2022 Women’s National League – Week 10 Review


Western Springs vs Auckland United

Friday night as Seddon Fields, definitely the best time to be at Seddon Fields. Under the lights and out on the turf. Listen closely and you can sometimes hear the animals from the zoo down the road. Western Springs had to really slug it out against the Cantabs for that 3-2 win last week in what was one of the best games all season. Sofia Garcia with the 90th minute winner. Only one change from that to this as Jess Innes came into the defensive midfield role ahead of Lily Taitimu. That meant Sophia Dyer became the first Springs right back to start consecutive games since Maggie Pedersen was injured in the sixth game. Five different starters in five games (including Pedersen) until Dyer finally held it down.

Auckland United battled well in the first half against Southern United, scoring first and having it at 1-1 after 57 minutes. They ended up losing 4-1. Defence has been a big problem for them. They’re onto their third starting goal-keeper due to injuries and they’ve conceded at least three goals in every game since week two... with many of those have coming in the latter stages of games. 18 goals allowed in second halves prior to this game and 8 of those in the final ten minutes – including conceding a 90th minute equaliser vs Capital and a 75th minute winner for Canterbury. On top of that, 75% of their team’s goals since week two have been scored in first halves. There’s a very distinct trend there: a team of two halves. Never the less, there were no changes to the side from last week.

Interesting fact: both Angelique TuiSamoa and Rivalina Fuimaono are Samoan international goalkeepers. Going head to head (at opposite ends of the pitch).

Ruby Nathan has come back from the U17 World Cup and hit a whole new level. She’s been on fire with the silky touches and the goals and the assists. First time she got the ball in this game: nutmeg. No wasted time in getting amongst the highlights... though Lily Jervis is as good a defender as anyone on the competition and she was able to shield Nathan off the ball a couple times. Manaia Elliott did ping a shot on target cutting in from the right wing onto her left foot but that was an easy save for TuiSamoa. Still, United were starting brightly. Elliott also managed to meg Arisa Takeda... however Rina Hirano swooped in as cover in a show of Japanese solidarity.

There was a claim of handball against Emma Leaming in the AUFC penalty area. No denying that it hit her arm as she tried to control a cross coming in at around hip height, yet it bounced up off her knee first for the mitigating factor. Jenna Dodd also provided some great defensive midfield work in tracking back and breaking up a few counter attacks, which Springs are always so dangerous with. Dodd had to temporarily hop off the field to deal with some dropping blood from a sprig-mark on her leg so you know she was getting stuck in. They don’t even like you wearing jandals on that turf so unlucky with the dripping claret.

TuiSamoa made a crucial punch away of an Elliott cross with Penny Brill lurking at the back post for if she’d missed it. Up the other end Emma Pijnenburg was performing her usual magic tricks with a sneaky switch of play that saw Lara Colpi find some room running through on the left but Fuimaono slapped that shot away from danger. Bree Johnson fired over the top on the turn for United. Sofia Garcia whipped a shot past the post for Springs. You’d have been forgiven for thinking before kickoff that this could be a romp for Western Springs but that it certainly was not.

Auckland United were defending like it was a cup final (and remember they do have some experience of that, having won the Kate Sheppard Cup a few months back... even if it feels like so much longer ago). Leaming did well to guide Colpi wider than she wanted after another Pijnenburg through ball which caused that shot to fly off target. Then some scrappiness as Colpi and Fuimaono both got to a ball in behind at a similar time. Fuimaono won the tackle but Copli’s presence meant it wasn’t cleared. Sophie Bradley got her body in the way to prevent anything further.

Sammi Tawharu almost blew things open soon after as she got on the end of a Hirano find but Georgia Martin slid in with an excellent block. The ball did fall back Tawharu’s way and she buried that second effort... but the lino had the offside flag up. We’ll gloss over the shambles on the livestream as that ‘goal’ went up on the scoreboard and commentator Fred seemed not to realise that nobody was walking back to halfway or celebrating in any way shape or form. Or how we missed an actual goal scored by Auckland United as they played a belated replay of that meaningless offside. Weak sauce from Sky Sport Next in a weekend where there were streaming issues all over the shop... but let’s try remain grateful for being able to watch these games at all.

