2026 Women’s National League – Week 2
West Coast Rangers vs Waterside Karori
The opening round was not kind to either of these teams – West Coast Rangers got thumped 4-0 at home by Eastern Suburbs after a flurry of goalkeeping errors and a red card spoiled what should have been a much more competitive outing, while Waterside Karori were beaten 1-0 at home by 10-woman Fencibles in the latter’s WNL debut. A couple of changes were necessary for Rangers with Mila Morles suspended and Jo Peel injured. In came Charli Reo and Maddi Day respectively while Sian Field also came into the eleven and Emily Lyon returned after being rested last week following her U20 World Cup exploits. Karori also mixed it up with Ariana Gray getting a start in goal, Ava Hipkins coming into the backline, and Petone loanee Jazz Shailer having a go in midfield.
The spotlight here was on the American Civil War taking place between WCR’s centre-backs Mia Ferrentino and Valeria Hover (they also have midfielder Sienna Higinbotham from the US of A) and the Wharfies front three of Skylar Cornell, Natalie Orellana, and Sophie Burchfield. Usually when that many Americans get together in a foreign country it’s a matter for the Geneva Convention but we were cool in this case, just some quality football being played is all. Cornell in particular was laying on a challenging press, causing some pretty regular hiccups – she’s the new recruit of all these Yanks, the rest having also been there throughout the winter campaigns (Higinbotham’s in her second year in Aotearoa).
This was a good game with plenty happening in both directions. West Coast Rangers looked challenging when they could get the ball to Lyon and work off her, with crosses into the area and underlapping runs proving the main outlet there. Along with the press, Karori also had pace on the break and showed a willingness to shoot from distance... so obviously it was a gentle penalty that broke things up rather than any of that fun stuff. Little extended arm from Marissa Porteous on Sophie Burchfield and the referee pointed to the spot. Soft... although soft doesn’t necessarily mean wrong. Natalie Orellana buried that thing and the Wharfies had the lead after 32 minutes.
Not for long though. Rangers won a free kick when Lyon was blocked off by Jayden Watts (who was booked) and from that set piece, Lyon chipped the ball off the crossbar and Sienna Higinbotham followed up for 1-1. The chipped shot from straight out in front was juuuust curious enough to make you wonder if she’d done it on purpose for a deliberate crossbar challenge assist. Surely not. Anyway, the Wharfies went back in front as soon as the second half kicked off. Cornell seemed to be trapped in her own half on the left wing but a sneaky flick behind her heels created room to clear the ball over the top... with that clearance evolving into a beautiful pass into the path of Burchfield whose pace got the jump on the defence and she slid a finish through the keeper’s legs for 2-1.
There was no instant equaliser this time, though WCR did begin to force the issue more and more as game went onwards and they remained a goal down. Way more touches for Shannon Henson on the left wing. Plenty more Emily Lyon involvement... in good and bad ways because she did get booked for shoving an opponent and the Wharfies were aware enough to try bait her with a couple more of those. But Lyon’s strength and guile were promising focal points. Can’t say they didn’t have chances though you can say that final bit of precision always seemed to be lacking for whatever reason. Couple that with some brave defending from Waterside Karori – including Ariana Gray’s mobility in goal getting out and closing down runners and even just making those quick little sprits to cover her six yard box, including Amelia Abbott and Ella McMillan in the midfield as much as the backline – and even though WCR were getting the ball in the attacking penalty area, they were having to fight past bodies to do so. Good gritty work from the Wharfies and what do ya know it earned them a 2-1 victory.
Very close game but those close ones are when those big moments become so critical. Waterside Karori were better in those moments, they scored twice and only conceded once. That’ll do it. Sweet bounce-back victory for them on the road with a couple of their imports on the board, no doubt a relief after the shoe was on the other foot last week when they were the team pushing for an equaliser in the second half and unable to do so. Consecutive defeats for West Coast Rangers though. They’ll be pleased that there were no goalkeeping issues this time (Maddi Day had a fine game), they might feel aggrieved about the penalty decision however they had enough ball in that second half to have overcome that. Little bit wobbly, perhaps one additional game-breaking forward away from being where they want to be. Remember they were the fourth-placed finishers in the NRFL so can’t really expect them to be delivering on the levels of the last two seasons.
One quick WCR shoutout here though... among the substitutes used was Hayley Pirihi, a 15 year old midfielder from Northland (she goes to Bream Bay College) who has popped up presumably as an U20s loanee for this phase. Pirihi was part of the NZ U15s team that played a tournament in Fiji earlier this year – this makes her the sixth member of that squad to have played National League footy this year along with Ruby Barber, Elsie Sroufe, Felicia Stevens, and Jada Szeto (all Wellington Phoenix), Ruby Burgess (Otago Uni via Dunedin City Royals). Pirihi looked absolutely miniscule in that midfield but she got into good areas, made some smart touches, and always kept showing for the ball. Jeez, we’ve got some young talent in this country.
