2022 Women’s National League – Week 7 Review
Western Springs vs Eastern Suburbs
Here it was, finally. Into the last matchweek before every team had played each other at least once and that meant this fixture could wait no longer. The two runaway leaders atop the table. The two teams playing easily the best football, scoring the most goals and conceding the fewest. They’ll play again before the round robin is done and they’ll probably meet in the final too barring some calamity. Friday night under lights at Seddon Fields. Blockbuster footballing activities.
There were no punches pulled by Western Springs as the home side. They had rested keeper Angelique TuiSamoa for the last game, now she was back. Lily Taitimu also returned to the midfield having done a gig at left back last match. Anija Irvine got the LB honours this week (she’d started one other game at CB). That also meant Lara Colpi dropping to the bench so that Rina Hirano could play up front. Hirano, Garcia, Tawharu. Quite a front three.
For Suburbs, there were a couple of changes from what we’ve seen recently. U17s World Cup squadie Olivia Page made her second start of the season at left wing-back. Charlotte Wilford-Carroll, an U20s rep, also made her second start after Ella Findlay went off injured in the last match. Central midfield for CWC. There was still no Juliette Lucas who didn’t play either game last week... but they did have Deven Jackson back alongside Tayla O’Brien and Nicole Mettam in the front three. A pretty handy forward trio from Suburbs themselves.
First notable moment fell for the Lilywhites (wearing yellow on this occasion) as Mettam curled wide after Jackson had intercepted a pass on the press. Soon afterwards Jackson picked up a long ball from Bennett (who got an assist last week, remember) and through a combo of speed and poise was able to get a shot away but it fizzed past the post. Then Wilford-Carroll pinged one on target which TuiSamoa punched away... and Rebekah Van Dort flicked a header wide from the corner. Bright start given we weren’t even five mins into the match – Suburbs have scored eight times inside the first 20 mins of games so far, can’t be slow out of the blocks against this lot.
This was a fast-paced game. Lots of midfield pressure from both sides. Page arguably should’ve put Suburbs in front after a smooth jink into the penalty area and then a return pass with O’Brien but power won out over placement and TuiSamoa made the save. But Tayla O’Brien didn’t make the same mistake in the 15th minute. Running onto a threaded Wilford-Carroll pass, she got there quick enough that TuiSamoa couldn’t challenge her and then straightened up to put it through her legs. That’s goal number 12 for TOB. An absolutely incredible season she’s having.
Sofia Garcia made sure to pull the trigger from distance next chance she got for WS. Decent effort but off target. Back the other way it took a wonderful tackle in the area from Arisa Takeda to prevent Jackson from doing anything drastic. Then Lily Jervis got her body in the way of a Mettam shot after Mettam and Page had done a bit of two versus everyone down the right wing.
Springs needed to find a foothold in here somewhere. Didn’t happen. Rather, O’Brien flicked a ball through for Jackson who struck the base of the post from a tight angle. Springs did almost strike back when Emma Pijnenburg scooped up a loose pass and pinged a very useful shot that required Bennett at full stretch to push it wide. But then Deven Jackson did this...
Great ball from Saki Yoshida, great finish from Deven Jackson. This was really remarkable from Eastern Suburbs... and O’Brien nearly made it three as she angled in behind the defence and cracked a shot across goal. Then Mettam really should have done as O’Brien rounded Irvine to get the byline and slid a ball over for her but Jess Innes might’ve just gotten a touch on it to ruin the moment.
One player who looked determined to haul Springs up into the contest again was Pijnenburg and although this move didn’t end up in a goal, Hirano nudging it ever so slightly wide, still had to clip it for the sheer quality of the pass, jeepers...
Half-time saw Lara Colpi subbed on for Irvine, with Taitimu reverting to right back and Hirano dropping into an attacking midfield spot. Initially that seemed a smart adjustment as Springs worked the ball into a shooting area for Garcia. But then Charlotte Wilford-Carroll scored a blinder and it was 3-0 to Subs. Not even three mins into the half.
