Wellington United vs Southern United

The interactive week wha extravaganza of National League footballing action began at Wakefield Park where Wellington United hosted Southern United on a dark and gloomy Saturday morning in the capital city. Southern were on a roll after a couple of excellent wins. They made one change to their team with Bianca Park at right wing-back for her first start, with Freya Partridge-Moore switching to the left. Wellington United had also won two in a row... granted, beating Central and Ellerslie isn’t quite as much of a statement as what the Southerners did to Western Springs last week. For the Diamonds we saw the first instance of the OOO combination up front since the Kate Sheppard Cup final. That OOO combo is, of course, Natalie Olson, Dani Ohlsson, and Pepi Olliver-Bell (the latter with a three-game scoring streak to maintain). Elsewhere high schooler Lily Davies returned at fullback too.

Windy weather was a theme across both leagues this past weekend but it was this game in which the tone was set. These two were scrambling in the gale-force way before it was cool. And on an artificial surface with all sorts of random irrelevant line markings across it too, just to make things even wonkier. However Southern United were the team that figured out what others also would in similar conditions across Saturday and Sunday: you have to play the territory game in these conditions. Dagnabbit, that’s just what they did. Setting up camp in the Wgtn Utd half as soon as they could and letting the pressure grow from there.

Partridge-Moore sparked the first chance with a low stabbed cross that Amy Hislop turned onto the post only to be flagged offside. FPM then had an effort of her own saved before Hislop tried to pounce upon the rebound only for Zoe Barrott to risk life and limb (not necessarily in that order) to get there first. ZB took a knock there but she was okay. SU kept it going like that although Natalie Olson did once threaten on the counter, with a super first touch before her shot flew wide. No doubt that the Diamonds had pace on the break to explore... it was only a matter of getting into those situations but taking the ball off the Southerners wasn’t so easy. Kendrah Smith was off the pitch for at least five minutes at one stage, not sure if that was injury related or not, and it didn’t make a difference to how SU were bossing this thing.

Margi Dias had some moments, as did Hislop. Olliver-Bell did give it a nudge with one counter attack but Marissa Porteous got there with the block. Then Marissa Porteous stepped out of defence to float forward a cross which got picked up in the breeze and sailed into the goal. No doubt that it was accidental... but the goal did reflect the passage of play. Those things go your way when you’re on top. It’s not a coincidence (buy more tickets, win more lottery). Funny thing is Marissa Porteous didn’t score at all for West Coast Rangers during the winter phase.

Alas, Danielle Ohlsson soon had to leave the game with a recurrence of whatever injury she’s been dealing with. Cara Chung took her place, dropping to right back so that Davies could be the winger. There was nothing safe about a 1-0 lead but with both sides defending well that goal did feel pretty massive. Hope Gilchrist rattled a deep free kick on target towards the end of the half but Amelia Simmers held on. Southern were typically aggressive, stepping out from the back to win the ball. Wellington Utd were sitting deeper but mostly absorbing what came their way. Two really powerful defensive groups doing what they do best. 1-0 it remained at HT.

To be honest, for all of their territory Southern United hadn’t actually created that many chances. Heading in opposite directions now, WU had to feel okay about how they’d gotten through. They definitely looked more confident in the second stanza, even if it was Hislop who had the next big chance: a lefty swipe that Molly Simons defied gravity to nudge over the top. The Diamonds were looking brighter... and on the hour they should have been level. Olson had picked up a loosie and been shut down by a charging Simmers only for the rebound to fall for Ellie Kabayama... who rushed her shot and missed the frame altogether on the half-volley. They needed that one. They didn’t get it.

Southern had a few semi-chances to score what probably would’ve been a sealing second goal. Hannah Mackay-Wright was amongst the best of those at corner kick time. With fifteen to go, WU subbed off a midfielder to bring on another attacker – round three’s super sub Sophie Dijkstra. In a much more evenly contested second half, the Diamonds were trying to raise the pace. Kabayama had a couple of close calls. Gilchrist lashed another shot from distance into the lap of Simmers. Southern had left the door open here and were having to deal with the consequences. However deal with them they did. Southern survived for the 1-0 victory, their third in a row. Rising up the ladder with every subsequent match. They’ll back themselves next week in the South Island Derby too.

