2024 Women’s National League – Week 3
Wellington United vs Wellington Phoenix Reserves
The Friday Night lights were back for the Wellington Phoenix, hoping this week to do a little better than the 5-0 thrashing they suffered at the hands of Waterside Karori a week earlier. This time it was the other Wellington club they met up with. Wellington United turned up happily undefeated after the first two rounds – one of five teams who entered this round sitting on four points. The Diamonds didn’t have Anna Green or Hannah Cooper for this game, while Libby Boobyer played off the bench. That meant Zoe Barrott dropping back into central defence joining Caelin Patterson amidst a change of shape – going 4-2-3-1 against the potentially vulnerable WeeNix. Lilian Davies made her first appearance of the season at right-back while Hannah Pilley came in as striker. Nea Blackham was good to go despite being subbed early last game with an injury (though her elbow was strapped up). Pepi Olliver-Bell started on the right wing after featuring off the bench in the other games so far.
The WeeNix are still without their U17 World Cup squad members though far more daunting was another round with sparse A-League squad representation. The WeeNix blokes have had four or five first-team contractees involved in each game but the women not so much. The ALW squad are in a different phase of preseason, it is what it is. However, they were at least spared Aimee Feinberg-Danieli in goal so that was huge. She was the only change from the heavy Karori loss and they only had three subs available on the bench. Wasn’t gonna be easy. Newtown Park did look a treat though (in the last game there before athletics season takes over).
Yeah so... it took exactly 42 seconds for Natalie Olson to ping a spectacular finish right into the top corner with her left foot. The ball fell her way and she dispatched it top bins. Just like that. The WeeNix sorted their shape out and kept the next ten minutes mostly eventless despite WU having most of the territory and possession. Lily Brazendale’s hustle gave the Nix a few hints, though Pilley did go close with a decent effort after that. The threat was always there, creeping, lurking, and sure enough Pepi Olliver-Bell got her first of the season with a simple header thanks to some clever positioning at the back post after Nat Olson shaped up her marker and whipped over a lovely cross. 2-0 after 16 minutes.
There was a move around the 26 min mark where Sienna Candy found some room to run and slipped a good ball through to Lily Brazendale, whose strike was great but Molly Simons was greater, diving low to push it away for a corner kick. Simons also plucked the corner kick itself out of the air. She’s been in top form lately, no issues there. The WeeNix did look alright on the rare occasions when they were able to stretch the pitch. Nevertheless, the Diamonds made it 3-0 shortly before the break when Zoe Barrott curled in a magnificent corner kick and her centre-back partner Caelin Patterson got up to nod it home. Love it when the defenders flex like that.
3-0 at the break with Wellington United looking a couple steps above... and unfortunately for the WeeNix, the rivalry between Welly Utd and Waterside Karori is such that if the Wharfies beat this WeeNix side 5-0 then the Diamonds were just going to have to try win by more. A few chances did go begging in between but right on the hour mark Olson’s deep corner met a trio of unmarked Diamonds and Hope Gilchrist was the one who pulled rank with a strong header. Boom. 4-0. One more to catch Karori. Third goal contribution from Natalie Olson.
By this time, WU had already subbed on Misha Koyari and soon enough Libby Boobyer and Farina Anchico got out there too. There was no let up. Boobyer had two or three close strikes with goals very much in her mind. But while the copious goals that they’ve conceded has been a patter for the WeeNix, so has the positive attitude. Heads didn’t drop and the silly mistakes that often takes imbalanced games like this into humiliating territory never arrived. One player who earned plenty of credit for that was substitute Holly Robins. She played about 35 minutes off the bench. Only 16yo but she’s tall and quick – two traits arguably lacking from her team’s defensive performances through the first few weeks. Barrott did hit the crossbar directly from a late corner kick – those set pieces were ferocious – but nah the WeeNix kept it somewhat respectable for a 4-0 defeat.
