Aotearoa Domestic Football Roundup – July 21
Men’s Northern League
There’s nothing quite like a good old top of the table bonanza. That’s what we got at Shepherds Park on Saturday when Birkenhead United hosted Western Springs seeking to reclaim the first place badge that they’d been wearing for most of the season. That quest started smoothly when Curtis Hughes gave Birko a 26th minute lead, though Aidan Carey tied the game back up before the half (41’). Next it was the turn of new signing Kian Donkers to be in the right place at the right time to put Birkenhead up 2-1 (60’). Donkers is only recently back from a stint in the Netherlands and the eagle eyes have also spotted him doing double duty at Auckland FC training during the week. He’s now off the mark for BUFC.
But that wasn’t the end of it. Birkenhead would have gone two points clear with a victory, instead they find themselves four points back after Reid Drake smashed a free kick home off the base of the post on 77’ to make it 2-2 and then, after Birko were reduced to ten men by a Kieran Richards red card in the fourth minute of stoppage time, Western Springs found a very dramatic winner in the sixth additional minute. It’s officially gone down as a Keegan Smith own goal after he fumbled a Reid Drake corner kick. Smith reckoned he got bumped. Referee disagreed. Western Springs won 3-1 and now the Northern League title is in their control. Six games left... as long as they win five of them then the trophy will be theirs. Birkenhead have only won one of their last five whereas Western Springs have won six consecutive games and are undefeated in their last ten.
It’s starting to look like Auckland City might not be playing National League footy this year. The Navy Blues were beaten 1-0 away at Bay Olympic on Saturday, the winning goal coming from former short-term ACFC fella Derek Tieku (he spent the second half of 2024 with the club, featuring in both the Intercontinental Cup and the Chatham Cup final). Banger of a goal too, check it on the highlights. That was Tieku’s eighth of the season and it came five mins before half-time. Seven of City’s starting eleven got starts during the Club World Cup so this was strong team that they employed but they couldn’t find a goal, falling to their sixth defeat of the Northern League. Boca Juniors are weeping right now. ACFC will rise up to third if they win their two games in hand... but those games in hand are against the two top teams (Springs and Birko) so you’d be a brave one to bet on it. Auckland City do have that pesky tendency to manifest their own success though.
Auckland United vs Tauranga City was a very close game for most of the way... until Daniel Olaoye (78’) and Dre Vollenhoven (87’) popped up with a couple of massive goals to give Auckland Utd the 2-0 victory. That result draws those two teams exactly level, tied for fourth place. Different numbers of wins but they both have 28 points from 17 games, they both have +8 goal differences, and both have scored 34 goals. Taking a peek at the regulations, it seems that the tie-breaker would then revert to the head to head between the two teams... which would serve Auckland United since they only lost 1-0 in the reverse fixture.
Fencibles and West Coast Rangers played out a 1-1 draw to ensure that neither was able to claim any advantage in the relegation battle. Braeden O’Neill scored after 45 mins for Fencibles but Jack Butterfill levelled the match after 74 mins... despite teammate Josh Turner having been sent off shortly beforehand. With Bay Olympic winning, one of these two sides is probably gonna go down (if not both). But nothing has changed after they split the points here.
Which sucks for last-placed Manurewa because they were beaten 4-1 by the Auckland FC Reserves. Ralph Rutherford scored a first-half brace (5’, 44’) while Keen Mandizvizda equalised in between (39’). Goals from Nick Gaze (60’) and Benjamin Perez Baldoni (90’) then locked it up for AFC. The Ressies claimed their first ever win by beating Manurewa 4-0 in April so that gives them an 8-1 aggregate over Rewa for the season. Not bad, not bad. AFC are also two for two in games with Luka Vicelich in defence, while Ben Perez Baldoni has scored off the bench in three of his four matches for this team... a reminder that this dude doesn’t even turn 16 until the end of the month.
In other news, Eastern Suburbs were on track for a win against East Coast Bays after Jackson Jarvie’s 35th minute strike... but James Elder had other ideas, levelling up on 88’ for a 2-0 win. Points dropped by the Lilywhites, though they’re still sitting pretty in third. As for East Coast Bays, they’re only one point out of the National League spots and absolutely still in the race with five rounds remaining.
