Vic Esson - Rangers FC / Olivia Chance - Celtic FC (Scottish Premier League)

That pesky World Cup break for the blokes and some offseason chilling for a lot of the ladies means that Flying Kiwis hasn’t been so regular lately, so it goes, but we’re back in the swing of it now folks. And there are a few champions out there who’ve been giving the football activities a whirl so there’s catching up to be done.

Nowhere are the Flying Kiwis yarns more enticing than in Scotland where the SWPL has been fizzing over. Last week saw one of the biggest games of the season yet as Rangers hosted Celtic and that meant Victoria Esson against Olivia Chance. Ninety minutes for each. Huge game between a couple title contenders.

Being a derby game, you can forgive the two teams for turning up with the priority of not losing. Rangers were the home team and they had some decent early possession but Celtic’s shape prevented them from getting up to much with it. Chance played closer to her own goal than usual. The first hint of a chance actually came about from an Esson error as she rushed out of her area to clear a ball but didn’t get much on it under the pressure of a sprinting Clarissa Larisey. To be honest, it looked like she was fouled... but it didn’t matter anyway as Lucy Ashworth-Clifford wasn’t able to get a shot anywhere near on target before the defence recovered.

That was merely a warm-up for a few minutes later when Esson was again aggressive getting off her line but this time she fouled Larisey and was given a yellow card for her troubles. Esson wasn’t a big fan of the decision... and watching the replay back you could see why as she was nowhere near making contact with Larisey. Hefty ol’ dive from the Canadian there.

Anyway, a very long range strike from Nicola Docherty was tipped over the bar by Esson’s opposite as the first half ended scoreless without very many moments to threaten that state. There was much more action in the second half, thankfully. Rangers went close a couple times straight out of the gates building up to Tessel Middag hitting the crossbar from a direct free kick after 62 mins. Rangers were creating all the chances. A header wide. Another low shot saved.

But some scrappy Celtic defence kept them at bay (particularly the goalkeeping of Pamela Tajonar)... and then right at the end the Hoops thought they’d won it with a bouncing header from Olivia Fergusson but Vic Esson was able to flip it around the post on the dive. That was in the sixth minute of seven added on. A nil-all draw between Rangers and Celtic. Probably should have expected that between two teams who’d conceded a combined 3 goals in 20 SWPL games prior to this meeting.

Esson then took the week off as Jenna Fife rotated back in to face Glasgow Women. No surprises there given that Esson and Fife have had a tag team thing going on all season and manager Malky Thomson made a whopping nine changes from the Celtic game to the GW game. That’s the difference between playing against a title contender or the bottom team in the league. Rangers won 10-0 in a canter. Nothing to worry about there.

As for Celtic, their follow-up game was also a healthy victory. 7-0 against Dundee United with Shen Mengyu scoring a hat-trick. Larisey scored in the third minute and by 25’ it was three. Took awhile for the fourth to arrive but it didn’t matter because they were in the driver’s seat by then.

Only four changes to the XI that faced Rangers and Liv Chance was not one of them, playing ninety minutes again – she missed most of preseason and has had a few international trips as well which has added up to her not really getting a sustained run of extended games yet this term but that seems to now be changing. Curious thing about that was she started as a left wing-back against Dundee United. She was in central midfield for the Rangers game which is where she usually plays although with Celtic’s now-preferred 3-4-3 formation the central mids aren’t able to get as involved with the goals and assists. At LWB, on the other hand, Chance was all over it.

It was Chance’s ball that set up Larisey’s opener and she also fed one down the line that led to the assist for the second goal. Influential in getting the team up and running. By the time they started scoring their second half flurry (it was 3-0 until the 57th min, then they scored four more) she’d been relocated back to the midfield realms where she was able to sit deeper and enjoy the view.

Finally, the most recent weekend (catching us all the way up) didn’t have any SWPL fixtures. That’s because it was a stand-alone League Cup final weekend... with Rangers facing Hibernian in the decider. Chance and Celtic won this trophy last season but were knocked out in a penalty shootout against Spartans in the quarters. Spartans then lost 4-0 to Rangers in the semis while Hibs shocked Glasgow City with a 2-1 win. Rangers were the favourites. Fife played both the first two fixtures in this competition but then Esson played the semi-final.

Interesting that while Fife has certainly gotten her fair share of SWPL games this season, it was Esson who started all four Champions League qualifiers as well as both games so far against title rivals Glasgow City and Celtic (both draws). In other words, the six most important games so far had all been Esson starts. They rotate the keepers for sure but in the big games it’s the Fernies gloveswoman who is trusted most. So with a trophy on the line in a cup final surely that meant more Esson magic, right?

