Capital vs Western Springs

The fellas wrapped things up this week with the exception of the grand final on Sunday. The ladies still have a couple more weeks to go meaning that, just like the start of the campaign, they’re about to get the spotlight all to themselves again. An extremely exciting prospect if the remaining games are all on a level with the absolute magical carnage we were served up in week eleven.

Capital pulled out probably their best defensive effort of the season in drawing 1-1 with Southern last week so there wasn’t much needed to change. Only alteration was Katia Brown making a second start of the season in goal with regular keeper Molly Simons not in the squad. This was Capital’s final home game, over on the turf at Petone Memorial Park – they’re away to Auckland United and Canterbury United to polish things off. Coach Maika Ruyter-Hooley had to miss this one with covid. Also glad to see the sunglasses on the subs bench is still a thing even on an overcast Wellington arvo. It’s now tradition. It must continue.

Western Springs also made one change after last week’s comeback win against Auckland United. Consecutive games in which they’ve had to rally back to win 3-2 with a late Sofia Garcia goal... for the sake of the collective blood pressure of the Western Springs regional population they’d have been plotting perhaps doing the mahi a little earlier this time away to Capital. That one change was a simple one as Jess Innes was not in the matchday squad so Lily Taitimu naturally slipped into the defensive midfield role. Otherwise it was all as we’re accustomed to seeing from Springs. Funky yarn: Emma Pijnenburg and Arisa Takeda actually played against each other in the final of the Futsal Superleague recently with Pijnenburg’s Papakura City beating Takeda’s East Coast Bays on penalties.

91 seconds. That’s how long we’d been going when Capital took an unexpected lead, Pepi Olliver-Bell moving the ball to her right where Renee Bacon was lurking. Sophia Dyer couldn’t cut it out (though apparently she did help with the cut of her team’s shorts, designing the fit with Springs’ kit sponsors) and Bacon was ruthless in slashing that thing home. Superb finish. Guess Springs were just gonna have to rally from another deficit.

Sofia Garcia scored both late winners for WS over the past fortnight so it made sense that she was brimming with confidence and willing to try a few things. Earned a free kick on the sideline with a sneaky run. Smacked a low shot on target from distance that Brown had to dive for. Capital brought some decent pressure in the midfield, spurred on by that goal, yet before long it was Springs setting up camp in their half. Consequence of that was a few Takeda set pieces. One of those was a corner kick from the right which was flashed in from close range. Some confusion as the ball squeezed out the back of the net but no doubt of its credentials as a legitimate goal. Lily Taitimu was the closest Springs player though it’s gone down officially as a Renee Bacon own goal.

The next corner was lifted in the air but landed on the head of one of the shortest players out there in Taitimu, thus looping onto the roof of the net. Another corner, from the left side this time, was headed onto her own crossbar by Zoe Barrott. Eh, no harm no foul coz it was then cleared away. 25 minutes gone now and it’d be a lie to say that Western Springs weren’t calling the shots. Extra bonus was seeing how smoothly Emma Pijnenburg was turning and stepping and spinning through pressure – very few midfielders in this league can advance the ball as well as EP can, whether via a through ball or a dribble.

You know what though? Cleat cut chances weren’t very common. Part of that was some poor crossing from Springs and part was a tidy back four presence from the Caps. A sturdy Wellington breeze combined with the bounce off the artificial turf also meant that through balls weren’t much of a tactic, at least not in the first half. So it was that the game remained even at 1-1 the break.

Springs took the lead exactly three minutes into the second half. Cross from Arisa Takeda on the right and Lara Colpi didn’t get all of it but produced a magic trick instead as her touch pitched a metre out looking like it was going wide then spun back inside the post fooling Katia Brown in goal. Kinda strange but there it was, Western Springs up 2-1, doing the comeback thing a lot quicker than the last-minute winners of recent weeks.

Although the problem with that is you leave the other team time to respond. After scrambling away a couple more Springs attacks, Capital got forward with Renee Bacon who lifted a side-footer just past the far post. Springs were cool with that and it then took an excellent double stop from from Brown to first deny Sofia Garcia peeling through on the left, then Lara Colpi’s follow up down the middle. The wind was blowing heavy in Capital’s favour, helping them clear their lines and counter attack. It also may have helped Lena De Ronde’s rocket of a shot after 55 minutes fly straight into the top corner to level the game up at twosies. How’s this for a hit...

