Ellerslie AFC vs Auckland United

It was a long weekend across the country and it was even longer for these two teams who chose to play this match on a Thursday night. Might’ve had something to do with the Napier U19s tournament or maybe a few players simply had holidays booked. Doesn’t matter... other than allowing the WNL wrap-up to get done before the men this week.

Ellerslie keep losing but they also keep playing better than their record suggests. It’s the lack of ninety minute consistency that’s the issue, mostly down to their inexperience in this level of footy. There were no changes to their starting team. Same XI that lost 3-0 to the Cantabs a week ago (again, in a much more competitive game than that scoreline makes it sound). There were a couple of alterations for Auckland United on the other side. Maisy Dewell was back in the midfield, while Suya Haering got her first start after looking great off the bench last time (a 3-0 win vs Central). SH is one of NZ’s top fullback prospects. The reincarnation of Ali Riley if all things go to plan. She was at left-back, thus Talisha Green swapped over to the right side.

One minor issue with playing evening games at this time of year...

Lens flare, dude. Steven Spielberg spends hours blocking scenes for that exact effect and the National League broadcasters just turn up and find it. The glare only lasted for a few minutes, no dramas. Most of that time was spent going the other way watching Talisha Green take advantage of being able to cross on her right boot without needing to cut back. It was a definite plan but Ellerslie handled it well... and had a chance of their own when Cat Pretty lined up a deep shot. Aimee Hall made the comfortable stop but one of those rockets is sailing top corner before this season is done, that’s a bet. Pretty smacks hell out of a football.

Ellerslie are good at getting their fullbacks involved on attack, especially the industrious Anita Trudgen. Problem is that leaves them vulnerable on the break against the fastest wingers in the lands. Rene Wasi had a burst on 10’ that saw her disappear with a change of pace only to miss her pass towards Bree Johnson or else that would’ve been the one. Shannon Henson also lifted a bouncing Green clearance wide of the target looking to add to the two she scored last week. Meanwhile there was another Ponies chance when Britney Cunningham-Lee stole the ball after Greer MacIntosh and Hall got overly casual. BCL found Pretty on the cut however she stroked her shot high.

Shots are cool. Running wingers are cool. Injuries are not cool. AU captain Jess Philpot rolled her ankle on the turf after 21 minutes, a nasty injury that put an end to her evening. Chelsea Elliott took her place so at least they had a great replacement in the wings. Fingers crossed for JP. From there, United had a bundle of corner kicks and Johnson stabbed at a second-phase chance from one of them which was parried over the top. Then came the breakthrough that had been brewing. Maisy Dewell won the ball in midfield and fed Bree Johnson whose tidy first touch took the defender out of contention and the finish across the goalie was equally as slick. 1-0 to AU after 31 minutes.

The passing overloads were coming to fruition for United and all the Ponies had in response was long shots (Abby Wright wasn’t far off with an extra ambitious one). Rene Wasi couldn’t catch an Elliott free kick delivery properly at the far post – the moment that her finishing catches up with the rest of her game she’ll be unstoppable. But we’re not there yet so it remained 1-0 at the break as darkness began to fall.

To be fair, Ellerslie’s back four had been tracking really well and they got even sturdier in the second half. They were compact. They were ready to chase. They were physically strong. And although their set piece coverage was sketchy at times they tended to scrape through. In particular, Abby Wright had a few inch-perfect interventions... although Auckland Utd weren’t helping themselves with poor shooting if we’re being honest. Converting their chances has been a weakness in a few of these games. Chelsea Elliott powered a header straight into the face of keeper Petra Wedlake, who needed a few seconds to recompose herself after that thumper. She made the save though, that’s what counts.

All the while Ellerslie were sticking around only one goal down. A single mistake at the back and this game could be level... yet that just didn’t seem like it was going to happen. AU were immune to the press and allowing zero inroads. Ellerslie couldn’t affect things via their bench. United could so they gave Pia Vlok some more minutes to add to her skills highlights. Vlok’s creativity has shone in previous games. Here it was her crisp passing from midfield. That’s a veteran talent that she’s showing off as a 15 year old... surely there’s a start in there for her before the season is done?