Nah they picked Jenna Fife. There were six changes to the team that had played Glasgow Women (so six changes to a team that had taken eight changes from the Celtic match) and Vic Esson wasn’t one of them. Fair enough, Fife was the top choice keeper last season and has played for Scotland so, you know, gotta give her something. Esson was still on the bench if required.

She wasn’t required. But the important thing was that Rangers won 2-0 thanks to a Lizzie Arnot banger after 15 minutes and then a Kirsty Howat goal to seal with with quarter of an hour to go. Hibs made it tough with some battling defence, for a long time that wonder goal from Arnot was the only difference, but Rangers had very little to worry about at the back themselves. Fife made a couple of routine saves and otherwise enjoyed an easy clean sheet. By the time RFC scored again it was looking inevitable (they’d had a shot deflected onto the crossbar slightly earlier) and after they scored again it was all over. Update the Wikipedia page... Rangers are the Scottish League Cup champions for 2022.

Up Next: Monday at 5am, Rangers vs Aberdeen in the SWPL (NZT)

Katie Rood - Heart of Midlothian (Scottish Premier League)

Since Scotland is the place to be right now, here’s some more Flying Kiwis gold...

Well alright then. Just a couple of outstanding goals as her team produced one of their best displays of the season, crunching Hamilton Accies 5-0 to further establish their hold on fourth place (aka the best of the rest beyond the three title challengers... meaning that the best four teams in the land all have a kiwi players on their books).

Georgia Timms got things going with the opening goal inside quarter of an hour. Soon after that Roodie nearly scored an insane solo goal skipping through challenges on her way into the penalty before having her shot saved by the keeper. Timms later set up Cailin Michie for their second just before the break, good reward for a strong half, and as Hearts continued to run the show they eventually made it three with Rood’s first on 68’.

Leapt in front of her marker to steal a goal kick, chesting it down then running straight at the defence down that left wing. Cut back onto the right boot and boom, wonderful strike. That’s Katie Rood. Jenny Smith also scored a banger in the 84th after coming on as a sub and then in stoppage time Rood intercepted a blind pass, played a sweet one-two with Aimee Anderson, then dinked her finish over the keeper for fives.

How good was that? Rood almost had an assist too, setting up Timms earlier in the second half who rounded the keeper but shot into the side-netting. Plus there was that other effort of her own in the first half. Getting involved in the big moments and scoring a couple highlight goals. That’s how it’s done. 5-0 to Hearts.

Up Next: Monday at 3am away to Partick Thistle (NZT)

Meikayla Moore – Glasgow City (Scottish Premier League)

Can’t forget about Mouse either. GC have played twice since the last Flying Kiwis, winning both... although Moore didn’t feature in either the 4-1 victory over Partick Thistle or the 2-1 comeback win against Hibernian. Unused sub duty, so it goes. But plenty more games coming up where those ones came from and the important thing is that her team did notch up six more points staying smooth at the top of the ladder. Here’s how that table sits as things stand...

Up Next: Away to Spartans on Monday at 1.30am (NZT)

Logan Rogerson & Ollie Whyte - FC Haka (Finnish Veikkausliiga)

Logan Rogerson signed a new contract with FC Haka just prior to the end of the season. Now Ollie Whyte’s gone and done the same...

There it is. Whyte signed a one year deal with an option for a second year, the same as he signed last year. They could have simply activated that previous option for 2023 but instead FCH have renegotiated on a deal that’ll potentially keep him around another year after the next.

Remember that Haka’s excellent 2022 efforts earned them a spot in the Europa Conference League qualifiers so there’s plenty to stick around for. It’ll be the club’s first continental appearance for 15 years. They were fourth in the Veikaugsliiga and won their ECL playoff 4-2 against VPS over two legs.

Ollie Whyte: “After a very successful season, I am happy to sign a new contract with Haka. I have really enjoyed my time in Haka and I have made many good friends within the team. I think we have a good team culture. The best thing about Valkeakoski is the Hakafood cafe and the lakes in the summer. Expectations for next season are to continue striving to become one of the greatest teams in the Veikkausliiga and to advance as far as we can in Europe!”

FCH coach Teemu Tainio: “Ollie flashed [his potential] last season and the second season will certainly be easier when you know what the coaching is looking for. We expect a real breakthrough next season!”