Rina Hirano stabbed a dangerous ball across goal which Emma Pijnenburg got a foot to but couldn’t place either side of Katia Brown. Very nearly a rapid response. Meanwhile Amy Price came on for Capital and stung a shot towards goal which TuiSamoa had to dive to tip around the post. She punched away the next corner too, sharp keeping considering the wild winds. The wind had nothing to do with the next goal though. That was all Nicola Ross with a burst of speed to dodge one tackle on her way into the penalty area before catching a trailing leg by Dyer for the foul. Renee Bacon placed the ball on the spot... then did so again after the wind blew it off the mark. This time it stayed put, at least until she thumped it down the middle to give Capital a 3-2 lead. Not sure anyone saw this coming. 67 minutes gone.

Western Springs instantly went to their bench bringing on Georgia Brown and Celia Mayo. Arisa Takeda and Sophia Dyer also swapped sides at fullback. Yet moving the ball forward was tricky in the breeze against a feisty Capital side, who weren’t too far away from scoring again as Ohlsson rolled her foot back over a ball to set up Price but the shot sailed slightly high. Back up the other end Garcia, now operating centrally, found room to shoot except she couldn’t pick out the bottom corner.

There were other occasional Springs forays but, for a team playing in deficit, far too much of this game was taking place in the midfield where the likes of De Ronde and Sammi Preval were getting stuck in for Capital. Garcia blasted a shapshot off target. Brown couldn’t get to a Garcia touch in behind. Also maybe it was a consequence of the wind and Capital’s committed defending and some of the subs that Springs made... but it didn’t feel like WS were playing with the same urgency we’ve seen from them late in close games recently. There was still one huge chance to level deep in stoppage time as Hirano gathered and spun on the by-line to chip towards Arisa Takeda in the middle only Cara Chung surged across with the crucial block.

Full time. 3-2 to Capital. Hell of an upset... however you could also say that this was Western Springs’ recent form catching up with them. After winning six in a row scoring at least three goals in each to begin the National League, WS have since won just twice from six since and both wins required late winners. Two draws and two defeats in that spell. The two wins were the two games in which they scored three times... meaning that whenever they’ve failed to score three they’ve also failed to win. Lots of close games means a result like this was always possible. Hirano and Pijnenburg played really well (although Hirano has now gone seven games without scoring) and good to see Colpi adding a goal to her tally. Jaedeci Uluvili had one of her best performances at the back. But they needed to have taken better advantage of the breeze in the first half.

This was Capital’s third win but their first that wasn’t against Central. Like all the federation teams, they’ve made steady improvements along the way and are much tougher now than they were in the first round of fixtures – where they lost a comfortable 3-0 away to Springs. That defence has gotten sturdier and their attack has begun to bang a few goals away. Renee Bacon with a couple more here to take her tally to four. A heap more clearances from Caelin Patterson and Zoe Barrott.

But what we hadn’t before seen to this extent was their midfield operating at such a standard. Not only Lena De Ronde and her fellow starters Asha Strom and Olive Lynch-Gerrard but also quality cameos from Sammi Preval and Amy Price off the bench (in place of the latter two). That quintet kept things scrappy and prevented Springs from being able to attack in transition as is the strength of that team. Impressive work and a very memorable/unexpected victory.

Canterbury United Pride vs Auckland United

It’s all happening too late to get the Pride back into finals contention, that ship has long since sailed, but Canterbury United have really found their way over the past month. Three wins from four leading into this match and the game they lost involved a slightly controversial 90th minute winner against them (Western Springs, with Sofia Garcia dodging the offside flag). Last week they broke up Eastern Suburbs’ perfect record with a superb victory away from home. This week they took on Auckland United seeking to add another three points.

In that quest they welcomed Ellena Firth back to the team at right back... until illness ruled her out at late notice. That meant Ella McCann was promoted into the eleven with Frankie Morrow dropping deeper from wing to fullback. Otherwise kept the same team from the Suburbs win with youngsters Darsha Keoghan and Charlotte Roche deservedly shown loyalty. Keoghan is a tireless worker in the midfield. Roche is a goal-scoring presence up top who has given this team the direction they’d been lacking. Four goals in her previous three starts.