Wellington United coasted through that second half, to be fair. They were too good across the board. Natalie Olson’s goal and two assists stood out but she had plenty of company out there. Hope Gilchrist. Zoe Barrott. Pepi Olliver-Bell. Hannah Pilley. Jemma Catherwood. Even goalie Molly Simons, she was literally flawless out there (without having a heap to do). In all honesty, Aimee Danieli was pretty good in the other goal too, looking very assured outside of the four goals which she couldn’t have done anything about. For context, Lillian Davies was the only teenager in the Diamonds starting line-up whereas every single player for the WeeNix, including their bench, was a teenager. It would be nice to see a few more first-teamers even out the stakes for the Nix but they are clearly learning from these experiences. None of it goes to waste. Granted, 13 goals conceded from three games could do with some fixing.
Wellington United 4-0 Wellington Phoenix Reserves
1’ | WU | 1-0 | Olson (Blackham)
16’ | WU | 2-0 | Olliver-Bell (Olson)
42’ | WU | 3-0 | Patterson (Barrott)
60’ | WU | 4-0 | Gilchrist (Olson)
Central Football vs Auckland United
Central Football were back at the lovely Massey University field for week three, having already lost 5-0 at this scene against West Coast Rangers and then having their week two trip to Dunedin postponed due to the extreme weather. The week off might have helped them, especially being a federation team trying to bring things together in a hurry, especially with a squad that rivals the Wellington Phoenix in how many 16/17-year-olds they tend to have on the pitch. But, realistically, nothing was going to prepare them for a visit from the inevitability that is Auckland United. You do what you can though. Central made two changes from their week one clash with Evealyn Newman stepping into central defence and Kya Solomon starting on the right wing.
Paige Satchell didn’t make the trip for Auckland United so Rene Wasi was back among the starters on the right wing. The only other change they made from the assertive 2-0 win over Eastern Suburbs was Kate McConnell in at right-back, the third player they’ve used in that position... although happily Talisha Green was back on the bench after going off injured early in the first game.
This match began exactly how everyone expected with Auckland United immediately on attack. Kaley Ward fizzed a shot over the top... but then something funky happened. Central’s press was causing some stress, and in the fifth minute Lilly Dowsing was fed the ball on the edge of the area with her back to goal. For some reason AU’s keeper Mickey Mitchell rushed off her line, perhaps not expecting a shot, though even if she’d stayed put she probably wouldn’t have had a chance with the wonderful strike that Dowsing unleashed. 1-0 to Central. Well now, what do ya know?
It didn’t last. Auckland United were back on level terms within a minute, with Mitchell’s long ball making up for the concession. Charlotte Roche dashed through and finished with what would accurately be described as “aplomb”. Another goal for the 20yo... and an assist for the goalkeeper, always rate those. Charlotte Roche has scored 12 goals in her last 15 WNL matches. There would genuinely be very few players in this competition who can match that production. Sofia Garcia and Kaley Ward might be up there. Not too many others. Charlotte Roche also scored the winner in the Kate Sheppard Cup final so if you don’t know her name by now then you’ve not been paying attention.
Despite the setback, Central’s effort remained unaltered. They were making smart decisions on the ball and defending stoutly. Evealyn Newman was doing excellent defensive things. Rosie Missen was crucial dropping in and collecting the ball in midfield. Some slick stuff from Charlotte Noakes on the wing too. But Auckland United are Auckland United so Saskia Vosper gave them the lead on 22’ with a super finish as a corner kick fell her way about 17 yards out and that became 3-1 after half an hour when a pinpoint Chloe Knott corner kick met Chelsea Elliott’s noggin at the back post. No stopping that.
A few more corners caused hiccups but Central managed to get bodies in the right places. Leonie Heck also made a few essential saves, including two stretching out with her feet to deny Roche. This was that idea about getting through the early stuff again – once Central began to tire later in the half, United really got cracking with Wasi taking on defenders and Knott getting into great areas and Roche working one-twos and the fullbacks pushing in. But Central did keep it to 3-1 at half-time.
