2026 Women’s National League – Week 4
Waterside Karori vs Wellington Phoenix Reserves
Friday night footy in Wellywood and it may have served up our first genuine upset of the season. Always hard to tell with any of the A-League Reserve teams, often depends on which first team players are freed to drop down, but following consecutive losses to nil against Auckland teams and with Waterside Karori already having beaten one of the teams that beat the WeeNix (West Coast Rangers – who had their bye this week), the assumption was that they’d be a little too good for the young’uns.
Sadly there was no McMillan sister derby – Ella wasn’t involved for Karori so Jazz Shailer dropped deeper in midfield and Margot Ramsay was promoted into the attacking midfield role where she scored twice off the bench last game. That was their only switch. For the Nix Reserves, Maisy McDonald swapped over to right wing-back with Isla Cleall-Harding at LWB, allowing Katie Pugh a run further up. Ruby Barber was the striker, a current NZ U16s international (in fact she was the only Nix player in the NZ U16s for this year’s Oceania Championships – though they’ll probably pick up a couple of the others in the future, they usually do). Barber already scored off the bench in week one.
True to the form book, it was Waterside Karori who took the lead after ten minutes. And like so much of Karori’s best stuff, the move began with an Amelia Abbott intercept. That led to some quick interplay between Ramsay and Burchfield, with Burchfield dashing in behind with her famous pace. Her touch took her a bit too deep to shoot so she simply squared the ball across goal to where her opposite winger, compatriot Skylar Cornell, had made a great run. Goal. Cornell was overdue that reward by a couple of weeks, having been excellent since arriving in the Aotearoa footy scene. More quality combinations from those American Wharfies.
Brooke Neary was making her third appearance in a row for the WeeNix, the NZ U20s goalie having recently signed a scholarship deal with the A-League squad. She only just got to a through ball ahead of Cornell in one of a few sketchy moments where the Phoenix had to hold their breath hoping to avoid a second concession. But they also found were able to progress the ball into some threatening areas themselves thanks to the driving runs of McDonald and the silky dribbling of Barber (something they struggled with against West Coast Rangers in the previous game where they got stuck in their own half). That led to a disallowed goal after twenty mins where a parried shot from McDonald was tapped in by an offside Isla Cleall-Harding. It also led to a wonderful equaliser as Cleall-Harding fired a pass infield to Pugh’s feet, with Pugh’s one touch lay-off finding Ruby Barber in motion and the youngster made no mistake for her second of the campaign (unfortunately she rolled an ankle and had to be replaced soon after).
This was night-time footy in Wellington, remember, and the rain was tumbling down. Looked completely freezing out there... although the WeeNix’s previous win had come in even worse weather down in Canterbury in week one so perhaps they love it. Seven mins after equalising, they grabbed a lead to take into the sheds for half-time after a sweet wraparound move between Isla Cleall-Harding and Amelie McClintock saw ICL get back on the ball and convert. Very effective evening for Cleall-Harding in that wing-back position.
There was a stunner of a tackle from Ava Hipkins to stop Pugh from making it three early in the second spell – once again that chance came from the interplay of the Nix front three with those quick release passes. Which, ironically, was more what we were expecting to see from the Wharfies. And still did see... just not nearly as often in large part because of the closeout pressure they were under. You can lay much of the credit for that at the feet of Freya Des Fountain, another NZ U20s rep who was celebrating the announcement of her Youth Development contract with the A-League team. FDF had a blinder courtesy of her ability to not only read the play and step into interceptions but to carry the ball forward with those long strides, dodging tacklers and creating overloads. Saw it a lot from her last season too. When the accuracy matches the ambition of her passing, that’s got the potential to be a real weapon in her game as well.
Pugh was replaced by Lily Brazendale shortly afterwards while Sienna Candy would also see some minutes from the bench. Both would be unused substitutes for the A-League team against Melbourne City two days later. Handy players to chuck into a competitive game like this. The next goal was going to be crucial and if the Wharfies got it, there was no reason to think they’d settle for a draw. But they were really battling to get anything going. Couldn’t win headers from set pieces. Couldn’t find any space down the middle. The only shots were from distance and either off target or easy for Brooke Neary to deal with. Jess Woodside almost had a chance open up for her except Evie Baird got a toe in at the last moment – Baird is the fresh blood in that back three and her tackling has been a standout from the get-go.