They had to work bloody hard for it but Auckland United emerged with the 1-0 win. Even in a game where they lost their captain to an early injury they were immense at the back and thorough in the midfield. Yume Harashima yet again. All class as that deep-lying passer. MacIntosh and Elliott, too good. Talisha Green had plenty of fun at right back where we’ll probably see a lot more of her with Haering in the mix. Maisy Dewell is now up to three assists. Aimee Hall has kept consecutive clean sheets. Not to spoil anything but the way other results worked out Auckland United are now top of the ladder with a month remaining.

You do feel sorry for Ellerslie. You’re usually going to lose when you’re kept scoreless in four of five games and that’s leaving them with such slim strips of hope... but this was also the first time that they’ve conceded fewer than three goals so that’s an improvement. A lot of this season is about upskilling so that they can get back here again next year, maybe make this a regular thing. In that light there’s a lot to like about how Abby Wright and Tayla Hawes and Leigh Aitken performed here.

Ellerslie AFC 0-1 Auckland United

Goal (Assist)

31’ | AU | 0-1 | Johnson (Dewell)

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Western Springs vs Eastern Suburbs

Say would you look at this? A rematch of last year’s grand final, held under lights on a Friday Night at Seddon Fields. Eastern Suburbs had won four outta four to this point whereas Western Springs had gotten going like a house on fire with two clean sheet wins but then stumbled with a loss to Southern and a draw against the WeeNix. They needed points against the Lilywhites, especially after Auckland United had logged another three the night before. Suburbs themselves hadn’t hit top gear yet... but also hadn’t tasted anything but the sweet nectar of victory yet.

Arisa Takeda marked her return to the Nats with a spectacular long range goal last week. This time she was joined by Rina Hirano to reunite the dynamic duo. Tiana Hill was back following suspension... although they didn’t have Lily Jervis this week. That meant that Lily Taitimu captained the team in her 100th club appearance, a feat also achieved by Jaedeci Uluvili in this very same game. Kitty Jacob took Jervis’ place at CB. Another start also for the KS Cup hero Ela Jerez. Opposite them, Nicole Cooper returned for ES following a fortnight off due to a head knock. She joined last week’s two-goal/one-assist hero Zoe Benson and also Emily Lyon, with her first walk-on appearance, in the front three. That meant Charlotte Lancaster at LWB with Aimee Atkins sliding into the back three for the injured Kenya Brooke.

Nice moment honouring the two Springs centurions before kickoff...

Emily Lyon scored off the bench for Suburbs last week. She’s come over from West Coast Rangers for the WNL phase and within thirty seconds of this kickoff she’d already had two instances where a ball in behind was just slightly out of her reach. Lurking with intent. Lyon’s only 17 years old, by the way – narrowly missing out on eligibility for the U17 World Cup next year. Naturally, Lancaster also tried a belter from range. That one flew past the post. It was a bright start from Suburbs... but a bright start is only as good as what you gain from it and in the eighth minute it was Western Springs who almost took the lead when a Jerez cross was met by the head of Hirano only to clatter off the crossbar.

Springs also had Tiana Hill hurling a cross into the area which barely escaped the reaches of both Hirano and Garcia, while Lara Colpi was inches away after bursting forward and Takeda kept Brooke Bennett on guard with a long shot. Eastern Subs were suddenly very vulnerable as WSAFC kept finding space to run at their back three. Especially behind the wingbacks, likase they did in the 24th minute when Takeda hit an early ball towards Sofia Garcia who beat Arya Blackler for pace and then slipped in a near-post finish past Bennett for 1-0.

The reason for the space behind the ES wingbacks was that they were pushing high in attack, especially Lancaster who rocked the crossbar with an overlapping strike about a minute after her team went behind. Both teams had goal-scoring capabilities. That much was obvious. Alas, the next was an unglamorous goal. Sofia Garcia lifted a cross high into the night sky which dropped too far out for Bennett to attack but Aimee Atkins got caught off-balance going for the defensive header and she put it into her own net. Worst thing was she was competing against Lily Taitimu who’s maybe the shortest player on the park. Good cross into a dangerous area... but also a mistake from a specialist wing-back who was having to cover at centre-back.

Ah but the third goal was something of pure majesty. A 13-pass move that started with a goal-kick and involved every player in the team except for Uluvili at CB, going the length of the field and ending with a tap-in for Ella Jerez. There are coaches who’d collapse into a puddle of primordial goo after watching their team score a goal like that. Thankfully Maia Vink seems to have maintained her corporeal form.

