Auckland United vs Western Springs

In between weeks two and three of this competition there was a very exciting Under-17s World Cup squad named which travelled to India for that tournament on Thursday night. It was a squad with heaps of National League experience, almost every player having played at this level already – the best players in the motu are getting those opportunities, don’t worry about it. Many of them starred over the first couple weeks of this comp.

That U17 team’s going to be very enjoyable to watch at that World Cup... though the downside is that it does mean those players will be out of Natty League action for at least a couple weeks (hopefully more). No team was more affected by that than Auckland United who had Milly Clegg, Ruby Nathan, Aimee Danieli, and Manaia Elliott all selected after all four started their dominant 7-0 win over Southern last week. Western Springs also had Lara Colpi (one goal and two assists through two weeks) called up - we’ll highlight the U17 selections for each team in the team intros throughout this review.

Four players called up meant four changes to the starting team for Auckland Utd. Emma Leaming returned at fullback and George Martin at centre-back – pretty decent alternatives to have on call after both were rested last week. That meant Jenna Dodd moved into the midfield. It also meant Izzy Richards got a start in the front three. There were also two changes for Western Springs following that dramatic 3-2 win over the Cantabs last week. For their first away game of the campaign, they were without the services of Sam Tawharu so Rina Hirano moved further forward with Jess Innes coming into the midfield. Maia Lythe also started as a straight swap for Lara Colpi.

The weather was trash all over the country on Saturday and this was how the livestream began...

The game had already been delayed and moved from Keith Hay Park (AU’s normal home ground) to Michaels Avenue in Ellerslie - a swap from grass to artificial. The turf was full of puddles as well but at least it wasn’t muddy... ref deemed it good to go so we had football to be played, sweet as. As long as the rain didn’t get any worse.

The weather didn’t seem to bother Springs, who had decent shots from Hirano and Maggie Pederson inside of ninety seconds. Aimee Barnard did cause some hiccups charging down a backpass for AU (but it hit her hand) however Springs looked more likely to spring forward (clue’s in the name) and eleven mins in Emma Pijnenburg picked the pocket of Alosi Bloomfield and played a stunner of a pass between the centre-backs with enough weight on it that the puddles weren’t a factor and Rina Hirano did the rest. 1-0 to Western Springs.

The offside flag denied Sofia Garcia a few times, including one where she beautifully dispatched the ball into the bottom corner on 20 mins and to be honest, after playing the freeze frame game, it might’ve been a rough decision. Lucky break for United although Garcia’s deep threat wasn’t going away any time soon. Granted, United did have a strong spell after that. A ball into the area that didn’t sit up for Bree Johnson. A Leaming cross that dropped onto the top of the crossbar. It helped that the rain had eased up.

We were firmly in ‘Next Goal Is Crucial’ zone. Hirano showed a gorgeous touch to bring one down and force a Jesse Barnard save on the half-volley. Garcia fired wide from a Lythe cut-back. United were also playing in good areas... but getting past Lily Jervis and Jaedeci Uluvili is a task few can manage. Still 1-0 at the half. There were a few shivers from the players as they re-emerged from the shelter of the changing sheds but the pitch had drained nicely and the game was in the balance so nothing to complain about.

United must have refocussed at the break because it was much more of a midfield battle early seconds. Wasn’t until the 58th min that Pederson hit Garcia on the diagonal but her stabbed shot slid past the post. Garcia lifted another off target soon after. There was a better effort on Garcia’s favoured left on 66’ which only narrowly went high. Finally in the 78th minute we got another goal. A mistake by Sophie Bradley allowed Garcia to pounce. Jesse Barnard made a good close save from that one but Sophia Dyer buried the rebound for 2-0, a decisive second for Springs with United not really looking like they had the capacity for multiple goals themselves.

But just to make sure, Jess Innes scored directly from a corner in stoppage time. Goalie Barnard misread it although in her defence the rain had just begun pelting down again. Wee bit fortunate for Innes but she deserved that goal after some wonderful exploits in that defensive midfield role. She and Lily Taitimu were very strong, winning the ball and moving it around, giving Pijnenburg the space to be as influential as she could be. Great midfield areas from Western Springs... who of course also had the usual class from the likes of Rina Hirano and Sofia Garcia. Hence they made it three wins out of three with a 3-0 victory.