Up Next: New season begins with the Liiga Cup group stage in a couple months

Anna Leat – Aston Villa (English Super League)

With England squadie and incumbent number one Hannah Hampton back with the team, it made sense that she started the League/Conti Cup group stage match against Durham two weeks ago. Cup footy had been Anna Leat’s speciality but after an impressive run as the starter in HH’s absence things had seemingly changed. Aston Villa won that cup game 1-0 thanks to a 75th minute Rachel Daly goal, with Durham only having one shot on target. Anna Leat enjoyed the sights from the comfort of the bench.

Didn’t quite expect Hannah Hampton to remain in goal for the WSL clash away to Manchester United next up, though. Bit of a bummer given that this was a special occasion played at Old Trafford in front of a massive crowd and Leat had done really well against Man Utd on debut in the Conti Cup. Manager Carla Ward spoke a little about Hampton before kickoff but only really to say that she’s a talented keeper, it’s great to have her injury free, and that she was going to be important for them against a difficult opponent. There were some unspecified disciplinary reasons for her not starting a game since September too, it wasn’t only the injuries, but fair enough for a manager to protect their player by not discussing that.

In the end it wasn’t the worst game for Leat to miss as United ran rampant with a 5-0 victory. Hampton made a mess of the first goal failing to parry it away. Didn’t have too much hope with any of the others. Villa did work a few chances of their own that they didn’t take but overall it was a pretty emphatic defeat.

Leat stayed busy by getting the start next up in Villa’s last Conti Cup group stage game. It was away against Sheffield United and the Villans won it 2-1 thanks to a quick-fire double from Kirsty Hanson (20’) and Kenza Dali (22’). They should have scored more, they didn’t need to. Sheffield United hardly threw a single punch... until they randomly won a penalty with ten minutes remaining. Leat dove the wrong way. The Blades thus scored with their only shot of the match to spoil the clean sheet, however the win still sees Aston Villa advance to the knockouts so it’s all good.

Hampton then started again at home against Arsenal in the WSL, the club’s final match before the holiday break. Villa actually took the lead here after six mins through Kirsty Hanson. A fantastic start... but it didn’t last. They ended up losing 4-1. The equaliser was an own goal after Hampton had pushed a cross into her own player. The second a corner that she couldn’t punch clear amidst heavy traffic. The third she made a good save with her foot but kicked it straight to an Arsenal forward who scored on the rebound. The fourth was a tidy low finish from a cut-back, nothing to be done about it.

Hardly a shocker from Hampton but there were definitely a few of those that she should have done better with. Bit of rust on display after a couple months out. It’s rough on Anna Leat who did absolutely nothing wrong during her spell as the number one... football can be that way sometimes. Then again with Hampton allowing nine goals in two games, even against a couple very strong teams, Leat might well be back into the equation again when the Villans get back into it in a month’s time.

Up Next: No more games until mid-January when the WSL resumes... Aston Villa have Tottenham first up on January 15 (NZT)

Rebekah Stott - Brighton & Hove Albion (English Super League)

Stotty remains in rehabilitation mode but she did reach another milestone a fortnight ago when she was included on the bench for Brighton’s trip to face Manchester City. It ended up being a 3-1 defeat in which they only used one sub and it wasn’t her. But she’s getting closer and closer after that preseason ankle surgery.

Prior to the game it was suggested by the club’s website in their match preview that she wasn’t yet ready to take the pitch (“At her pre-match press conference Merricks reported no new injury concerns. Rebekah Stott and Maisie Symonds are continuing their rehabilitation from long-term injuries”). Then she made the bench anyway. Seems like a positive sign.

Technically this was the third time that Stott has been in a matchday squad this season, having been amongst the subs twice before manager Hope Powell resigned... though it appears that was more a case of filling an otherwise empty seat despite Stott not being fit enough to partake. Good experience on the bench, helps her adjust back to the WSL. Them kinda ideas. That trend ended as soon as Amy Merricks took charge... which makes this latest milestone even more valuable as it suggests she’s genuinely on the brink of her comeback.

Brighton’s next game was against Everton on the weekend but they canned that one due to a frozen pitch. Was meant to be a Brighton home game, ah well. Means we missed out on any pre-game updates there. The Seagulls do play once more in the Conti Cup this weekend and then after that there’s the month-long winter break. CJ Bott’s last two games were both postponed for weather reasons too, Leicester City also having the same dramas. It’s that time of year.

Up Next: Saturday at 1am NZT against West Ham in the Continental Tyres Cup (NZT)

Ria Percival – Tottenham Hotspur (English Super League)

Spurs coach Rehane Skinner: “The best bit of news this week is Ria Percival being back running on the pitch for the first time in eight months, so that’s a massive plus for us yesterday, on her birthday. It was a good day at the office really. That’s been really good progress.”

