Report by Tommy Doleman

Balcatta's Monique Prinsloo closes down Rosie Lehane during tonight's game at Besteam Stadium. Photo by Football West

Grace Johnston's brilliant winner for Hyundai NTC ended a five-game run without a victory as they moved into the top four on the NPLWA – Women’s competition with a 2-1 win over Perth SC.

Remarkably, both of NTC's wins in season 2022 have come against the Azzurri after Ben Anderton's team won 3-2 at E&D Litis Stadium in Round Two.

EX-NTC striker Ella Lincoln, Zoee Spadano and Liana Cook all had good first-half opportunities for Perth but found keeper Lilly Bailey on form, while at the other Georgia Cassidy saw her shot blocked.

NTC went ahead on 57 minutes from the penalty spot when Tanika Lala converted for her second in back-to-back games.

Lala then saw another goalbound effort hit Alyssa Van Heurck, and it could have proved costly as Perth equalised with 13 minutes left when Jaime Duncanson applied pressure to Bailey and charged down her clearance before eventually firing home.

But Johnston struck soon after to open her account for the season in spectacular style and NTC were on course to pick up a second win this season. They had to survive a frantic finale, though. Wilma Thodlana made an excellent goal-saving block on the line before goalkeeper Rebecca Bennett, thrown up in search of an equaliser, headed straight at Bailey at the death.

Saturday's other game saw leaders Perth RedStar plunder seven first half goals past Curtin University in a 7-0 win at RedStar Arena.

The first goal came after five minutes when Sarah Carroll pulled back for Larissa Walsh to extend her scoring streak to eight games to start 2022.

Carla Bennett threaded a gorgeous pass for Olivia Wood to make it 2-0 and on 17 minutes the lead was trebled when Jay Coleman put Carroll's cross in from six yards.

Carroll broke the offside trap to blast in a fourth and Walsh made it five before the half-hour mark as she scooted onto a Shawn Billam pass.

The blitz continued as Coleman doubled her tally for half a dozen RedStar goals and then Walsh received Bennett's pass to complete a hat-trick and make it 14 goals in eight games this year.

Shivani Battaglia prevented Dakota Van Vugt from registering a consolation for the visitors early in the second half, as the damage was done in the first 45 and RedStar go into next week's top-of-the-table clash with Fremantle City on eight wins from eight games.

On Friday night, Balcatta ended a run of five straight league defeats against Murdoch University Melville with a 1-0 win at Besteam Stadium.

Nikita Strickling and Mia Yeo both hit the target in the first 15 minutes, but the closest either side came was when Meghan Hulsman burst forward from full back with her cross cannoning off the bar and away to safety.

Into the second half and MUM FC broke forward through the returning Grace Betti, whose solo run and strike beat Gabby Dal Busco, but not Epril Nossent on the goalline.

The game's decisive goal came just past the hour mark as Lauren Continibali's cross wasn't dealt with by the hosts. Monique Prinsloo arrived on the scene to help towards goal, but Hulsman inadvertently got the final touch to break Balcatta's three-game scoring drought.

Poppie Hooks couldn't beat Dal Busco from 18 yards with the chance of an instant reply, while at the other end Prinsloo tried her luck from distance in an attempt to put the game to bed.

The visitors did require one final intervention though from the in-form Dal Busco, who made a tremendous late reaction stop to deny substitute Andrea Preiato and preserve the points.

Fremantle City rattled in three goals in the final 10 minutes to record a 4-1 win over Subiaco and open up a four-point lead on third-place Perth.

It was a superb performance of the bench from Katie Nolan in particular, who scored one and assisted three times in the second half to help turn the result in her team's favour.

Subiaco made a lively start as Phoenix Browlie brought a fine low save from Dayle Schroeder inside seven minutes.

At the other end, Zara Board tipped over Janice Kiama's drive, but it was the visitors who opened the scoring on 12 minutes. Brownlie once again caught Freo's defence cold, and this time made no mistake in curling beyond Schroeder into the bottom corner.

Kayla McCulloch stung the palms of Board late in the opening period and the visiting goalkeeper was called upon to save from Siobhan Longmore as the home team began to knock on the door.

The leveller would arrive on 60 minutes when substitute Nolan, showed a quick burst of pace and delivered a finish which beat Board for pace.

City then completed the comeback eight minutes from time. Laura Waltman's gorgeous pass was squared by Nolan, who provided an assist for Jess Darmago to tap in.

Nolan then went on a mazy run and threaded a pass for Longmore to open her account for 2022, before combining with Darmago again with the forward making it six goals for the season.

Results: Fremantle City 4-1 Subiaco, MUM FC 0-1 Balcatta, Perth RedStar 7-0 Curtin University, Perth SC 1-2 Hyundai NTC.