Within two mins of the resumption, Roche had already gone close twice with a pair of chances, then it was What The Heck again as Roche set up Wasi who was denied by another lunging leg save. Would ya believe it Heck was soon at it again palming away a Ward chance at close range. Alexis Cook and Talisha Green subbed in swiftly for AU. Roche did get the ball in the net again but Ward was offside in setting it up. Knott clipped the crossbar after a brilliant turn-and-shoot from just outside the box. Cook should maybe have done better after beating two defenders on her way to flipping her attempt high. Plenty more shots were that came from but Central weren’t crumbling. The benches were cleared and nothing changed. Kaley Ward headed a Vosper free kick onto the post, with someone on the AU bench giving it an audible “you’ve gotta be kidding”... though Ward did set up Penny Brill for a tap-in near the end and then Canham gave Brill the same service in stoppage time. So Central didn’t quite manage a second half clean sheet but they got close enough to earn the plaudits. 5-1 final score.
The season may have begun with all signs pointing towards a Central wooden spoon but the odds on that should be expanding now. Sure they’ve had a couple of heavy defeats but they’ve played the two best teams from Auckland, and from what they’ve shown technically, tactically, and from an application standpoint... they’d probably beat the Phoenix Reserves based on what we’ve seen so far. Of course, a couple of first-teamers would drastically change the view for the WeeNix so we’ll see how it tracks.
The CB pairing of Isabelle Dunning and Evealyn Newman was great, with Dunning winning headers and Newman winning tackles. Sasha Rasmussen looked comfortable in the midfield. Ella Third and Zara Erol-Watt battled away at fullback. Everyone mentioned there, except for Newman, was part of Central’s U17 youth squad in 2023 so stack that away for context. Obviously Rosie Missen is a class above and she’s settled in beautifully already. Leonie Heck had a blinder in goal, with much of the energy for her team’s defensive shift stemming from how she performed behind them. Lots to like about the production line in Central once again (no doubt the WeeNix scouts will be watching).
As for Auckland United, they should be annoyed at not having punished their opponents more for all the chances they had. Bit wasteful at times. But Knott and Harashima were amazing in midfield again, the front three were always active, Penny Brill had a bright impact off the bench scoring twice (having filled in at right back a week ago). In the end they travelled back to the big city with three comfortable points in their pocket so nobody will be complaining.
Central Football 1-5 Auckland United
5’ | C | 1-0 | Dowsing (Solomon)
6’ | AU | 1-1 | Roche (Mitchell)
22’ | AU | 1-2 | Vosper
30’ | AU | 1-3 | Elliott (Knott)
90’ | AU | 1-4 | Brill (Ward)
90+3’ | AU | 1-5 | Brill (Canham)
Canterbury United Pride vs West Coast Rangers
English Park was the venue for this one, with West Coast Rangers back on the road after their wild 3-3 draw with Western Springs. The visitors made one change with Erin Freeman replacing Bree Johnson, who wasn’t in the squad. Johnson’s a key player but Freeman has impressed so far with her clever passing - Freeman joined the midfield with Maisy Dewell moving into the front three. Canterbury United made two changes from the 1-1 draw with Wellington United. Denva Perrott came in at right-back with Meg Simpson moving infield due to Lily Fisher dealing with an injury. Lisa Evans also came back into the eleven with Charlotte Mortlock dropping to the bench. Two pretty settled sides. Two undefeated teams as well... but would that continue?
The Pride were the first to ask the question, as a really slick passing move required a speedy interception from Marissa Porteous at the last moment to stop Nicola Dominikovich from running through on goal, while Anna McPhie had an early sighter on target from wide. But the trend that soon emerged was one of Canterbury struggling to play through the WCR press. Rangers have begun quickly in every round and for the third week in a row they managed to score inside of 15 minutes. You’re always dancing with danger when you give Kendrah Smith the chance to put her laces through a free kick in this kinda territory...
