Aotearoa Domestic Football Roundup – 24 June
Men’s Northern League
Let us begin at the summit, where Birkenhead United have been hanging out for a couple of months. Birko remain first after this week’s fixtures... but the lead has been narrowed after they only drew 3-3 against West Coast Rangers. The home side kept it funky by including both Richards Bros in the starting line-up for the first time since Kieran (who’s already featured a few times off the bench) followed Ethan in making the switch from Napier City to the North Shore of Auckland. Alex Connor-McLean gave Birko the lead after 27 mins but a penalty converted by Allan Pearce (37’) had it 1-1 at the midway point. Josh Turner then gave West Coast Rangers the lead five mins into the second spell, before goals from Dino Botica (62’) and Michael Suski (67’ pen) had Birkenhead in the lead again. However, Zachary Newman’s 71st min goal tied the game back up and 3-3 was the way it finished. Lots of goals. Big contrast to when these two teams played out a 120-minute nil-all draw in the Chatham Cup last week (with Birko winning on penalties).
Eastern Suburbs took advantage of Birko’s dropped points by winning their own match to climb within four points of BUFC. It was 0-0 at HT against Tauranga City but Hector Echague (48’) and Noah Karunaratne (53’) soon changed that. TCAFC promptly got one back through Henry Kemp (55’) but the reply was equally as swift with Echague getting his second (58’). Kofi Dwamena then pocketed a late one to make it 4-1, final score. Suburbs are level on points with Western Springs who didn’t play this week, since they were supposed to face Auckland City who are a wee bit busy right about now.
Elsewhere, Auckland United beat Auckland FC Reserves 2-1 at Fred Taylor Park. Will Mendoza (50’) and Emiliano Tade (68’) did what needed to be done for AUFC. Good win that gets them up to fifth and right back into the top four hunt, beating an AFC team that only had James Mitchell involved from those that went away with the NZ U20s the other week. Having said that, it was this moment after 74 mins from AFC debutant Benjamin Perez Baldoni that’ll be remembered longest...
This lad is 15 years old and only just joined AFC from Ellerslie, having recently gotten back from representing NZ at the FIFA Youth Series in Switzerland. He’d been subbed on about ten mins earlier and with this goal he becomes the youngest player to have scored in the three top men’s divisions this season. He’s about a month younger than Anas Zara of Manurewa, although Zara was younger at the time of his first goal if you’d prefer to measure it that way. Either way it’s crazy stuff.
Anas Zara has four goals this season but he didn’t net any for Manurewa this week. He didn’t need to. Jainesh Singh took care of that task after 57 minutes and that was enough for Rewa to hang on for a 1-0 win away against Bay Olympic (by the way, Ben Perez Baldoni’s 18yo brother Astor played off the bench for Bay Olympic in this one). Manurewa’s team looks nothing like the squad they started with but they’re hanging in there and this was a crucial win, just their second of the year, to give them an injection of hope as they stretch to avoid relegation. Still five points adrift but they’re in a much better situation than they were a week ago. This was Rewa’s first clean sheet in 14 Northern League games.
Also working in Manurewa’s favour was Fencibles bottling it against East Coast Bays. Sad to say... but how else can you describe being 1-0 up after 28 minutes through an Aiden Purkiss goal, holding that advantage almost the entire way, then conceding in the 87th min and then again in injury time to lose 2-1? Adam Huskic got both goals for ECB, first goals of the season for the Canadian/Bosnian defender. Enjoying that result more than most would have been Adam Paulsen who just a few days earlier transferred from Fencies to ECB and then debuted against his old club in a dramatic victory.