What happened was that Jess Philpot aimed the free kick long towards Ruby Nathan who dropped a shoulder to turn her marker and then a burst of speed took her into a crossing area. Nathan slid a delicious ball right into that disputed territory between attacker and goalkeeper and Bree Johnson was able to get there just in time to poke it through the legs of TuiSamoa for the goal. The eleventh of the season for Bree Johnson. 31 minutes gone.

Auckland United were loving life. That goal spurred them into further pressure across the remainder of the half with Nathan forcing a great save after some quick feet to get a shot away. Elliott then had an effort blocked on the seconds. They wouldn’t add to that lead before the break come along but there was heaps to enjoy about how they were playing. That Johnson/Nathan/Elliott combo has been excellent for several weeks. What we weren’t used to was how well they were defending. Springs did have some chances when they could find space behind the defensive line... but that was about it. Dodd and Martin were leading the way in a committed and aggressive effort.

A superb take from Johnson got her into a shooting spot but the lefty attempt was too close to TuiSamoa. Good start to the second stanza though. Later came a huge let-off for the home side as Johnson stabbed a ball through for Nathan on the counter only Nathan’s shot pitched and spun past the post. Looked like she’d scored as it left her boot but nope, too much of a glance on it.

Both teams made changes to their midfield after that. Taitimu on for WS (with Tawharu off and Hirano moving to striker). Maya Vince on for AU as Alosi Bloomfield took her leave. Bloomfield missed a couple games earlier in the season so tends these days to be subbed around this time... but United went to bits after her exit against Southern so something to be aware of.

Can’t complain about Maya Vince’s introduction though. Especially not after she scored to make it 2-0 after 64 minutes. Once again it was Ruby Nathan with the assist – her tenth of the season, incredibly. Beauty of an outside boot in behind and Vince got there first to nurdle it past the keeper. Great run, perfectly weighted pass. That’s how it’s done. Big upset on the cards?

Western Springs hadn’t really done much in the second half to suggest they could salvage this. Some solid spells of possession but nothing near enough the other goal to be substantial. They needed to play higher up the park... but it was Jervis stepping forward and missing her pass that led to the second goal on the counter. That’s the risk. However at 2-0 down there was nothing left to lose and Colpi almost got there with the inside track against Philpot from a Dyer cross only her touch went wide. A Philpot chip into the area was flicked wide off the head of Hirano. Springs were now getting closer. But time was quickly evaporating.

Better score in a hurry then, aye? Two goals in three minutes sounds about right. First it was a Jess Innes corner kick in the 73rd that looped and dropped at the far post where Sofia Garcia made great contact to crunch it home off the boot. Then Emma Pijnenburg was able to get onto a bouncing ball in the area before Bradley could, skipping past Martin and drilling her shot bottom corner to tie this game up. Bang bang. Auckland United’s lead gone in a flash.

It got worse for AU when Jenna Dodd rolled an ankle and had to be replaced (as some fireworks randomly went off in the distance). Both teams kept making subs to stay fresh. Both teams wanting those three points rather than settling for the one. Nathan was able to win a free kick on the left edge as she lifted a ball into Dyer’s hand. Jess Philpot struck that free kick towards goal with venom and it caught the top of the crossbar. Not far off. Johnson then fed Nathan peeling left on the break but the angle was too narrow for Nathan to get enough power in her strike. Next came the decisive moment...

Oh no. Sofia Garcia tried her luck from distance and Riva Fuimaono just didn’t get low enough, the ball slipping through her hands and then through her legs. 87th minute. 3-2 to Western Springs. A goalkeeping error in a game where both goalies had made some top saves. It’s not how you want to see a game decided but you have to hand it to Western Springs for the heart they showed to rally from two goals down with twenty to play and somehow still win.

There was a worry for WS as Jervis stumbled and lost the ball but Johnson could only win a corner weaving towards the near post along the byline. Johnson had another shot blocked later while a Nathan cross looked fantastic but found no takers. Elliott shot into TuiSamoa’s grasp. Then some silliness at the end as Springs made a double sub yet only one player came off so they played for a very short time with twelve on the field. Helena O’Conner was booked for entering the pitch before Jess Innes had actually left it. Haven’t seen that before. One last scramble for AU followed, yet no late equaliser. 3-2 to Western Springs.