Fair play though, Canterbury hit back five minutes later when Lisa Evans was on hand to convert from a scrambly corner kick situation. That goal got them going and we had ourselves an end-to-end game of football, with the two defences (and the linos) mostly able to keep that ball from getting behind the lines. Bennett was able to push away a dipping Nicole Stratford free kick from out wide while Kendrah Smith wasn’t far away with another in a similar spot to the one she scored from. She actually won that foul herself and you could see the ref wanted to play advantage but Smithy was like nah mate did you see my last free kick?
Bennett also saved an Emily Lyon strike on the turn, with WCR having more of the territory, though the Pride were always sneaky in transition and could easily have gone ahead when Margi Dias dragged a shot slightly wide after a great find by Aussie import Bo Burton (who was a teammate of Dominikovich and Mortlock at Northern Tigers during the Victoria NPL season). That sent us to the sheds at 1-1 and both teams should have been well aware of the contrasting second half form between them. WCR blew a 2-0 HT lead in week two and had a +6 goal difference in first halves compared to -1 GD in seconds. The Pride were the opposite: -1 in first halves, +4 in second halves.
West Coast Rangers obviously wanted to do something about those numbers because it took a superb Gilchrist clearance to turn a shot onto the crossbar before Maisy Dewell’s long shot was tipped over by Amber Bennett. For a second it looked like Stratford would score from the resulting corner but nope. Unfortunately, Gilchrist was injured making the crucial intervention and after trying to run it off she found she couldn’t make it. Anija Irvine took her place. Gilchrist had been playing superbly and her departure left a very green defensive quartet for the red and blacks. Irvine, who played a bit of WNL for Western Springs these past two seasons, is 19. Meg Simpson is 18. Not sure about Grace Johns but she was a youth team player last year, while Denva Perrott is still in the youth picture this year. Four teenagers left to try and deny West Coast Rangers, who had scored 65 goals in 21 games during the NRFL Premiership.
They did better than denying them... Meg Simpson set up a goal to put the Pride in front. Having mostly been battling on defence, Simpson lifted a long ball over the top which Nicola Dominikovich got to first with a flick header to take it past the keeper. Almost out of nothing on 67’. They made a couple attacking subs soon afterwards with Britney-Lee Nicholson and Darsha Keoghan getting amongst. Meanwhile Lucy Hollister jumped on for WCR. None of those subs had done anything before Lorna Selby crept in towards the middle to flip home an equaliser though. Then a heavy touch from Irvine off a short goal kick allowed Maisy Dewell to crunch a first-time effort in for 3-2 after 78 mins.
Not willing to go down without a fight (and probably remembering how WCR threw away a win with the last kick of the game last week), the Pride chucked on Lottie Mortlock and Petra Buyck, with defender Simpson being one of those replaced. Dominikovich almost gave them what they were after when she charged down a clearance but it rebounded into the side-netting. Six minutes of stoppage time gave them hope. WCR were happy to take the ball into the corner.
Just as it seemed the Rangers back three had done enough, a Mortlock cross was flicked on target by Dias (open header for the shortest player on the park). That one was saved... but Petra Buyck pounced on the rebound to poke in the equaliser in the fourth-minute of stoppage time. Devastating for Rangers in light of their last 3-3 draw... however, history didn’t quite repeat itself here. It wasn’t to be consecutive 3-3 draws conceding deep into stoppage time for West Coast Rangers. Nope, instead they lost 4-3 because the Pride scored again when Charlotte Mortlock whipped a corner kick directly off the inside of the far post. Superb olimpico effort from Mortlock – who has a habit of scoring goals like that. 4-3 to Canterbury United. Unreal.