It’s tough mahi for Auckland United considering those four missing U17s on top of the retirement of Marty Puketapu and also Katie Duncan not playing this NL. Only six starters from the Kate Sheppard Cup final also started this game and with a number of key attackers amongst those absentees (Puketapu, Clegg, Nathan)... you could see the effect. But they scrapped hard, especially in defence, to stay in that game as long as they did. If they can grind out some results over the next 2-3 weeks until the 17s return then they’ll still be in that mix for the top two. Western Springs oughta be thinking nothing less than top two the way they’ve started this season.

Central vs Northern Rovers

Been a brutal couple weeks for Central who’d lost both previous games conceding 11 goals and scoring zero. They did have their first home game of the campaign this week, at picturesque Massey Uni... but it was against NRFL champs Northern Rovers so things were not about to get any easier. Matt Calvert’s team were also missing Lara Smith and Rebekah Trewhitt after both were called up to the NZ U17s – the Central region continuing to develop high level prospects regardless of the on-field struggles of this fed team.

The absentees (remember captain Kate Mori was injured in the first half of the season too) meant a few spare seats on the bench... but as far as replacements for Smith and Trewhitt go, they had two very good ones: Charlotte Lancaster into the starting team having come off the bench last week, and Jana Niedermayr also popped up back where it all began for her. Two U17 World Cup reps swapped out for two U20 World Cup reps. Rate that. Holly Scott and Pip Coakley were also given their maiden starts for this year. Scott played CB with Niedermayr at CM, by the way.

Northern found their winning form again by putting five past Capital last week. Their U17s were Alexis Cook and Suya Haering so that meant starts for Kelli Brown and Kate McConnell (the latter at RB with captain Talisha Green swapping to the left). Keeper Ellie Blount also returned to the XI while Leanna Ryan got a go in place of Estelle Harrison with Michaela Foster sliding a little deeper. This team has depth for days. Also how about both teams bringing in an ex-Phoenix player to replace an U17s call-up? Lancaster for Central and Brown for Rovers.

It was Kelli Brown who was destined to have the better afternoon though. Because a mere 19 seconds into the match she went and did this...

Didn’t take long to see that Rovers’ pace up front was going to be a significant problem. Both Rene Wasi and Leanna Ryan had early blitzes past defenders, with Ryan’s run ending with an Annie Foote save. Ryan also lashed one off the post in the ninth minute. Foster blazed high from about ten yards out after a Dani Canham cross, the sort of chance you’d expect her to bury. However Niedermayr definitely made a difference to that Central midfield, regularly getting a foot in to break up play. Central tended to give it straight back when they won the ball but there were a few times when they got into good areas up the left wing in particular (where Lancaster was patrolling).

Brown thought she’d scored again after 20 minutes as she latched onto a Canham pass and rolled her foot over the ball to get around the keeper before hitting that empty net. But she was – kinda controversially – ruled to be offside. Not so sure about that one. There was no flag when Wasi played Brown in a little later except Brown’s cross evaded everyone in the middle. Surely only be a matter of time... and it was. An intercept by Canham meant she could nudge the ball into space. Brown out sprinted Scott and was able to dodge the challenge of Foot rushing out. Nothing to worry about there. 2-0 after 23 mins.

Again Foster should’ve scored as she side-footed a tasty Talisha Green free kick over the top. Foster also forced Foote to punch away one of her swirling corner kicks. Foz did score an outrageously high quality hat-trick last week so, you know, can’t get too greedy. Kelli Brown was certainly desperate for a goal in that Capital game but snatched at almost every shot. Too eager, perhaps. Let’s just say she had no such problems here. 38th minute and Wasi stretched to sneak a ball into the penalty area for Brown who shaped up and scored again. First half hatty for Kelli B. Party on.

It was almost four in 40 mins as Leanna Ryan’s cross was touched on target by Brown but Foote made a fine stop. However Brown then poked the ball back to Wasi who scored it anyway, returning the favour. And before the break Foster set up Ryan who finished confidently for 5-0. Three goals in five minutes turned a positive underdog effort from Central into something a whole lot less positive. They weren’t even playing that badly – the midfield areas were pretty competitive – but that fatal flaw of not being able to deal with pace and movement at the back meant Northern were creating chances at will. Central were 6-0 down at HT last week in Eastern Suburbs, and 5-0 down at home to Northern Rovers at half-time this week.

Rovers almost scored as quickly in the second half as they did in the first. Foster with a splitting pass down the middle and again Wasi was simply too fast... yet Annie Foote made the save as Wasi chose to shoot rather than carry on her run around the keeper. Instead they had to wait a whole two minutes and change before Kelli Brown scored another of her trademark curlers from outside the box. Once more after running onto a deep pass where she blitzed her marker.