The goal may have been fortunate, yet it reflected the state of the game at that point. And while Wgtn Utd did level things out from there they never levelled them on the scoreboard. But gotta hype up a superb defensive set from Zoe Barrott and Caelin Patterson. They were great. They just weren’t quite as great as the likes of Marissa Porteous, Rose Morton, and Amy Hislop. Morton lives for scrappy games like that with heaps of contested possession. POB’s streak ends at three as United lose their first game... they do have a tough run of fixtures from here on out though. Big test of where they’re at.

Wellington United 0-1 Southern United

Goal (Assist)

34’ | SU | 0-1 | Porteous (Rankin)

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Western Springs vs Wellington Phoenix Reserves

These two clubs have very different expectations, very different targets, but they were both in need of a victory. Western Springs were beaten last week in a great game away to Southern United. A tough trip against a tough team. But Springs have championship aspirations and that meant they needed to dust themselves off and get straight back to winning games of football. Based on the last couple of weeks, the Phoenix Reserves are exactly the team they’d want to play under those circumstances. The Nix had lost 5-0 to Southern and 3-0 to Eastern Suburbs in consecutive games... yet that was without any first-teamers. When they had four senior players (two full contracted players, two scholarship players) against Ellerslie in week one they were brilliant and won 4-0. And guess what? The A-League Women’s began this past weekend.

That means preseason is over. That means that the Welly Nix are in gameday mode. That means that there are always going to be at least one or two senior players left over each weekend, depending on injuries/suspensions. ALW rules mean they have to limit themselves to 20 players each week prior to picking their matchday squad. Daisy Brazendale, their youngest player who is on a schol deal, was the player to miss the cut alongside the injured Olivia Ingham so DB was always likely to pop up for the Ressies. Sure enough, she did. Who else would join her? Try a second appearance for Zoe McMeeken plus fully contracted first-teamers Kelli Brown and Mickey Robertson. Count ‘em up as 36 ALW appearances between the trio. The WeeNix also had Alyssha Eglinton return to the eleven. This was going to be a lot of fun.

On the other side, Western Springs lost Liz Savage to an ankle injury last week. Not sure how bad that knock will prove to be, it didn’t look good when they had to get the stretcher out, but there is apparently a chance she’ll be back before the term is over. In her absence the young phenom Ela Jerez was given a start. Also had Tiana Hill suspended so Arisa Takeda answered the call at fullback. The Japanese import was one of WSAFC’s very best players on the way to the grand final last year and is back after a stint in Canada... no sign of her mate Rina Hirano in this squad though. The rest of the team was untouched with Angelique TuiSamoa getting another go in goal. Seddon Fields, what’s up.

Curiously, Kelli Brown set up on the right wing rather than up front centrally (despite regular striker Ella McCann only being on the bench). Instead Georgie Furnell, usually a right winger, performed those particular tasks. Probably a hint as to how KB will get her minutes in the ALW this term. Robertson was the left winger going head to head with right back Arisa Takeda... that duel was a belter from the word go. Meanwhile with Sammi Tawharu and Liz Savage both out for the home side it was Megan Lee who played striker... though it was Sofia Garcia on the left wing who nearly put them up inside of two minutes, getting onto a miss-kick from Marie Green but keeper Charlotte Eagle saw it early (her eagle eye, you might say) and charged down the shot.

One of the handy things about getting the pros involved is that you can ramp up a few of the technical aspects, so we got Zoe McMeeken doing the inverted fullback thing again. Same as in week one where she drifted so far she was effectively acting as another midfielder. Tactical funk aside, shots were mostly from distance and the biggest thrills were spawned from some hard tackles. Lots of scrapes on that artificial turf. It was the Nix giving it more of the impetus but open chances weren’t eventuating against that very solid Springs defence... except for when McMeeken drifted into midfield and cleverly found Grace Bartlett with a reverse ball into the area. But the touch was poor and GB didn’t catch her shot at all.

