Aotearoa Domestic Football Roundup – May 12
Men’s Northern League
It seems there may be genuine trouble brewing for Auckland City because they’ve now lost four out of their nine games following a defeat against Eastern Suburbs. Alexander Irwin, the Lilywhites’ Canadian import, got the only goal of the game after 19 minutes. Big header from an Isaac Bates corner kick... two new additions bringing the goods for Suburbs. And don’t think for a minute that this result flattered them because it didn’t – Eastern Suburbs had the bulk of the chances in this match including Hector Echague hitting the crossbar early in the second stanza. Another strong performance from ESAFC who’ve won five of their last six and currently sit second on the ladder. Auckland City, in contrast, are currently lingering in sixth and their drama is that they simply cannot score goals right now. Only nine goals from nine fixtures. Incredibly, that makes them the lowest scoring team in the Northern League at the moment. Something ain’t right about that.
Birkenhead United have had no trouble scoring goals despite a very different-looking attack from the one that took them to the last National League grand final. They’ve more than tripled Auckland City’s tally... having just added five more in a win away to Fencibles. Amazingly, they were 5-0 up after 24 minutes with Michael Suski (7’, 23’) and Sam Philip (11’, 17’, 24’) doing all the damage. Love that mahi from Philip who was once a defender in the Wellington Phoenix Academy but after coming back from college in the USA he was converted into a very prolific striker at Christchurch United. He’d not continued those prolifics since moving to Birko so a hatty here ought to do wonders. It almost wasn’t enough though. Fencibles were in a shambles five down so early but they stuck in there and goals from Darius Palma (79’, 90’) and Xavier Maddox (83’) nearly threatened something unbelievable until Jordan Boon was sent off in stoppage time and the clock ran out on them. 5-3 to Birkenhead was the final score.
There was a fantastic game between Auckland FC Reserves and Western Springs out at Fred Taylor Park. Ralph Rutherford put AFC into the lead after eight minutes but Dawson Straffon was quick to reply on 14’ with a thumping strike. Reid Drake then had Springs in the lead going into the break but, ten minutes after the resumption, Finn McKenlay made it 2-2. Ry McLeod scored for Springs after 65 mins. Finn McKenlay equalised again, this time from the penalty spot on 81’. Then McLeod won it in the 89th minute with his second of the afternoon. Final score was 4-3 to Western Springs. The winner was a scrappy one that AFC should have done better with but that’s all part of the ladder of learning. Good to see Carlos Ranui back off the bench after being out since game one. This was probably AFC’s best possible eleven and they gave an impressive show against a National League calibre opponent. Springs rise to fourth with the win, ahead of both Auckland City and Tauranga FC.
That’s because Tauranga City lost again. They were beaten 3-1 away to Bay Olympic. Flynn Saxon made it 1-0 to the Bay right before half-time (that’s the Bay of Olympic, not the Bay of Plenty, to be clear) and an own goal shortly after it extended that lead. Liam Molloy’s 63rd minute penalty gave Tauranga City a window of opportunity but that window was closed when Mats Kaiser scored on 82’ to complete afternoon’s main events. Since beating Auckland United, Western Springs, and Birkenhead United in the space of nine days to go top of the ladder... Tauranga City have been beaten consecutively by East Coast Bays and Bay Olympic to tumble back down a few spots.
Auckland United were too good for West Coast Rangers, winning 4-2. Recent addition Otto Ingham scored twice in the first half (21’, 45’) before Riley Manuel promptly added a third on 48’. When Dre Vollenhoven made it 4-0 after 66 minutes they seemingly had it in the bag... although Muse Abrahaberhe (74’) and Alex Death (90’) did bring the final scoreline closer to respectability for WCR. Then Rangers had keeper Damian Hurst sent off in added time for rushing out of his area and making a rash sliding challenge that was deemed to have denied a goal-scoring runaway. In the other game, Orlando Thorpe’s 12th minute goal was the separator as East Coast Bays won 1-0 against Manurewa. The bottom four teams all lost this round so that gives East Coast Bays some breathing room in the mid-table with three wins, three draws, and three defeats so far. If they’d only scored one extra goal against Rewa then they’d have had a zero goal difference to, completing the neutrality.
