2025 Women’s National League – Week 2
Canterbury United Pride vs Western Springs
Week rua of the WNL began at a chilly and rainy English Park where Canterbury United were seeking to show that last week’s 8-0 loss to Auckland United was merely an anomaly. Their opponents were Western Springs whose 5-4 win against Wellington United probably boosted their stocks more than anyone else. So we’ve got the team that underachieved the worst against the team that exceeded expectations by the most.
For the Pride, Shane Verma kept faith in his young team by only making one change to his eleven and that was the same change that he made at half-time of that previous game: Sara Mann replacing Darsha Keogan in the midfield. That meant that winger CU Anya Stephan got to play against her old club (as did Anna McPhie and substitute Bel Van Noorden for the other team).
Meanwhile Western Springs changed a few things. Rina Hirano came in at wing-back. Katie Rood started as a ten. Amberley Hollis swapped in at goalkeeper. Liz Savage moved to the back three. No Maddi Ollington after her spectacular debut. They did still have a Bloomfield in the midfield... but it wasn’t Alosi Bloomfield, it was Fale’aka Bloomfield making her first team debut after previously playing for the reserves. New signing Maika Boonekamp (formerly Onehunga Sports) was on the bench. By the way, Alosi Bloomfield (and Britney-Lee Nicholson of Canterbury Utd) was picked in the latest Futsal Ferns squad as they prepare for next month’s World Cup... so don’t expect those two back this WNL season.
Oh mate conditions were atrocious down at English Park. It was wet and windy and wild and Western Springs were having a lot of trouble playing out from the back. The Pride seemed better equipped for the weather by playing fast and direct and shooting whenever they could. Petra Buyck went close with a couple of sighters and then, as Springs kept fluffing their build-up, Margi Dias opted for the aerial option as she lifted a bouncing ball over the top of Hollis which dropped under the crossbar to make it 1-0. Great finish. Was there a turn-up on the cards?
Yeah, maybe, because after ten minutes of Springs steadily trying to find a foothold, suddenly Dias poked the ball away from Uluvili and Petra Buyck curled an effort into the net from a very similar spot to where Dias scored from. 2-0 to the home team after 18 minutes. It should have been 2-1 when Britney Cunnigham-Lee took a pop that was parried out towards Katie Rood running in... but Roodie lifted it over the bar. The Swans at least found some encouragement from that and soon Omasa took a pop which Amy Simmers tipped beyond the near post. Corner kick. Springs on attack. Next thing you knew... Canterbury United had cleared the ball and were countering themselves. Western Springs got plenty of numbers back but none of them stopped Petra Buyck from getting into the area and smacking another one into the net to make it 3-0 after 31 minutes. Unbelievable. What in the heck was happening?
Western Springs won despite conceding four last week so they know they can score to match anyone. And the comeback was swift. Nanami Omasa got them on the board in the 38th with a swerving shot from the edge of the area every bit as good as the ones the Pride had scored from. For a game held in such shocking conditions, the quality of some of these goals was through the roof. Five mis later it was 3-2 after Bloomfield stepped out of midfield and attempted a switch out to Omasa. That pass hit a defender and ricocheted between goalie and defensive line to where Britney Cunningham-Lee was quick to pounce, taking it around the goalie to score. All of a sudden that lead didn’t feel so big. Canterbury just wanted to hear that whistle for half-time, give them a chance to dry off and reset, but before it sounded they’d conceded again. Anna McPhie’s corner kick. Sarah Morton there to poke it over the line from six yards.
Okey doke, back to where we started then. Except that now WSAFC had all the momentum and continued to push for goals. Hirano somehow managed to side-foot a shot lurking deep from a corner that landed on the crossbar then bounced off the crossbar a second time before being half-cleared. Claudia Wilson then made two goal-saving blocks in a row from within the six yard box as the Pride continued to hang on. The compactness of CU had been a problem for Springs before but now they were moving the ball faster and accessing space, smoothly evading any press attempts. BCL went very closed, saved by Simmers. Lots of corner kicks. But you know the closest remaining chance fell to Canterbury substitute Tsuzumi Higuchi who stole a pass out from the keeper... only to be denied twice by Amberley Hollis before Sarah Morton scrambled the rebound off the line and away to safety. Put it in the books as a 3-3 draw.
That means there were six goals in the first half and zero in the second half. Western Springs are the great entertainers because they’ve been involved in a 5-4 win and a 3-3 draw already. Terrible start in this one but the way they fought back was powerful stuff and they’ll be annoyed they couldn’t complete the rush with a winning goal. The chances were there despite a very committed Canterbury resistance. Seems that Springs have two major issues at the moment: the seven goals they’ve conceded in two games, and the difficulties they’ve got in fitting all of their attacking talent into their formation. Big shouts to the Pride for the way they capitalised in that opening half hour, especially after such a heavy defeat last time. Petra Buyck and Margi Dias are always goal threats. Frankie Morrow’s looking great in that midfield. And the second half effort from the backline was crucial too.