Grace Bartlett definitely caught this one though...

That’s Brazendale with the intercept and Robertson with the assist. Two senior team players making it happen and a reserve team regular doing the rest with a thumping strike.

The WeeNix had been searching for some cutting edge on top of a strong midfield effort and there it was. Eglington and Brazendale were winning plenty of tackles. The Nix had to be stoked with how things were going. Lily Jervis did lots of work helping the home side confidently withstand things but most of the good stuff Springs had created since that second minute chance had ended up offside and half-time was looming with them trailing by a goal at home. In such a short season another defeat could be brutal for their hopes of making the final. That’s where Arisa Takeda stepped into the spotlight.

Just want to take this moment to welcome Arisa Takeda back to the #NZNationalLeague 🙌 pic.twitter.com/peUTuQsGLx
— The Niche Cache (@thenichecache) October 18, 2023

Now that’s what I call a banger, volume four. The instant classics are already flowing. Out of nowhere Western Springs had drawn level and then Taitimu cracked a shot that Eagle needed to dive to save. Could’ve been a Springs lead at half-time had that gone in. The whole damn thing had flipped thanks to one spectacular act. Maia Lythe came on for Lee at the break as Suburbs intended to keep on storming forward (it was the only sub they’d make). But when it comes to that game, two can play at it. Zoe McMeeken, ladies and gents...

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That... might be an even better goal? Take the dribble into account, plus the laser strength of the strike, and the especially aesthetic way that the ball got tangled in the net which made it look like it was hanging in mid-air. Outrageously good from McMeeken.

Don’t drift off. Takeda went overlapping into the area and forced a good stop from Eagle. Some supernatural dribbling from Jerez also set up Garcia at the back stick but the volley was side-footed wide. Colpi blasted a free kick on target but into the hands of Eagle. Still, that’s more chances after conceding the second goal than Springs had prior to it. Plus there was every possibility that the Nix first-teamers might be on minutes restrictions. Sure enough, Robertson was subbed after 64 minutes (with two assists in the bag despite it being a relatively quiet afternoon – quietly efficient, let’s say).

Western Springs were asking the question and eventually they got an answer, as Lara Colpi’s chipped switch found its way to Ela Jerez and the Whangarei teenager’s strike took a wicked deflection that sent the goalie the wrong way and then it dropped down onto the goalie before she could adjust herself. Officially it’s gone down as a Charlotte Eagle own goal... which is harsh. Fact of the matter is that the game was level once again after 74 minutes. Let’s keep going. Eglinton curled a corner kick into the wind and onto the crossbar because the Nix had nothing to lose so they were pushing for a winner. Springs obviously felt the desire for three points rather than one. Kelli Brown was on the verge of scoring in the ninetieth but who should reach across with a crucial last-ditch tackle but Jervis.

That’s about when time ran out. Points were shared with a 2-2 draw. At this stage we can safely say that the Nix are defined by whether they have first-teamers involved or not and yeah Zoe McMeeken had a massive impact here. She’s so athletic and the way she charges forward on the dribble is terrifying. Daisy Brazendale was a surprise scholarship signing given her age but you can catch the idea when you watch what a remarkable ball-winner she is. There were also huge contributions from Alyssha Eglinton and Grace Bartlett.

As for Western Springs, they’ll feel a bit annoyed that they caught the Nix on one of these reserve team days and not one of those youth team days... but they scrapped their way to a point thanks to a solid defensive shift, a tireless midfield, and one amazing finish as well as one lucky one. Lara Colpi was great. Lily Jervis was great. Uluvili, Innes, Jerez as well. Auckland United are the only other team to have scored multiple times in every game. Unfortunately WSAFC have had a two-game run where they’ve conceded some of the best goals in recent National League memory.

PS. None of the Nixers who played this game were involved for the A-League side’s 1-0 loss to Melbourne City one day afterwards. In fact it’s now rather obvious that they were the leftovers who weren’t going to be in the squad, therefore given the opportunity to get some valuable game-time and to push their case for next week. Considering that Annalie Longo and Olivia Ingham were injured, the only players in the Phoenix’s 23-woman squad who didn’t get minutes this week were backup goalies Brianna Edwards and Aimee Danieli. The WeeNix play on Saturday this weekend while the first team are away to Western Sydney on Sunday evening so depending on when they travel it could be the same scenario again then.