Women’s NRFL Premiership
This is where we take a cheeky excursion to Tahiti where the OFC Champions League is taking place. Auckland United had their 55-game unbeaten streak snapped just prior to leaving but they’ve already started a new streak by, as they were expected to do, winning all three group stage matches. Two of them were walkovers. They won 11-0 in the first match against AS Pirae (Tahiti) with the goals coming via: Zoe Benson (6’, 8’, 19’, 42’, 45’), Dani Canham (10’, 38’), Ava Pritchard (45’), Tui Dugan (74’, 90’), and Charlotte Roche (90’). Extra credit to Benson who was substituted off at half-time having already scored a five-for.
They were equally commanding in beating PanSa (American Samoa) 11-0 this morning in game three. This time the goals were scored by: Chloe Knott (6’, 21’, 30’), Ava Pritchard (19’ pen), Jess Philpot (23’), Ariana Vosper (40’), Pia Vlok (51’, 85’, 90’), Saskia Vosper (81’), and Kate McConnell (89’). Note the multiple Vospers on the scoresheet. Saskia was one of the stars for AU last season but younger sister Ariana, an absolute speedster who is still only 14 years old, was with West Coast Rangers back then. She even came off the bench in a few National League games. This was her debut for Auckland United and it was the same deal with 19yo goalkeeper Scarlett Gray who has moved up from Christchurch having been in the Canterbury United system for the last couple years. Check Pia Vlok with the second-half hatty too, another of Aotearoa’s best youngsters (as she proved in the WNL grand final). Her third goal was a backheel.
In between those two cruisey wins was a much more difficult outing against Hekari United (Papua New Guinea). This was a rematch of last year’s grand final which Auckland United only won 1-0. They’ve picked a stronger squad this time around but were given similar trouble by PNG’s finest. Alaina Granger scored after 42 minutes and then Ava Pritchard doubled that on 55’. Shalom Waida pulled one back for Hekari near the end thus 2-1 was the way it concluded. Very different to those other two group games. Auckland United will face Henderson Eels (Solomon Islands) in the semi-final. AUFC have given at least ninety minutes to everyone in their 21-player squad except for Rene Wasi, who hasn’t featured at all, and Charlotte Roche, who went off injured early in game two. They’ve had 12 different goalscorers out of the 20 outfielders who’ve been used. Looking at Talisha Green, Greer Macintosh, Yume Harashima, Alexis Cook, Penny Brill, and Piper O’Neill to add to that number in the semi-final, get cracking girls.
With Auckland United away on their travels, there were only three fixtures player in the NRFL Prem this week. The first of those was a Friday nighter in which Western Springs won 5-0 against Hibiscus Coast. The Coasties continue to struggle to score goals but Western Springs don’t have that issue. Anna McPhie (14’), Sarah Morton (28’) and Rina Hirano (31’) established a big lead in a hurry. Then Nanami Omasa (63’) and Arisa Takeda (76’) continue the carnage in the second stanza. Three Japanese players on the scoresheet – the two long-time faves plus Omasa who is a new addition. McPhie and Morton are also in their first seasons with the club so it was a mixture of fresh and familiar for the Swans. More minutes for Katie Rood off the bench too – this was her second appearance this year after her recovery from an ACL injury.
Eastern Suburbs had a hefty win of their own, beating Tauranga Moana 5-1 away at Fergusson Park. They did actually concede first when Ella Golding put one away in the 45th minute. But Victoria Neuefeind immediately got the Lilywhites back on terms and then it was Cema Nasau (47’), Millie Boyle (62’), Sofia Garcia (78’), and Madeleine Dwyer (90’) who took over from there. Nasau is the Fijian international who debuted last week. Neuefeind is an English defender who debuted for Auckland United a couple of weeks ago now suddenly she’s scoring for Eastern Suburbs. Dwyer is a Lilywhites youngster who was making her first team debut having only turned 15 a couple of weeks ago... and she scored. Boyle has played a bit for the top team already but she’s only 16yo herself. They also had Charley March (17) and Zoe Brazier (17) in the starting eleven. Seems not everyone was available for a Sunday roadie to Tauranga so they had to dip into the youth system... and that didn’t matter one little bit.