Sofia Garcia scored a 90th minute winner last week and Sofia Garcia scored an 87th minute winner this week. They’re not making it easy on themselves but Western Springs are now potentially one or two results away from mathematically confirming their grand final spot. After four goals in two games, Garcia then went six without a goal but has now scored five in her last three. Emma Pijnenburg continues to spot a through ball (and then execute a through ball) as well as anyone in the country. Plus she’s scored in consecutive games – same two goal scorers in the same order for Western Springs across their last two games... with the same overall score/result too.

Poor old Auckland United simply don’t seem to be able to handle second halves. Across their past five games they’ve been 2-0 up against Eastern Suburbs at HT only to lose 3-2. They were 5-0 up against Central at HT and won 9-3. They were 2-1 up at the break vs Northern Rovers and lost 3-2. They were tied at 1-1 against Southern which ended in a 4-1 loss. Then here they went from 1-0 up at HT to 3-2 down at full-time. Oh and there was that other game where they were 3-2 up vs Capital at the half... and drew 4-4. Make that 21 goals (out of 32 total) conceded in second halves and 9 of those in the final ten minutes. And, yes, all the goals came after Bloomfield was subbed. Couldn’t hang on despite a great first seventy minutes. At least Ruby Nathan remains an absolute top tier attacking prospect. What a thrilling player to watch. And Bree Johnson keeps scoring goals, still sitting second on the Golden Boot chart.


Northern Rovers vs Central

Western Springs’ late win the night before was not good news for Northern Rovers as they rocked up to McFetridge Park to host Central. Their own rediscovered form has given them hope but there’s no getting back the points they’ve already dropped. Had Springs lost with Auckland Utd then Rovers could have moved within two points of them on the ladder with an expected dub in this match. That didn’t work out for them. But, hey, you can only control what you can control.

Northern Rovers did make a few ‘we’re playing the bottom team’ type switches to their line-up. Both Chelsea Elliott and Greer MacIntosh were rested from centre-back duties. That meant Riley Sheldon made her second start of the term and Talisha Green also slid infield. Suya Haering returned to the starters for the first time since week two following three straight weeks playing off the bench since getting back from the U17 World Cup. They kept the same midfield with 16yo Mackenzie Longmuir continuing after scoring last week against Capital. Further changes up front with Leanna Ryan recalled to start on one wing, Kelli Brown sliding out to the other wing, and Courtney Noble picked as striker.

Also had some changes for Central, starting with their formation as the back three was abandoned with neither Lara Smith nor Kate Bennett available. Mackenna Chittenden joined Jana Niedermayr at the back of a 4-3-3. Rebekah Trewhitt shifted to right back. Maddi Hughes to midfield. There was a starting debut for Isla Cleall-Harding. Also Holly Kleinsman returned after missing last week. Quite a bit different this week yet still as young as ever.

Kelli Brown scored five times when these teams met previously in what ended up being a 9-0 Rovers win. The first of those goals was scored inside the opening minute of the game. She had designs on doing the same again here but Annie Foote rushed out quickly to beat her to the ball in behind. Foote then denied Noble from about six yards, Noble shooting on the spin following Ryan’s cross. That was followed by another save against Ryan who’d dribbled from halfway but maybe went too far and lost her angle. Still a good stop by Foote diving low across her body. Dani Canham fired wide. There was no let-up from Northern... but Central looked alright on the ball, to be fair. They had numbers in midfield with this formation allowing them to match up 3v3 and they were getting plenty of blocks in.

A very good cross from Kate McConnell was headed off target by Ryan. The same two then combined again for a similar chance from which Ryan went closer but still missed. Brown swung in a cross which slightly evaded Ryan. Might wanna try keeping some of these crosses lower next time but okay. Twenty minutes in and Northern had already created plenty – albeit with a fixation on crosses from wide areas – whereas Central had barely completed a pass over the halfway line.

It was inevitable that Rovers were going to score. With 25 minutes gone that goal arrived, as Talisha Green lined up a shot from miles out and crazily enough it dropped onto the crossbar. Danielle Canham was too close to be able to turn the rebound in herself but she did flip it back to Leanna Ryan who did the business instead. Then one immediately became two as Central’s defence switched off and Canham and Brown found themselves running in a 2v2 situation, with Canham feeding Brown who slid the ball past Foote for to take her own tally into double figures. 10 goals for the term, six of them coming against Central.