Couple good instances for Western Springs, Pijnenburg with a shifty run but a blocked shot. Hirano with a clever run into the area but a brilliant save by Bennett sticking a hand out. A Hirano cross (after Pijnenburg again played a slick pass into the area) that was too high for Garcia... and maybe Hirano should’ve shot anyway. Yet it was never without danger back the other way. Usually involving Tayla O’Brien. Sure enough, 68 minutes played, there was TOB to tap in from close range on the end of a driven square cross low from Aimee Atkins (on as a sub a few minutes earlier). 4-0 to Eastern Suburbs. Relentless. 13th goal of the campaign for O’Brien. Fifth assist for Atkins.
You’d have assumed the result was set in stone from that point, though Western Springs were able to restore a bit of dignity. Sofia Garcia should’ve done better when she scooped a Colpi pull-back over the top (guess who set up Colpi? Emma Pijnenburg of course) so Lara Colpi did the business herself instead. Snapshot saved by Bennett, only for Van Dort’s clearance to set Colpi up for a second chance and she made sure she pulled one back on 73’.
Colpi and Jackson traded less-than-clinical shots. O’Brien stuck one over the top in a determined search for that hat-trick. Zoe Benson missed the target after a TOB feed. Back and forth as both teams chased further goals. How about this one from Arisa Takeda?
Hell yeah, get in. Counts as a Pijnenburg assist too which was very much deserved. That did leave things frisky for if Springs could grab another one in a hurry... except they didn’t. The eventual 4-2 defeat kinda flattered them in the end, although they did have chances to score earlier and had they taken one then they may still have had a window to crawl through.
But the best team won, no doubt about it. This was a commanding Eastern Suburbs performance. Fantastic from Tayla O’Brien and Charlotte Wilford-Carroll. Supporting roles from the likes of Saki Yoshida, Rachel Head, Deven Jackson, and Nicole Mettam. They took control of this game early and could easily have won by more. For a clash between the two top teams, this was dominant mahi. This win opens up a five point gap for Suburbs who are now the only remaining undefeated team. Extraordinary stuff.
There are a few things that Western Springs will have picked up for next time. Lara Colpi’s impact was massive while Emma Pijnenburg played a part in pretty much all their positive moves in the second half (and quite a few in the first). Just gotta work on that space behind their midfield where O’Brien feasts. Fascinating game with an emphatic outcome... but there will be more to this rivalry before the season is through.
Capital vs Canterbury United Pride
Strange days for the Pride to find themselves so far off the pace in a National League season. At least Capital sorta knew they weren’t gonna be quite at the level of recent years – this match-up was our grand final two years ago – whereas the Pride have been stumped by a few slow starts and some uncharacteristic mistakes. Capital lost their first four games but found some form with a late draw against Auckland United and beat Central twice in a row last week. Meaning that these two teams entered this meeting level on 7 points each, the Pride slightly ahead on goal difference.
Only one change to the elevens for each. Canterbury were without Britney-Lee Nicholson so Charlotte Mortlock joined the midfield with Chloe Bellamy moving forward into the striker pairing. Still looking for answers in attack with only 2 goals in the team’s last 3 games. Capital didn’t have defender Caelin Patterson yet luckily they did have Jayden Watts available to replace her. This after their first clean sheet of the season the previous Monday.
There were a couple of sketchy moments for the Pride defence to begin with, never ideal although they escaped unscathed. We then started to see the likes of Chloe Bellamy and Frankie Morrow searching for room around the Capital penalty area but again to little avail. It was a dozen minutes before a clear chance emerged, when Renee Bacon tried to lift a bouncing ball over Una Foyle but put it wide. Incredible long ball from Zoe Barrott to spark it – ZB’s defence is always noteworthy but don’t sleep on the distribution.
Whitney Hepburn wasn’t far off after swinging her foot through a long shot. Elsewhere Dani Ohlsson polished off a Bacon cross but was flagged offside to no complaints. Still limited moments overall as neither team seemed too willing to overload the attacking areas – Capital normally try to play like that with the speed of their front three on the break a priority, while the Pride have gotten themselves in trouble by flooding forward recently so it was poignant that Lara Wall in particular was holding back. Gotta be aware of that Renee Bacon threat.