Women’s NRFL Premiership
Last week, Auckland United face Tauranga Moana in the Kate Sheppard Cup and beat them 8-0. This week the two teams met again in the league, only this time it was at AUFC’s home ground, and United one-upped themselves by winning 9-0. Both Rene Wasi and Chloe Knott scored hat-tricks. The full scoring went as follows: Saskia Vosper (7’), Wasi (21’), Wasi (24’), Jess Philpot (52’), Knott (55’), Knott (56’), Wasi (76’), Talisha Green (87’), Knott (89’). Would say that Tauranga had a tendency to concede in patches except that they allowed nine goals past them so it kinda comes with the territory. Rosa Caird featured off the bench for Auckland Utd. The 21yo midfielder is back after a USA college career that took her to McKendree University in Illinois and then Texas A&M. Another fine addition to the two-time defending National League champs.
Speaking of signings, here’s an exciting one...
When Marisa van der Meer tore her ACL while recovering from already having torn her ACL, she was promised a spot with the Wellington Phoenix for the upcoming 2025-26 campaign as long as she could get back on the pitch in time. Whether that offer still stands now that Paul Temple is gone, we don’t know... but it makes sense to test out the pesky knee in the meantime. MVDM was proving to be a pretty important player for the Nix prior to the injuries, in fact the first one happened while she was warming up for what might have been her Football Ferns debut away in Colombia. Fantastic to see her nearing a return to football after 18 months stuck in the rehabilitation zone.
MVDM didn’t play this week as Western Springs were the guests of Ellerslie at Michaels Avenue. It was the Ponies who scored first through Maddi Ollington three minutes into the second half but goals from Rina Hirano (54’) and Katie Rood (80’) eventually had the Swans on course for victory. Great moment for Rood who herself is only recently back from an ACL injury suffered while playing professionally with Hearts in Scotland. This was her first goal for Springs and pretty sure it’s also the first time she’s done ninety minutes in an NRFL Prem game since her comeback. But it wasn’t to be the winner because Ellerslie – and Maddison Ollington – had other ideas. Ollington’s stoppage time equaliser settled a 2-2 scoreline. Ollington now has 11 goals this season to be trailing only Shannon Henson (12 for WCR) on the charts.
That’s because Henson scored two more of her own as West Coast Rangers won 4-0 away against Hibiscus Coast. You might remember 16yo Taylor Vujnovich getting a shout out last week? Well, she scored the opening goal inside of two minutes here. Henson then added further strikes on 16’ and 56’ before Laney Strachan polished things off after 62 mins. Another comfortable win for WCR as the top two clubs stretch their lead above the rest of the pack even further.
Finally, Eastern Suburbs vs Fencibles was a game that shaped to have massive ramifications in the top four race and with the game still goalless at the midway stage at Madills Farm it certainly could have gone either way. The two clubs were tied on points coming into this game. They’re tied no longer after Eastern Suburbs sprinted away with a 3-0 win thanks to goals from Cema Nasau (57’), Sam Tawharu (59’), and Zoe Brazier (90’). Fijian international Cema Nasau also scored in the cup last week so that transfer is starting to pay dividends already. Another Lilywhites signing that caught the eye this week: Ella Findlay (NZ U20s in both 2022 and 2024) came up with ESAFC but made the switch to Western Springs last year. Now she’s back in white again. Suburbs have less central defensive depth than Springs so they’ve got more use for Findlay. The alternative theory is that maybe she just doesn’t want Katie Duncan to coach her because that’s twice now she’s gone in the opposite direction to Coach Dunc.
Men’s Central League
First things first, Wellington Olympic won 3-1 against Petone to maintain their four-point lead at the top of the Central League. Haven’t heard much from Isa Prins lately, the breakthrough star for the Greeks last year, but he was back with a vengeance in this match scoring a double (11’, 65’) with Jack-Henry Sinclair getting the other goal (42’). The irrepressible Kieran McMinn briefly made it 2-1 after 57 mins but Prins soon expanded things back out and that was that.