That led to some suppressed panic that Central might drop their standards and allow this to get ugly as has happened a few too many times this National League. Sheldon won a header from a Brown corner but it bounced into the dirt and away. Soon enough it was three regardless. Slick finish by Mackenzie Longmuir to make it two goals in two starts for her. Central got caught standing too deep with four defenders in her vicinity but none closing Longmuir down. Guess what else? Dani Canham got the assist. A hat-trick of assists inside the first half.

Suya Haering had an injury scare but was eventually able to continue. Looked like they were working on her knee. Tessa Hyland then finally served up a shot for Central with a crack from distance that didn’t really test Ellen Blount. Mean run from Georgie Furnell in the build-up though. Back to Rovers exploits and McConnell couldn’t turn in a hard cross from Ryan only six yards out but at an awkward hip height. She was offside anyway, as it turned out. Also Noble curled an effort past the post, followed by one last burst into the area by Ryan... who shot low at the near post but Foote was alert to it. 3-0 at the break.

Shannon Henson replaced Courtney Noble for Northern Rovers ensuring the back-up strikers each got half a game to stretch their legs. Then resumed with all the crosses. Thing is, Central were relatively comfortable with that approach. They kept numbers in the box and won plenty of headers, Jana Niedermayr especially. It was a strange ploy from Northern who usually have more variety than this... but having Rene Wasi on the bench seemed to limit them.

Haering got hurt again and limped off to be replaced by Maisy Dewell, with Longmuir going to left back. Central seemed locked in. Rovers sorta seemed to be going through the motions... although they found a fourth goal on the hour as Shannon Henson got in front of her marker to divert a Brown cross into the net. Great firm delivery from KB and all it needed was one clever touch. Smoothly done. Dewell also helped in getting that ball to Brown in the first place.

That was the last contribution from Kelli Brown who was subbed for Wasi in the aftermath. Rene Wasi wasted no time in getting Foote diving against a shot from twenty yards. Alexis Cook was also brought on so heaps of pace injected into that Rovers front-line. Next came a bit of biffo as Henson lashed out at Niedermayr who’d been tugging at her jersey. She kicked behind her rather than at her though, nothing more than a warning was required.

One thing that Northern Rovers did superbly all game was snuffing out the counter attacks that Central tried to muster. Breeze Durham and Talisha Green get heaps of credit for that. Elsewhere Dewell slipped by a defender with a double dummy before shooting slightly out of frame. Really though, this was a cruise for Rovers. They rested a few key players, scored the goals they needed in a rapid flurry, and kept a casual clean sheet without requiring much urgency. 4-0 to Northern Rovers. No dramas whatsoever.

Three assists for Dani Canham was pretty cool. Takes her up to 8 for the season with only Ruby Nathan’s 10 ahead of her. Another goal and assist for Kelli Brown despite playing on the right wing. Talisha Green and Breeze Durham defended well. Leanna Ryan was heavily involved. Rightio. Highly doubt they’ll be able to catch Western Springs for second place but it was another tidy clean sheet victory which is a positive. They’ve got Eastern Suburbs, Canterbury United, and Southern United left to play. Three tricky games. No wonder they took this one kinda easy.

As for Central... 11 defeats in a row is no fun yet this wasn’t one of their worst losses by any means. Jana Niedermayr remains a great defender and she held it down without Smith and Bennett. Annie Foote’s a very good shot stopper. Thought Mackenna Chittenden did very well at CB too, having previously only played fullback for this team. Maddi Hughes chipped in impressively as a midfielder. Plus they were able to introduce a couple debutants off the bench in Christina Trewhitt and Bridie McFadzean. Christina being the twin sister of Rebekah Trewhitt (they also have an older brother and sister who are twins... weird). Carry on.


Southern United vs Capital

It was dark and it was damp in Dunedin as Southern United hosted Capital Football seeking – and probably expecting – to extend what had become a five-game unbeaten streak. However as promised they had to do so without three of their very best players: Hannah Mackay-Wright and Jasmine Prince are both done for the season, HMW having booked in some pesky surgery and Prince off on her intrepid travels, plus Toni Power wasn’t here either. Jemma Wilson, Margi Dias, and Emily Morison took their places in the starting team with Sarah Morton partnering Kelsey Kennard at CB. Prince scored both goals in a 2-0 win the first time these two met.