Then a McConnell cross got through a couple defenders and Leanna Ryan weaved her way into a position to pop in for her brace. And Kelli Brown got around another defender in the area straight after, followed by a clever dinked finish, for a five-for all of her own. It’s was only 2-0 after 37 minutes but that 15 minute span bridging the two halves saw Central ship in SIX goals. Conceding on 38’, 39’, 43’, 48’, 50’, and 51’. That’s... not great. Kelli Brown is great though. Erling Haaland eat your heart out.

At that stage the home fans were probably wondering about a mercy rule... but believe it or not Rovers would only score once more. Some of that was because of substitutions and Rovers taking their proverbial foot off the pedal (same as with Eastern Suburbs last week). But also Pip Coakley was alert to head a Foster corner kick off the line, Foz going for yet another Olympico special. Annie Foote made a wonderful diving save to send a Wasi shot past the post. They had swapped Niedermayr back to CB with Kate Bennett moving into midfield at the half which obviously didn’t have the desired effect initially but after Stella Warner came on at left back they tightened up. That and also Wasi and Brown and McConnell all missed amazing chances.

Maisy Dewell came on for Rovers. An FFDP rep in recent years, not a bad option to randomly be able to bring off the bench. It was Dewell that broke the 20 minute goal drought for Northern as she stole the ball off a Central player then chipped Foote from well outside the area. Foote did get a hand on the effort as she scrambled back but couldn’t keep it from crossing the line. Hell of a goal.

Bit rude of Ellie Blount to make an incredible save off Cental sub Maddi Hughes’ shot with ten to go. Could have at least let her hosts have something... though at the same time the clean sheet probably feels better when you’ve had to dive for one. Cleans sheets and dirty gloves is the way. Annie Foote also saved a few crackers down the stretch, gotta recognise those too.

9-0 was the final score and it could have been a lot more, this was a rampant Northern Rovers team who spotted a weakness and ruthlessly exploited it over and over again. Kelli Brown was unstoppable with five goals and an assist in her starting return to National League footy. Leanna Ryan scored two and assisted one. Rene Wasi had one of each. Michaela Foster somehow didn’t score in a game where Northern got nine but she did have two assists and was hugely influential in that deeper midfield role – quite a few tackles won from her boots. Danielle Canham served up a couple assists too, taking her up to four from three games to make her the current league leader.

Feels best not to add anything else about Central. It’s been a tough two weeks for them but they did probably play the two strongest attacking teams in the country. It will get easier. Especially with the likes of Niedermayr and Lancaster on board now.

Canterbury United Pride vs Eastern Suburbs

Two more teams right here who were affected by the U17 World Cup squad naming. Olivia Page and Zoe Benson were picked from Eastern Suburbs; Ella McCann, Charlotte Mortlock, Megan Simpson, and Maddi Iro from Canterbury United. The Pride were especially stretched there (although Simpson and Iro haven’t played this year) and it was made worse by midfielder Kate Loye missing apparently to compete at the Spring Challenge multi-sport race in Te Anau. Too fit for her own good, that one.

Coach Alana Gunn therefore had changes to make and she made a few. Including switching to a back three, with Kendrah Smith joining Rebecca Lake and Mikaela Hunt at CB. Kate Guildford came in at wingback. Ellena Firth played midfield instead of RB. Petra Buyck was back in the starting eleven after her outrageous double off the bench last week. And some much needed experience in the forward line was supplied by Bel van Noorden’s return.

The Pride lost 3-2 to Western Springs last week though they did make a game of it late with Buyck’s goals. Eastern Suburbs won both previous games and they won them handily. There were also copious changes for Stephen Hoyle’s team – as he returned to an old stomping ground at English Park. As promised, Lucy Carter and Kate Carlton are stepping away. But Rebekah van Dort was a pretty useful replacement, along with Rachel Head. Erinna Wong returned to the starting line-up with Annie Byrne not available to play on turf pitches due to a previous ACL injury. Another reason not to have National League games on artificial surfaces... but I digress.

As far as good starts go, Canterbury United didn’t have one. A poor pass back across her goal by Hunt was picked off by Lucas who was then taken down by keeper Foyle. A yellow card for Foyle – which she may ask Hunt to pay the fine for – and a penalty for Eastern Suburbs. Juliette Lucas stepped up and buried it down the middle. Ninety seconds into the contest it was already 1-0 to Suburbs.

