Southern United vs Western Springs

The eighth week of this competition delivered the reverse fixtures of the first week of this competition. Safe to say that plenty has happened since then. Southern United lost 6-1 away to Western Springs that opening day with Sofia Garcia scoring a hatty but here they were at their own Logan Park and more importantly they’ve really rediscovered their gritty identity over the weeks since. Only three goals conceded in their last six matches, tallying up points to rise up the table. But of course even against a Western Springs team that had failed to win either of their previous two matches this was still going to be a tricky test.

Trickier still given they had to diverge from a few of their usual selections. Kelsey Kennard didn’t play which broke up that Kennard/Hannah Mackay-Wright CB partnership. Helps when you’ve got a capped international like Sarah Morton to be able to slot in, at least. Jemma Wilson also replaced Toni Power at right back while Kennedy Bryant returned up front. It was suggested on the broadcast that youngster Freya Partridge-Moore was due her first start but nah captain Rose Morton was out there for the coin toss.

Western Springs gave Lisa Kemp her first game of the NL at fullback, the latest of three different options in three different weeks that they’ve tried opposite Arisa Takeda since Maggie Pedersen was injured. Lily Taitimu and Anija Irvine were they others – they were both on the bench here. Also had Lara Colpi rightfully thrown back into the starting team after a fantastic showing off the bench in the loss to Eastern Suburbs. Otherwise all as you’d expect.

It took a wee while for Springs to get accustomed to Southern’s energetic close-downs. A couple times the home side turned it over high up the pitch although Springs either dealt with the worries or the shots were wild. Jasmine Prince did get a header on target albeit with little power behind it. However that was still closer than WS got in the opening twenty as every sharp pass or turn seemed to draw in three Southern defenders to shut them down. Blocked shots were their closest instances... also Rina Hirano nutmegged the referee at one stage which was cool.

Then Margi Dias turned sharply just inside the area and Lily Jervis couldn’t restrain herself from sticking a toe out. Dias went down and the referee awarded a penalty. Big moment... except Dias couldn’t hit the target despite the keeper diving the wrong way. Opened up and sliced it. A missed opportunity for a Southern team that doesn’t score a lot of goals but is pretty good at protecting the leads they do get.

Toni Power was subbed on after 27 mins. Surprising she wasn’t in the starting team - if they were hoping to rest her then that didn’t exactly work out. Straight swap for Wilson who must have picked up an injury because she hadn’t been having too much trouble down her flank. Not a lot else went on this half. Prince almost snuck in behind but Angelique TuiSamoa got there first after a slightly heavy touch from Prince. Some improved build up from Springs too... for little end product. Very much nil-all at the half. It nearly wasn’t as Prince kept on running before setting up Bryant in the middle but KB’s side-footed went past the post. That missed so nil-all it was at the midway mark.

Sophia Dyer replaced Lisa Kemp at the break, Kemp had done well but maybe it was a 45-and-done situation given she hadn’t played for a spell. Anyway, back underway and Power did well to recover and stop Garcia from getting a shot away. Garcia might’ve figured something out there, however, because in the 51st minute she angled a smart run onto a reverse ball from Sammi Tawharu holding the ball up outside the area. Garcia dragged enough of the defence that she created space this time and thus whacked her effort back across goal and inside the far post. Really sharp work, that’s how it’s done. 1-0 to Western Springs.

Fifth goal of the season for Sofia Garcia. The American winger had gone six games in a row without one so this snaps that streak. Four of those five goals have come against SU. She has been chipping away with assists throughout, to be fair.

Kennedy Bryant lined up a free kick which TuiSamoa had to dive to save. Bryant then swung in a trio of dangerous corner kicks with Mackay-Wright lobbing off target from the third of them. Southern had been unable to find a response in that 1-0 loss to Eastern Suburbs and so far it was proving the same. Set pieces their best opportunities. That missed penalty really haunting them... but their defensive mahi never faltered. Power did well to shut down Hirano from a rare opening. Mackay-Wright continued to play like one of the form players in the entire league. Yet they still needed that sneaky goal from somewhere.