Love it. Absolutely love it. Percival did her ACL in a Ferns game against Australia back in April so she’s making good progress to be back running already (as the coach said). Not sure how much longer it’ll be until football can be played but she’ll surely return before the end of the season at this rate.

Up Next: Running turns into kicking turns into tackling turns into playing...

Chris Wood - Newcastle United (English Premier League)

What’s this bloke been up to lately? Hanging out in Saudi Arabia at the hospitality of the Newcastle United owners is the answer to that one. The entire squad, with the exception of a few dudes who’ve been with their nations at the World Cup in another nearby nation, are in a training camp in Riyadh. A few friendlies against local teams. Heaps of hot weather training. You know the drill.

Alexander Isak didn’t play in the first of those friendlies last Friday NZT against local side Al-Hilal (the reigning Saudi champs). The Swedish striker is back in training now but they’re playing it safe with him. Meanwhile Callum Wilson was away at the World Cup with England. Hence there’s a neat little window of opportunity for Chris Wood to get some first eleven minutes – it’s only exhibition stuff but good showings here boost his case for further starts when the real deal returns.

Chris Wood did actually start the team’s most recent two competitive games. He logged 120 minutes and scored the first penalty in a shootout win over Crystal Palace in the EFL Cup and then got 75 minutes in a 1-0 win over Chelsea which lifted the Magpies up to third place at the hiatus. Played very well in that Chelsea game especially, doing his usual hard work that nobody sees because they’re too distracted by goal tallies.

So it was The Woodsman who walked out with a strongest available Newcastle team for that Al-Hilal game... and he didn’t even last the first half. Went off injured after 39 minutes which is very much not what Eddie Howe wanted to see. Wood had looked sharp to that point. Made a clever run down the left channel before sliding over a cross for Jacob Murphy whose shot was blocked from close range. Was lurking for a cross in his direction soon after that was cleared away by the last defender (then Joelinton headed in from the resulting corner). Then he gapped it.

Luckily it sounds like there’s nothing to worry about. It was Wood’s decision to withdraw himself, potentially a similar thing to the back niggle that affected him in that All Whites vs Australia game at Eden Park a wee while ago. Absolutely no way the same injury would have seen him replaced in a Premier League game.

Eddie Howe on Chris Wood’s injury: “He’s got a tight back. We hope its nothing serious. He just wanted to manage himself and didn’t feel he could continue so there’s no point taking any risks with any players. Hopefully we’ve got a clean bill of health.”

That’s a relief. It’s been a convenient thing for Wood that there hasn’t really been any point this year at which both Callum Wilson and Alexander Isak have been fit and available. That’s kept him ticking over with a steady flow of bench cameos as the back-up striker. That could be about to change, at least until Wilson/Isak picks up their next inevitable injury, meaning he may have to cop a few more unused sub outings down the line. But that’s why he’ll want to make a statement during this training camp. There was apparently a closed-door game against Middlesbrough earlier in the tour and there’s also a game on Sunday NZT against Rayo Vallecano.

Tell you what won’t be happening any time soon and that’s that the bloke is going nowhere. Newcastle have zero intention of selling Chris Wood. There was an article in The Telegraph recently about how Newcastle are planning on offloading a few players over the next transfer window or two, both to make room for new signings but also to balance the books having spent over £200 million on transfers (including Chris Wood) since the new owners came in. Not something that any remaining financial fair play stipulations will see too kindly if that balance continues. But don’t expect Chris Wood to be amongst the offloads...

“With that in mind, there have been discussions about which players could be sold to raise funds, but the Magpies hierarchy have decided they do not want to lose striker Chris Wood as the New Zealand international has been an excellent back-up forward this season. With club record signing Alexander Isak due to be fit again for the resumption of the Premier League campaign, against Leicester City on Boxing Day, Wood will find it even harder to get into the side. But the striker has privately expressed his happiness on Tyneside and wants to stay where he is a popular member of the dressing room. Newcastle received a number of loan offers for Wood at the end of the summer window after signing Isak for £60 million from Real Sociedad but did not want to leave themselves short of cover.”

Up Next: First competitive game back will be the EFL Cup round of sixteen tie at home against Bournemouth on 22 December at 8.45am (NZT)

Ryan Thomas – PEC Zwolle (Dutch Eerste Divisie)

A break in competitive proceedings has meant training camp excursions for PEC Zwolle too. Not quite got the financial weight of Newcastle to fall back upon but they did spend some time in Spain and then swung by Germany for another friendly before returning for the last two matches before the winter break. Yes, a month-long break coming two games after a three week break. Blame FIFA for scheduling the World Cup in a country where it’s impossible to play sports in the summer. But we digress.