Suburbs’ speed in turning defence into attack has been killing NRFL teams all year and even this stacked Pride defence was having immense difficulties with them. Had to scramble to clear a few corner kicks (which we know Subs have been merciless from this year) and they will have been relieved as O’Brien’s cross only narrowly evaded Cooper in the middle.

The consolation is that Suburbs do concede a few as well. As long as the Pride were able to cling on at the back they knew that things could happen for them up front. Such as a magical through ball from Hepburn to Van Noorden, although Rachel Head’s superb cover tackle took care of that opportunity. Van Dort did similar to Guildford later on. Eastern Suburbs always seemed to have an extra woman in defence when they needed one and this weakened Pride attack didn’t often look like they could break them down.

To be fair, it was a solid midfield battle and other than that one early mistake there wasn’t a huge amount between the two teams. At least not until the Pride defence got scrambled on 38’ and it was up to CDM Hepburn to win a footrace with Lucas to stave off a 1v1. Hepburn did slide in to knock the ball away... but Lucas recovered the ball and nudge it over to Deven Jackson at the far post for the simplest of tap-ins. That Canterbury defence looks a wee bit too vulnerable these days. It was a problem last year too.

Better start for the Pride in the seconds as Bel van Noorden got plenty of touches and a couple of her crosses caused gasps from the home crowd... although a hundred or so metres away Foyle had to be at full strength to tip a Lucas shot post her post. Van Noorden ended up limping off in the 59th minute after twisting to stab a delivery across. Luckily they did have Britney-Lee Nicholson ready to roll on the bench.

Nicholson was one of a number of attacking subs made by Alana Gunn. The Pride knew that if they could score one then they were right back in it, hence we also got a first sight of Frankie Morrow this season. Lisa Evans was another introduction. But the back three was even more exposed as a result and there’s only so much turf that Whitney Hepburn can cover by herself. Then again, space means nothing when Deven Jackson can weave past defenders like this, what a goal...

At 2-0 it was game on. At 3-0 it was probably beyond the Pride. But they kept pushing and on 75’ they did get one back, Chloe Bellamy poking the ball away from a defender and over to Lisa Evans who kinda toe-punted it at goal and it snuck home to make it 3-1, alrighty then. Good hustle.

Swell to see Charlotte Wilford-Carroll emerge off the bench for Eastern Subs. The former Capital standout has moved north for FFDP opportunities and signed with Suburbs. She hasn’t played since returning from the U20 World Cup but now she’s back and that’s one more quality player to chuck into that impressive Suburbs midfield.

Canterbury kept going for it and Suburbs know no other way. It was simply a matter of who’d score next. Lucas had a couple moments. Nicholson volleyed over after running into a great spot. Wilford-Carroll snuck in behind and forced a save. Eventually it was a fourth goal for Eastern Suburbs; Tayla O’Brien’s enduring efforts getting her to the byline where she laid a sweet ball over to Nicole Mettam at the back post. Get in there.

4-1 to Eastern Suburbs who just cannot stop scoring goals (nice of Tayla O’Brien to set one up for a change after scoring seven herself already). And even at 4-1 up in stoppage time Saki Yoshida still sprinted over to make a wonderful block off Darsha Keoghan, that’s Commitment with a capital C. Too clinical, tu meke from Suburbs. Deven Jackson and Juliette Lucas took the plaudits this day. Rebekah van Dort ran the show at the back. Three wins from three with 16 goals scored. This team is something else.

Dunno about the Pride though. It feels like they’re lacking that gun striker to build around and in all their searching for answers they’re leaving themselves stretched at the back as defenders step forward to try and break the impasse. Seven goals conceded in their last two... that’s very un-Pride like. We may only be three weeks in but it could be a long way back for Canterbury United to make the final.

Capital vs Southern United

Finally to Wellington, specifically Petone Memorial Turf, where Capital and Southern both had designs upon their first points of the campaign. It may have been a gloomy day as far as the weather was concerned but at least one of these teams was going to get their tally underway. Three changes for the hosts after a 5-0 loss away to Northern. Molly Simons came back in at goal having served her red card suspension. The back four was unchanged but no Lena De Ronde against her old team meant a start for Liv Deane while Olive Lynch-Gerrard was also promoted after a couple solid bench cameos. Renee Bacon was up against the team she won the South Central Series with a year ago.