This is football https://t.co/C9sCuTAVvg
— Maia Vink (@maiavink) October 21, 2023

3-0 to Western Springs... in the space of ten minutes, Suburbs had conceded more goals than they had in four previous games. It was only a very good Bennett save that stopped Jerez from making it four – Jerez’s pace and dribbling ability was a constant joy/menace (depending on your point of view). Not bad for someone who doesn’t even turn 16 until December. That BB save was topped by one at the other end as Angelique TuiSamoa turned a Benson effort around the post on the dive, Suburbs unable to grab one back before the teams hit the sheds.

After which they made a sub: Sophia Dyer on for Emily Lyon. Lancaster went up front, Atkins back to LWB, Ella Findlay to CB, and Nicole Mettam to CM. Sounds like lots of changes but really that’s just them reverting to how they’ve started the last couple of matches (give or take Findlay, but she has started one game at CB this year). Dyer’s an ex-Springs player so she shared a friendly word with Hirano at kickoff. But instead of that change-up turning the tides, it was Hirano rushing into the penalty area and cutting back for Colpi whose shot only just went over, about a minute into the second spell.

Suburbs got a high press going but Springs played through it admirably. Lancaster had a driven strike slapped over by TuiSamoa, then another parried away. On came Hayley Miller and Olivia Erskine for ES. Maia Lythe did the same for WS. It took a brilliant challenge from Takeda to stop Dyer from converting Miller’s ball across the six yard box. Then Takeda added another trick with a sharp pass forward to Jerez who flicked it on towards Sofia Garcia in the area and the American buried that for 4-0. There was no coming back from that.

It was nearly five when a Takeda corner was glanced by Hirano and might’ve taken a touch off defender Finlay on its way into the crossbar. But don’t panic: there were no more goals in this one. Dyer volleyed a chance off target and Garcia missed out on a hat-trick as she flashed wide bearing down on the keeper in stoppage time. Didn’t make it any less convincing of a performance from Western Springs who were outstanding across the board for a 4-0 win that puts them right back in the grand final hunt whilst opening things up for everyone else too by dealing Suburbs their first defeat.

Two goals and two assists for Sofia Garcia, who extends her lead on the golden boot charts with 7 for the campaign. One of each for her protegee Ela Jerez, who it’s safe to say is now one of the hottest prospects in kiwi football – and we also got a WNL debut off the bench for defender Charli Dunn who was also part of that same NZ U16s squad with Jerez recently. Arisa Takeda was heavily involved in three of the goals, with one assist to her name. You honestly couldn’t pick a Western Springs player who was anything less than great but gotta save some credit for goalie Angelique TuiSamoa, without whom this could have been a much closer game. Not only the saves that stood out but also her composure with the ball at her feet.

Good thing for Suburbs is that they do have points on the board to fall back upon, including wins over fellow challengers Southern Utd and Auckland Utd. Haven’t seen Tayla O’Brien yet, while Charlotte Wilford-Carroll has been a huge miss these last two weeks and they were light on defenders without Kenya Brooke. A few depth issues creeping in with Deven Jackson and Juliette Lucas also not a part of this WNL squad. However it’s completely conceivable that they now go and win all of their remaining games. Let’s see how they respond against Central next week. Central have been doing some pesky things lately, that won’t be as simple as it seems. Funnily enough, 4-0 was the same scoreline that Eastern Subs beat Western Springs by in the grand final last year.

Western Springs 4-0 Eastern Suburbs

24’ | WS | 1-0 | Garcia (Takeda)

30’ | WS | 2-0 | OG (Garcia)

33’ | WS | 3-0 | Jerez (Garcia)

67’ | WS | 4-0 | Garcia (Jerez)

Wellington Phoenix Reserves vs Wellington United

It was Wellington vs Wellington... yet not exactly familiar foes due to the Nix Reserves playing in the Men’s U17s league during the winter (and also having only existed in this form since the start of the year). Nix coach Katie Barrott did make mention in her programme notes that there are a number of players in the Phoenix system who came to them through Welly Utd. Emma Main won the Maia Jackman Medal when the Diamonds lifted the 2021 Kate Sheppard Cup. Lara Smith is another she mentioned. Plus Michaela Robertson, a Diamonds legend, was again named in the starting eleven for the ressies. Zoe McMeeken and Daisy Brazendale joined her as first teamers getting WNL minutes for the second week in a row but there was one swap in the matchday squad for the A-League side which meant that Alyssa Whinham played reserves instead of Kelli Brown. There was also a second start for Phoebe Hawes in midfield while striker Ella McCann returned to the walk-on side.