Good chance with twenty to play as Whittaker found Dias who drew a save out of TuiSamoa. Bryant was blocked by Jervis after some slick work from Prince. We ticked into the last ten and still the status quo remained. Then there were only five minutes to go. Not a lot of chances. Springs looking sturdy in their attempts to close this out. Into injury time we ventured... and that was when Southern United equalised.

Yeah they did. Strong work from Whittaker and sub Emily Morison to win the ball back in a good area, Morison then rolled a ball towards Jasmine Prince who graciously thumped it in.

Thus it was that Southern United added another positive result to their resumé with a 1-1 draw against the second-placed team on the ladder. It’s now only four goals conceded in seven games, losing just one of those matches. And again it all stemmed from that defence. Hannah Mackay-Wright was superb once more. Sarah Morton did really well filling in at CB. The fullbacks Toni Power and Samantha Woolley were wonderful. They were up against a team that put six past them last time and Kate Hannay hardly had a difficult save to make. Then when they needed a goal, Jasmine Prince provided one with her fourth of the campaign.

Slight worries for Western Springs as they make it three games in a row without a win. Sofia Garcia scored a nice goal but other than that they didn’t find the room to attack that they usually do. Perhaps looking a bit tired. Jess Innes was strong in midfield and Angelique TuiSamoa did well in goal. By no means a bad performance, especially not against a team that proves their defensive calibre every week now, but they’ll want to rediscover their goal-scoring exploits quick-stat. Western Springs scored at least three goals in each of their first six games and won them all. They’ve only scored four combined goals in three games since, none of them wins. Admittedly three really tough games (Rovers on a short turnaround, Suburbs, and then Southern away). They’ll need a bounce back away to Canterbury next week.

Northern Rovers vs Auckland United

Northern Rovers ended the NRFL Premier League with only one defeat from 21 matches. Only three other times had they even been held to a draw. It hasn’t been so grand for them in the National League. Nor, for that matter, when they lost 1-0 to Auckland United in the Kate Sheppard Cup final. Neither of these squads much resembled those with Rovers having seven recurring cup final starters while United just had five. These same two teams drew 1-1 in week one of the National League and Rovers have only hit their strides a couple of times since then. In fact they came into this game on a three-game winless streak, something they hadn’t experienced at all in 2022 previously.

In trying to get back to winning ways they recalled Chelsea Elliott after resting her last week. Maisy Dewell also returned to add some bite in the midfield. That was all though. It was the same eleven as drew 1-1 with Western Springs a fortnight earlier – the best they can muster in these post-Michaela Foster days. Auckland United were without Georgia Martin but Jess Philpot returned in her place. Good timing. And that was the only switch after a blistering 9-3 win over Central previously, inspired mostly by that Ruby Nathan/Bree Johnson/Manaia Elliott front three.

You want goals? This game had goals. Maybe not comparable to what Auckland United got up to last week but let’s just say that within a dozen minutes any thoughts of a clean sheet for either keeper had already been eliminated. Emma Leaming did it herself with an own goal for United in the fifth minute. Some great work from Rene Wasi had sparked big danger and in trying to hack the ball to safety Leaming instead shanked it into her own net. Tough situation, it happens.

Luckily for her it didn’t take long before Ruby Nathan hit Manaia Elliott who hit the back of the net to get United back on level terms. 1-1 after 11 minutes. This was the sixth time that these two teams have played each other, three times in the NRFL then once in he KSC grand final, and twice now in the National League. Even with all the changes to both teams throughout the year they know each other extremely well... and that did lead to a bit of cancelling each other out during the first half. Yet not entirely. And later in the frame things sparked right back up again.

Greer MacIntosh went close heading narrowly wide from a corner for Rovers. Wasi and Brown’s interplay on the wing led to Brown crossing towards Alexis Cook but she couldn’t get it under control enough to shoot. Yet as Rovers seemed to be lifting things, a poor pass out from the back went straight to Elliott. She served up Nathan who curled an effort off the far post. From there United gained some momentum and they’d cap that pressure with a goal to send them into the sheds with the lead. Who scored it? Who else: Ruby Nathan. And it was a blinder of a strike, an unreal left-footed top-corner banger from outside the penalty box. No chance for keeper Ellen Blount. Another fantastic moment for Ruby Nathan whose post-U17 World Cup form has been absolutely sizzling.