And so it was that with five minutes remaining the WeeNix struck the decisive blow instead. McDonald’s directness, running at defenders and getting crosses in, led to Lily Brazendale flicking a header behind her for Eliza Vincent to finish up close and there it was. 85 minutes gone and a decisive blow for the WeeNix. Didn’t see that coming but the Phoenix Reserves were absolutely worth their 3-1 win. Fantastic performance in all areas. Based on how Pugh and Cleall-Harding went, there’s a suspicion they’ve been trying to convert the wrong striker into a wing-back. Des Fountain and Neary brought their fringe A-League moves to the shindig. The midfield duo of Mackenzie Bryant and Libby McMillan continues to go well – especially Bryant who, at 18yo, seems to be making that role her own these days. McDonald is all action all the time. Sometimes it gets messy but she’s always pushing the game forward. This was a performance to be reckoned with, especially now that A-League preseason is over and we could see a few more first teamers free to partake in National League business.
For the Wharfies, coming up against a back three with pace largely took away their runs in behind and they weren’t as equipped to create things from more static scenarios. Did well to take an early lead but then didn’t do enough with it... lessons to be learned, no doubt. They’ve got another Wellington Derby next up. The big one against Wellington United. If they’re plotting a go at the grand final then that’s pretty much a must-win for them, having already dropped two games and not yet having faced Auckland Utd or Eastern Subs.
Waterside Karori 1-3 Wellington Phoenix Reserves
10’ | 1-0 | WK | Cornell (Burchfield)
30’ | 1-1 | WP | Barber (Pugh)
37’ | 1-2 | WP | Cleall-Harding (McClintock)
85’ | 1-3 | WP | Vincent (Brazendale)
Auckland United vs Eastern Suburbs
On 27 April, Eastern Suburbs and Auckland United drew 1-1 in the NRFL Premiership with Maggie Jenkins and Maddi Ollington trading first half goals. On 22 June, they met again in an AUFC home game and this time the Lilywhites were 2-1 victors with Ella Findlay (62’) and Nicole Mettam (87’) both scoring off the bench while Olivia Ingham got a stoppage time reply for United. One month later Eastern Suburbs backed that up by winning 1-0 win in the Kate Sheppard Cup on 25 June, an own goal in the fourth minute eliminating the defending champs and putting ESAFC on course to eventually lift the trophy instead.
The fourth time they met was back in the NRFL on 19 August in what was effectively a title decider. All of a sudden the goals exploded as Auckland United won 6-4 at Madills. It was 2-2 at half-time with Eastern Suburbs twice leading, then AUFC scored a couple quick ones early in the second spell before Suburbs fought back to level... only for Olivia Ingham (90+2’ pen) and Charlotte Roche (90+5’) to claim the points for Auckland Utd in stoppages. Four previous meetings with two wins for Eastern Suburbs, one for Auckland United, and a draw. Eastern Suburbs won the Kate Shepp but Auckland Utd lifted the NRFL Premiership via a goal difference tie breaker. This was the fifth time they’d meet... and there’s a decent possibility we get a sixth clash in the grand final.
Not only was this a crucial game of National League football, it was also the last that AUFC would play for a couple weeks as they prepare to fly to China for the Champions Cup. They rotated heavily in the 4-1 win over Canterbury last week so lots of changes were made as they prioritised this match – including first starts of the season for Saskia Vosper and JJ Groves. Eastern Suburbs kept things steady although Zoe Barrott did start ahead of Yuki Nishizono in central defence. That defence hadn’t conceded a goal to this point, though this would obviously be their trickiest test... hence they began very conservatively, holding deep their shape albeit with speed with which to break. That’s all well and good but you’ve gotta defend your set pieces too... which they pertinently did not do in the eighth minute when Aniela Jensen’s corner kick was rediverted by Chloe Bellamy at the near post and then Halle Johnson side-foot volleyed that thing into the net (with a handy deflection also contributing).
That’s not ideal. Better get at them with the long throws then, aye? Jess Shilton glanced one of those on target. Next opportunity that TJ Anderson had to fire one into the mixer, United keeper Charlotte Eagle wasn’t able to get a clean punch on it which led to McPhie and Ollington both having shots blocked by defenders parked inside the six yard box. That was frisky but there were no qualms about Eagle’s effectiveness when she made a one-handed soaring stop against an Ollington half-volley from the edge of the box. Good hustle from Suburbs, preventing AUFC from progressing with any fluency. To tell the truth, fluency was at short supply during a very physical first half with several extended injury breaks. The worst was when Zoe Barrott fell hard in a challenge and appeared to hurt her shoulder, with Nishozono subbed on in her lpace. Saksia Vosper, Stella Lawson, and Emma Findlay also took knocks. They ended up doing 12 minutes of additional time... yet AUFC’s castle remains unbreached.