Western Springs 2-2 Wellington Phoenix Reserves

30’ | WP | 0-1 | Bartlett (Robertson)

43’ | WS | 1-1 | Takeda

48’ | WP | 1-2 | McMeeken (Robertson)

74’ | WS | 2-2 | OG (Jerez)

Canterbury United Pride vs Ellerslie AFC

Windy weather caused havoc with several Natty League games this weekend... for this one the weather’s most devious effect was to cause flight delays that meant kickoff had to be postponed by an hour. Not ideal. Particularly as this was an important game for both sides too as neither had won a game yet.

The Pride (only barely) salvaged a late draw against Central last week so they at least have a point on the board - though they’ll feel it should’ve been three. Their XI saw Maddie Iro given the start in goal, while Xanthe Jane (CB), Lisa Evans (CM), and Nicola Dominikovic (FW) were also brought into the team. For Jane it was her first appearance of the season. Britney-Lee Nicholson was only on the bench as she prepared to fly out with the NZ futsal team a few days later, while capped NZ international Aimee Phillips was sitting next to her in line for her first WNL game for several years. Only the one alteration for Ellerslie following the 5-2 loss to Wellington United (in which they were 2-0 up after an hour) and that was Leigh Aitken getting her first game of the term... and she was also wearing the armband. Always helps to have your leaders back.

Charlotte Mortlock had a big chance for CU in the sixth minute. Ball fell her way slightly inside the area and her first-time shot was heading on target but Petra Wedlake plucked it out of the air. There was a great tempo to the match with Ellerslie trying to play quickly up the wings while the Pride were trying to go centrally towards Charlotte Roche and then get runners around her. Sort of like how they did it in the 12th minute as Roche dropped to collect the ball then hit Chloe Bellamy wide right, with Bellamy going almost all the way to the byline before hitting such a flat cross that it snuck in at the near post. Unfortunately the PA system then starting playing Sweet Caroline so the goal probably should have been disallowed in protest.

Concerns for Ellerslie with how their defensive line was being stretched. Roche ran straight through on the end of an incisive Whitney Hepburn pass, a superb ball but also the high line wasn’t exactly flat. Roche took advantage of that but not of the chance itself as she failed to hit the corner and Wedlake saved. Tayla Hawes did well to cut out a few more similar chances. Granted, the Ponies weren’t without their own flashes. Anita Trudgeon had a huge chance drifting infield and striding into the area only to get too much lift on the shot. There were a few relatively harmless long rangers as well.

Roche had already spoiled a couple of chances that a goal-scorer like her would’ve expected to do better with. Fortunately the trick to scoring goals is to give yourself as many chances as possible. Nobody cares how many you miss if you still score. Keep chasing, keep hunting. Roche ran in behind on 38’ and although Wedlake got there first, Roche charged down the clearance from the keeper and her day balanced out as the rebound bounced gently into the open net. When they say you make your own luck, that’s what they’re talking about. Roche chased and hunted and got rewarded.

Cat Pretty lined up a free kick that was zoning in on the bottom corner before Iro flipped it around the corner on the dive. Iro also made a pair of aerial takes that were even more commendable given the windy conditions. 2-0 at HT, whereupon the Pride brought on Aimee Phillips to replace Lisa Evans. Nothing really changed. Roche missed another chance, saved at the near post this time. Tough day for her in terms of the finishing but she played well otherwise and still got that one goal. She was subbed on 58’ so that Britney-Lee Nicholson could try and repeat what she did last week. Ellerslie also made an attacking sub at the same time with Marila Rocha replacing Aitken.

Ellerslie were right there if they could only find a goal. It’s not like the Pride were ripping them to shreds – it was a pretty even second half. But then Nicola Dominikovic punted a mean finish home after Mortlock’s attempted through ball had been stopped but not cleared. 3-0 to Canterbury United in the 68th min. That’ll just about do it.