There’s definitely something to say about how hard the adjustment to National League football can be. Across both the Women’s and Men’s competitions, clubs that get there for the first time do seem to have trouble and perhaps that’s happening to West Coast Rangers. It’s been a long year and they’re just not closing out these games like they should. If their matches ended at half-time they’d have a perfect record. Despite the defeat, they were the better team for large patches with Marissa Porteous having a really strong day at the back, while Shannon Henson was a force in attack once again. Lorna Selby and Kailee Short are proving a pretty useful wing-back pairing too. Just gotta close these leads out.
Amazing win for Canterbury United who did it without their coach Shane Verma - he’s on the U17 World Cup staff (head coached by Alana Gunn, former CU gaffer herself). Buyck and Mortlock were both subbed on in the wake of going behind and those two scored the goals that won it for the Pride. They had plenty of contributions, with Kate Loye’s workrate and distribution standing out alongside Anna McPhie’s industriousness and the running of Nicola Dominikovich up top. Denva Perrott was very handy in her first WNL start too. What a crazy game of football.
Canterbury United 4-3 West Coast Rangers
9’ | WCR | 0-1 | K.Smith
15’ | CU | 1-1 | Evans
66’ | CU | 2-1 | Dominikovich (Simpson)
73’ | WCR | 2-2 | Selby (Henson)
78’ | WCR | 3-2 | Dewell
90+4’ | CU | 3-3 | Buyck (Dias)
90+7’ | CU | 4-3 | Mortlock
Western Springs vs Southern United
Southern United have already been up to Auckland once this season and they returned with a 0-0 draw against Eastern Suburbs. They then had their home match against Central postponed and were back on another northern flight to face Western Springs at Seddon Fields. Springs made just one change to the side that drew 3-3 in dramatic fashion with West Coast Rangers and that was Dara Mulrooney stepping in at left-back, with Arisa Takeda switching to the middle to cover things. With Tiana Hill also playing CB lately, that meant the Swans came into this game with the bold strategy of an all-fullback defensive quartet.
Southern United felt that two changes were in order and not only in their personnel – there was also a change in formation to a 3-5-2. Shontelle Smith is back playing WNL this year and she stepped in at right wing-back while Hibiscus Coast guest player Danica Ulrich-Beech, who played on the opposite wing, knew this venue pretty well having scored here earlier in the season. In fact, so did Stacey Martin who is also with SU as a guest (starting up top with Australian import Milly Scott). Great to see DUB getting a National League shot after scoring 14 goals during the NRFL Prem – this prevents her from being one of the only players with five or more goals in that comp (out of 18 players) not to play WNL. Megan Lee is injured for Western Springs, while Anelise Karakostas has presumably gone back to USA from West Coast Rangers. Apart from DUB, the only others in that group whose club didn’t qualify were Rosie Missen (Fencibles) who has joined Central, Millie Loxton (Fencibles) who is at the U17 World Cup, and Lily Brazendale (Hamilton Wanderers) who has joined the Wellington Phoenix Academy.
Shontelle Smith’s return started pretty bloody well. Lots of touches out on the right in the initial stages, including what was probably an attempted cross after a great first-time switch from Abby Rankin picked her out on the wing. Whatever she intended it to be, it ended up being a goal. Floated into the top corner, don’t even worry about it. 1-0 to Southern after eight minutes.
Gotta call that a stroke of fortune but Southern were playing well, bringing their usual intensity and seeking to hit those wide players as early as possible in space. But the new shape did mean they were less compact than usual which may have contributed to the 22nd minute equaliser where a misplaced Rose Morton pass was picked off by Rina Hirano, who quite brilliantly went past Hannah Mackay-Wright with a stepover to set up a simple tap-in for Kitty Jacob. More wizardry from Hirano who might just be the early MVP frontrunner.