Hanging onto a one-goal lead wasn’t enough for Auckland United so they made a half-time triple change: Nat Olson, Shev Edwards, and Laura Bennett all introduced into the action. Emily Pilbrow also replaced Kenya Brooke at the same time for ESAFC, which you’d imagine must have been injury related (as well a couple of those AUFC subs may have been). Whatever the reason, fresh legs and speed up front gave United the bailout option of playing long, thus stretching the field back out again. Still it remained close enough to go either way. The Lilywhites were close to an equaliser when Ella McCann put a header on target with fifteen to go. Good save from Eagle, who had a very assured game. United could have iced it on the break when Olson picked out Edwards with an early delivery. Edwards was too slow to get her touch right but the scramble defence from Suburbs was nuts.
Ah but the clincher would follow soon enough. There may have been a hint of offside as Olson fed Edwards up the line, heaps of time to pick her spot with the cross and the spot she picked was the middle of Aniela Jensen’s forehead. That’ll do it. That’s the fourth of the season for Jensen and coming in the 82nd minute means it’s the earliest of the lot. Auckland United made it 4/4 with a 2-0 victory against their closest rivals. Third clean sheet in three appearances for Charlotte Eagle. Vosper and Bellamy (and others) kept Erika Skindlov as quiet as she’s been in any of these weeks. Great value off the bench. Halle Johnson and Aniela Jensen are tremendous players.
Eastern Suburbs defended very well, they scrapped away as best they could, but they just couldn’t get it going in the final third. They’d scored in literally the first minute of both their first two games, leading the entire rest of the way, whereas this time they conceded early (though not quite that early) and had to slog away from a deficit. Not the recipe for beating Auckland United. Therefore the season’s ledger shifts to two wins apiece with a draw in the other. Still every chance they meet again in the final, though the margin for error’s now gone for Eastern Subs.
Auckland United 2-2 Eastern Suburbs
8’ | 1-0 | AU | Johnson (Bellamy)
82’ | 2-0 | AU | Jensen (Edwards)
Canterbury United vs Fencibles United
After losing Zoe Doughty to injury a couple games ago, Fencibles responded by calling up Jordan Samping last week... but apparently now she’s since returned/returning to Canada. Righto, time for another plan: say talofa to Angelique TuiSamoa, Samoan international, on loan from Western Springs. They already drafted in WSAFC’s top youth prospect Sienna Makwana (she was on the bench here, returning after that week one red card) so might as well pick up the phone again. Also in their squad for this game was Saige Thor, an American import who came across to play for West Coast Rangers at the start of the year though appears to have been doing some youth coaching at Fencies and now here she was starting at left-back for Fencibles in the National League.
Plenty of depth for Fencies... not so much for Canterbury United who copped a couple late injuries/illnesses which left them with only three players on the bench for their own home game (on the turf at English Park) – including Holly Lyon who’d played a full game for the National Youth League team right beforehand. Fencies won 3-1 in that NYL game courtesy of a hat-trick from India-May Mann. They’re seeking to defend their 2025 title although it’s Melville United who are currently running away with having won five from five. Most of the Melville regulars from the NRFL season are eligible for NYL so them not having qualified for National League means that youth squad is stacked.
The new additions and subtractions for Fencies involved some shuffling of the deck, such as Rosie Missen sliding back into central defence and leaving them with a teenaged midfield duo of Millee Loxton and Grace Eng. The front four had the usual suspects but their positions were also rearranged. Nothing out of the wheelhouse though... in fact the tweaks were brilliant because Hayley Miller on the left-wing became their main instigator, benefiting from regular switches via Young and Loxton. Tineke De Jong was getting into dangerous spots playing a little higher up and should really have opened the scoring bright and early when she sliced wide off her left boot from close range. And Mihiro Kisu on the right wing almost chipped Amelia Simmers who was able to make the save jumping at full stretch.