Good news for Auckland United was that Aimee Feinberg-Danieli, NZ U17 goalkeeper (and their starter in the Kate Sheppard Cup final triumph), was back between the sticks. They also gladly welcomed Sophie Williams back into their midfield after a five-game absence. No Alosi Bloomfield or Jenna Dodd which was a worry. Maya Vince was given her third start having been a regular off the bench. Crucially the front three was all in place. This team has conceded disgusting amounts of goals but Ruby Nathan, Manaia Elliott, and Bree Johnson have kept them in plenty of contests. They were only quarter of an hour away from beating Western Springs last week before letting it slip for a 3-2 loss. The Pride can empathise with that considering the same thing happened to them, pretty much. Last minute winner conceded against Springs.

Those shared Western Springs results suggested a close, competitive game. Lara Wall set a tone with a couple of strong tackles on Elliott. Not a lot of space for the AU front three to work with. The Pride were also a bit pensive in search of attacking opportunities with Feinberg-Danieli doing well to dive out and snatch a low cross from Morrow on the overlap. Georgia Martin glanced a header wide from a Nathan corner for AU. Not a lot of overt chances either way until the 15th minute when we got our first goal. Rebecca Lake sent the ball up the line to Charlotte Roche who ran directly in behind the defensive line and then polished the move off 1v1 with the keeper. Way too easy from an Auckland Utd perspective but what do ya know Charlotte Roche had stuck again. Continuing her run of scoring in every start.

Roche almost snuck through that same channel soon after but AFD did just enough to halt her. Morrow then swung in a mint cross but Jess Philpot got there just ahead of Chloe Bellamy, top defending. Lara Wall made a thrilling burst up the left, including bouncing Manaia Elliott off and to the ground – Elliott may be a rookie at this level and she’s not the biggest player either but she’s a nugget and few others could body her over like that.

But despite that five minute spell of funk from the Pride they soon conceded an equaliser. Ruby Nathan peeling to the right, she’d been drifting around looking for that transitional ball from the opening minute and having missed Bree Johnson with a ball in behind slightly earlier, this time she got the angles right and Johnson did well to stay onside and compensate for a gentle first touch that she nearly left behind her. Knew where the pressure was coming from. Angled to where she could avoid it and get a shot away. Bang. 1-1. Johnson with goal 12 of the term. Nathan with assist 11.

Nearly saw an action replay a minute later but this time the flag did go up against Johnson. However another Lake deep ball towards another Roche run got AU into some mischief as Feinberg-Danieli rushed out and although her slide disrupted Roche enough to cause a heavy touch for a goal kick, it was also deemed a foul and a yellow card came out. Luckily AFD had defenders infield so nothing worse than that. Feinberg-Danieli then got airborne to slap away the free kick from Rebecca Lake. Couldn’t beat Charlotte Roche to the next through ball though. Roche took advantage of a staggered AU backline as Bellamy slid one into her path, getting a toe on the ball just ahead of the keeper for her second goal. 2-1 after 27 mins.

A slick combo between Nathan and Johnson put the latter through down the left but as she swerved her way into the area across came Lara Wall from the other side to step in and put a full stop on that move. An Elliott left footer, not caught properly from a little outside the area, dipped on target with Una Foyle stretching to tip it over. The ball didn’t quite sit up for Vince from the corner. AU had chances for another equaliser, don’t doubt it.

We almost saw the two youth teamers combine as Keoghan turned through pressure and fed Roche but there was another offside. Roche was flagged again before long – with a plan to attack that space between defensive line and goalkeeper you had to cop a few offsides as a result. Keoghan also had a go on target. Meanwhile Foyle saved low near post as Johnson turned an Emma Leaming cross on target plus Ruby Nathan had a couple instances getting into the area only for defenders to close her down at the last instance. 2-1 to the Pride at half-time. A prettily poised game so long as AU could handle their offside trap.

Roche attempted to lift over AFD from the right edge but ‘twas a simple save. Feinberg-Danieli then had the physio over checking out what may have been a head knock, they had the ice pack out. AFD has had concussions before so gotta be careful with it. The massive worry was that AU didn’t have a specialist keeper on the bench... the last time they’d had to put an outfielder in goal (against Eastern Suburbs) it didn’t go so flash although to be fair Maya Vince actually did alright under the circumstances. Well, she’d have to try do the same here because with 54 mins gone, Aimee Feinberg-Danieli was subbed off and Izzy Gerrand came on, Maya Vince taking the gloves and GK jersey.

Nathan won a corner after some sharp footwork working to a shot. The Pride then also turned to their bench with Lauren Dabner and Charlotte Mortlock on for Darsha Keoghan and Petra Buyck. It was still only 2-1 as we ticked past the hour. But then a Rebecca Lake free kick was turned into her own net by Georgia Martin and from there it got ugly. Poor ol’ Martin had just been booked for arguing a corner kick call a few mins earlier.