Canterbury United Pride 3-3 Western Springs
Goals (Assists)
8’ | 1-0 | CU | Dias
18’ | 2-0 | CU | Buyck (Dias)
31’ | 3-0 | CU | Buyck (Morrow)
38’ | 3-1 | WS | Omasa (Hirano)
43’ | 3-2 | WS | Cunningham-Lee
45+3’ | 3-3 | WS | Morton (McPhie)
Wellington United vs Southern United
It’s a weird one when you can say that both teams scored four goals last week yet the outcomes were completely different. Wellington United scored four but conceded five as they fell short in defeat away to Western Springs. Southern United, on the other hand, were very comfortable in their 4-1 win against the Phoenix Reserves. The Diamonds, predictably, kept the same dynamic front four but made some changes at the back with Blair Currie preferred in goal and Sammie Senior joining Zoe Barrott in central defence. Natalie Brook also got a start in midfield. For Southern, they brought Aussie attacker Georgia Keen into the eleven while Amelie East-Giles made her first National League start at left-wing. Star striker Amy Hislop returned to the bench for Southern too.
The dynamic here was about Southern’s excellent defence against the Diamonds’ shining front four. And to begin with it was the Southerners who were running that show, cutting off the supply lines in midfield through Rose Morton’s hard mahi and working an expert offside trap (WU had three goals disallowed for offside – one of which for Maggie Jenkins was pretty marginal tbh). It was hard for the Wellington side to get support to their forwards and that meant poor service. Not only that but Southern’s intensity carried on into the other half too, leading to an eighth minute goal when Georgia Keen picked her spot after collecting a corner kick deep and unmarked in the six yard box.
The balance began to shift later in the half though. That’s when those WU passes started hitting feet and the movement of their forwards adjusted to what they were up against. This was a really competitive game. Battles all over the pitch. And in the second half it got really funky as the Diamonds found more and more joy going forwards while Southern subbed on Hislop at the break and weren’t shy to give it a nudge themselves.
Jenkins thought she’d scored after a brilliant wee touch around her one-time U17 World Cup teammate Hannah Mackay-Wright only for her curling shot to be denied by an even more brilliant save by Lauren Paterson. Paterson would be beaten shortly afterwards when Summer Laskey’s sliced cross floated through her grasp, never a happy moment for a goalkeeper. But that was the lone blip on an otherwise amazing afternoon from the Southern GK.
Blair Currie was also on her game to close down Abby Rankin from ten yards out when it seemed like Rose Morton’s perseverance was going to put SU back in front. Then it was Hannah Pilley’s turn, pulling strings in the attacking third for the home side. Pilley set up Olson down the left whose shot skimmed narrowly wide of the post. Pilley then played in Jenkins whose low cross was converted by Laskey but there was an offside in there. Two more Pilley to Olson chances ended with Paterson making mean saves. Jenkins left a square ball slightly ahead of Laskey. Then down the other end it took an outrageous last-ditch block from Georgie Furnell to keep Hislop from grabbing it back for Southern. After all that it ended 1-1.
18/18 wins for Wellington United during the Central League and they’re winless after two National League games? Yeah but they’ve played two good teams and weren’t far away from the three points in either. Bit too sloppy at the back last week. Bit too wasteful in attack this week. But after a slow start against Southern they created plenty of chances, with Hannah Pilley involved in most of them, and their backline looked much sharper this time. Sam Senior did well at the back. Blair Currie had the quiet efficiency of a goalie who belongs at a higher level. But it’s a nine-game season so they need to start winning soon... ideally beginning next week against Eastern Suburbs.
Southern United had their moments where they could have won this thing. Even still, they should be pretty chuffed with a point away... and absolutely stoked by the performance of goalkeeper Lauren Paterson. Some of those saves were magic. They also got quality displays from Rose Morton and Kelsey Kennard. These girls host West Coast Rangers next round, a first taste of Auckland opposition, and if they can win that then we can safely say that they’re among the contenders.
Wellington United 1-1 Southern United
8’ | 0-1 | SU | Keen (Vane)
52’ | 1-1 | WU | Laskey
West Coast Rangers vs Central Football
Week one was a shambles for West Coast Rangers. Missing some key players, sure, but the way they failed to figure out the tactical puzzle that a deep Petone defence gave to them and then left themselves vulnerable at the back to a late counter-attacking winner... that was not befitting of the NRFL Premiers. But they had the ideal opportunity to make amends, hosting Central after that lot shipped nine at home against Eastern Subs.