Queue both teams rolling out some subs. Ellerslie continued trying to find a consolation and Hollie Leona kept Maddie Iro busy but it was a hard slog into the breeze. The Ponies don’t have enough variety to their attacks at the moment, with National League defences making a point of marshalling Cunningham-Lee and asking others to do the deeds instead. Lara Wall and BCL had a few good tussles. 3-0 was the final score. Ellerslie’s wait for a first point will continue into week five – when they’ll have a Thursday night kickoff against Auckland United. Thursday night footy!

Maddie Iro has been around some NZ youth teams, attending the 2022 U17 World Cup as the third-choice keeper behind Welly Nixers Aimee Danieli and Charlotte Eagle. She’s has had a few cameos in the WNL previously but this was the game where she showed the country what a talent she is. Particularly impressed by the fundamental stuff, like those aerial claims in a week where keepers everywhere had trouble with that aspect. Nicola Dominikovich worked hard for her goal. Charlotte Mortlock, who was also in that same U17 WC squad, had plenty of influence. And that new CB combo of Xanthe Jane and the incumbent Lily Fisher did well. Mission accomplished for the Pride.

Canterbury United Pride 3-0 Ellerslie AFC

13’ | CU | 1-0 | Bellamy (Roche)

38’ | CU | 2-0 | Roche

68’ | CU | 3-0 | Dominikovich

Eastern Suburbs vs Waterside Karori

It’s funny... Eastern Suburbs have only shown glimpses of their potential so far yet they keep on winning games (including a late comeback vs Auckland United). The same thing is true of Auckland City in the MNL as well. The defending champs know how to get the dubs, that’s for sure.

The Lilywhites welcomed the velvet touch of Arya Blackler back to their defensive line... but were without Charlotte Wilford-Carroll who’s probably been their most consistently great player this WNL. That meant Ella Findlay moved into the midfield (where she’s at her best), also Emily Gillion’s going away with the Futsal Ferns so Annie Byrne took her spot in the front three – cool to see Byrne get a chance up front having mostly been used as a wing-back in their 2022 title campaign. Otherwise it was the same crew that beat the WeeNix in a match they largely coasted through after a dominant first half hour.

Waterside Karori were without Sarah Morton for the second week running. Saskia Vosper repeated as the sweeper in their back three. Only change from the 3-1 loss to Auckland United was Nicola Ross getting a go at left wing-back with Nikki Furukawa moving into a number ten role... leaving Kaley Ward up front by herself for more defensive solidity through the middle.

Right from the outset, Karori were moving the ball with confidence and making things happen. Bryant absolutely crunched a shot slightly off target running onto a loose ball about twenty yards out. Jenna Barry tried her luck from deeper and did succeed in getting hers on target but Brooke Bennett knows what she’s doing and made a class save to push it over. Furukawa bumped a shot into the side-netting off a corner kick too. The Wharfies were turning it up. They dominated the first fifteen minutes here, mate. Defending champs on the ropes.

You don’t get to be champions by crumbling in those situations though. Soon enough Lancaster was taking personal responsibility for getting her team going. That didn’t lead to too many big moments but they dragged the focal point of the match into the midfield. Suburbs were missing Wilford-Carroll in that area, with Karori’s tireless approach causing heaps of turnovers, yet they largely halted the pressure upon their own goal. Big question was whether or not Waterside could maintain this energy but so far so good as they hit the sheds at 0-0.

Kaley Ward had the first shot in anger of the second half, an ambitious effort that sailed over from the right corner of the area. But it was Annie Byrne who struck the crossbar with a stabbing volley that almost-but-not-quite dropped down in time. Back up the other end, Margot Ramsay forced a save with a long shot (we know she’s got that in her bag) before Suburbs won a corner on the break. One of the saves of the season followed when Brooke Bennett reached back with her off-hand, hanging in the air, to palm a chipped Ward effort high. Suburbs were getting braver and Waterside were matching them. This game was starting to sizzle.