Ella McCann flipped a header over the top from a Dabner free kick, diving forward to reach it but unable to keep it down. Up the other end Nathan might’ve been feeling the pressure of the situation as she shot from range when maybe the overlap pass was a better option. But then that disjointed backline caught up with Auckland again as McCann played a simple pass in behind and Charlotte Mortlock was through on goal from almost halfway. Vince didn’t have the instincts or training to close her down quick enough and Lottie Mortlock had the home team’s fourth.

Good to see Mikaela Hunt pop up for the last twenty off the bench on her return from illness. Megan Simpson was also brought on at the same team. Vince then pulled off a sweet save to stop Roche from completing a hatty before Sophie Bradley charged down McCann’s follow-up with her face. Ouch. Next up it was McCann threading for Mortlock again, with Vince rushing up and accidentally chopping her down outside the area. Might’ve been in some trouble there but the ball went in anyway. Bradley threw herself at it but couldn’t stop the pesky thing from crossing the line. Cheeky toe from Mortlock for her second goal. Got hurt in the process but was all good after some time to catch her breath back.

Auckland Utd cleared the bench with Emmelin Bowala and Jennifer McMurray subbed on. Manaia Elliott got a rare spell at her more usual right back spot though she got caught out unable to clear after 81 mins which allowed Charlotte Roche to nudge in her third of the arvo. Outrageous form from the 18yo... who was replaced by Lisa Evans in the aftermath of her hat-trick. Elliott then rolled her ankle which wasn’t ideal given how AU had already used all their subs – on another day she’d maybe have been subbed, on this day she returned to guts it out.

The Pride weren’t done. Evans wasn’t able to turn a loose ball on target. McCann had a shot blocked after a lay-off by Mortlock. Then finally Frankie Morrow found a pocket in the area as Whitney Hepburn picked her out. Morrow held off Martin then took advantage of Vince’s wobbly positioning to make it seven. But Auckland United did land the last punch. After Maya Vince had made a solid stop against Evans, then a simpler catch against a Hepburn shot, Bree Johnson slipped a ball through for Ruby Nathan (normally it’s the other way around) and Nathan squeezed a shot past Foyle and just inside the post. They deserved that second goal at least. 7-2 was the way it ended.

Remember it was a close game, still 2-1, when Maya Vince had to put the gloves on. Freak situations can happen... but this is the second time that Vince has had to go in goal this season. This is the National League and you’ve got a keeper in Feinberg-Danieli who has had injury issues lately yet you don’t have a reserve keeper on the bench? Unfortunately that’s a complete shambles. Like, that should never happen. Not that the keeper thing was the only issue, the way their back four set up was also a mess and cost them a couple goals with the constant through balls.

This team has a front three to compete with anyone yet even with some really talented defenders in tow they have not been able to organise themselves well enough to stay in games. Incredibly this made it 10 games in a row in which they’ve conceded three or more times. They’re scoring multiple in most of them and still losing. But they’ve still got two more games (against Capital and Central) to try and salvage something heading into next season and with Bree Johnson and Ruby Nathan in the form they’re in this team remains appointment viewing. Particularly if you enjoy high-scoring games.

Also this was not a good time to catch the Cantabs. The Pride made it four wins from five (and could’ve won the other one too) with this hefty victory. Charlotte Roche has seven goals in four starts. What an impact. Charlotte Mortlock also served up a couple off the bench while Rebecca Lake and Ella McCann each had two assists. It’s taken them a while to figure things out this season but funnily enough a youth team striker seems to have given them that edge. This was the first time they’d scored more than three in a game this year. They were ruthless against a vulnerable team. It was just like the Canterbury United Pride of old.

Central vs Southern United

She’s been tough sledding for Central this season, that’s for sure. 11 losses in a row, conceding bundles of goals in the process. Eight of those losses have been by 3+ goals. They’ve conceded eight in a game once and nine in a game on three occasions. There have also been clear indications of progress from a really young squad including a couple games where they can very close to snapping that losing streak – such as the two against Capital and the late loss to Canterbury. But nothing’s come easy for them. Mistakes have been punished. However for the first time all season they were able to name an unchanged starting line-up for this match which seems like a good thing.