Canterbury United’s absences included last week’s goal scorer Ruby Luxton and assister Anya Stephan. Liv Deane and Marina Isihimoto were back in the team after starting in week one. No Petra Buyck so Olivia Woollett was a called up. Shiloh Jenkins also started at left-back after two bench appearances. Some key players missing for the Pride but they were able to apply some early pressure too. TuiSamoa had to be sharp at her near post to deny Mac Michael with the best of those. Enjoyably busy activities.
That continued with a few long shots from Fencibles (including one from Young that required a very good low save) until some quick feet and a strong strike from Tineke De Jong deservedly put Fencibles ahead, shooting across the goal into the bottom corner after Miller picked her out in the area. TDJ has been overshadowed a little bit by players like Kisu and Miller and Young in that Fencibles frontline but she’s a very good footballer herself who brings with her the potential for the spectacular. Cook Islands international too.
But this stage, Fencibles were well in control. Could have scored again but for Simmers denying Miller in a 1v1. There was one more Maclani Michael quarter-chance and other than that the Cantabs never threatened again with Rosie Missen and Mackenzie Rastatter close to flawless in that part of the field. However, it wasn’t until six minutes into the second half that Fencies finally found some breathing room. Mihiro Kisu got the second goal. Used her head to bring down a delicate lob over the top from Natalie Young and then stretched to finish with her left as the ball dropped. Smart work and a deserved second strike although fair play to the Cantabs who had done well to hold them out until then and did well again to hold them out the rest of the way. And that’s despite only using one substitute (Holly Lyon). Fencies were able to roll their own bench, including minutes for Sienna Makwana (on as CAM... more in line with her natural instincts than LB where she played in week one). It ended 2-0.
Clean sheet victory for Fencibles who climb to second in the standings. Good routine victory for them, even if they perhaps ought to have extended that winning margin a bit further. We’ve still not had a draw in the WNL this season, by the way. Only two goals conceded. Natalie Young’s got three assists to be tied for the league lead. Mihiro Kisu is currently in golden boot contention with three goals. Keep in mind they have already played both South Island teams though. Canterbury United can be relatively chuffed with how this inexperienced side has defended for large stretches of all three games, they just need to find a few more ways to create their own stuff. The Southern Derby next week (the last one ever between these two teams) will give them much more of a chance to do that than playing against this superb Fencibles backline.
Canterbury United 0-2 Fencibles United
21’ | 0-1 | FU | De Jong (Miller)
52’ | 0-2 | FU | Kisu (Young)
Wellington United vs Otago University
Three games down and zero goals scored for Otago Uni... and the patterns of all those games have been the same. Decent start, concede two quick goals around the twenty minute mark, sturdy defence for the next hour, then one to three more goals leaked near the end to spoil the scoreline. They’d had some tough fixtures in there but sorry to say the fourth game was never going to be any easier as they travelled to face Wellington United at Martin Luckie Park.
It’s been constant tweaking for Otago Uni trying to find a formula that’ll work at this level and this was no different with four alterations to the starting eleven including season debuts for Yui Ishikawa and Reese Palmer in defence while Abby Nicolson was promoted to the wing after a bench appearance last week. Morgan MacCormick sat quite deep in a holding midfield role. Searching for those combinations. On the other side, the combinations are already set hence the only change for Wellington United was a start for Leonora Webb in the midfield, with their combative American ball-winner Marla MacInnis dropping into the back three to make way for the teenaged Webb – who previously spent time in both the Ole Academy and Wellington Phoenix Academy.
The Diamonds instantly (and predictably) got on the assault, carrying on from the win against Fencibles in week toru, with Hannah Pilley putting one into Lauren Paterson’s hands after barely a minute. Lots of interplay in the attacking third. Pretty soon they were ahead after some tricky and tenacious dribbling from Ela Jerez got her into a crossing position. Georgie Furnell’s shot was saved onto the post but Hannah Pilley was there to bunt it over the line in the seventh minute – the earliest that Otago Uni had conceded thus far. At least this time they’d go a little longer than usual before conceding a second.
Actually, Varsity had some promising portions of attack where they asked genuine questions with their swirling corner kick deliveries... though Molly Simons was able to handle the danger and in the 24th minute it became 2-0 to Welly Utd when Maddie O’Farrell spotted a defender stepping out of the line and slid a pass through the gap for the run of Georgie Furnell. No issues whatsoever with a composed finish past the keeper and into the bottom corner. That was slick.