For Wellington United it was as you’d mostly expect. Dani Ohlsson was fit to start despite limping off a week ago. Cara Chung started on the left side of defence with Lillian Davies on the wing. Natalie Olson dropped to the bench – the only change from the narrow defeat to Southern United last time. Onwards with a Wellington Derby that was also a Barrott family derby. The Nix are coached by Katie. United’s star central defender is younger sister Zoe. We do have Dan Schwarz coaching his brother Tom Schwarz for Cashmere Tech in the men’s comp but this was for different teams. Funky stuff. We could have had a Robertson Sister Derby as well except Jemma wasn’t in the WU squad for this one.

Match Programme for today's Women's National League game! Fraser Park, 1pm! pic.twitter.com/NyqTr5N2Fm
— Wellington Phoenix Academy (@WgtnPhoenixAcad) October 20, 2023

The sight of Alyssa Whinham in a National League fixture was enough to get you sitting up and paying attention. Within a minute she’d created a tidy chance for McCann with a quick shift after shaping up a defender, McCann digging that shot too close to Molly Simons. McCann had another chance as McMeeken sprinted to the line to sting a cross over but didn’t quite have the angle to get it on target. Mickey Robertson also drew a mad save outta Simons only to be ruled offside. There was more where that came from with the Nix moving that ball quickly and directly… and in lucky minute 13 they took the lead. Rebekah Trewhitt drove infield from right back, smacking a shot/cross that took a deflection towards Ella McCann who gracefully pumped it into the net on the volley. Really sharp finish from Macca.

There were limited chances for WU to even get beyond halfway. A deep defensive line and plenty of Nix possession didn’t allow for too many outlets, although Pepi Olliver-Bell’s pressing was still a threat. They were fortunate not to concede again when the impressive Phoebe Hawes whipped a ball across goal that Cara Chung munted into her own post and then almost collided with her keeper as the rebound was gathered up. Things did calm down soon. An imposing physical approach had a lot to do with how the Diamonds settled into things, no doubt to the annoyance of Alyssa Whinham who was on the other end of a few fouls, and the bulk of the first half became more of a midfield scrap.

Until, having done so well to stem the flow, the last few minutes got away from them. First, Dani Ohlsson had to be subbed off early for the second week in a row. Perhaps a bit soon for her, luckily Natalie Olson was a useful replacement. Second, they leaked another goal. A lovely goal. A beautiful goal. Really sharp passing from the Nix with Mickey Robertson sending Ella McCann in for her second of the arvo, giving the WeeNix a 2-0 lead at the break.

Two more goals for Ella McCann of @WgtnPhoenixAcad and both were mean finishes

McCann now has 5 goals in 5 games this #NZNationalLeague, tied for second top scorer pic.twitter.com/pYSrw4iiLD
— The Niche Cache (@thenichecache) October 23, 2023

Some magical footwork from Whinham sent McMeeken charging into the area only for her to take the ball a little too wide and allow Simons room to make the save. Danger signs regardless. Football is a strange game though, it swings on small moments, and a dozen minutes into the second half we had one of those when Natalie Olson took a pop from distance and it sailed in over the top of Charlotte Eagle. Will say that Eagle’s had trouble with those long strikes this year. It’s the one major flaw in her game, brought about largely because of her youth and (therefore) size. Take nothing away from a great hit by Olson to get her team back in the race out of thin air.

Hawes lacked a wee bit of composure with a transitional chance for the Nix soon after. She was then subbed so that Alyssha Eglinton could join the action. Hope Gilchrist who was beginning to pull the strings in the other direction. Ellie Kabayama went close from distance, with Eagle making a smart save down low. Nerves had to be brewing considering that the WeeNix have not been a second half team at all... mostly because that’s when their first teamers begin to get substituted. That’s what happened in the 75th min as Whinham and Robertson (plus Grace Bartlett) grabbed a bib and a seat. In their places came: Emily Humphrey, Mackenzie Greene, and Ellie Johnson.