Southern travelled up to Palmerston North with a six game unbeaten streak on the line though not exactly at full strength. They’ve lost a few key players down the home stretch. The likes of Jasmine Prince and Hannah Mackay-Wright... plus for this game they also lacked the services of Kate Hannay, the goalie whose starts have aligned exactly with their changes in fortune after two awful games to begin the term. What that meant was Southern had Lauren Patterson lining up in goal in her first appearance. Otherwise it was the same as last week. Toni Power is listed on NZF as having played though it was clearly Jemma Wilson again at right back. Perhaps a late scratch from the line-up that slipped under the radar.

There were touches for Chelsea Whittaker and Kennedy Bryant as Southern United began on the front foot. It’s not necessarily their most natural way of operating but such was the task. When they beat Central 3-0 last time it wasn’t until the last half hour that they got their goals. Here they were much more inclined towards an early breakthrough... however numbers in defence from Central made that tricky. Jana Niedermayr had three or four interventions in the opening few minutes. There was one shot from Whittaker that she didn’t really catch but otherwise it took some time for Southern to get the motor humming.

Looked like it was pretty windy at Massey Uni too, no doubt affecting the game. Margi Dias and Rose Morton both had cross/shots that sailed too deep while Whittaker lifted another one into the bread basket for keeper Annie Foote. No major chances through the initial quarter hour... thus Central could check off objective number tahi.

Whittaker diverted a Bryant cross towards goal but took too much of the pace off it for an easy save. Abby Rankin, one of two former Central players in the SU line-up (along with left-back Samantha Woolley), snapped up a loose ball and delivered towards Dias but she didn’t get a touch on the cross and it was cleared for a corner. Missed it clean. A sharp one-two between Bryant and Dias almost had KB zoning in on goal but Mackenna Chittenden got a foot in. Bryant kept going and still got a shot away... which curled into the hands of Foote. Might as well mention that Southern also had trouble breaking down a deep defensive line against Capital last week.

Meanwhile Central had their first decent shot as Holly Kleinsman weaved her way back infield from the right wing and sliced her attempt a long way from where it could cause any trouble. Back the other way and Dias couldn’t catch up with a super low cross by Whittaker. But in the 27th minute a heavy touch by Chittenden on the right edge of defence allowed a pressing Chelsea Whittaker to close her down and Kennedy Bryant came over to steal the ball away. Clever ball between two defenders from Bryant to get Whittaker into the area. CW then picked her spot at the near post for 1-0. Hard work off the ball, efficient work on it. Southern United had the lead that their enterprise deserved.

Georgie Furnell intercepted a pass and tried her luck but no dramas there as Patterson saved. Elsewhere one of SU’s best chances ensued when Dias centred towards Bryant and kept on running past. Bryant fed Whittaker who then hit Dias’ running lane on the diagonal... but Foote saved it with her foot. Great move, equally great denial. Bryant then tried an acrobatic effort while R.Morton unleashed from closer to the halfway line than the goal. Fair enough... but perhaps those low percentage attempts were also a compliment to Central’s packed defence.

This was solid work from the home side. They’d avoided the compounding error of conceding that second goal soon after the first. Another Bryant shot from outside the box flew wide, then Whittaker too from a similar spot. A dropping volley from KB was saved. Any one of these coulda blasted into the top corner yet none of them did and therefore it was only 1-0 at the half. Not exactly a safe lead. Plenty to ponder amidst that Southern United team talk.

Interesting sight as Central subbed off goalie Annie Foote during the break. On came Sophie Campbell in her place, who played a couple times last year as a 14 year old but has been behind new recruit Annie Foote this time around. Don’t think this was injury related, more just giving the backup keeper a chance to do something nearing the end of the campaign. Campbell’s a talent. She was going to need to be, as SU got back underway with headers from Whittaker and Sarah Morton. Bryant also tried a snapshot that Campbell plucked out of the air, before Campbell was sharp in getting off her line to gather a ball in behind that KB was lurking for.

Still Southern continued to pile on the pressure. Dias found some room dropping a shoulder to get in on goal but inexplicably tried to square for Whittaker when the shot seemed by far the best option. The pass went behind CW too. Dias almost set up Whittaker again but her cross was achingly beyond reach. And then, like a crack of thunder on a previously sunny day summoning a rainstorm, a thing happened. That thing was Isla Cleall-Harding pressing fullback Wilson and thieving the ball from her. ICH took a couple steps towards goal and figured: why not? Next thing her shot had soared into the top corner. A stunning equaliser in more ways than one. 58 minutes gone and it was 1-1.