Lauren Dabner had a couple instances for Canterbury where she wasn’t quite clinical enough with the touch or shot. A big old Wellington breeze limited what either team could do with the ball off the ground. Nah it was all a bit cagey and disjointed... until Bacon sliced a ball through the CUP defence to Pepi Olliver-Bell who only had the keeper to beat but she struck it straight at Una Foyle. Right into the bread-basket. Thus it remained scoreless at the break – Capital probably with the best couple chances.
Yet less than a minute into the second spell a lay-off from Dabner was struck on target by Lisa Evans, the Pride immediately looking sharper than they ever did in the first spell. Would suggest it wasn’t a coincidence that Capital had needed to replace captain Zoe Barrott at the break. Devyn Crawford on in her place.
Good work from Ellena Firth to block Lena De Ronde’s back post effort from a corner. Dabner almost turned a brilliant Morrow cross home only she couldn’t beat Molly Simons. A more open game now... but not open enough for Alana Gunn’s liking as she made a triple change after 55 mins to throw on Petra Buyck, Charlotte Roche, and Jasmine Donald. All attacking options. No holding back.
Rebecca Otte pounced to slam a loose ball in for Capital but again the offside flag went up. Otte started celebrating so she obviously wasn’t expecting it. Looked a fair enough call though. Then Olliver-Bell drove into the area and forced Foyle to make a strong low stop. There were some frantic instances as Bellamy charged down a Simons clearance which fell for Roche but Simons recovered to save. Capital threw on Sydnie Williams and Sammi Preval. They wanted the three points too. This thing was there for the taking with quarter of the match remaining.
And it was the Pride who went and took it. Lovely passing move going in and out and under from Wall to Roche to Buyck to Evans running in behind and drawing the contact from Simons in the box. That was a penalty. Rebecca Lake placed the ball on the spot... and scored confidently in the bottom left corner. 1-0 to Canterbury after 68 minutes of action thanks to the captain.
The Cantabs did keep trying for another goal, Hepburn shooting just wide, but they also subbed on Kendrah Smith to replace Evans with quarter of an hour left. That meant it was back three time. Keep chasing goals but don’t risk what they’ve already got. The plan worked perfectly because Capital couldn’t find space for the counter attack in the 83rd min Chloe Bellamy scored her fourth of the season to double the lead. Hepburn with the splitting pass to find Buyck. Nudge inside under pressure and Bellamy did the rest. Past the keeper with one touch, into the net with the next.
The rest of the game was largely scrappy Canterbury attacks... although Sammi Preval pinged a mean shot in off the post in the second minute of stoppage time to keep things funky right up until the final whistle. It arrived soon enough to confirm a 2-1 win for the Canterbury United Pride, back on the horse with their third dub of the year. Wasn’t often pretty but that clearly wasn’t a priority for a team looking to get back into the grind. Rebecca Lake was influential in that, the best defender for the team and also scorer of the opening goal from the penalty spot. Lisa Evans provided a game-breaking moment when they needed one. Chloe Bellamy worked hard up top. It’s not a win that’ll live particularly long in the memories but it’s a win and that’s what counts.
Capital meanwhile... they were doing great until they lost Zoe Barrott. If only they’d been able to put away a couple of their (onside) chances prior to the Pride taking the lead. In a match between two teams with issues regarding finishing, both trying to prioritise defensive shape, the first goal was always going to be massive and that’s how it proved. You can get away with being wasteful against defences the likes of Auckland United and Central and still probably have enough chances to score a few (and they only juuuust got away with it against United) but the Pride didn’t give them that room.
Southern United vs Northern Rovers
Wouldn’t have picked that this would potentially be a scrap for third place when the National League got underway. Northern Rovers, as NRFL champs, would’ve been aiming higher while Southern may have won the South Central Series in 2021 but repeating as the best of the federations would’ve been a hope rather than an expectation. Yet here we were, winner of this game to move third overall.