Ryan Thomas didn’t play any of those friendly matches but he did train with the team while they were in Spain. Not full participation but he was out there with the lads on the grass which is a huge step towards his eventual return. It sounds like he was already nudging back into training activities in the week or so before the Spanish excursion so it’s all progressing slowly but surely. Word is that they don’t expect him to play before the new year but that’s no surprise to anyone.

In the first of their two games back prior to the winter spell, Zwolle won 1-0 against Helmond Sport on Tuesday NZT to put five points between themselves in second and MVV in third. Probably ought to have won by more, though that’s not important. Thomas van den Belt got the only goal after 30 mins.

Up Next: Saturday at 8am away to Roda JC (NZT)

Nik Tzanev – AFC Wimbledon (English League Two)

Five in a row? Yeah you’d better believe it. There have been some other games in between in cup competitions, with Tzanev’s backup Nathan Broome playing the 1-0 EFL Trophy knockout win over Sutton United and Tzanev getting the 2-0 FA Cup second round defeat to Chesterfield. But in League Two action the man has been unbeatable.

• 2-0 vs Leyton Orient (H/Nov 8)

• 0-0 vs Salford City (A/Nov 12)

• 2-0 vs Tranmere Rovers (A/Nov 19)

• 1-0 vs Grimsby Town (H/Dec 3)

• 0-0 vs Swindon Town (A/Dec 10)

Nik Tzanev last conceded a league goal in the 65th minute of a 3-2 win against Harrogate Town back on 29 October. That’s 475 minutes without being beaten. The Dons have been able to scrape a few victories out of those games too which has launched them up into mid-table comfort with the possibility to rise a fair bit higher still. They’re in 12th as it stands... but only four points off fourth. Tzanev has the fifth most clean sheets in the division this season with 8 of the bad boys. It’s been real. The Nik Tzanev Resurgence is upon us.

He almost lost the streak in that Swindon match most recently but for a superb save parrying away a heavy shot from inside the area in the second half. That was a game where his team had chances to win but it was their opponents who finished stronger so they did well to get out of there with a draw away from home. In the match prior he actually went head to head with Max Crocombe. Grimsby Town had a goal disallowed for offside in the first half. In a tight match-up with few chances, Tzanev saved one straight at him while Crocombe also kicked away a tough one as the teams hit the sheds still even. But an Ethan Chislett goal on the hour went on to win it for Wimbledon.

Grimsby did bounce back with a 2-1 win over Tranmere on the weekend, so that was nice. They’re sitting three points and two places behind AFC Wimbledon with a game in hand. They’re in a decent place. Not so decent for Tommy Smith and Colchester United however. That lot have lost two in a row, the first conceding a winner away to Mansfield Town in the second minute of stoppage time, the second going down to Sutton United thanks to a penalty in the dying moments of the first half before spoiling any potential comeback by getting a red card (to Ossama Ashley) early in the second half. Only goal difference is keeping them off the bottom of the table.

Up Next: Tzanev aims for six in a row at 4am on Sunday at home to Stevenage (NZT)

Matthew Garbett – Torino (Italian Serie A)

Thirty minutes in a friendly against Rayo Vallecano, get that into ya. Matt Garbett was brought on as part of a nine-man substitution. Sixty for the starters, thirty for the reserves. Good minutes for a man still seeking his senior league debut (though he did play in a cup game for the first team earlier this season).

Garbs played as a left-sided attacking midfielder in support of a lone striker. He gave away a foul with his first involvement and then a dodgy lay-off dropping back on defence almost had his team in trouble. But there were some tidy touches after that to go with an impressive workrate, fingers crossed that Serie A debut ain’t too far away.

By the way, you can tell always tell a youngster on the fringes when it’s time to do the lie down yarns on defensive free kicks...

Might as well mention that Libby Cacace also got some decent friendly action lately. Started a 2-1 win over Sturm Graz and then got the last half hour of a 1-1 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers. Doing what he’s gotta do to stay ready as the backup to Fabiano Parisi – whose form has been so good this season that he was called up to the Italy squad for the first time last month. Don’t think Cacace’s being buried behind some random jerry there. Parisi is legit.

Up Next: They’ve got another Spanish friendly coming up at 5am on Saturday against UD Almeria (NZT)

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