A sneaky backheel from Kennedy Bryant for an overlapping Rose Morton would’ve led to an emphatic response had Morton placed her shot better. Instead another Campbo save. Then a wonderful stop from Campbell to push a guided header by Dias to safety. This one she really had to move for. Mission accomplished.

There was now an urgency in how Southern were playing. Bryant fed R.Morton again... but Tessa Hyland stepped across with a clever read and some strong defending. Dias then slipped past Niedermayr, then past Pip Coakley too, then Niedermayr recovered to halt the progress. There always seemed to be an extra defender or three when Central needed them. Wasn’t allowing for too much funk on attack although Cleall-Harding did get a shot away after a quick free kick. But they’d scored one screamer against the run of play and with quarter of an hour remaining they were sniffing their first point of 2022.

Rankin failed to strike a Dias pull-back properly. Dias then took a snapshot too close to Campbell. An unreal switch of play from Bryant dropping deep to collect the ball, holding it up, then whipping it out wide into space gave Dias something to run into... but she drilled the shot slightly wide across goal. Bryant snuck in behind from a Whittaker sliding pass... again Campbell was up to the task rushing out and making the save with her legs. This was turning into a 45-minute blinder from the young goalie.

Kelsey Kennard won the contact off yet another Bryant corner kick. Her nudge goalwards found sub Zara Pratley inside the six yard box who wasn’t able to swivel the ball over the line. Came at her at an awkward height though if she’d simply ducked out of the way it might have gone in anyway. Another huge chance gone begging. An almighty scramble ensued but Central eventually hacked it clear. How exactly this game was still 1-1 was beyond logic for all but the wisest footballing gurus out there.

It could simply be that the blessings were upon Central Football on this day. Only the stingiest fan could say they hadn’t earned it with how they’ve trucked along against the odds all season. Hence who cares if Tessa Hyland was lining up a cross or a shot when she set the radar for an 83rd minute free kick. Doesn’t matter. Outcome trumps execution every day of the week and that sucker honed in on the top corner from half the distance back to Dunedin (or whichever direction she was standing in). Tessa Hyland, ladies and gentlemen...

Forget about a first point. Central were now in a position to win the damn thing. What. A. Goal.

Couldn’t say Southern were enjoying themselves. Far too many wasted chances against a defence that was a lot sturdier than they’d probably scouted for and now their unbeaten streak was on the brink of going down in the unlikeliest fixture. Graeme Smaill was on the bench and he had a week argument with the fourth official after Margi Dias was hurt in an aerial challenge. This after Sarah Morton talked her way into the book having a go at the refereeing. Pure frustration on her part... but not gonna lie it was pretty funny to see her celebrate the yellow card...

A little time still remained. Enough time for Niedermayr to shield Emily Morison away from the ball with a chance beckoning. A tasty Whittaker curling delivery was dealt with by Nieds and Maddi Hughes. One last Kennedy Bryant corner flashed past everyone. Finally the whistle blew. Finally Central had themselves a victory.

What a remarkable game and result. On another day Southern might’ve won this 5-0. They created heaps but were perhaps a little impatient in getting to their shots rather than working better chances. Then again, there were a couple instances where passes were attempted when shots were more appropriate. Kennedy Bryant and Chelsea Whittaker combined for the goal and they were all over this game creating the bulk of SU’s best moments however they just couldn’t find that crucial second goal. It left them vulnerable even against a team that wasn’t creating much... and two magnificent goals therefore condemned them to defeat.

It was unlucky... but this has always been a possibility against Southern. Even across the six-game unbeaten streak they actually only scored twice in a game on two occasions... those being the two times they won. This was the first time they’ve conceded more than once in a match since week two and ironically it may have been the match they had the least defending to do in. When those two things combine in one match... you can do the math.

So fantastic for Central. What a slog that was. Jana Niedermayr was outrageously good in defence while Tessa Hyland deserves heaps of credit not only for the winning goal but also a fine defensive midfield showing. Both goalkeepers were really good, Annie Foote and Sophie Campbell. There were no weak links. The workrate was immense and apart from that one goal they were able to eliminate the individual errors that have cost them in other games. There was luck involved for sure but they were due a bit of luck after eleven straight defeats. Absolutely stoked for ‘em.