Southern hosted this one at Logan Park. Only one alteration to the side that started the 2-1 win over Canterbury and that was Emily Morison in for the absent Kennedy Bryant (who was apparently running the Auckland Half-Marathon – a prior engagement for a late addition to the squad). Significant loss for them but at least they had an experienced player in Morison to fill those boots. And still got that speed out wide from Margi Dias and Jasmine Prince. Northern Rovers brought Lenna Ryan back into the XI which meant Rene Wasi sliding into midfield. No Maisy Dewell. Riley Sheldon also got a chance in defence in place of Chelsea Elliott who was on the bench (having otherwise been everpresent). Suya Haering was also on the bench, returning from the U17 World Cup.
Hectic footy as both teams tried to move the ball with speed: Southern from within their structure looking for quick feeds into their midfield and then out to their wingers; Northern a little more fluid with interplay and overloads. Southern had Toni Power and Jasmine Prince storm into the box only for Ryan and Talisha Green to step in with strong challenges. Green also smashed the first shot in anger over the bar from range.
Leanna Ryan hit a drop-shot on the turn but it was straight at Kate Hannay. Dias burned one slightly high and slightly wide for SU. Nothing to split them through twenty minutes. Nothing to split them through thirty. Both teams working hard off the ball, defenders getting the best of the duels so far. Set pieces were a focus at each end. And it was a set piece that broke things open: a penalty for Southern.
Talisha Green had seemingly pulled off a great bit of defending as she cleared Toni Power’s header off the line from a corner kick but the whistle went for a shove off the ball by Leanna Ryan, by the looks. There was only a half appeal by Hannah Mackay-Wright but it was given and HMW stepped up to put her team into the lead from twelve yards. A brilliant take. Goals in consecutive games for the in-form Southern defender.
Ellie Blount did well to deny Dias after a wild run into the area as Southern went for the kill off the back of that first goal. Northern made it through to the break, although Kate McConnell was worse for wear after taking a deflection to the face – looked like a blood nose may have been the result. It’s far from a simple task to score against this Southern team, yet that’s what Rovers would have to do in the second half to avoid dropping below their opponents on the ladder.
Kelli Brown was presumably going to be a key player in the attempted comeback. So far her best stuff had required drifting out wide to swing in crosses and there were a few more of those to begin the second stanza. Brown can’t be two places at once though: out wide to get the cross in and in the middle to score it. So 50 mins in she tried to angle back inwards on the dribble. The ball was poked away from her... but only as far as Danielle Canham who expertly stroked it into the bottom corner. Back on level terms at 1-1.
Alexis Cook did well overlapping into the area but her attempt was saved by Hannay, who also did a fine job picking out crosses from the wide areas all arvo. Brown and Breeze Durham both tried their luck from distance. Rovers were much better in this second spell although they definitely could have used Michaela Foster’s corner kick delivery a few times. There was a spot-on Green cross that was just touched away from Canham at the back stick by either Brown or Mackay-Wright. Wasi whipped one only narrowly wide too. It wasn’t exactly one-way traffic, Southern were getting forward as well, though only Rovers seemed to be getting to the shots at the end of these moves.
Then on came Chelsea Elliott whose first touch was an effort at the back post after a corner kick was allowed to bounce only she smashed it over the top. Amazing chance for Northern to take the lead. Elliott settled into midfield, sneaking a ball through for Brown but Mackay-Wright stepped across with yet another defensive intervention. Samantha Woolley also blocked a Wasi effort. Plus a deep free kick from Elliott landed on the crossbar then sorta hit Courtney Noble running in and Hannay saved it. It was like pinball. Not sure Noble or Hannay really knew what was happening as it happened.
But you know how Southern United do it. Bend but don’t break. That defence did all they needed to do and they nearly snatched the win at the end when Jasmine Prince’s speed got her to a ball before it crossed the line only Riley Sheldon was there to cut it out before it went any further. The 16yo defender had an excellent game on Natty League debut. As did Greer MacIntosh beside her. Only topped by Kelsey Kennard and Hannah Mackay-Wright up the other end.
Rene Wasi missed the target from another opening. Chelsea Elliott lifted a second free kick, from almost the same spot, onto the crossbar. The top of the bar this time. Then the game ended. A good battle in which Southern had the better of the first half and Northern the better of the second. 1-1 the final score. Parity which keeps both teams ending the round in the same spots they started it (also meaning neither fully took advantage of Western Springs losing).