Olson had scored one blinder. She then missed a sitter. Fizzing cross from Catherwood wide left but it bounced just in front of her and she lifted it over from inside the six yard frame. Not to worry because Pepi Olliver-Bell had them level one minute later. Her fifth of the season, poking the ball away from the defence then dashing into the area to convert.

Liv Deane came on and cracked a shot on target with her first involvement (her second was to get a warning from the ref after she committed a foul following a blocked shot). It had been a fantastic comeback from Wellington United who were now sniffing for a winner. Hey remember that thing about football and small moments? Yeah so Rebekah Trewhitt drew a foul in the 88th minute. Caelin Patterson was just a little too rough sliding in - problem was it was in the penalty area. Trewhitt took the spottie herself, despite striker McCann being on a hat-trick... and she missed it. Struck the post. Hit it smoothly but the placement was ever so slightly wrong.

Then wouldn’t you bloody know it Jemma Catherwood went sprinting up the left wing and knocked a cross over to where Eagle fumbled it and Wellington United were in the lead. Catherwood got credited with the goal... meaning that Molly Simons gets a goalie assist for starting the move with a switch to the wing. JC deserved that one. Another eye-catching left-back display from her, especially those attacking bursts down the line. The Diamonds were 2-0 down and they won 3-2. After their opponents missed a penalty. Wild game of football.

Guts for the WeeNix. We’ve seen the same thing with the men’s reserves over the years too, where they compete extremely well but rookie mistakes can decide games. In this match it was a missed penalty and a goalkeeping error within the space of a few minutes that meant a 3-2 loss instead of a 3-2 win. Admittedly the warning signs were there after Whinham and Robertson were replaced and they struggled to find an anchor in possession, allowing the Diamonds to really get at them. Still, bright showings from all the first teamers again while Ella McMillan continues to look like the real deal and the other Ella Mac (McCann) now has five goals for the season. Count ‘em up.

Here’s a stat: 10/12 goals scored by Wellington United have come in the 58th minute or later. Six of those – that’s half their tally – in the last fifteen minutes of games, with four of those being stoppage time goals. They’re a team that runs until the final whistle and they get their rewards for that. Olliver-Bell held the ball up well. Already mentioned Gilchrist and Catherwood. Natalie Olson got the comeback started with a great goal. This result lifts them up to 10 points and with Eastern Suburbs losing that means a grand final spot is absolutely within the realms of possibility... although we’ll check in properly on that quest in two weeks after they’ve hosted Western Springs and Eastern Suburbs in consecutive rounds.

Wellington Phoenix Reserves 2-3 Wellington United

13’ | WP | 1-0 | McCann

44’ | WP | 2-0 | McCann (Robertson)

58’ | WU | 2-1 | Olson (Davies)

79’ | WU | 2-2 | Olliver-Bell

90+1’ | WU | 2-3 | Catherwood (Simons)

Central vs Waterside Karori

There’s something soothing to the soul about a broadcast that begins with the sight of those windmills on the hills in ol’ Palmy. Gorgeous landscapes. And somewhere in the distant shadow of those windmills the Central Football side warmed up for a clash against Waterside Karori. For the first time they had NZ U16s goalie Sophie Campbell on board, still only 16 but making a National League appearance in her third different season (yup, do the maths). Also in there for season debuts were Paris Liu and Lilly Dowsing. Mikaela Bouwmeester returned up front. Manami Ishimoto got another start. Only three players named on the bench though.

The Wharfies found room for a third different starting keeper. Alisha Perry had done well, only conceding twice in her two starts but then she got injured. Annie Foote replaced her on the day yet Ariana Gray was the one who started the next two games. Sadly she conceded three goals in each, both losses, so now it was Annie Foote’s turn from the start (with Katie Brown on the bench in case they needed to reach for a fourth GK). Devyn Crawford also made her first start – both Foote and Crawford have played for Central previously. Plus we also had maiden starting appearances for Emma Narelle Kruszona and Jemma Hall.

In the opening round of the season, Central conceded a goal after a pitiful 35 seconds. Here they nearly beat that record when Kaley Ward took the ball away from Sarah Swinbanks, mercifully her shot wasn’t up to expectations and Campbell made the save. Campbell then made another save after 32 seconds off Kruszona who found way too much room to shoot from the edge. Seems terrifying for Central, right? Except that the game then shifted to the other half with Karori having trouble playing past the Central press and Bouwmeester probably shoulda scored in the ninth min when she nutmegged Saskia Vosper with her back to goal, wriggling free so that she only had the goalie to beat... but firing high.