Capital, on the flipside, had lost three on the trot conceding nine goals in the process and have three away games in their final four... with the lone homer being against Western Springs next week. It’s a brutal way to finish the campaign. They made two changes after the 4-0 loss to Northern Rovers: those being Olive Lynch-Gerrard getting her third start of the term, as well as Dani Ohlsson with her fifth. Ohlsson’s been in and out of the starting team but has generally been on the pitch when this team’s been at their most threatening. Against a Southern team without their best defender (HMW) maybe, just maybe, there was a window for them to sneak through.

Southern were just a wee bit messy at the outset, struggling to get the ball out of their own half. When they finally did so they almost scored as Kennedy Bryant switched to Chelsea Whittaker on the left who, after fighting through a challenge from Nicola Ross, smashed one near post that Molly Simons palmed away. A decent indication of the weather conditions followed when Bryant slipped over in taking the corner kick. Capital responded with a couple dangerous crosses into the SU penalty area. Then Whittaker threaded Dias in behind the defence and Dias forced a corner from her shot same as Whittaker did again soon after. Corner after corner. Sarah Morton headed one of them on target but ‘twas saved by Simons.

Forget the first few minutes, it was now Southern well on top of this thing. Keeping the ball in that Capital half and searching for those angles passes in behind... although Zoe Barrott did sting the gloves of Kate Hannay with a long shot for the Caps. Meanwhile Sarah Morton nudged a header across goal from another Bryant corner (so many corners). But no Southern breakthrough was forthcoming so instead Pepi Olliver-Bell figured she might as well score the first goal herself instead. Morton’s header had been good but not good enough. POB’s header, from a cross by Danielle Ohlsson, was inch-perfect as it bounced in off the post. Clever movement to slip between the centre-backs too. 1-0 to Capital away from home. An interesting development.

Southern kept on with what they’d already been up to but the Capital defence was getting accustomed. Zoe Barrott and Cara Chung both made excellent challenges to stop SU progress. Then Dani Ohlsson ran onto a chip from Olliver-Bell, whose ability to drop in then hold the ball up then turn and pass, was a feature of this game. Ohlsson outran Samantha Woolley but in trying to lift the ball over Hannay it only dropped onto the crossbar. So close, not quite.

Kennedy Bryant had been toying with the thought of a long shot. The wind was playing havoc with her corner kicks (and she wasn’t alone) but she thumped a dropping volley from outside the area that landed only slightly wide of the target. Nearly a ripper of a goal for each team in a matter of about a minute. Neither hitting the jackpot. Hence despite some unusually prominent possession stats (maybe that was their issue: too much ball?) the Southerners found themselves trailing 1-0 at the half.

Southern United don’t score a lot of goals at the best of times. Prior to this game they’d scored the third fewest in the league (with ten goals between them and fourth fewest). They tend to score just enough to make do on the back of their excellent defence. Well, they were without two of their starting back four and their equal top scorer for this game and the slim margins for error were showing through. However they do also have a habit of scoring crucial second half goals so seatbelts had to be clicked with 45 to play... particularly when Morison stuck an early ball through for Dias on the counter, Margi Dias firing inches wide.

Olliver-Bell tried another header just like the one she scored, this one bouncing into Hannay’s hands. Renee Bacon then dodged the offside flag from a long Caelin Patterson ball up the right edge. Hannay rushed out but, in charging down Bacon, the ball bobbled over to Lena De Ronde who controlled and shot with the keeper out of position... only for Sarah Morton to retreat to the goal-line and deal with that safely. Bacon and De Ronde both ex-Southern players, by the way. And Bryant used to play for Capital.

Passes weren’t quite sticking for Southern amidst the pressure of playing in deficit. No shortage of effort from anyone and the high press still emerged in glimpses... but Capital were biting, scratching, and battling their way at the back (minus the biting and scratching). Such as when Chung made a pivotal challenge on Bryant as she chested down a Whittaker lob into the area and was about to shoot. Patterson then blocked Rankin. Another issue for Southern was a very inexperienced bench that didn’t appear to offer any solutions.

But as time ticked away and the rain fell harder... Southern did eventually find themselves a goal. It came about via an absolutely unreal through ball from Sarah Morton, with Emily Morison then running around the keeper and tapping into an open net.

Note Margi Dias falling to her knees as though praying in thanks. Still fifteen minutes to go.

