Report by Tommy Doleman

Jaime Duncanson pounces on Gabby Dal Busco's parry to fire home Perth's late winner against Balcatta. Photo by Rob Lizzi

Jamie Duncanson scored a last-minute winner for Perth SC as they won 2-1 at Balcatta FC in Round Six of the NPL WA women's competition on Sunday.

It was in-form Duncanson's fourth in her last four games and meant Perth leapfrogged their opponents in the standings with consecutive wins for the first time in 2021.

The Azzurri got off to a flyer and scored inside the opening five minutes when Caitlin Doeglas looped a long-range effort over Gabby Dal Busco to net her first goal in Perth colours against the club she left in the off-season.

Balcatta were looking to arrest a two-game losing run and forced Rebecca Bennett into a save on 35 minutes when Ashleigh Panaia tried her luck from range.

Bennett then made a brilliant one-on-one block to deny Cass Harvey as the goalkeeper preserved Perth's lead at the interval.

Abbey Meakins and Doeglas both went close from a set-piece early in the second half, but the hosts found an equaliser on 63 minutes when Chelsie Winchcombe finished from Panaia's corner for her first NPLW goal.

Dal Busco made a brilliant double save to deny Tessa De Leo and Liana Cook in quick succession, and then thwarted substitute Gemma Craine with 11 minutes to play.

The former Perth Glory goalkeeper was in excellent form throughout the second period and Panaia almost snatched a late winner for Balcatta with a volley which drifted wide.

But Dal Busco's efforts were sadly in vain as the visitors provided the late twist. Cook hit one from the edge of the area and Duncanson followed in to extend Perth's unbeaten run to three.

Perth's win was not quite enough to move them into the top four though as NTC won 5-0 at bottom side Subiaco and moved above Danielle Brogan's side on goals scored.

Both teams had chances in the first half as Ella Lincoln hit the post and Samantha Narra was denied by an excellent save from Lily Bailey after Jen Walsh's shot deflected into her path.

But two goals in the five minutes before half-time gave NTC a firm footing in the game. Skipper Tijan McKenna fizzed in from the edge of the area before Lincoln scored from Isabella Wallhead's assist.

Taneesha Baker made it 3-0 on 56 minutes with an excellent solo goal and even though Subiaco dug deep for the remainder of the game, the visitors were able to add gloss to the scoreline with two late strikes.

Lincoln completed her brace when she planted a left-footed strike across Marissa Pidgeon before Monique Prinsloo tapped in a fifth as the NTC enjoyed back-to-back wins.

Elsewhere, Katarina Jukic scored four times as Murdoch University Melville remained in second spot following a 5-1 win away at Curtin.

Last season's Golden Boot winner opened the scoring on 11 minutes when she collected Charli Wainwright's pass and curled brilliantly into the top corner with her left foot.

Curtin pushed league leaders Northern Redbacks last week and gave MUM FC a scare here as Eleanor Bates rattled in an excellent equaliser from the edge of the area.

But as they did in their last away game at Balcatta, the defending champions put the foot down in the second period and scored four more goals to run away with proceedings.

Jukic made it 2-1 three minutes after the restart before the reigning Gold Medal holder completed her hat trick as she headed in Mariana Tabain's cross from six yards.

Tia Stonehill capitalised on Stacey Cavill's fumble to add a fourth goal before Jukic netted her eighth of the season from close range as the defending champions set up a top of the table clash with Northern Redbacks next weekend.

On Friday night, Redbacks maintained top spot after a 5-0 win over Fremantle City at Macedonia Park, which sees them sit a point clear of the chasing pack after round six.

Sarah Carroll scored a free kick for a second consecutive week to get Redbacks rolling on 23 minutes before Renee Leota netted for 2-0 in first half stoppage time.

Larissa Walsh's pace helped her get in behind Fremantle's defence for a third before Carroll netted from the penalty spot and Leota poked home a fifth midway through the second half.