It was clear in abundance that had to be goals in this game. ‘Twas merely a matter of when and for whom. Subs threw on Olivia Erskine and Emily Lyon to try and carry them through. Erskine is 18 years old and Lyon is even younger and came across from West Coast Rangers after they missed out on qualification. Erskine played midfield (with Findlay going to CB) and Lyon went to the wing (Byrne to RWB). Renee Bacon had the best WK chance for ages as she curled over from a Furukawa cut-back, a move she’d started with a shot that seemed to do some real damage to Kenya Brooke’s wrist. Kate Williamson replaced KB. And then: drama. Bacon sent Furukawa into the area with a sharp touch and Williamson leant into her for a penalty kick. Except Brooke Bennett saved Furukawa’s effort. Picked her spot then picked it off. The ball kids absolutely loved it.

Dogs at play, ball kids going nuts, and Brooke Bennett saving penalties 🖼️#NZNationalLeague @ESAFC pic.twitter.com/Ahea9oDv2G
— The Niche Cache (@thenichecache) October 18, 2023

That right there was the turning point in the match. It was the Wharfies’ shining moment to take the lead on the road against the unbeaten defending champs. They couldn’t take it. Then they got sliced up on the counter attack not once not twice but thrice. The first goal came in the 79th minute as Mettam sent Benson through with a ball in behind. Zoe Benson bore down on the keeper and after her first attempt was saved she converted the second. Then Benson scored an almost identical one eight mins later. This time it was a long punt from Bennett flicked on by both Emily Lyon and Hayley Miller before Benson again had one shot saved before scoring the second.

Finally, a burst down the left wing from Charlotte Lancaster led to whipped cross right to the feet of Benson in the middle, who laid it across for Emily Lyon to nudge into the roof of the net for a beautifully constructed third just two minutes after the last one.

All three goals came from moves that began inside the Lilywhites’ own half. All involved runners on the move. Benson scored two and assisted the other, the U20s rep overcoming a quiet game to become utterly decisive when it mattered most. Hayley Miller had some sweet touches coming on as the striker for the latter stages. Byrne had a busy game. Lyon scored off the bench. Coming after Lancaster and Mettam were the heroes a week ago. This is a team that lost Deven Jackson to the professional realms and still hasn’t had the services of Tayla O’Brien while Nicole Cooper scored a hatty a few weeks back but has since sat out two games with concussion. Nicole Mettam has had to do a midfield job in this past fortnight. No Wilford-Carroll here. The depth of the champs was severely tested in this match and they came through with an A+ regardless. And Brooke Bennett... what a keeper.

This also turned out to be a gruelling game on a physical level – poor old Maggie Blackburn was subbed on in the 87th minute for WK and then carried off hurt in the 90th minute. Several long injury breaks – as evidenced by the 11 minutes of time added-on that were played. Doubt we’ll be seeing unchanged line-ups from either team next week. Super brutal on Karori to have been so close and yet end up so far away. They did not deserve to lose 3-0. They did not deserve to lose at all... but these National League fine margins are ruthless if you can’t take your chances along the way. Vosper, Ward, and Bacon were all really good – the most established players leading the way. This was the first time they’ve been blanked this season but they’re in good company as Suburbs have kept three clean sheets out of four.

Eastern Suburbs 3-0 Waterside Karori

79’ | ES | 1-0 | Benson

87’ | ES | 2-0 | Benson

89’ | ES | 3-0 | Lyon (Benson)

Auckland United vs Central

Keith Hay Park on a Sunday afternoon. Central Football had made steady improvements from week to week after starting with an 8-0 defeat to Western Springs and that built into a 2-2 draw against the Cantabs last round. However this was their first meeting against another Auckland club side, thus a handy barometer to see how much of an anomaly that first game was. No Mikaela Bouwmeester this week which was a blow. Maddi Hughes moved centrally (CF for CF) as a result, with Ashleigh Gill on the right wing. Shannon Newlyn also made her second start, this time at fullback, and otherwise it was as per. Auckland United had a couple of injuries so no Chelsea Elliott or Maisy Dewell (and it’s been revealed that Manami Nishio did her ACL in the Eastern Subs game so that’s her season over, sadly). Kate McConnell made her firs start of the campaign at right back while Penny Brill moved into the midfield and Danielle Canham returned to the eleven.