Eastern Suburbs vs Northern Rovers

For the first time this National League, Eastern Suburbs rocked up to a game on the back of a defeat. Having to respond to a set-back. A new experience for this team. They hosted Northern Rovers for the telly but not at their usual home of Madill’s Farm, instead at Riverhills Park (home of Fencibles AFC). Could be a television decision or could be a consequence of a disgusting amount of November rain falling across the motu but in particularly in the northern regions.

Anyway, Juliette Lucas was back in the team for this match, her first start since week five due to injury (though she’s played a couple times off the bench). To make room for her, Tayla O’Brien played deeper in midfield with Ella Findlay for company – Saki Yoshida rested on the bench to begin with. Olivia Page moved to wing-back while Arya Blackler returned at right centre-back. That makes two changes from the defeat against the Cantabs – albeit with a couple positional shifts as well. Incidentally, this team was almost identical to the eleven that played Rovers the first time back when a Deven Jackson hatty inspired a 5-2 win (with a few of those goals scored late, defs closer than it sounds). Annie Byrne was the only non-starter from that day... but she’d get her chance off the bench later on. Don’t you worry about that. Aaron McFarlane coached the team with Stephen Hoyle seemingly absent.

Northern Rovers knew the task ahead of them. The loss by Western Springs the day before had left the door slightly ajar for them to push for a finals spot but they’d need to beat the best team to take advantage. Greer MacInstosh returned to the XI alongside Riley Sheldon at CB. Chelsea Elliott also came back but in a defensive midfield spot with usual CDM Breeze Durham a little higher alongside Dani Canham. Quite a defensive set-up against the top scoring team in the nation. Elliott would play deep enough to almost be a third central defender... which by the second half she very specifically was. Rene Wasi also rejoined the starters after a bit of a rest last time out. Wasi/Ryan/Brown were the front three... surprisingly this was only the fourth time that trio has all started in those positions - the other three occasions were the 9-0 vs Central, a 4-1 vs Canterbury, and the previous meeting with Suburbs.

Righto then, Northern Rovers seeking that upset. Out there chasing a win to restore their grand final hopes with the chance to move within two points of Western Springs on the ladder. And... they were losing within four minutes. First Ellen Blount had flexed some courage closing down Lucas but from the resulting corner kick it was ES captain and defender Rebekah van Dort with the powerful header to give the Lilywhites the lead. Blount got a hand to it but wasn’t able to claw it away. Not the best way for Rovers to resurrect their season.

Suburbs were in the flow state. Lucas fed Deven Jackson swinging in behind. MacIntosh get across with a fine tackle but Jackson won it back and Blount had to be sharp to save it. DJ’s movement was at peak efficiency in this game... putting Blount on an early yellow card for taking her down outside the area. Rovers looked a step behind the pace although that was figurative rather than literal because Rene Wasi did zoom away on the break showing sheer speed before serving up Kelli Brown only for KB’s shot to be dragged wide with nobody there to tap it in at the back stick... although Canham was doing her best in support.

True to recent form, it absolutely hooned down with rain after about thirteen minutes (unlucky for some). Rovers were still struggling to clear their lines. Remember that Eastern Subs tend to begin games on a murderous rampage – including this game they’ve scored 16 goals in the opening 25 minutes of games... which is the same as Southern Utd have scored all year. Anyway, Jackson turned and fired from 20 yards and it was destined for the bottom corner until Blount pulled off a lovely one-handed diving stop. The big saves from Ellen Blount were the only reason this was still 1-0.

Then Rovers came close to levelling as Leanna Ryan skipped past Blackler and drew a save out of Brooke Bennett, although the square ball to Brown was arguably the better option. Wasi wasn’t far off winning the header from Brown’s corner either. A little bit of joy for Northern Rovers thanks to the direct stuff.

Yet Eastern Suburbs were still bossing the majority of the proceedings. O’Brien advanced through the midfield and hit Mettam in the pocket, who slipped a delicious ball behind for Jackson but the shot ended up on the wrong side of the post. There was no stopping Deven Jackson the next time though. An utter thumper from outside the box. She was getting into these spots the whole game, nobody could stick with her, and in the 27th minute she sent a banger wooshing inside the near post. Phwoar.

You know what though? Rovers had a better spell in the wake of the second concession. Talisha Green launched herself into a couple hard challenges to inspire some energy from her teammates. Seemed to work. Curious that the front three weren’t hanging wide, Ryan and Wasi really drifting close to Brown to force some overloads going 3v3 against the centre-backs. That in turn left room wide for Suya Haering to push into on the left. 34 mins gone and she did exactly that... and smashed in a screamer of a goal from outside the box. Magic from the U17 international.