Rovers made a change at the break throwing on another of their own U17 World Cup stars in Suya Haering who replaced Kate McConnell at fullback. Talisha Green swapping to the right side as a result. That change was crucial although more for having Green on the right where she could cross more easily (Haering was good too, don’t worry). But first a Kelli Brown corner was won by MacIntosh again with her header dropping off the crossbar. Brown then nearly caught out keeper Jesse Barnard, sliding in as she lingered on a clearance, but fouling the goalie instead. Slightly late. You could see that Brown was fired up to save her team though.

Sure enough, she equalised in the 52nd minute. Deep cross from Talisha Green and a crafty header from Kelli Brown was guided past Barnard rushing out. There was the reward for a super start to the second half from Brown and her Rovers team (might just add that Brown had only played one of the previous five meetings between these teams and it was as a late sub in week one of the WNL – a fresh threat).

We then settled back into hard tackles and defensive victories for a spell. Maisy Dewell and Aimee Barnard were both booked for a bit of a scrap, some pushing back and forth. Don’t encourage it but kinda love to see it. And then boom suddenly it was 3-2 to Northern Rovers, the stalemate broken by some more Kelli Brown excellence as she did the old kick and run-around trick on Jenna Dodd (on for Philpot for AU) before producing a lovely striker’s finish. Make that nine goals for KB who is now tied second with Bree Johnson. Get this woman back in the A-League!

United had hardly been on the attack in the twenty minutes since the second half began though Nathan did whip an attempt over the goal soon after Brown’s second goal. At the other end Green nearly scored drilling a low shot at the near post with Barnard slightly out of position but the keeper made a great stop with her foot. Back the other way and another Ruby Nathan shot led to an easy save but she was by far the most likely for AU if they were going to find another goal.

However as United seemed to be raising their game, Rovers responded in kind. A Chelsea Elliott run led to Leanna Ryan shooting wide. Brown turned a low cross past the near post seeking her hat-trick. She also had a half-clearance fall directly to her slightly inside the box but tiredness was now a factor and instead of getting on the front foot she tried to chip the ball over towards the far end of the goal... where it went narrowly wide. Jesse Barnard also closed her down after a Wasi feed. Brown was subbed soon after with her job well and truly completed. Auckland United simply couldn’t maintain enough possession to get forward. Instead Talisha Green set up Shannon Henson who had more time than she realised, rushing a shot that was comfortably denied. No dramas. Northern Rovers won it 3-2 thanks to that wonderful second half performance.

The first half belonged to Ruby Nathan, the second half belonged to Kelli Brown. And it was Brown’s team that cashed in that little more. Can’t argue they deserved it after the second forty-five. United had some struggles with numbers earlier in the season which led to some poor results but they’ve used all five subs in both their last two games and players like Nathan and Elliott have really bolstered things. Wasn’t enough to win a game like this but they can score goals against anyone which is going to keep them fun all the way to the finish line.

This was an important win for Northern Rovers. They took advantage of Western Springs dropping points and are now back within five of them on the table. Not sure Springs will falter enough further times for Rovers to make the final... but they do each play Eastern Suburbs again which could be where that gets decided. Lots to play for either way. Surely gotta get Suya Haering back starting on the left now especially given how irrepressible Talisha Green was at right back. Rene Wasi and Kelli Brown are getting more and more used to each playing together and it’s bringing out the best in each (they know each other from FFDP so they’re not starting from scratch). Brown was a machine in this game. Dragged her team back from a deficit to win through sheer force of will. Five more weeks of that mahi will be worth a geeze for sure.

(By the way, would love to at least serve up a few screenshots from this game but Sky Sports covered it live and haven’t even bothered to put it back up on demand because once again they don’t really care about their National League coverage - way too many spelling mistakes in the team lists each week to draw any other conclusions… also neither team bothered to really cover it across social media. Ah well, at least you’ve got the words)

Central vs Canterbury United Pride

The Pride won the week one meeting between this pair 3-0 and at that stage it seemed it was regularly scheduled programming for the perennial champs from Canterbury. Not quite how it’s panned out since. But they did squeeze out a 2-1 win over Capital last match with a pretty efficient performance so this trip up to Palmerston North came at a decent time for the Pride, seeking their first back to back wins of the year. Central have lost every game so far and their steadily improving defence fell to pieces against Ruby Nathan and Auckland United in a 9-3 defeat most recently... though they did rally nicely for those three late goals (including a Jana Niedermayr blinder) to double their season goal-tally. There was an expected outcome from this match... but you never truly know until it happens.