Awful sight after about 18 minutes when Margot Ramsay of WK turned and fell away from the ball. Sad to say it looked like a knee from the first instant – after some physio tests she was able to walk off unaided and it took several minutes before they finally replaced her with Nikki Furukawa so hopefully that suggests that it’s not a worst-case ligament tear. Ramsay’s been one of the Wharfies’ best this term. It was Bouwmeester’s turn to require physio treatment next (she was okay to continue) and this game lost plenty of steam with those stoppages.

Waterside Karori had steadily taken control after those difficult early stages and dutifully the took the lead in the 37th minute... although they were a bit embarrassed about it. That’s because Central had made a complete mess of a corner kick from Bacon that’d been flicked on by Ward. The attempted clearance from Noakes hit MacNee who then hesitated alongside keeper Campbell and Kruszona got a small touch as the ball crept over the line. At least it wasn’t an own goal. The second goal, just before the break, was more of a routine affair. Renee Bacon corner, Kaley Ward header. That’s the one.

Jenna Barry smacked one off the post in stoppage time, while Vosper couldn’t get enough contact on the follow-up. Could’ve been worse. Central may have only had a small bench but that didn’t stop them making two changes at the break: Lizzie Ingham and Leonie Heck thrown into proceedings. Heck has been playing goalie for them but is also an accomplished outfielder and here she got her chance to prove it. And Central did have some moments early second spell... with Maddi Hughes testing Foote a couple of times and Bouwmeester curling a free kick over the bar same as she did with a volley on the turn.

That was slightly worrisome for the Wharfies so they slowed things down with some purposeful possession, with Ward dropping deeper to facilitate. Then they began to pepper them via their wingbacks Bacon and Nicola Ross. Eventually that led to a third goal. Same combo as the second one, only this time it was Bacon with a flicked header and Kaley Ward dashing through and finishing past the keeper as you knew she would from her first touch onwards. Ward’s too good to waste an opportunity like that.

Hold on though, this wasn’t done because only a couple minutes later Central got on the board. It was a deserved goal set up beautifully by Bouwmeester beating a pair of defenders and then Maddi Hughes supplied the silky bottom corner finish. Hughes went close with an attempted chip straight after. This game was not dead. This game had not been buried. At least not until Grace Smith got sent off for backchat. Then it was dead and buried. 3-1 the final score as the Wharfies returned to winning ways.

The Wharfies host Ellerslie next week so if they win that one they might just be able to give themselves an ongoing chance at the final. One week at a time though. Here they beheld an excellent defensive display from Jessica Shilton while their established attackers did the damage, Kaley Ward and Renee Bacon. Nicola Ross is good fun at wing-back too. Central have only scored three times in five games but they have at least begun to create consistent opportunities and almost all of them involve Maddi Hughes and/or Mikaela Bouwmeester. Grace Smith is going to be a huge absence against Eastern Suburbs next week though.

Central 1-3 Waterside Karori

37’ | WK | 0-1 | Kruszona

44’ | WK | 0-2 | Ward (Bacon)

73’ | WK | 0-3 | Ward (Bacon)

75’ | C | 1-3 | Hughes (Bouwmeester)

82’ | C | Red Card for Smith

Southern United vs Canterbury United Pride

We only get one South Island Derby per National League season nowadays and this was it for the Women’s NL. A fascinating fixture as Southern United met their old rivals in the rare position of being the undoubted favourites. Three wins in a row, including a couple of clean sheets on the road. In-form players across the formation. Meanwhile Canterbury United are a team in a rebuild... although they did earn a much-needed win against Ellerslie last week so perhaps they’re coming around. This game would be the judge of that. This was the only fiixture held on Sunday so they each knew exactly where they stood. Logan Park was the venue with a (mostly) clear blue Dunedin sky above.