Lots of heavy challenges out on that Seddon Fields turf. Not a lot of them got whistled up either, making for a feisty battle. Few seemed to enjoy that more than Alosi Bloomfield who made some supreme tackles whilst also working well as the pivot in possession. Southern were a little too impatient sending the ball over the top for the strikers. Rina Hirano drew a wonderful point-blank save outta Lauren Patterson late in the half. It was delicately poised at the break, which had Springs ready to pounce with a half-time sub bringing Aimee Phillips into the match – one of the eight capped internationals to have played WNL this year: Phillips and teammate Liz Savage (WS), Nicole Stratford and Emma Kete (WCR), Paige Satchell (AU), Sarah Morton (WK), Kate Loye (CU), and Anna Green (WU). Western Springs would have had a third Fern if Megan Lee hadn’t done her ACL in the Kate Sheppard Cup final. Indigo Kirk also replaced Mulrooney at the break, allowing for Tiana Hill to mark Shontelle Smith out wide. Maia Vink had a plan.
That plan wouldn’t have involved Martin picking a beauty of a pass through for Scott, but the Southern forward hesitated to shoot and Springs were able to extinguish things. Martin almost sent Smith through soon after but the offside flag prevented her breaking towards goal. Western Springs had the home crowd gasping a few times with tantalising deep crosses that didn’t quite lead to anything. Southern then began to find a few charging transitional overload moments, with Takeda breaking up a couple of them and TuiSamoa making a great fingertip save against a Martin shot. Patterson matched that to deny Phillips as she bore down on goal with visions of a winner. It didn’t happen for her that time but she was finding space around that left channel and before much longer a similar chance led to cross which Mackay-Wright (who was typically excellent) cut out... but only as far as Rina Hirano who pinpointed that thing right into the top corner. What a finish. She’s the only player to have scored in all three rounds and they’ve all been bangers.
Problem for Southern was that Springs now had a lead to protect so those turnovers and overloads were gone. They’d missed their window. Instead it had to be crosses into the area and whatever else Shontelle Smith could muster and that just didn’t work. Watching SU through their first couple games, it’s clear how how influential striker Amy Hislop was in their grand final run last year, and how much they miss her. Hislop should be back soon as she recovers from injury and hopefully the quality of their final pass/shot takes a boost with her presence. That’s what let them down against Western Springs because they were the otherwise arguably the better team.
Then again, this is what Western Springs keep doing. They were outplayed for large stretches against Rangers too and managed to fight back. Rina Hirano’s goal and assist gave them exactly the finishing touch that Southern lacked. Bloomfield was a force in midfield. Takeda anchored the backline beautifully. Western Springs bagged the 2-1 victory at home and they’ll be bubbling ahead of next week’s KS Cup final rematch with Auckland United.
Western Springs 2-1 Southern United
8’ | SU | 0-1 | Smith (Rankin)
22’ | WS | 1-1 | Jacob (Hirano)
78’ | WS | 2-1 | Hirano
Eastern Suburbs vs Waterside Karori
One more game to get to in round three and it was Eastern Suburbs hosting Waterside Karori at Madills Farm with the Lilywhites hoping to bounce back from a winless start whereas the Wharfies arrived in the City of Sails with a breeze behind them after dismantling the WeeNix by a five-goal margin the previous Friday night. Several changes for Suburbs, with Nikki Whyte between the sticks again, Lucy Hunt in defence, Samireh Kan the right wing-back, and Sofia Garcia back on the wing. It’s been stink for Subs so far, having failed to even score a goal in their opening two games... though in fairness those games were against last year’s two finalists. Meanwhile, Waterside Karori welcomed attacker Nikki Furukawa back into the side while Lizzie Ingham (a national champion orienteerer) got a start on the wing and Rhianna Houghton joined the midfield. Tessa McPherson, who has already played midfield and attack, this time filled in as a central defender. That’s what we call versatility.