West Coast Rangers 1-2 Waterside Karori
32’ | 0-1 | WK | Orellana [p] (Burchfield)
34’ | 1-1 | WCR | Higinbotham
46’ | 1-2 | WK | Burchfield (Cornell)
Otago University vs Fencibles United
Fencibles Utd have got a merry-go-round happening at fullback. Sienna Makwana came across from Western Springs and played left-back last week until getting red carded. Micaela Besley was their week one right-back but she’s off to the U17 World Cup (along with Fencies teammates Mila Clark, Eden Chaytor & Morgan Day). Fortunately, they’ve got more additions on board with Cilla Fa’afua coming across from Ellerslie, starting at LB after coming off the bench last match, while Lane Ririnui (a veteran of last year’s U17 World Cup) got a run at RB having joined from Tauranga Moana. Fencies just hoarding all the prodigies in those positions, apparently. Other than that they were unchanged from the side that won 1-0 away to Waterside Karori, this time having to travel all the way down south to Logan Park in Dunedin.
Funny that Fencies would have an Ellerslie ring-in because Otago University also have a couple of them... with Hannah Barclay elevated to start this game (no Tatiana Mason who started last week). Madison Kay and Sadie Woodward were also elevated to the eleven. This was a meeting of the two newbies in the National League this year but that’s a misleading way to look at it – Fencies are battle-hardened from facing teams like Auckland Utd and Eastern Subs and WC Rangers all year whereas Otago Uni are making much more of a leap into the unknown with very limited Southern United experience among their players. But they showed a good account of themselves, especially defensively, for most of the 5-0 loss against Auckland United until three goals in the last few minutes ruined the scoreline.
True to expectations, Fencibles started to edge the arm-wrestle following an initial sounding-out period and soon took the lead when Ririnui drifted infield to collect the ball and then fizzed a sharp pass to the feet of Mihiro Kisu... who slipped her marker and finished calmly past the goalie. A very early substitution followed for Otago Uni, with Ashlyn Geusebroek (who started last week) sent on as a wing-back, changing the formation to get more width and coverage at the back... and maybe apply some more pressure on Kisu. Except that no sooner had that happened than Hayley Miller went running at said defence and Mihiro Kisu whipped a sweet finish into the net from the edge of the area to double the lead.
And the thing about Fencies is that they know how to defend a lead. Really good defensive record this year... so with no need to take any risks, they put the clinch on. Rosie Missen led the midfield charge and Mackenzie Rastatter (who previously played for Southern United, so she knows this turf very well) did the same in the backline. Goalkeeper Zoe Doughty wasn’t barely activated until the very end of the half when Jemma McCormick wheeled into a shooting position but the effort was straight at Doughty who doesn’t miss those.
So it continued into the second half with very few shots at either goal. Otago Uni did begin to find a little bit of rhythm via runners in behind but Doughty had those covered too... until a collision with about twenty minutes remaining which forced her off injured. That’d be a major blow for Fencies if this causes her to miss future games – there’s a reason Doughty was part of that Auckland FC Invitational side vs Chelsea. With no goalkeeper on the bench, captain Rosie Missen took it upon herself to chuck the gloves on and see this thing through. That could have been a way back into the contest for the home side, instead Fencies scored a third when the young’un Lane Ririnui headed home from Natalie Young’s cross following the old short corner wrap-around routine. Ririnui and Young were both in the 2025 U17 World Cup squad.
It wasn’t a complete holiday at the back for Missen because she was called upon to make a tidy save late on, safely holding a shot from Barclay to preserve the clean sheet. But yeah relatively safe on from Fencibles throughout. Two wins from two without conceding a goal. Mihiro Kisu and Natalie Young have been superb in both games. Louise Turley and Mackenzie Rastatter have got a fantastic CB combo going (wonder if we’ll see Mila Clark there after the U17 World Cup). They used their competitive nous, they also used their superior strength against a pretty small Otago Uni side. Per the Otago Daily Times...
OUAFC coach Hamish Philip: “That was a big improvement from last week. It was exactly what we needed. We went with a different formation this week — something more suiting our style — and it put us under the pump at times, but overall that was a really good performance. We’re playing at a high level every week and you’re seeing that in some of the clinical finishing against us. The tolerance from the referees is a little higher at this level, and they allow more to be let go. If you look round the field, five-foot-one is probably the average height of our players. We just have to go, OK, what are our strengths? If we can’t win the physical battle, can we technically beat them?”
