broke the deadlock five minutes after the restart when Annabelle Leek's beautiful reverse pass was calmly put away by Matilda Boyle.

But Curtin, buoyed by last week's late comeback at Subiaco, turned the game on its head with two quickfire goals. Nina Boorman's free-kick was forced home by Reid before Natarsha Smith sliced inadvertently into her own net against her former club.

Mikayla Lyons drove into the box and won a penalty which she converted almost immediately after Curtin went in front to make it 2-2. She then played through a nicely weighted pass for Gale to collect, round Cavill and slot into a vacant net.

Gale then scored a similar goal from McCulloch's pass soon after as Freo put space between themselves and a spirited Curtin side. Jess Darmago's lob made it five and Erin Siah scored her first senior NPL goal to complete the scoring late on.

Subiaco's clash with Murdoch University Melville was postponed.

Results: Balcatta 0-1 Perth SC, Curtin University 2-6 Fremantle City, Hyundai NTC 1-5 Perth RedStar. Postponed: Subiaco v MUM FC.