The lead stays what it was thanks to the Wellington Phoenix Reserves winning 4-1 against Island Bay. A Charlie Hale penalty after six mins had IBAFC up 1-0 on the Fraser Park turf but that didn’t last too long. Lachlan Candy made it 1-1 on 34’ and then won the spot kick that Daniel Makowem converted on 40’ for a half-time WeeNix lead. It took them some time to clinch the result but Luke Flowerdew (89’) and Dylan Gardiner (90’) eventually saw to that. Trust the defenders to take matters into their own hands. Fergus Gillion was the only one of the recent NZ U20 selections who partook in this game. Ryan Lee and Mac Munro both got starts as two of the emerging next wave of prospects.
It was fourth vs third as Western Suburbs hosted Miramar Rangers and these two National League hopefuls delivered a worthy spectacle. Rangers took the lead in the 24th minute when Timothy Fenton got them going. That lasted all the way until the final five minutes when Finn Diamond equalised for Wests (85’), then Ronaldo Munoz immediately restored the lead for Rangers (85’)... only for Alifeleti Peini’s injury-time goal to ensure a share of the points. 2-2 final score.
The upset of the round goes to North Wellington who beat Napier City Rovers 2-1. Eric Konstandini Ziu continued his immediate impact since signing for Rovers by scoring within 120 seconds of kickoff... only for goals either side of the break from Miles Woodhall (37’) and Paul Owaci (47’) to turn the tide. That’s North Wellington’s first win in 11 attempts and it’s come against a regular National League side, with NCR missing the chance to move back into the top four with a victory. Amazing result... especially for those North Wellington defenders who’d has averaged more than four concessions per game yet held on throughout a rugged second half.
Can’t forget a bonkers 3-3 draw between Upper Hutt City and Waterside Karori either. Goals from Ben Chandler (18’ UHC) and Ryan Harrison (22’ WK) had it all tied at the half. Sam Mitrakas then put Waterside ahead on the hour. And from there it was a day that Wharfies goalkeeper Joshua Brown would rather forget. He scored not one (69’) but two (89’) own goals, both of them equalisers, with Harrison also getting a second in between (81’). One came from fumbling a corner kick, the other he was on the ground after dealing with a cross when his defender kicked the ball into his back and it ricocheted into the net. Commiserations to that man.
Women’s Central League
Moturoa are no longer last in the Women’s Central League. They won 2-0 against Victoria University to jump three places on the table, making the most of a crucial fixture via Anna Hinton (27’) and Fernanda Toscani (75’) goals. Massive performance for their second win of the year. That dips Vic Uni to the bottom of the standings with four points, while Miramar Rangers are only one point ahead following a 1-0 defeat at home against Taradale. Caitlyn Turner with the 53rd minute winner there.
That’s all well and good but what about the top of the table? Wellington United lost their first game of the year when the Wellington Phoenix Reserves knocked them out of the Kate Sheppard Cup last week. In response, they faced an in-form Waterside Karori team that’s been looking waaaaay more competitive than the side that the Diamonds beat 8-2 in the second round of the competition. Improved though they may have been... they haven’t improved by six goals. Only four. Wellington United won 2-0 with Natalie Olson (14’) and Hannah Pilley (59’) the reliable goal-scorers. That’s 10/10 for the Diamonds so far in Central League action.
Also in the circle of winners were the Wellington Phoenix U18s who beat Palmerston North United 2-0. PNU are another team that’s made big strides lately but the WeeNix girls were too good. Bridie Jessica Christie (54’) and Ruby Hale (75’) scored the second half goals to decide it. Anahera Easton started for the Nix against her former club while there was a season debut for Ruby Barber off the bench. Another clean sheet means that the WeeNix U18s have only conceded three goals in 900 minutes of Central League footy. That’s... almost unbelievable. The WeeNix Reserves did lose twice in the past week though. They were beaten 4-0 in a midweeker by their own Boy’s U15s, then they lost 4-2 on the weekend to Waterside Karori U15 Boys. Ella McMillan played both games. Ela Jerez played the second one. Goals were scored by Isla Cleall-Harding (top scorer for the U20s with four this year) and Poppy O’Brien (her first for the club).