Things got pretty end-to-end the rest of the way. Also got quite sloppy. Long balls and long range shots and plenty of desperate tackles. Goalkeepers swooped upon loose passes as defenders gasped. None of it ended up in a winning goal so when the two sides departed in search of towels and hot cups of tea they did so with a 1-1 draw in their pockets.

Southern are now six games undefeated, albeit four of those were draws. A couple of those draws have been superb results but this was one they’ll feel like they should’ve won. Somehow Sarah Morton was everywhere despite playing in defence. Got that crucial (and spectacular) assist. Kennedy Bryant’s hold-up play was top quality and Chelsea Whittaker and Margi Dias never gave up working. Definitely missed their absent colleagues but that’s National League footy for ya. They’ll back themselves against Central next week and then it’ll depend on results against Eastern Suburbs and Northern Rovers as to whether the Southerners can finish ahead of Canterbury as the best of the feds. Another note: zero substitutions used. Only team to go ninety with all their starters this season.

For Capital, this was one that’ll sting having conceded with only quarter of an hour to go despite defending so well. Zoe Barrott and Cara Chung especially. They were immense. But at least a draw ends their losing streak and delivers arguably their best result of the campaign. Also gotta shout out Pepi Olliver-Bell’s wonderful hold-up play as well, not to mention a nicely taken goal.


Eastern Suburbs vs Canterbury United Pride

This being the last game of the round had nothing to do with it, Eastern Suburbs already knew that a draw or better would clinch their spot in the final with three games to spare. Had Northern Rovers dropped points to Central then it wouldn’t have even mattered what happened here. But irrespectively it’s only a matter of time until Eastern Suburbs are confirmed in that top spot. The bigger yarn was whether anyone could stop them from going through the entire season with a perfect record. They were ten from ten leading into this visit from Canterbury United (whom they beat 4-1 in the away fixture).

Brutal weather over the weekend in the northern regions of the country meant that this game had to be moved from Madills Farm to William Green Domain. Doesn’t make a difference for the Pride, in fact it might help them moving to an artificial surface given they’re used to that at their own home ground. Would have been a shake-up for the home side, however. And also for Annie Byrne who doesn’t play on turf due to her history of knee injuries. She dropped out of the team, while Kenya Brooke was back on the bench. Aimee Atkins and Rachel Head replaced them, respectively. Another start for U17 World Cup rep Olivia Page in midfield. Juliette Lucas and Charlotte Wilford-Carroll both scored off the bench last week... and both remained on the bench this week. They were joined by Nicole Cooper who hadn’t featured since game five.

The Pride may have let it slip by conceding a 90th minute winner to Western Springs last week but that was sneakily their best performance of the season. For the most part they kept the same players, including Charlotte Roche, their youth team striker who’d scored three goals in her first two starts. But there were two alterations. Jasmine Donald started at right back with Ellena Firth on the bench – Firth who’d started all ten games to this point. And Roche’s youth teammate Darsha Keoghan was rewarded with a starting debut having featured four times as a substitute already.

That first time these two teams met, the Pride conceded a goal from the penalty spot within two minutes of kickoff, so happy days that they avoided that fate a second time. They did have to pick the ball out of their own net within three minutes... but Deven Jackson was offside collecting the ball back from Tayla O’Brien. Forget about that one. Actually they could have been ahead after four minutes except Roche couldn’t quite hit the target from a Morrow square ball, stinging it just past the near post. Morrow had a blistering start down that right wing.

It was looking bright for the Pride. Keeping that ball in the Suburbs half for the most part, Keoghan swinging one slightly over the bar from range. However the bright football wasn’t matched by the weather, which absolutely packed it in after about ten minutes, rain tumbling down in buckets. A screenshot doesn’t do full justice but still...

Deven Jackson whipped one a little off target in search of the far post as the Lilywhites began to get going. Rebecca Lake had to get amongst a couple key defensive interventions. Yet as that was happening, the Cantabs went up the other end and took the lead. Petra Buyck spotted Charlotte Roche in a hint of space on the edge of the area. Roche then took the ball beautifully on the turn and finished with pure striker’s ease.

The worst of the storm passed soon after... and as it did Roche almost made it two with a lobbed effort on the bounce very similar to a goal she scored last week. Didn’t miss by much but it did miss. Elsewhere Liv Page smashed a volley on target from way out, which Foyle picked up late but was still able to get her hands to. This was only the third game in which Suburbs have had to play from behind at any stage and they weren’t exactly comfortable with that situation (tbf they still won both the others). They were getting squeezed in the wide areas and roughed up in the centre. Jackson broke into the area only for Lake to step across with a superb challenge. This was an unusual situation for a team that’s looked a class above all others from the very start.