Women’s NRFL Premiership
If you happen to be of the opinion that Auckland United have too many good players, you won’t have enjoyed peeking at their line-up away to Tauranga Moana this week and seeing NZ international Ava Collins on the bench. Collins spent half a season in Denmark with Kolding after finishing up her USA university stuff, scoring once in 13 appearances... however, she never played again after the winter break. Could have been an injury, could have been anything. That contract would have ended three weeks ago so now here she is back at Auckland United where she also spent a short spell last year prior to her Danish travels.
Needless to say, Auckland United were too good for Tauranga. Alexis Cook scored two early ones (14’, 17’) and then Chloe Knott (26’) and Zoe Benson (37’) joined in the fun. Greer Macintosh got a rare one after the break (51’) and mercifully they settled for 5-0. Another big win-to-nil for the defending champs... but West Coast Rangers are still nibbling at their heels following a 4-0 win of their own against Hibiscus Coast. Goals for: Emily Lyon (9’), Shannon Henson (11’), Taylor Vujnovich (37’), and Minji Yun (45’). All that was missing was the second half goal for a near-identical result. WCR had Tessa Berger and Rebecca Burrows on their team sheet, a couple of experienced additions to try and keep them in this title hunt. They’re four points adrift with six games left to play.
Eastern Suburbs won 3-0 away against Fencibles in an East Auckland scrapper. Sofia Garcia set it up (11’, 15’) and then Ella Findlay polished things off (82’). The Lilywhites also reintroduced Nicole Mettam to the club with a short cameo at the end, the 2022 WNL champion winger returning after a couple of years playing state leagues in Australia. Also involved was Amelia Hitchcock fresh from being named in the NZ U16s squad. She and Madison Sharkey (Wellington Phoenix) are the only ones in that squad already playing regular top flight senior footy. Ariana Vosper (Auckland United) has had some occasional runs too, mostly at the OFC Champions League.
There was also a solid win for Western Springs away against Ellerslie. It was goalless at the break but then Kitty Jacob (58’), Nanami Omasa (68’), and a Liz Savage penalty (74’) sent the Swans onwards to victory, although Anita Trudgen did spoil the clean sheet (85’). 3-1 final score. Gotta say that with those two results, it’s almost certain that we’ll have the same National League qualifying quartet as last year. There’s now a seven-point gap between Western Springs in fourth and Ellerslie in fifth, with Fencies a further three points away.
Another thing that happened in that Western Springs game: Marisa van der Meer got some minutes. MVDM was subbed on midway through the second half to mark her return from two separate ACL tears – her first competitive game of football since November 2023. Brilliant news.
Men’s Central League
You’ve got to be careful scoring first against Wellington Olympic. North Wellington tried it on Friday night and then ended up losing 5-1. Miles Woodhall scored that 19th minute goal for North Welly... the Greeks then slapped them back via Luca Barclay (32’), Sam Mason-Smith (50’, 54’), Isa Prins (79’), and Gianni Bouzoukis (87’). Those are SMS’s first goals of the season as he regathers his form after a midseason switch from Miramar. That’s Bouzoukis off the mark as well having only just returned from a long lay-off. This game was first versus last and it ended up pretty much exactly how everyone expected.
Miramar Rangers are six points behind Olympic but they matched their stride this week by winning 4-2 against Upper Hutt City. Goals from Sam Gates (21’) and Martin Bueno (26’) had them rolling before Gates got a second (59’) to really put Rangers in the clear. Rio Winkworth pulled one back for IBU (77’) before Bueno scored another from the penalty spot (80’). Then Harry Lamont got a late one (90’) to make it a little more respectable. Bueno’s been knocking them in all season, rising to 18 goals with this brace, but 18yo Sam Gates has six of his own and is definitely one to watch.
Western Suburbs had zero issues in strutting their way to a 6-0 win away against Waterside Karori. An own goal got the count underway (26’), then a Tyler Freeman hat-trick (28’, 37’, 85’) was punctuated by goals either side of half-time from Noah Tipene-Clegg (45’) and Sebastian Barton-Ginger (49’). That keeps them in fourth place and on track for National League footy, granted Napier City Rovers are only two points behind after they took a leaf out of Wellington Olympic’s book. Rovers were 1-0 down at the break against Island Bay following a Charlie Hale penalty (26’). Then Sam Lack (53’), Jordan Annear (61’), Mason Johnson (64’), and Eric Konstandini Ziu (83’) all happened for a 4-1 Rovers victory. The Wellington Phoenix U20s had a week off since their entire team was involved in the friendly against Wrexham so they’ll have to play Petone some other time. Otherwise, all of the teams in the top half of the table won this week and they all scored at least four goals in doing so.