Hold the phone, friends. Because four minutes after that, Leanna Ryan collected a consolidating pass from Haering who’d regathered a Brown cross that’d dodged everyone. Ryan produced a cheeky nutmeg to beat her marker then curled in a stunning goal. Each goal was better than the last in this wild game of football.

Deven Jackson nearly one-upped the competition again with a deep shot that Blount tipped onto the crossbar. A mad shot and a mad save. Ella Findlay then couldn’t control the rebound. All tied at twos as the teams hit the sheds, perhaps not a reflective scoreline given those two Rovers bangers from out of the blue but that’s how it goes. The rain had long since eased, by the way, although the conditions remained slippery.

Kelli Brown got things going again with a lefty shot off target... however Suburbs took control back with a few slight attacks and then on 52’ came a major moment. Green and Lucas competed for the aftermath at set piece time and there may have just been a clip of the heels by TG on JL as the each retreated. Lucas fell over. Penalty awarded. Pretty unlucky for Rovers as another ref may easily have seen that as being incidental contact. Having said that, their luck soon swung back the other way when Van Dort lined up the spot kick and blazed it off target. High and wide albeit only by a small margin. Still missed though. The deadlock remained and it wasn’t long before Saki Yoshida was subbed on, with O’Brien moving further forward (and Lucas going off).

Jackson ran at the defence and stung one slightly wide. Nicole Mettam was given her last warning for persistent fouls, already on a yellow card since early second half. Elsewhere Brown ran a clever lane to ping a shot on target but it was straight at Bennett. Half an hour to go as Jackson missed with an ambitious blind volley. Zoe Benson and Annie Byrne were introduced for Subs. Rovers were only really threatening on the break so it was the Lilywhites looking way more likely... although Ryan reckoned she shoulda had a penalty as Byrne slid the ball away from her. Replays suggested a quality tackle - and it had to be in that situation.

Jackson worked an effort outside the box but yet again Blount saved low. Then Rovers went to the bench with Alexis Cook brought on for Riley Sheldon. A winger for a central defender. There’s an indication of what Rovers’ intentions were: a draw would not suffice. Ryan drove forward and fed Haering on the underlap but the cut-back was picked off by Bennett before Brown could get there. Breeze Durham did the same up the other end after some slick Zoe Benson mahi... but Benson had a second go and TOB dragged it past the post. Huge chance. TOB seemed to have more time than she realised. O’Brien also flicked a header onto the top of the net from a Byrne cross.

Only fifteen to play. You could cut the tension with a knife, as they say. Chelsea Elliott reckoned she could score directly from a very long free kick and she wasn’t far off to be fair. Only just over from miles out. Ah but then came the decisive acts. Tayla O’Brien spotted a gap in the back three after a Van Dort pass. Blount closed her down and forced her wide so TOB simply stepped around her and then coolly finished at the near post even as three defenders rallied to try prevent her. Mate, there’s been no preventing Tayla O’Brien all season. That wasn’t about to change. 3-2 after 79 minutes.

Five mins later it got even better for Suburbs. Zoe Benson’s spin and switch made it all the way to Annie Byrne who went bang in off the crossbar with a perfect hit. Another remarkable goal in this game. Of course there was.

That fourth goal released all that tension. Both teams were exhausted and the result was sorted. Rovers had scored two magic goals to get back level and aside from those instances hadn’t really done enough to feel they could muster two more. Hence they didn’t. 4-2 was the way it ended and with it probably any hopes that Rovers had of a top two finish. However this win confirmed as much for Eastern Suburbs. Not only top two but first place. Cannot be caught. That won’t mean so much if they go on to lose the final but at least they’re guaranteed to be there... and with two games still to spare.

Deven Jackson was everywhere for the Lilywhites, same as she was the last time she played this team. The clever movement and relentless workrate were unstoppable. Scored one blinder and coulda had more. Naturally Tayla O’Brien was the player who popped up with that crucial third goal. Fine work from the likes of Nicole Mettam and Zoe Benson too, while the backline were very good, especially Rebekah van Dort... penalty miss aside.

Bummer for Rovers but they’ll accept that the better team did win even if it took a while to get there. Suya Haering was a bright spot up and down the left with a goal and an assist. Ellen Blount’s reliable goalkeeping kept them in the game. Leanna Ryan produced a few spots of excellence. So it goes. They’ve now got back to back home games against Canterbury and Southern to ensure they finish in third place. Should be good.

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