Funky selections on both sides. Central decided upon a back three for this occasion which made sense even just for the sole reason of being able to pick all three of their best central defenders in their best central defensive positions: Kate Bennett, Jana Niedermayr, and Lara Smith. Aimee Sanson also returned after three weeks out of the line-up while Lilly Dowsing and Pip Coakley returned to the eleven as wingbacks. Canterbury also went wild as Ellena Firth moved to CB and Frankie Morrow to RB. Charlotte Roche was handed her first National League start. Petra Buyck and Britney-Lee Nicholson also returned up front. Three changes from the previous game plus a couple more positional shifts.

Underway now and Bellamy fizzed a shot wide pressing high on that Central defence. Buyck had a couple excursions into the penalty area including a shot blasted over the bar. Lara Wall looked a threat getting forward. Some positive signs from the Pride although at the same time Kleinsman was able to dig a few dangerous crosses into their defensive area. Aimee Sanson only last 14 minutes before getting injured and having to be replaced – on came Rebekah Trewhitt in her place, useful replacement making her first app since returning from the U17 World Cup.

Nicholson went close pushing a bouncing ball a little wide after a sharp one-two with Roche. The Pride were getting closer though Central were disrupting plenty in that midfield and with willing runners in behind they had their flashes. Which way would it go? Well, 24 minutes in the Cantabs struck first. Bellamy with the ball out wide left getting the cross over and there was possibly a slight touch from Roche that helped the ball creep between two defenders (still gonna credit the assist to Bellamy). That allowed Britney-Lee Nicholson to scoop the ball up in space and bingo mark that as 1-0. Nicholson’s first of the season.

Charlotte Roche nearly scored as she ran onto a long ball from Morrow, beating Annie Foote to the ball but hitting the post. Yet Central continued to keep it frisky and believe it or not they struck back soon after when Maddi Hughes flicked a header towards Holly Kleinsman who was able to fight through some defensive attentions and then bury her effort down the middle showing a fair bit of composure. 1-1 after 28 mins. Go on then.

Roche almost retaliated running onto a cut-back by Nicholson but that was saved comfortably enough. Roche then missed a brilliant chance after Bellamy had picked her out at the back post with only the keeper to beat. Kicked it straight at her instead. Safe to say that finishing has been a major worry for Canterbury this year. Rebecca Lake did well to tackle Kleimsman as she ran onto a ball in the area. Elsewhere there were hopeful long shots from Nicholson and Wall. Central’s defensive shape was working as intended and the two teams were tied at 1-1 as the oranges were served.

Central have been in this position before. Against Southern it was 0-0 after 60 minutes. A week later against Western Springs it was 1-1 after 60 minutes. Both games against Capital were within a goal for long stretches. But they went on to lose all of those matches. The second half began with Nicholson having a shot deflected away for a corner and from that corner Hepburn should’ve done better with her header but it flew across goal and out. Roche also smacked one over the top after Dabner’s nod down in her direction. Instant pressure from Canterbury. How long could Central survive?

The answer should have been 52 minutes but somehow Nicholson managed to miss a tap-in at the back post. The ball bobbled up off her foot when all she had to do was nudge it a meter forwards into the open net and by the time she could get a second touch on it Annie Foote had slid over to stop her. Nicholson also missed an aerial kick from a Roche cross though that was a much tougher one.

Those yarns continued... but you got the feeling that the longer the Pride took to find that second goal the more likely they were to let something slip on the counter attack. Probably with Holly Kleinsman involved. Morrow did get Foote diving one-handed with a curling shot but Central were loving the scrap, especially Kate Bennett. And guess what? Central hit them on the counter attack and as Kleinsman drove into the area the ball struck Rebecca Lake’s trailing arm and a penalty was given. Bit harsh, seemed to hit her back first (after she’d sorta sat on the ball). But the warnings had been there. Rebekah Trewhitt scored from the spot. Central up 2-1 after 71 minutes. Surely not...