Happy to say that there was some end to end stuff going on here. Central gave as good as they got in the early stages and in fact were the first team to threaten the goal when Gill got keeper Aimee Hall scrambling before Hall made a fantastic save to deny Hughes as the play continued. Maddi Hughes was involved in pretty much everything for the away side as she built upon a great performance last time. It wasn’t until 18 minutes gone that AU finally worked a decent chance: a Shannon Henson shot which rolled achingly past the post. Henson had her radar sorted the next time. Running in behind, heels clipped, penalty awarded. Shannon Henson made it 1-0 from 12 yards for her first of the campaign.

So the Central resistance didn’t last that long... but the game was still competitive. A charging run from Talisha Green set Bree Johnson up but her shot was aimed at the top corner, all or nothing, and she had to settle for nothing where a less ambitious effort might’ve been more effective. Lots of touches for Green at left-back. Yume Harashima was pulling strings from the base of midfield, on top of lifting in some very accurate corner kicks. It was from one of those that United got their second. Harashima’s ball met by the head of Green and then diverted in by Shannon Henson with another header.

That left a dangerous ten minutes before the break. If Central conceded again in that span then we were at risk of things getting very ugly indeed. In that light, Leonie Heck’s saved against Rene Wasi dashing in from the right was rather important. Same for a sliding challenge in the area by Lizzie Ingham on Henson, who was hunting a hat-trick. The game had certainly swung towards Auckland United whose sustained passing moves had given them control but Central contained it to 2-0 into HT.

Wasi almost scored a minute into the second spell. She’s so fast and nobody was keeping up as she carried the ball into the danger zone but the shot was too close to Heck who (just) managed to prevent it from sneaking past. Bree Johnson had a similar move but she went for the pass across goal with no takers on the end of it. Central were defending smoothly within their shape but the pace of those AU wingers was taking them out of it. Yet every now and then they were still able to get the ball to Maddi Hughes, like on 52’ when she absolutely bodied Greer MacIntosh over the sideline to keep it in play then picked out Gill in the middle... but Hall was slick in saving that one. Aimee Hall really does look like a wonderful goalie. Pity she’s Australian.

Ben Bate subbed off Talisha Green after that, giving 17yo fullback Suya Haering her first WNL appearance of the term. Back after a short holiday. The first time Haering got the ball she ran at Gill and got her opponent booked for a foul. Meanwhile Hughes had a crack from the edge of the box but didn’t get the power she wanted. It was going to take a third goal to make this safe for Auckland United but they didn’t get it when Aimee MacNee showed great strength and balance to take Henson off the ball with that hat-trick still looming. And they didn’t get it when Wasi burst into the area once again only to blaze her shot wide. But they did get it in the 69th min as Dani Canham side-footed home a Johnson assist from close range.

Not sure how Wasi never scored. So many chances stemming from her pace and movement but the finishing touch just wasn’t there... she never got closer than the 73rd min when when yet another of those identical chances saw Heck turn the ball onto the post instead. Henson was also constantly frustrated in her quest for a hat-trick. Eventually they both got subbed as the teams made copious changes – most notably another glimpse of 15yo Pia Vlok for United as an attacking midfielder. But yeah put in in the book as a 3-0 win for Auckland United, taking care of business albeit without ever busting out of their leash.

Three wins from four for United, who could easily have gotten something out of the Eastern Suburbs game too. No major standouts in a solid team performance but Shannon Henson’s two goals were very valuable. Rene Wasi’s day could’ve been belter with a bit more luck or clinical touch. Bree Johnson was good. Talisha Green, Aimee Hall, Yume Harashima too. Solid game all around... though it’s the promising cameos from Suya Haering and Pia Vlok that are most exciting. Nothing to be worried about for Central who put up a fine account of themselves against the NRFL Prem champs. Maddi Hughes had a decent shout to be the player of the day after all that while Leonie Heck made some sharp saves. Play like that every week and Central will have more points in them yet, don’t you worry.