Women’s Central League
The WeeNix blokes may not have gotten to play their game against Petone but the Wellington Phoenix U18 women did. Four of the five games in the WCL this week were between top half and bottom half teams and they all ended in the obvious outcomes. But in between was a banger early kickoff on Saturday between two magnificently good defences. The WeeNix had kept clean sheets in 10/12 Central League matches but Jazz Shailer’s 22nd minute goal for Petone ensured they wouldn’t keep one here. Petone have kept seven cleanies themselves and an eighth would have earned them a statement win.
Only problem there is that these WeeNix girls don’t quit. Olivia Goodwin scored from the penalty spot on 58’ and then Mackenzie Bryant won it in stoppage time with a tidy finish after a great run from Poppy O’Brien. O’Brien normally plays for the U20s but she and Amber De Wit both had cameos off the bench for the U18s this week... before starting for the U20s in a 2-2 draw against the club’s own U15 Boys the next day. Alyssha Eglinton and Lily Brazendale scored the goals in that game. Maisy McDonald and Kya Solomon also doubled up. McDonald managed to both start and also get subbed on in the U18s game. She’d just been replaced when Katie Pugh suffered a head knock. The Nix had used all their subs but were allowed to bring someone back on under concussion protocols so McDonald got straight back up again. Hopefully Pugh’s all goods because she’s been an absolutely triumphant goal-scorer so far this year.
Moving onto the rest of them, Waterside Karori won 7-0 against Moturoa to overcome the deficit that their men’s team lost by. Taylor Cooper (12’), Rhianna Houghton (16’), Kya Stewart (24’), Renee Bacon (43’, 59’), and Aimee Cherry (84’, 90’) got the goals as the Wharfies capitalised on Petone’s loss to move within one point of them on the ladder and take a big chunk out of the goal difference gap in the process. Those two clubs, and maaaybe Taradale, are battling for the other National League spot.
Taradale took care of business with a 4-0 win against Palmerston North United. Maddison Hughes scored a hatty (26’, 71’, 87’) while Megan Thomas got the other (90’). Close contest until the last twenty minutes. Palmerston North Marist also won big. They hosted Miramar Rangers and left with a 5-1 victory. Chardonnay Ross-Elvin (16’) and Grace Smith (33’) had Marist leading 2-0 at HT. Charlotte Noakes (49’) and then a second for Smith (62’) took them out of reach. Iris Reweti-Gould got Rangers on the board (80’) but then Hannah Marginson had the last say (87’).
And what, pray tell, happened with league leaders Wellington United played last-placed Victoria University? Well, the Diamonds went easy on them and only won 8-0. Natalie Olson was particularly lenient in only adding three goals to her enormous tally... it was her birthday so no need to be greedy, ya know? That tally now reads 27 goals from 14 games between Central League and Kate Sheppard Cup action (24 in 11 in the CL, 3 in 3 in the KSC). Plain and simply, she’s the most prolific scorer in the country at the moment. The full scoring went: Summer Laskey (6’), Natalie Olson (24’), Natalie Olson (35’), Georgie Furnell (42’), Jasmine Burnard-Leppinus (68’), Jemma Catherwood (70’), Farina Anchico (80’), Natalie Olson (90’). Wellington United have won 13 games out of 13 with 70 goals scored and only 5 conceded.
Men’s Southern League
Christchurch United always love a Friday nighter under lights and it was no different against Selwyn United this week, with the Rams winning 4-1 to stay top of the table. Josh Tollervey scored twice (32’, 64’) while Shogo Osawa (34’ pen) and Josh Rogerson (85’) also chipped in. Luke Barrett spoiled the clean sheet with a late consolation for Selwyn (90’). No worries there. Tollervey’s up to nine goals for the campaign. This was a good bounce-back from Christchurch United after they were knocked out of the English Cup at the semi-final stage midweek, losing on penalties against Nomads after a 2-2 draw. The Rams had nine starters in common between those two matches despite there only being 72 hours from kickoff to kickoff. It’s Cashmere Tech vs Waimak United in the other English Cup semi, to be played on 29 July.
As for that Cashmere Technical lot, they were 2-0 up at the break away to Nomads after goals from the usual suspects Garbhan Coughlan (25’) and Lyle Matthysen (42’)... but that lead didn’t account for the Haaland of the South Seas, Flynn Holdem, who scored after 58 mins to get Nomads back in range before Caleb Cottom converted an 88th minute penalty kick to seemingly sneak a draw. That would have been a great point for Nomads and an even greater result for Christchurch United... except it didn’t last because Charlie Peacocke jumped up off the bench and scored a stoppage time winner. They’d actually won a penalty of their own which Coughlan took and, incredibly, missed thanks to a brilliant diving save by Regan Frame. Only for Peacocke to pounce on the rebound. 3-2 to Cashy Tech.