Already hyped up the centre-backs. Chuck in some love for Breeze Durham, Kate Hannay, Talisha Green, and Toni Power who were all really good. Glimpses of the likes of Brown, Prince, and Wasi too but the finishing wasn’t quite there in the face of some quality defending. Three games without defeat for Southern. Only three goals conceded in their last six (after 13 from two to start). Absolutely no doubt that The Southern Identity is back in full resurgence.
It’s also three games without a win for Northern Rovers which is something that hasn’t happened to them all year. They haven’t lost half their first eleven like Auckland United has but they have lost Michaela Foster and yeah not having your best player does make a diffo. Their defence has perked up these last couple matches. Just those fine margins in attack keeping them from turning draws into dubs. Will be fascinating to see how they go over the remaining six games.
Auckland United vs Central
If you saw that brilliant game between Auckland United and Auckland City in the Men’s NL then you’ll understand why this game had some complications. Thunderstorms throughout that game. Plenty more rain in Tamaki Makaurau since then. Keith Hay Park ended up getting closed and so this match was delayed and moved to Seddon Fields (where Western Springs play). Second time this season that AU have had to take a home game elsewhere to find an artificial turf less vulnerable to the inclemency of the weather (they played Western Springs at Ellerslie’s Michaels Ave in week three).
That’s especially rough on Central who’d had to travel up for the game, throwing some extra complications onto their plans and preparation. One change made from them with Ashley Arquette returning to the team up front. She scored a double against Capital last week though didn’t play the second game and they definitely missed her. Also without coach Matthew Calvert so assistant Lisa Walker took charge instead. Weird to watch a Central game without Calvert’s constant praise and encouragement from the sideline seeping through into the broadcast mics.
Auckland United nearly sprung a major upset against Eastern Suburbs last match, up 2-0 at the half and playing great. But their lack of numbers destroyed them as an injury to keeper Aimee Feinberg-Danieli led to midfielder Maya Vince having to go in goal. Jesse Barnard returned with the gloves this game, no panic there. Jess Philpot was absent though so Sophie Bradley played CB with Emma Leaming returning at fullback after missing the last game injured. Alosi Bloomfield also resumed her standard CDM role after two games out of the team. Plus Sophie Williams returned in the midfield having started every game up until the last one. Pleasing to see a fully stocked bench for once.
Williams had the first decent shot amidst a frantic start to the match. Manaia Elliott got Annie Foote saving on the dive soon after. Central have shown big improvements in the defensive yarns lately though there were some concerning visions of United dragging them around here. Granted Maddi Hughes did slap a shot on target breaking forward (when possibly a pass might’ve been the better option). But then Bree Johnson cut inside from the left and forced a Foote save before Ruby Nathan picked out the bottom corner on the turn to open the scoring after twelve minutes.
Central couldn’t get the ball away. They were defending deep, stuck on the back foot, and unable to relieve the pressure except for one other Hughes counter attack, this time squaring for Holly Kleinsman who glanced it wide of the post – big chance. Needed to score that... because it was only a matter of time before United rocked them again. Ruby Nathan found herself playing further forward as a roaming number nine this week and was involved in almost everything from the outset. Right on 20 mins she curled in a beauty of a strike and there it was, 2-0.
No let off. Ruby Nathan was immediately back storming into the box and creating things while Bree Johnson struck the crossbar cutting in and shooting. Central did have a Tess Hyland free kick deflected wide and a Jana Niedermayr header from the corner. They certainly looked capable when they could get forward. That just wasn’t happening enough and after 28 mins Nathan squared for Johnson whose shot was half-saved but still crept over the line for 3-0... and she had another three minutes later when Foote misplayed an Elliott cross and Johnson almost accidentally nudged it over the line.
An errant backpass nearly let Central in, with Kleinsman slicing a shot just past the post at the end of it. Then Annie Foote did well to deny both Nathan and Johnson in relatively quick succession. Nathan had a couple chances to get that first half hatty. Instead she lifted the ball onto the roof of the net one time and was given the ol’ denial by the keeper for another... though Bree Johnson was lurking to tap that one in. BJ with the quickfire hatty beating her teammate to the task. No major celebrations. 5-0 at half-time.