WCR were without Taylor Vujnovich who has been summoned for the U17 World Cup. The Wellington Phoenix let their U17 reps stick around for another game but Vuj must have had a plane to catch (or didn’t want to risk injury). They’re also still without Emily Lyon who was New Zealand’s best player at the Oceania U19s recently, winning Golden Boot with 11 goals across five games – add in her seven assists and she was directly responsible for more than half of Aotearoa’s goals. Amazing stuff from Lyon whose physical centre forward presence was definitely missed last week (goalkeeper Sophie Campbell was also in that squad). Maisy Dewell was also suspended after her silly red card. However they did welcome back captain Marissa Porteous in the midfield while Lorna Selby started at left-back and Leyla Butler on the left wing. Central made two changes with Kate MacPherson (CM) and Caitlyn Byrne (CB) picked in the eleven.
Now, obviously West Coast Rangers were going to win this game. The question was by how much... and whether Central would show progress from last week. Initial signs were worrying as Anjelina Ujdur stabbed a shot onto the crossbar from a corner kick scenario before Porteous headed wide. Central did have a big runaway chance when Jacqueline Broughton brought down a clever pass in behind from MacPherson... but then rushed the shot, toe-poking it wide. It’s not very fair to demand this when a team is only likely to create a couple of chances like that in a game but Broughton had to do better there. They wouldn’t have a better chance all day.
Everything was going down the right edge for WCR, same as last week, with lots of Kailey Short and Ella Dorward thumping crosses. But Mackenzie Butler did some good work at left-back for Central and Byrne (signed from Tauranga Moana) made a massive difference at the back. Once again you could see how the absence Emily Lyon was an issue for Rangers struggling to link things up. They were relying way too much on crossing, ignoring the fact that Central conceded several goals from long shots against Eastern Suburbs. The first concession in that game happening within a minute of the opening kickoff but huge credit to Central because they made it through half an hour unscathed this time.
Rangers finally got there when Short managed to lift one deeper to the far post to where Butler headed it onto the crossbar and Sienna Higinbotham was there to bury the rebound. So the crossing strategy paid off eventually. Shortly before the break they added a second via a corner kick from Ujdur and an excellent header from Laney Stachan. There was a great save from Alex Gray to deny Porteous from another header from another corner. Those set pieces were more route one than WCR would have preferred but they were working, can’t deny it. In a game where they never fully found their flow from open play they always had their superiority from corner kicks.
It was more of the same in the second half, although the third goal came down the middle as Henson brought down the ball and beat a challenge in one, breaking the line before selflessly slipping in Kailey Short to drive home a deserved goal having been so busy trying to set things up for everyone else. And the fourth was a return to the corner kick routine. Bit of a scramble leading to Higinbotham bunting over the line for her second of the day. Good stuff from WCR’s American import. 4-0 was the way it ended although there was a bright cameo from substitute Mila Morles coming on and running hard.
We definitely got those improvements from Central. Byrne and Butler were the standouts while Gray made some good saves along the way. Always a good sign when you can see clear progress from week one to week two. WCR did what they needed to do to get the victory. They found a weakness and they prodded at it. Yes, they should have been more fluid and a lack of variety in attack in both games so far has been notable... but much of that will be solved by the return of Lyon. They were able to get Shannon Henson more involved this time. The engine of Porteous in midfield raised the standards around her. Butler and Ujdur seem to be settling in. Laney Strachan had a strong outing. They got the job done.
West Coast Rangers 4-0 Central Football
34’ | 1-0 | WCR | Higinbotham
42’ | 2-0 | WCR | Strachan (Ujdur)
55’ | 3-0 | WCR | Short (Henson)
66’ | 4-0 | WCR | Higinbotham
Wellington Phoenix Reserves vs Petone
They named the U17 World Cup squad last week and guess what? Stacked with Wellington Phoenix academy representatives. Eight of the 21 players picked are affiliated with the Nix. Pia Vlok has an A-League scholarship deal while the rest of them have all played National League. Harriet Muller, Freya Des Fountain, Holly Robins, Kya Solomon, and Sienna Candy were all in the starting team that lost to Southern United a week ago. Muller dropped out this week, with new addition Liana Baldock (who was playing reserves for Otago Uni a few months ago) taking the gloves instead. But Natalie Young jumped into the midfield so once again there were six U17 WC rep in the side. Ella McMillan also dropped down to wear the captain’s armband while Isabella Temple (daughter of Paul Temple – who had a mini-Phoenix reunion over in England this week, currently an assistant with Bristol City in WSL2) got a run up top. Olivia Goodwin played centre-back despite having the number nine on her back. Five changes all up.
