The Western Force have finally shown they can win at home, Cameron Shepherd converting his own last-minute try from the touchline to secure an 18-17 win over the Hurricanes at a delirious Subiaco Oval.

In yet another one-point thriller in Perth, the Force appeared to have once again stumbled with a Super 14 victory in sight after Jimmy Gopperth scored a controversial try to put the visitors six points ahead with just over two minutes remaining.

But after Shepherd brought the Force to within a point after the siren, the nerveless fullback then stepped up to slot the extras and send the Force hordes wild.

When Tana Umaga made a decisive move, burrowing over for his second try of the year, the Subiaco fans returned to their accustomed position on the edge of their seats for the entire second half.

And it seemed they would once again be left heartbroken, after Gopperth was awarded five points despite appearing to have lost the ball over the line.

But having put a supposed kicking slump behind him with earlier penalties, Shepherd finished sweetly in the corner before banging over the conversion despite the wind and enormous pressure.

Shepherd said despite some whispers about some recent misses, he was confident when he stepped to the crucial kick.

"(Force captain Nathan Sharpe) came up to me and said "Make sure you hit it sweet" and no matter what happens he will still love me," Shepherd said.

"I kicked it as best I could and it went over.

Sharpe said despite the pressure he had faith in Shepherd's ability.

"I have always got confidence in Shep, he is one of the best goalkickers in the competition and no-one ever kicks it 100 per cent.

"You put the ball in his hands and more often that not he rises to the occasion. It is like everyone in our team - if we back them we will come through with the goods."

The Force had lost Troy Takiari and Scott Staniforth before kick off to injuries - but their first attack led to the first try, Giteau's long pass finding Drew Mitchell sprinting in.

After the incendiary start, the half settled into an attritional passage, with the Force defence holding firm.

Several times the Kiwi's seemed to have worked numbers against a scrambling rearguard, only to choose the wrong option or turn the ball over.

And it took them until three minutes before the break to finally cross the line, with Umaga burrowing his way over after a sniping run from Rico Gear and Paul Tito.

The Force were convinced there was a forward pass in the build up to the try, as was coach Mitchell - but they were dealt a better hand by referee Mark Lawrence moments into the second half.

The South African spotted Luke Andrews taking out Junior Pelesasa and sin-binned him, with Shepherd slotting a penalty to restore the Force's lead.

Blair Stewart hit back with a penalty of his own, but Shepherd took advantage of another blatant offence at the breakdown to give the Force a slender lead.

With the game on a knife edge, Mitchell almost turned from hero to villain when he failed to gather a bouncing ball only to see the `Canes ruin another chance.

But just moments after coming on for Stewart, Gopperth wrestled his way over to apparently seal another home loss for the Force.

Shepherd had other ideas, however, and after outpacing Tito in the corner, kicked truly to finally remove the home hoodoo.

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