And in the other game it was Ellerslie 0-2 Fencibles with Mikaela Bangalan (49’) and Lilly Dowsing (68’) scoring the goals. Speaking of promising youngsters, there are two more of them. This was an important game for both teams as there’s probably only room for one of them to challenge the top four (and National League qualification). Crucial for Fencies that they got those three points... and devastating for Ellerslie that they didn’t. Even still, there’s a four-point gap between Western Springs and Eastern Suburbs on 14 points (in third and fourth) and Fencibles United on 10 points in fifth plus Fencies have a way worse goal difference. Nevertheless, they just banked three handy points and they’ll back themselves to win at home against Hibiscus Coast next week. Eastern Suburbs have that week off and Western Springs are away to West Coast Rangers so the gap could be one point when the next Domestic Footy Roundup is written.
Men’s Central League
Wellington Olympic continue to strut their way through the Central League. They were slow going against a dogged Upper Hutt City team but eventually did beat then 1-0 thanks to a 47th minute goal from Adam Supyk. That makes it seven wins from seven for the Greeks, who have only conceded three times in those seven games. Seven must be their lucky number because they already have a seven point lead at the top as they seek to make it five consecutive Central League titles. Since the restructures, they and Auckland City have reigned supreme in their respective regions (while Cashmere Tech and Christchurch United have traded comps down south). It’s not looking likely that Auckland City will make it five whereas Wellington Olympic remain unstoppable.
This was a good week for the Supyk clan. Adam got his winner for Welly Olympic... and Luke Supyk scored twice to save the Wellington Phoenix Reserves from defeat against Western Suburbs. Former WeeNix lad Sebastian Barton-Ginger had scored a 35th min penalty and then a 50th min goal to have Wests leading 2-0 in a handy continuation of their recent surge of form. But the WeeNix have been a force across the board lately, so there was Luke Supyk with a late brace (80’, 87’) to book a 2-2 draw. Keeps the Nix second in the standings. Looks like Flynn Cave got a run off the bench against his old club having swapped the Ole Academy for the Phoenix Academy a few months ago. The Nix are forever playing against their old boys but every now and then it happens the other way around too.
Napier City Rovers have been all over the place these last few games but they timed their upswing nicely with a 3-0 win against Miramar Rangers. Goals for Cam Emerson (54’), Adam Hewson (61’), and Max Chretien (67’) turned things in their favour. Unfortunately for Miramar, they’ve been just as up and down as Napier... hence they missed a great chance to take charge on the race for the top four. They’re still fourth, one point behind NCR, but a win would have had them second with a healthy buffer. Of course, this is Central League football so it’s never destined to be straightforward (except for Wellington Olympic).
North Wellington scored late to draw 2-2 with Waterside Karori. Ihaia Delaney kept up his good touch with a goal in the fourth minute for the Wharfies but a Birhanu Taye own goal on 24’ made it 1-1. Sam Mitrakas struck on 57’ to restore the lead for Karori only for Dion Keetley to snatch a point at the death for North Wellington. This was only the second point of NW’s season so far. Also, Petone were too good for Island Bay with a 4-1 win on the road. Tom Kirkland had the hosts up inside of two minutes but then doubles for Bray Whitecliffe (16’, 43’) and Kieran McMinn (42’, 69’) flipped that on its head. McMinn now has nine for the term. He’s only two goals behind Martin Bueno in the top scorer charts.
Women’s Central League
Over in this pocket, there was only one game that took place due to the Kate Sheppard Cup first round drawing the focus elsewhere. Everyone else was busy except for Victoria University, who had a bye, and the Wellington Phoenix U18s, who don’t really play in that competition. Last year it was the Phoenix U20s/Reserves who made a run in the KS Cup and the entry this year is called “Wellington Phoenix Academy” so no doubt that’ll be the ressies again. But as we’ve established those squads are pretty fluid.