Aimee Sanson was thrown on to bolster the Central midfield when the teams returned and within a minute Kate Bennett had flicked a header off target. Then came a much better chance as a poor goal kick was served up for Maddi Hughes in the area but she stabbed it high from a golden position. Fair play to them, those were the two most notable chances of the early second half... although Auckland United did have a procession of corner kicks. United subbed off Emma Leaming and Alosi Bloomfield, two players who’ve missed time recently. No reason to risk things up 5-0... good to see Jenna Dodd brought on after she suffered a bad looking injury a few weeks back.
Aaaaand then Manaia Elliott did a little bit of this...
Banger from the captain of the U17 World Cup squad. Excellent finish off the left foot and everything. Also did you notice who got her the ball? Ruby Nathan with her third assist of the day having also gotten a couple last game.
By the 70th minute, AKU were 6-0 up having emptied their bench. This game seemingly on the way to a cruising finale... but believe it or not we were actually only halfway done with the goal scoring. 74th min and a shot from Maya Vince was dragged into the path of Bree Johnson who slipped it home for her fourth of the day... or not. That one was ruled out for offside (it was a pretty close call). However one minute later Maya Vince scored one for real, a tidy bottom corner finish. Then seven became eight almost instantly as Bree Johnson really did get a fourth, a wonderful finish off her left foot to take her up to nine goals for the term – second only to Tayla O’Brien all of a sudden. Looked like she was gonna get a fifth on 80’ tapping in from an Elliott cross but Annie Foote made a very good stop.
It had long since gotten ugly for Central, although there was nothing ugly about this insane swivelling volley from Jana Niedermayr to get a consolation goal back...
Jesse Barnard got lucky when a bad pass went straight to Hughes only the return shot went wide. However it was a great ball down the right wing from Hughes to Georgie Furnell that led to Lilly Dowsing popping in a second for Central on 85’. Dowsing with a goal in only her third game – she’s 15 years old. Auckland United struck back as stoppage time began when Foote punched a Nathan corner kick into her own net, just misjudging the height there. Assist number four for Ruby Nathan in a game where she’d already scored twice. She now leads the league for assists despite this only being her fourth appearance. Yet Central did get the last chuckle as another substitute, Kasey Cavell, scored from close range after Maddison Hughes’ initial shot had been heading wide. Making sure of it at the back post.
In case you lost count, that made it 9-3 to Auckland United. Not the kind of football score you see every day. Bree Johnson scored four times, consistently appearing in the right areas to be a menace. United have been super inconsistent in front of goal thanks to their ever-changing personnel but Johnson has been their one continuously reliable force. And now that Ruby Nathan and Manaia Elliott are back from the U17s it seems that those attacking struggles could be over. Elliott is ordinarily a fullback but has scored twice playing on the wing since returning.
Ruby Nathan meanwhile had two goals and four assists to go with the two assists she had last game. She’s been pivotal for this team. Wait and see if Milly Clegg comes back for United (there have been some Phoenix rumours) but it’s been worth allowing Ruby Nathan, who along with Clegg played at both the U17 and U20 World Cups this year, this spotlight to show that she’s absolutely a top tier Aotearoa prospect herself.
This win snapped a five game run from which AU only took one point. Shockingly they’ve conceded at least three goals in all of their last six matches though this time that didn’t matter because... they scored nine. Only two wins yet they were a 7-0 vs Southern and a 9-3 vs Central. When it clicks it clicks.
The opposite was true of Central who were probably put off by the kickoff delay and the travel and the absence of their head coach... because we didn’t see the fully committed battler energy that we normally get from them. Possibly down to how tricky United were as an opponent on top of those other yarns. They got stretched at the back and overrun in the middle. Goals were conceded. But credit to them for that rally in the last ten minutes to at least take something out of this trip. That Niedermayr goal especially, phwoar. There’s a season highlight for sure. Three goals in ten minutes is as many as they’d scored all season to that point.
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