Another team with an incredible defence is Petone but it let them down right at the end away to Palmerston North Marist. Petone were leading after Kyra Elder’s 38th minute goals but Olivia Stewart snatched a point off them with a last-gasp leveller for PNM. That’s just the sixth goal in nine games that Petone have allowed. Nevertheless, with Waterside Karori losing they still jump back ahead of the Wharfies on goal difference for third place. Taradale are only three points back in fifth.
Men’s Southern League
Christchurch United unveiled a surprise ahead of their match against Nomads by announcing the signings of Jordy Tasip and Walter Leoru. Both are from Vanuatu and had been trialling with the Rams as part of an agreement between CUFC and the Vanuatu Football Federation. Leoru was the top scorer in the Vanautu league last year with champs Police FC. Apparently, the 23yo went undiscovered until relatively recently because his village was too remote for the national body’s talent development programme to spot him. As for Tasip, he spent some time with Auckland City a couple years ago (though he didn’t play much, if at all) and has been capped 10 times for the national team. Probably best known for scoring against the All Whites in November... the only goal that NZ conceded during World Cup qualifying.
Both those two debuted off the bench against Nomads, though it was another substitute who saved the bacon for the Rams. They’d been 1-0 down after 69 minutes when Flynn Holdem, the Haaland of the South, picked off an underhit back pass and then chopped and scored. Big trouble for the Rams... until Travis Graham collected the ball on his chest on the edge of the area, third minute of stoppage time, and smashed it home for a 1-1 draw. This after Ben Stroud got sent off after 88 mins. One yellow for a foul, then another yellow for yapping at the ref. He was the bloke who played the stray backpass too. Yikes. But Christchurch United at least managed to salvage a draw.
That left just enough room for Coastal Spirit, the only team to beat CUFC this year, to go ahead of them into top spot with a win... but that’ll have to wait for another day because their plane was unable to land in Dunedin for an away game against Dunedin City Royals so that fixture had to be postponed. Meanwhile, Cashmere Technical are back within four points of the lead after winning 6-0 against Selwyn United. Garbhan Coughlan returned off the bench to score the sixth goal (80’) but it was Yuya Taguchi who owned the day with a hat-trick (17’, 45’, 70’). Yusuf van Dam (11’) and Lachie McIsaac (66’) got the other goals. Scott McKay was red carded for Selwyn after 55 mins while the scoreline was at 3-0.
Ferrymead Bays won 1-0 against Nelson Suburbs with Liam Stanton scoring the crucial goal after 54 mins. Good win there that sees them jump ahead of their opponents on the ladder. There was also a match-winning double for Alex Plimmer for Wānaka Football Club. He scored after 45 mins and 64 mins. Opponents Universities of Canterbury got one back on 82’ through Ashton Lay but still lost 2-1. Crucial win for Wānaka that pulls them comfortably clear of the bottom two (UC on 4 points, Selwyn on 1 point).
Women’s South Island League
It must be the middle of winter because only one out of five games got played in the South Island League. No stress for Nelson Suburbs because they had a bye. But Roslyn Wakari vs Coastal Spirit, Halswell United vs Dunedin City Royals, and most annoyingly the tasty match-up of Cashmere Technical vs Otago University were all postponed due to flight cancellations. Same as what spoiled that one game in the men’s competition... with the rest of them lucky that they weren’t inter-city games.
There was one such fixture over here, fortunately. It was NW United against Universities of Canterbury and nobody had to leave the ground in order to get there. UC claimed a 3-1 victory with goals from Liv Deane (17’), Kyra Lazor (54’), and Liv Deane again (64’) setting them on their merry way before Emily Brown ruined the clean sheet (82’). Liv Deane’s scored six of UC’s 16 goals this year.
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