Otago Uni’s goalkeeper Lauren Paterson is quite easily their most established National League player and she was quick to adapt to the threat of those runners in behind. The Diamonds didn’t need much space between defence and goalkeeper to hurt them, they were holding the ball high up and dragging players out of the shape with Pilley dropping in to collect and then searching for passes around the corner while Jerez was doing similar via her dinks and drives. But Paterson was quick to mop up anything that breached the backline from then onwards.
Strange happenings occurred late in the half when MacInnes stuck a toe on a long ball, facing her own goal, to prevent Hannah Barclay from running through and the referee deemed it not to be a backpass when Molly Simons gathered it up in her hands. It would have been an indirect free kick in the box, not like Varsity were denied a stonewall penalty or anything... although the collateral damage was heavy as Wellington United quickly rolled down their left wing through Furnell and her cross ended up with Ela Jerez who took it around her marker and then finished coolly. Make that goals in consecutive games for the Northlander.
Three goals wasn’t enough for Wellington United who began the second half with fiery intentions... though were met with much resistance. Nicolson produced great last-ditch challenge on Jerez. Rose Morton was thwarted when her long drive was tipped over the top by Paterson, who made an even better save later on when she denied Pilley with a brilliant low left-handed stop. The Diamonds lost some of their juice when Jerez was replaced after an hour however a fourth goal did eventually arrive when O’Farrell slipped one through for Hannah Pilley to expertly convert in the 77th minute. Similar situation to most of their chances in this match only they caught them out from deeper with the incisive assist this time. 4-0 final score.
That went about as expected. Long stretches of focus and structure from the Otago Uni defence, putting in plenty of work in the midfield too, but Wellington United were too persistent for them and they punished the lapses. Super game from Lauren Paterson though. That’s four scoreless defeats for Otago Uni although they should have more of a chance next week against fellow winless team Canterbury United in the South Island derby. Wellington United took care of business and scored some very nice goals, Hannah Pilley orchestrating things with her movement and sharp interplay. Madeline O’Farrell, Ela Jerez, and Georgie Furnell all had their moments too. Rose Morton is settling sweetly into that midfield. The back three was barely troubled. They even found room at the end to give young Olivia Wallace a WNL debut as a substitute goalkeeper – Wallace has come across from Te Kotahitanga FC for the Nats.
Wellington United 4-0 Otago University
7’ | 1-0 | WU | Pilley
24’ | 2-0 | WU | Furnell (O’Farrell)
39’ | 3-0 | WU | Jerez (Furnell)
77’ | 4-0 | WU | Pilley (O’Farrell)
| P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auckland United | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 11 | 12 |
| Fencibles United | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 9 |
| Eastern Suburbs | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Wellington United | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| Waterside Karori | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 6 |
| Wellington Phoenix | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 7 | -1 | 6 |
| West Coast Rangers | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 6 | -3 | 3 |
| Canterbury United | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 9 | -7 | 0 |
| Otago University | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 16 | -16 | 0 |
| TOP SCORERS | ||
|---|---|---|
| Aniela Jensen | Auckland United | 4 |
| Ella McCann | Eastern Suburbs | 3 |
| Mihiro Kisu | Fencibles United | 3 |
| Erika Skindlov | Eastern Suburbs | 2 |
| Hayley Miller | Fencibles United | 2 |
| Natalie Orellana | Waterside Karori | 2 |
| Sophie Burchfield | Waterside Karori | 2 |
| Margot Ramsay | Waterside Karori | 2 |
| Ruby Barber | Wellington Phoenix | 2 |
| Halle Johnson | Auckland United | 2 |
| Ela Jerez | Wellington United | 2 |
| Hannah Pilley | Wellington United | 2 |
| MOST ASSISTS | ||
|---|---|---|
| Natalie Young | Fencibles United | 3 |
| Sophie Burchfield | Waterside Karori | 3 |
| Erika Skindlov | Eastern Suburbs | 2 |
| Hayley Miller | Fencibles United | 2 |
| Siobhan Edwards | Auckland United | 2 |
| Madeline O'Farrell | Wellington United | 2 |
Week 5 Fixtures
Wellington Phoenix Reserves – BYE
Wellington United vs Waterside Karori
Otago University vs Canterbury United
Fencibles United vs Eastern Suburbs
Auckland United vs West Coast Rangers (Postponed)
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