Petone only made one alteration and that was Olivia Gibbs jumping into the midfield. No need to change anything else... although they were in for a very different task against the WeeNix. They sorta caught West Coast Rangers off guard with their sturdy defence and counter-attacking threat. But the WeeNix had already faced Petone twice in the Central League (a 0-0 draw and a 2-1 Nix win) so they had the scouting reports ready to go. Then again, Petone had three players in their eleven – Aoife Gallagher-Forbes, Nova Hill, and Marie Green – who played for the WeeNix in last year’s National League to give them a few inside words.
Styles make fights, as they say in boxing. Petone did a great job handling an objectively stronger side last week, the champs of the Northern League, yet against a team largely filled of U17s players they had fits trying to stick with them. The back three formation of the WeeNix didn’t allow the space in behind that WCR had plus they had genuine pace and the outside CBs were really aggressive at stepping up. Holly Robins and Freya Des Fountain have never played better in the National League than they did here. Add in the really crisp passing of Young and McMillan in the midfield and it all looked very practiced and confident from the Nix.
Maybe if Petone had tried to press them? But that’s not Petone’s style. They prefer a compact set up with a flat 4-4-2 shape (or at least they have done in these two Nat games, they were a bit more expansive in the Central League) but unfortunately that didn’t give them much hope of containing the width that the WeeNix wing-backs brought to the barbecue. Kya Solomon was unstoppable in the first half. She was strolling past tackles, bursting up the line. Would have had an assist after around quarter of an hour except that Dorothy Yek handballed. So Solomon went and did it all herself to ensure that the Phoenix held a deserved lead at the break.
Then, surprisingly, they subbed her off. Just the 45 mins for Solomon with Ruby Barber (born in 2011 according to the commentary!) taking her place for the rest of it. Probably just to keep KS fresh seeing as she’s one of the U17 World Cup crew. Three of the other players who’d eventually be subbed were also from that brigade. The second half did come with an easing up of the WeeNix’s control and at only 1-0 there was no reason for Petone to throw in the towel. Renee Bacon did what she could trying to get involved. But another one of the standouts for the Phoenix here was attacking midfielder Sienna Candy whose quick feet and smart vision were a problem any time she could drop into the pockets. The range of her passing stood out too, as did her counter-pressing... although the goal she set up with twenty to go, basically clinching the points, was more about her dribbling as she took it deep and squared for Bella Temple to polish off the rest.
Temple should have had another soon after. If there was one complaint about the Nix’s performance it’s that they maybe didn’t create that many clear chances off the back of their silky football... but they did enough. Survived a barrage of corner kicks late on to keep the sheet clean too. Fantastic performance. Petone defended pretty well for most of it but they were beaten in the midfield and out wide. That is just the fourth Welly Nix victory in the Women’s National League from 20 games overall. They won their first against Ellerslie in 2023 and since then have only beaten Central twice. To do what they just did with a team that was much more U18s than U20s is wild. Of course, most of those players will now be leaving for Morocco... but as they leave, the U19s will be returning from the Oceania Championships so no need to stress. Gotta say that 3-4-2-1 setup works so much better with central defenders, like Des Fountain and Robins, capable of stepping up into the midfield. That’s a level to both of their games that they hadn’t really gotten to flex before.
Wellington Phoenix Reserves 2-0 Petone
38’ | 1-0 | WP | Solomon (Yek)
69’ | 2-0 | WP | Temple (Candy)
| P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southern United | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| 2 | Western Springs | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 4 |
| 3 | Eastern Suburbs | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 9 | 3 |
| 4 | Auckland United | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 3 |
| 5 | West Coast Rangers | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| 6 | Wellington Phoenix | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | -1 | 3 |
| 7 | Petone | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 3 |
| 8 | Wellington United | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6 | -1 | 1 |
| 9 | Canterbury United | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 11 | -8 | 1 |
| 10 | Central | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 13 | -13 | 0 |
| TOP SCORERS | ||
|---|---|---|
| Chloe Knott | Auckland United | 3 |
| Hannah Mackay-Wright | Southern United | 2 |
| Rene Wasi | Auckland United | 2 |
| Cema Nasau | Eastern Suburbs | 2 |
| Kenya Brooke | Eastern Suburbs | 2 |
| Maddi Ollington | Western Springs | 2 |
| Liz Savage | Western Springs | 2 |
| Maggie Jenkins | Wellington United | 2 |
| Summer Laskey | Wellington United | 2 |
| Sienna Higinbotham | West Coast Rangers | 2 |
| Petra Buyck | Canterbury United | 2 |
| MOST ASSISTS | ||
|---|---|---|
| Alexis Cook | Auckland United | 4 |
| Anna McPhie | Western Springs | 3 |
| Ella Findlay | Eastern Suburbs | 2 |
| Victoria Neuefeind | Eastern Suburbs | 2 |
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