Coastal Spirit kept pace with a 4-0 win away against Wānaka. Goals from: Jack Mitchell (36’, 51’), Kaleb De Groot-Green (57’), and Max Chretien (77’). Cool to see Chretien back in Canterbury footy. He had a spell with Napier City Rovers after returning from university in the USA last year and this was a goal-scoring debut for the bro. Coastal sit third but have a game in hand on Cashy Tech who are only one point ahead - that’s huge because of course only the top two get National League qualification.
On that note, Nomads have tumbled seven points adrift after losing to Tech so it’s not looking great for their chances. But they’re hanging on at the fringes, as are Ferrymead Bays following a 4-2 win against Universities of Canterbury. Bays were 2-0 up after a Chris Murphy goal (9’) and an own goal (27’). Then it was 2-2 following Liam Pledger (43’) and Emanuel Peralta (45’) strikes. Finally, Treye Butler sorted it out with a match-winning double (79’, 87’) and that was that.
In the other game, Nelson Suburbs and Dunedin City Royals drew 1-1 with DCR’s Tom Milton scoring both goals. A proper one after 26 mins, then an own goal after 89 mins. At least the first was a beauty of a free kick curled in with his left... and in fairness Nelson Subs had long been knocking on the door for an equaliser. This was the first time Nelson Suburbs have been able to play at home since 8 June due to all the wild weather.
Women’s South Island League
With Dunedin City Royals serving bye duties this round, that meant a chance for everyone else to try and gain some ground on the undefeated leaders. Sure enough, that’s how it all unfolded as the second, third, and fourth ranked clubs all won. Otago University hosted Roslyn Wakari and claimed another clean sheet win, beating them 2-0 thanks to goals from Ashley Geusebroek (14’) and Charlotte Grey (90’). For both of them that was their first goal of the season. Speaking of goals, Otago Uni striker Leila Hausia-Haugen should be back next week after she finished up her Nations Cup tour with Tonga by scoring a last-minute winner as they beat Cook Islands 1-0 to claim seventh place at that tournament.
Cashmere Technical had no dramas whatsoever in beating NW United 7-0. Lara Wall didn’t play this week but Rebecca Lake played a solid hour before Annalie Longo subbed in and scored the third of Tech’s seven goals to mark her return to the club. It might sound like a hiding but actually it was only 2-0 with twenty minutes left. Katie Brugh (24’) and Petra Buyck (44’) goals had Tech in control but they only stretched it out after Longo got amongst it. Longo scored on 72’ and that was followed by late doubles from Anya Stephan (74’, 87’) and Tessa Toombs (90’, 90’). Tech have been on a tear later, winning their last three games by a combined scoreline of 22-1 (5-1 vs Nelson Subs, 10-0 vs Halswell, 7-0 vs NWU). Katie Harris didn’t play this week after personally scoring five times last game and it didn’t matter one jot.
Rounding the hunting pack is Coastal Spirit, who are fourth but would climb up to second simply by winning their two games in hand. They conceded first away to Universities of Canterbury as Lola van der Sluis struck after 27 mins. That was as good as it got for UC. Goals for Margi Dias (35’) and Laura Newman (40’) before half-time were followed by goals for Holly Lyon (49’) and Newman again (52’). Four goals within twenty minutes of game time did all the damage. 4-1 to Coastal Spirit was the final score.
In other news, Nelson Suburbs pulled off a spectacular 4-1 win away to Halswell which massively shakes up the South Island League relegation scrap. Nelson Subs were last at the start of this round, now they’ve jumped two places, leapfrogging both Halswell and NW United. Samantha Crawford (28’) and Anise Bazley (40’) made it 2-0 at the half. Abigail Platt (47’) soon extended that before an own goal (50’) gave Halswell a lifeline... only for Platt to score again before the end (80’). Nelson Suburbs had scored six goals in nine games prior to this explosion. Plus they’ve got games in hand on the teams beneath them.
And stay tuned on Thursday night because that’s when the rescheduled Otago University vs Dunedin City Royals game will be played. DCR have won all ten games this SIL season but Otago Uni knocked them out of the cup. Winner of this meeting takes control of the title race.
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