The first few minutes of this match were nuts, as both teams threatened from corner kicks including Suburbs needing to make a goal-line clearance. Erinna Wong got rid of it no worries but that was the first of a couple of Furukawa chances, the next requiring a sharp stop from goalie Whyte. But then Garcia went inches from giving the home side the lead, only she couldn’t get enough contact on a wonderful low ball across goal from Britney Cunningham-Lee (at least it looked like her – identifying players from the livestreams is proving very tricky this year). All that within ten minutes of kickoff. Within fifteen we’d also had BCL gassing her way through the defensive line but sliding the ball off the post with only the keeper to beat. She did beat the keeper... but not the way she wanted.
Interesting that Eastern Subs went with a back three formation. That’s a change from how they’ve been doing things and it worked quite well. Gave them options to close down the wide players of the Wharfies without leaving gaps in the middle. So it was that the defenders began to take over... apart from five mins before the break, when Zoe Benson did loop a wonderful headed chance over the top. Subs really should have scored at least one of these. Oh, by the way, Cunningham-Lee set that one up too. Emma Starr wasn’t far away with a strike from outside the box for WK either. Goalless at the midpoint.
WKAFC made a sub in between halves, with Kennedy Bryant stepping in for Houghton. Great option to throw into a game where a dose more creativity could bust things open. That almost happened when Pollock played an amazing heel-flick though-ball to Bacon but Ingham couldn’t get the ball under control at the back post from the cross. Then Garcia beat the offside trap for ES but couldn’t beat Annie Foote in goal. Some quality handling from Foote (lol) also diffused a few Zoe Benson set pieces. Benson also went close from distance after a layoff from Garcia. Ridiculous how it was still nil-all after an hour. On we go.
This was easily Benson’s most influential game this year. Such a funky creative player... she slid Garcia in once again only for Garcia’s shot to be saved one-handed by Foote. Lino had the flag up but the ref waved it away so it would have counted. Foote will be in Garcia’s nightmares all week because there was another reaction save to keep Garcia out, this time back post off a corner (those ZB corners were naaaasty). Samireh Kan got the same treatment with a stinging low shot that Foote parried away for a corner. The balance was pretty strongly in favour of the Lilywhites yet they just could not figure out how to cash it in for goals. Then when they did, from that same corner kick, it was disallowed because sub Kenya Brooke had handballed.
Then, wouldn’t you know it, Waterside Karori went and won a penalty. Furukawa hustled Brooke to win the ball in the area and then took a clip in the process. It was a close one, Suburbs were entitled to argue, but Renee Bacon stepped up and buried it regardless. Amazingly, that was the first penalty awarded in the WNL this year and it came in the fourteenth fixture. There was still time for Annie Foote to give Garcia some more fits and then the final whistle blew for a rather incredible 1-0 win for the Wharfies.
Annie Foote: astounding. Gotta credit the Waterside backline too even though they did give up a heap of opportunities, particularly from set pieces. They clung on and clung on and showed heaps of grit before finding a convenient winner. That penalty only happens because they kept themselves in the contest and because Furukawa didn’t give up on that press. The Wharfies had plenty of moments in the first half, it was only second spell when things turned. Not like this win was completely against the balance of play... but it got pretty dicey for them there and yet they emerged with three fantastic points. At the start of this week we had five teams all on four points. West Coast Rangers were the only one of them not to win so now we’ve got four teams tied on seven points, a third of the way through the fixtures.
Which leaves us with Eastern Suburbs lingering with one point from three games and they still have not scored a goal. They could have had five in this match and they walked away with none. Finishing is often about rhythm. One goal hits the back of the net and it could all change. Zoe Benson and Britney Cunningham-Lee did their best, while Yukino Nishizono deserves credit for keeping Kendall Pollock quiet. Katie Duncan’s side have played alright in all three matches without getting anything to show for it... the good news is that they’ve got the WeeNix away next week so that could be the straw-meets-camel’s-back game.
Eastern Suburbs 0-1 Waterside Karori
82’ | WK | 0-1 | Bacon [p] (Furukawa)
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