Pretty obvious how the last twenty were going to be. Full throttle attack from the Cantabs, full commitment defence from Central. Bellamy had a great chance from as a scramble aligned for her to fire but her shot went into Foote’s arms. Meanwhile Foyle stuck an important foot out to prevent Kleinsman from squaring to Dowsing in the middle after picking off a bad pass back. As Hepburn headed off target from a corner we reached the 80th minute and Central were still leading in search of their first points of the season.

There were some shenanigans on 83’ as Canterbury won a free kick in slightly controversial circumstances then scored an equaliser in completely controversial circumstances. Not even sure who got the final touch amidst a massive scramble but Annie Foote had quite clearly been fouled by Lake in the lead-in. Goal given... until the linesman had a word and it was belatedly ruled out. But Charlotte Roche scored anyway soon after. Lara Wall with a great cross to Roche in front of the penalty shot and Roche side-footed home to make it 2-2. It was coming, to be fair.

An injury break for Kate Bennett – who was in the wars for ninety full minutes – helped slow things down for the home side. A spot of Maddi Hughes treatment later on did the same although that also meant more injury time than they’d have preferred. Central finished in a 4-4-2 with two flat lines of four really trying to shut things down. Even still they nearly pinched it as Kleinsman broke down the left and crossed for Ashley Arquette who couldn’t get the contact.

But the Pride went straight up the other end with a long bounding ball over the top and as Roche and Bennett clashed a penalty was awarded to Canterbury for a handball. Too hard to see it on the livestream but there were shouts from the sideline too. Must’ve been. Rebecca Lake, whose own handball had conceded the penalty up the other end, stepped up for the Cantabs... and juuuuuust snuck it under Annie Foote. She’ll feel like she could have stopped that for sure. The ol’ 94th minute penalty winner, aye?

Central have lost nine out of nine and never had they come closer to getting something than in this match. Heartbreaking way to lose. Couldn’t quite withstand the pressure despite defending so well for so long - really unlucky that it was Bennett with the handball because she’d otherwise been the pick of them. Kleinsman as well with her constant pressure in attack. It was a great game-plan from coach Matt Calvert. It was a strong performance from the young Central team. Couldn’t quite see it out, is all. When the dust settles and the emotions subside they’ll take plenty out of this game.

Not sure if the Pride will say the same... granted if they’d put their chances away earlier then they never would have needed the late drama. They bossed that second half, albeit with some vulnerabilities to the counter. Forged more than enough chances to win it handily but again they weren’t clinical enough. At least the pressure tolled in the end. Not for the first time you have to ask where they’d be without Rebecca Lake and Lara Wall. Glad to see Charlotte Roche bury one eventually – young players miss chances, it happens, the best measurement is how often they get into those spots in the first place and it was a huge tick in that box for Rochey.

Eastern Suburbs vs Capital

The last couple weeks have properly reinforced Eastern Suburbs as the team to beat... whilst failing to serve up any teams able to beat them. As Western Springs dropped their first points, Suburbs came from two goals down to win 3-2 against Auckland United. As Springs hosted Suburbs the following game, Suburbs pumped them 4-2 thanks to a first half blitz. And as they kicked off against Capital at Madills Farm (shout out to the local council for spraying the pitch and turning every sepia toned) they’d already seen all three teams directly below them drop points this week and none of them were even within range to begin with. Capital have found some form over the last month after figuring out a few ways to get that pesky ball into the net, though this was a much more brutal proposition. Subs won 4-1 the first time they met with Tayla O’Brien scoring all four. Away we go.

Bit of a bummer not to see Charlotte Wilford-Carroll involved for the Lilywhites after she was so good last week... but that was balanced out by Ella Findlay returning from injury in her midfield place. One U20s rep for another. Findlay clearly not as badly injured as was feared at the time when she went off against AU. There were three other changes from the hefty win over Springs. Perennial goal threat Deven Jackson wasn’t playing so Zoe Benson took her place in the front three – Benson’s first start, having been away at the U17 World Cup recently. Plus Aimee Atkins and Annie Byrne came into the wing-back spots.