Naturally Deven Jackson then scored an excellent goal to tie things up after 38 mins. Very un-unusual. As in: completely usual. Quick return pass from Nicole Mettam and then Jackson stormed towards the penalty area and finished wonderfully with her left foot.

The Pride tried to throw an instant counter punch but a few shots flew off target. After that it was Suburbs doing Suburbs things and how they didn’t score from the next attack was little short of a Canterbury miracle. O’Brien drifted into space and sought out that bottom corner but Una Foyle made a great stop on the dive, TOB not quite getting that shot where she intended it. Jackson regathered and fired but Foyle kept her out with a standing foot. Then O’Brien’s shot was cleared off the line by Kendra Smith. The move finally ended as Atkins popped a volley over the crossbar. There was just enough time left before the half for Chloe Bellamy to steal a Findlay pass and carry forward, feeding Morrow on her outside only for the shot from Morrow to be sliced into the mesh fence behind the goal.

1-1 at half-time. Then one minute into the second half the Cantabs scored again. Lara Wall won a corner after a searing run from left back. Morrow swung that ball in towards Hepburn, who blocked a partial clearance before then Brooke Bennett spilled it amidst a pile of bodies. Chloe Bellamy tried to dig that ball out. Blocked. So Bellamy dug it out again. This time it snuck over the line. Scrappy goal but that’ll do it.

What the Pride were doing really well was making those runs in behind the Suburbs wing-backs. With that, they were dragging the wing-backs deeper and isolating the front three. They also had Bellamy dropping in to help out Hepburn and Keoghan up against two central mids for ES, thus outnumbering them. The risk was in being outnumbered themselves around the two penalty areas but if they could cut off the supply lines then that wouldn’t matter. For the most part, that’s what they were doing. Keoghan definitely wasn’t playing like someone making their first National League start. Suburbs retaliated by chucking Wilford-Carroll on with Page moving wide (with Atkins replaced).

Jackson hit the wall with a direct free kick before Wilford-Carroll smashed wide on the rebound volley. Mettam had a go from way out... Foyle tipping that shot over the top to match the quality. On came Ellena Firth and Charlotte Mortlock for the Pride. Just over twenty to play. Juliette Lucas and Nicole Cooper were introduced for Suburbs – two big time attackers. Page couldn’t bundle a loose one over the line after a corner. Nicole Cooper made a great run but as always there was a Canterbury defender in the way. Often Rebecca Lake, who was absolutely undeniable in this match.

Eastern Suburbs should have scored in the 84th min. The Pride got stuck playing out from the back and Deven Jackson picked up the ball in acres of space just inside the area. She could have shot but chose to slide the ball over to Lucas who was a tad closer. Lucas scooped it over the top from about seven yards. Massive chance. Foyle was there in place so it wasn’t a complete sitter... but 2-1 down with time running out you’ve gotta bury those. Wilford-Carroll also had a pair of additional shots that she didn’t catch right.

And so it was that Eastern Suburbs’ winning streak came to an end. The Pride almost put a bow on it when Bellamy squared for sub Britney-Lee Nicholson who was denied from six yards by a great Bennett save. Didn’t matter. 2-1 to Canterbury United Pride, a flashback to the Pride who’ve been the dominant force in this competition for the last decade. They were fantastic. Rebecca Lake and Lara Wall and Chloe Bellamy and Whitney Hepburn and Una Foyle. Brilliant mahi. Don’t forget the youngsters Charlotte Roche and Darsha Keoghan either. Alana Gunn’s team was very good last week despite losing. Here they were even better and they toppled the best team in the nation.

No major consequence for the Lilywhites other than a wake-up call and the loss of their perfect record. They’re still going to finish first and make the final. Tayla O’Brien was held quieter than she has been all season, huge props to Lake for a lot of those hard yards. But Deven Jackson was dangerous throughout and Nicole Mettam had her moments. They absolutely had the chances to get away with at least a draw despite the weather not helping their purposes. Ultimately they simply weren’t as sharp as they usually are. Better that happens now than in the grand final, s’pose.

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