The Southerners mixed things up too with Kate Hannay coming in for Amelia Simmers in goal. Last week’s loss was a blowover at home to Northern so no surprises that Kris Ridley felt he needed to make alterations. Jemma Wilson also came in for the absent Tahlia Roome, Wilson on the left wing with Samantha Woolley dropping to fullback. Wilson and Hannay had both been subbed on at half-time last week. Cheeky addition on the bench too: Sarah Morton. One of a small number of senior capped Football Ferns in this league, she played for Central last season but has now linked up with younger sister Rose at Southern.

Despite this National League having goals galore so far, these two teams had each scored just once across their first two fixtures. Each must have seen a weakness in the other because this game began in a hurry, both teams frantic to move the ball forward. Southern were able to win a couple set pieces that gave them a bit more of the territory... though nothing which suggested that, in the seventh minute, Abby Rankin was gonna turn into space so sharply or play such a beautifully judged ball down the right wing for Jasmine Prince or that Prince would storm back in onto her left foot and score a wicked opening goal.

Southern were working the ball down that right wing with menace as Jasmine Prince took advantage of a narrow Capital defence. Jayden Watts went into the book for taking Prince out on the run. The ball playing of that SU midfield trio of Morton, Whittaker, and Rankin was fantastic. At least Capital had captain Zoe Barrott there to step in and cut a few things out.

Actually, what Capital did was pretty fascinating: they swapped their fullbacks to opposite sides and also did the same with their centre-backs. It meant Patterson and Barrott on Prince’s side and that did seem to aid things. Having said that, avoiding goals is one thing but they also needed to score at least one and progressing the ball past the vacuum cleaner that is Rose Morton in midfield was tricky... although when they did finally create a decent chance (after 26 mins) they almost scored. Pepi Olliver-Bell drew a foul on the edge of the box. Bacon smashed it low and Hannay couldn’t hold it... but Olliver-Bell couldn’t catch the tap-in rebound. Somehow.

Strangely, Southern then went to their bench. Kennedy Bryant subbed in for Jemma Wilson, surely an injury concern given we were only 27 minutes deep and Southern were winning. Funky occurrence for Bryant who was making her first appearance of the season and had come up the grades with Capital.

Capital had a good spell around that half hour mark, thanks in large part to the tenacity of Renee Bacon. But a mix-up at the back cost them dearly on 37’. Margi Dias reacted quickest to a loose ball and sought to feed Rankin on the edge of the area. Asha Strom slid in to put an end to that idea however the ball skidded behind the defensive line and Prince ran onto it first. Some appeals for offside but it was a Capital player who kicked it there and anyway Prince was may well have been onside regardless. Just too fast. She slotted past Simons for a double.

Whittaker couldn’t hit the target with the last kick of the first half despite Simons being out of position after Dias had squared it. Into the second spell and it was now a case of game management for the Southerners, who seemed to allow Capital a lot more of the ball as they mostly put away the hectic press that had been causing dramas earlier.

There were chances in the second stanza. But not very many. Southern’s midfield continued to boss it and they even brought on Sarah Morton for the last quarter of an hour. Jasmine Prince’s defensive workrate caught the eye after her earlier attacking exploits. And Hannah Mackay-Wright and Kelsey Kennard at the back ensured that Capital never really got anything going. The most exciting moment of the second half was probably this combo between Rose Morton and Bryant which led to a remarkable save from Molly Simons...

But yeah, 2-0 to Southern. First win on the board for the sort-of defending champs. It was the unceasing workrate and sheer pace of Jasmine Prince that earned them the points though Rose Morton was superb in midfield and she was far from alone. Their high press against a youthful Capital defence was carnage to the home side’s ability to build up possessions. They also might have stumbled onto something very useful as Kennedy Bryant’s hold-up play as the number nine seemed to give them that back-to-goal striker presence that they’ve been missing with Amy Hislop gone to America. Curious to see if they stick with that.

Capital’s best was without a doubt Zoe Bennett at CB. They’d have been buried without her timely tackling and calming presence. Molly Simons had a solid game in goal too, while Renee Bacon was their best chance of getting something going in attack, it just didn’t quite click. Thought Lauren Owen showed off some lovely touches in midfield as well. Doesn’t get any easier for Capital who are away to Western Springs next week. Southern meanwhile will be plotting a win streak as they host Central on Saturday.

Weirdly, every away team won in week three.

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