On the other hand, Capital made only two changes. One was Sydnie Williams who started instead of Danielle Ohlsson in the frontline. Williams is more of a central striker who can hold the ball up whereas Ohlsson’s a winger so Pepi Olliver-Bell had been operating through the middle. The plan was probably to have someone who can anchor them in the other half against a good team likely to dominate possession. And POB and Renee Bacon could still hit the counters from out wide. The other change was enforced as captain and best defender Zoe Barrott went off last week with a recurring injury so Caelin Patterson partnered Jayden Watts at CB. Significant absence against the top scoring team.

Looked pretty windy if the Pak ‘n’ Save flags were anything to go by. Blowing straight down the pitch towards the goal that Eastern Suburbs were attacking, perhaps then to blame for Bacon shooting so far over the top from her second minute attempt. Could’ve caught an updraft. Capital did well to disrupt Suburbs initially although O’Brien soon won a corner and Mettam’s cross after the short one floated onto the crossbar. But Capital’s wingers weren’t always being picked up which gave them that outlet and as we ticked past fifteen minutes they’d officially kept Subs scoreless for the second longest stretch to start a game this season.

That was still the case after 23 minutes but only just after O’Brien headed a corner kick off the post. Nuts how she’s one of the most skilful players in the league with ball at feet and is also one of the biggest aerial threats. As she showed once more after 32 minutes, when the deadlock was finally broken. Aimee Atkins with a mean corner kick. O’Brien with the commanding header. Her 14th goal of the season. There’s still five more weeks but you might as well start engraving the MVP trophy already.

A couple mins later we got a proper look at Eastern Suburbs at their flowing best for the first time this game. Byrne with the throw-in from the right. She hit Benson dropping in and they exchanged a few short passes before Benson played a one-two with Mettam to find some shooting space. Molly Simons got low to save that effort... but Ella Findlay was following through to tap in the rebound. Fantastic from Benson. Great positive running from Findlay pushing out of midfield. Eastern Suburbs back in the familiar territory of leading by multiple goals.

Findlay was replaced by Olivia Page at the break, perhaps only a scheduled 45 minute return for EF. If so she made the most of it with her first goal of the campaign. Page also went to the U17 WC with Zoe Benson so cool to see them both on the pitch at once. Page went into the midfield, straight swap.

That pace up top for Capital did have its benefits. Olliver-Bell almost got through in behind thanks to sheer speed, a heavy touch costing her while Bacon’s directness got her a shot on target that Brooke Bennett parried away. Byrne also made a crucial challenge on POB a little later to prevent a proper shot. Legitimately the best chances of the first quarter of an hour of the second half... all falling to Capital. Nothing drastic but that’s better than nothing at all for the home side.

So naturally Tayla O’Brien took it upon herself to get to the byline having cut past a defender and then she squared it to Nicole Mettam for the confident finish. That’s a slick goal. Wasn’t an abundance of slickness from the Lilywhites overall, partly due to missing a few new combinations and partly due to then just not being as ruthless as we’ve seen them before. Capital’s defensive shape certainly made it tough for them. But there were moments like this and those moments were enough...

An O’Brien heel-flick allowed Benson to punt another one on target but Simons saved and made sure not to spill it. There was also a sharp save off an Atkins strike with Patterson able to clear before TOB could attack the rebound. Followed by the best of the lot as Simons was able to claw away an effort from sub Lexie Sheed – promoted from the youth team for this match. Almost scored with one of her first touches. Not a lot else happened. Capital weren’t going to overturn a three-goal deficit and both teams rolled out the subs, slowing the game down further. 3-0 the final score.

It felt like routine work for the Lilywhites. Far from their best but still more than good enough. Defensively they were sound, other than a few instances where they were exposed to the lightning pace of Capital’s wingers. Rachel Head another assured day at the back. Brooke Bennett goes into the lead with her fourth clean sheet of the league. Gotta give some praise to one of the most undercover stars of this team in Saki Yoshida who plays every game and facilitates so well in the midfield but rarely gets the praise she should. But of course Tayla O’Brien was the headliner once again. She’s unstoppable.

Capital can fall back on two things: one is that they showed plenty of defensive steel even without Zoe Barrott, making it tougher than most have been able to for this Suburbs attack. The other is that they only have to make one more trip to Auckland this year (Auckland Utd in the second to last game). Pepi Olliver-Bell and Renee Bacon were once again their best performers. Molly Simons made some top saves. Quite like Asha Strom in midfield too. Another week in the bag.

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