Anyway, Vic Uni hosted the WeeNix U18s and this was a return to the brutalising WeeNix of the first couple of rounds as Katie Pugh scored five times in an 11-0 victory. To be more specific, the scoring went: Pugh (4’, 20’, 50’, 85’, 89’), Ruby Hale (26’, 62’), Mackenzie Bryant (29’), Kya Solomon (65’), Freya Des Fountain (69’), and Anahera Easton (76’). For FDF and Hale those were their first Central League goals... while Pugh now has 11 making her the current golden boot frontrunner. This WeeNix team have scored 36 goals and conceded 1 in their six fixtures... though they’re two points behind leaders Wellington United with both teams now having played an equal amount of games.
Would you believe it, the WeeNix U20s won again too. They beat Wellington United’s U15 Boys 2-0 with Isla Cleall-Harding scoring both goals in the first half. The Phoenix Reserves are the only team with a perfect 3/3 winning record in that U15 Mixed Capital Development League. As poor as the A-League sides have been, that’s how good the various academy sides have been. 2025 is proving to be a banner year for the WeeNix with all of these early season victories.
Chatham Cup & Kate Sheppard Cup
And then, because it was a cup weekend, we didn’t get anything from the Southern League/South Island League teams. The Chathams and the Kate Sheps got in the way of that. Many of the other top flight clubs don’t enter until later in the draw but the Southern Conference is an exception and so was the Women’s half of the Central Conference. Even still, there were plenty of byes for those such clubs, meaning some teams got the week off entirely. But in the Chatham Cup we did get one all Southern League match-up with Ferrymead Bays knocking Universities of Canterbury out with a 2-0 win. Nelson Suburbs, Cashmere Technical, Coastal Spirit, and Selwyn United all made it through unscathed with comfortable wins against lower-tiered opposition. Nelson Suburbs won 6-0 against FC Nelson. Cashmere Tech won 2-0 against Burwood. Coastal Spirit won 3-1 against Waimak United. Selwyn won 3-0 against Western AFC. Scanning through for upsets, Victoria University beat Douglas Villa AFC 3-2 after extra time while Wellington Marist won 2-1 against Tawa, but otherwise things pretty much went as planned.
As for the Kate Sheppard Cup, there are fewer teams in that competition so that affects how the draw pans out in the early rounds. However, the KSC did serve up something that the first round of the CC failed to when AFC Northern faced Queens Park... that being a penalty shootout (Northern were the victors there). None of the NRFL Premiership clubs needed to partake this round but the other two regions were more demanding.
Wellington Phoenix Academy, Waterside Karori, Miramar Rangers, and Victoria University were handed byes from the Central League. That still left six other teams... with a few of them playing each other. That was the case as Wellington United won 3-1 against Petone in a match-up that’s far too significant to have been spent in the first round. Taylor Watson scored twice for the Diamonds (9’, 17’) and then Natalie Brook (34’) made it 3-0 at half-time. Phoebe Gray (55’) got one back for Petone but that was all. Palmerston North Marist and Taradale were also drawn against each other and the drawing continued with a 0-0 scoreline after ninety minutes. However, PN Marist then blew it open in extra time with goals from Isabella Yarwood (95’, 102’) and Melissa McKenna (98’) giving them a 3-0 win in the end. As for Moturoa and Palmerston North United... it would appear they didn’t enter this year. That’s a shame. Those two teams are currently last in the Central League.
Only Otago University and Roslyn Wakari got byes from the South Island League yet there was only one inter-divisional tie from this lot and that was Universities of Canterbury hosting Cashmere Technical. That ended up in a 4-0 win for the Techies with Katie Harris scoring twice. Saskia Pelham and Rafaela Da Costa also scored. Other than that, Dunedin City Royals breezed to an 8-0 win away vs Green Island, Nelson Suburbs won 4-0 away to Richmond, Coastal Spirit got a little carried away winning 12-0 against Selwyn with Britney-Lee Nicholson scoring seven of those goals, and Halswell United won 2-1 against Ferrymead Bays. Good on Nelson Suburbs who’ve lost all four league games. A cheeky cup win can sometimes be the confidence that you need. Doesn’t look like NW United have entered the cup this year.
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