There was no need to change anything for Southern United so they didn’t. Identical XI from the 1-0 win away to Wellington United. Kendrah Smith may be an Aucklander but she played for Canterbury Utd last year, mostly as a central defender. She’s been a midfielder for Southern and one of the very best in the competition so she may have had a chip on her shoulder for this one. Several changes for the Cantabs in contrast: Una Foyle reclaimed her usual spot in goal after Maddie Iro had performed admirably in her absence, while Ellena Firth retuned at CB and Anna McPhie in midfield, plus there was a first start for capped Footy Fern Aimee Phillips. Lisa Evans and Chloe Bellamy dropped to the bench.

In defiance of recent performances, it was the Pride who set the initial tone including a Whitney Hepburn header from a deep free kick which probably would have been a goal had she been able to keep it under the crossbar. Having said that, it wasn’t long before Amy Hislop had thrown in a couple stepovers and drilled a shot on target which Foyle did well to turn wide. Had to be sharp of Margi Dias’ near post pop from the corner too. But this Pride attack was a new beast. Phillips was in a mood for running at folks. And in the 11th minute, Charlotte Roche centred one to Nicola Dominikovich who scored her third in four appearances. First blow struck by Canty.

It was a crazy game because it felt like either team could score at any given moment. Hislop went on a mazy run and stung the fingertips of Foyle once more. Lara Wall, originally from Dunedin, rattled the bar wrapping her foot around an attempt from the left. It looked like Southern had won a penalty when Dias was knocked over by Firth but Hislop handballed in the build-up. Phillips and Dominikovich had further efforts. Southern were a tad more disjointed than they have been recently, partly because of the way that the Pride attacked out wide which prevented their own wingbacks from running rampant, partly because they weren’t able to dominate the territory battle with CU’s quick tempo counteracting their own midfield swarm.

It was 1-0 to Canty at the break and if that was an unfair reflection it was only because it shoulda been 3-2. It was almost 1-1 when Hislop flipped the ball past her marker on the bounce and then pumped a shot into the post. Yet ‘almost’ became reality from the resulting corner when Hannah Mackay-Wright had a couple of attempts, the second being parried away by Foyle, only for Freya Partridge-Moore to put it away. The double-barrelleds combining to do what needed doing.

Dominikovich threatened immediately afterwards, intent on restoring the lead. That’s not what happened though. Instead Southern scored again when Hislop stole the ball high up on the left and crossed deep to Madeline McCormick, who’d only just been subbed on (along with Jemma Wilson), and from her it fell to Abby Rankin for the simplest tap-in in the history of simple tap-ins. Rankin had sent Foyle the wrong way with her first touch. Her second was basically on the line already. Rankin always seems to be exactly where she needs to be.

An injury to Lainey Alteiri-Need was impetus for the Pride to regroup and make some subs. Sara Mann and Darsha Keoghan were chucked on. They had a few prompt forays from there but they also breathed a collective sigh of relief when Kendrah Smith whalloped a volley onto the bar. She’s already scored two long range screamers this year and still isn’t satisfied. The Pride made three more subs with Chloe Bellamy, Lisa Evans and Alison Noniewisz joining for the last fifteen in search of goals. Evans nearly got one running onto a loose ball and driving it onto the post, possibly via a touch from keeper Simmers. But Southern managed the game nicely down the stretch.

It would’ve been all over in the 88th had the Southerners scored when Hislop unselfishly set up Rankin who tried a cheeky chip and sliced it wide from eight yards. It didn’t matter coz she’d already scored the one that did. The second half comeback did the trick as Southern United made it four wins in a row.

Odd game that. For a decent chunk of it, it looked as though the Pride might run the score up. They were looking slick like we haven’t seen all season... but, moral of the week, they didn’t take their chances and then Southern cranked it up in the second half. Lessons to be learned. However that Wall/Phillips left edge looked fantastic and their midfield was arguably on top for 45 minutes against one of the best units in the comp. It’s another frustrating loss but at least it’s one that they can build from.

No building required for Southern. They’ve already done that bit so now they get to stand atop the construction and admire the sights. 12 points sends them equal first, trailing Auckland United only on goals scored. There are three teams on 12 points vying for two grand final spots and that doesn’t even include Western Springs who are two points back with the best goal difference. It’s Auckland United vs Southern United next week. Stars of the show were the usual suspects. Hislop was a little wasteful with her shooting but the general threat and hold-up play was superb. Kendrah Smith was a wrecking ball in the midfield. Abby Rankin fantastic yet again. Hannah Mackay-Wright too... although the best of the bunch was Toni Power who lived up to her name and then some in the back three.