That physicality duel is going to be an issue in every game except possibly against the WeeNix. Another issue is that last week Otago Uni conceded on 14’ and then again on 19’. This week it was 18’ and 21’. Similar stages of the game and both times it happened in twos to put them in a hole. They haven’t really looked like scoring yet, albeit against two supreme defensive sides, so conceding in bundles like that is pretty gruelling to the soul. But this team has nothing to lose so we’ll see what they deliver against Karori in round three.
Otago University 0-3 Fencibles United
18’ | 0-1 | FU | Kisu (Ririnui)
21’ | 0-2 | FU | Kisu (Miller)
86’ | 0-3 | FU | Ririnui (Young)
Wellington United vs Auckland United
One year ago, Wellington United won this fixture to deal a very rare defeat to Auckland United and keep their own hopes of making the grand final alive. They missed out narrowly on that target but they still got that statement win to show for their efforts. Amelia Abbott scored the goal that day... she’s not playing for them now on account of her proper club Waterside Karori have qualified. Zoe Barrott has moved to Eastern Suburbs. Maggie Jenkins is now an A-League player and Football Ferns squadie. Summer Laskey and Natalie Olson moved to Australia. Very different team this time around but they still won the Central League and they still have Hannah Pilley who scored 30 goals during that regional campaign.
Speaking of Natalie Olson... she’s linked up with AUFC for the National League and got to face her former club having started that win against Auckland United in the final round of the 2025 campaign. Goalkeeper Blair Currie did too, she’s also joining AUFC for the next few months though wasn’t involved here. Currie has spent the year split between Finland and America. Olson’s been doing her thing in Australia while adding to her international caps with Thailand. Don’t be sore on the Diamonds’ behalf though, they’ve done their share of summer business with Rose Morton adding some midfield steel from Napier City Rovers (having moved back to her home region this year after several shining seasons with Dunedin City Royals and Southern United); Pepi Olliver-Bell, Lola Byrne, and Olivia Gibbs turning up from Petone; Olivia Wallace from Te Kotahitanga; and most curiously German midfielder Florin Wagner who is 32yo and has played professionally all over Europe for clubs such as FFV Leipzig (Germany), Neunkirch (Switzerland), Sparta Prague (Czechia), Åland United (Finland), and Sampdoria (Italy).
AUFC brought Charley March into the side at left-back after resting her last week following the U20 World Cup (same deal with Melville loanee Laura Bennett who was on the bench). Piper O’Neill was unlucky not to make that selection... she also got the start in midfield while Charlotte Roche came in up top. Wellington United lined up with a 3-4-2-1 formation that included Rose Morton straight from the outset while Wellington Phoenix fans will take note of Ela Jerez as an attacking midfielder. Plenty of goals from her since linking up with United. Even more from striker Hannah Pilley who didn’t quite match Nat Olson’s Central League tally from last year but she got pretty close (Olson scored 35 in 2025, Pilley scored 30 in 2026). However it was Michigan native Madeline O'Farrell who cast the first stone with a shot on target inside of three minutes, drawing a good low save out of Charlotte Eagle.
Beyond that it was mostly a midfield battle, with contested ball all over the place. Most of the duels were being won by defenders so not a lot of attacking moments. The main highlight of the first half was when Olson took advantage of a Halle Johnson long ball that pitched and spun to fool the backline... gliding past the last defender only to shoot high with only the keeper to beat. She had another chance blasted off target a little later, before getting cleaned out by Sarah Alder in the penalty area with her next opportunity. No penalty... in fact the offside flag went up instead. Roche also tested Molly Simons from close range so that early sighter from O’Farrell did turn out to be a red herring as AUFC definitely edged the first half. But that aggressive out of possession work from the Diamonds was really good, ensuring that nothing came easy.
When the second half got going, Wellington United who began to wrestle back the field position as they looked for runners in behind. Talisha Green was all that stood between O’Farrell and a goal from one of those situations... sadly Green picked up an injury in that challenge and though she tried to run it off, she didn’t last much longer before Shev Edwards was chucked on. Very much not a like-for-like with AUFC seeking a solution to this growing conundrum by matching the back three formation. That ploy worked to half what the Diamonds were up to, though AUFC still weren’t really creating much. Laura Bennett brought some energy off the bench to make her debut for the NRFL champs. Welly Utd tested out a few of their new signings off the bench (Wagner, Gibbs... and Olliver-Bell who is a new signing but also an old signing having played many many many times for this club in a previous life). But as we slipped into stoppage time, the goalless draw felt like an inevitability. National media would have already been filing their match reports if any of them ever bothered to cover this competition. The combative approach, the rugged commitment from Wellington United (led by the likes of Sarah Alder and Georgie Furnell who were absolutely heroic) was going to earn the Diamonds a glittering point against the defending champs. Until this happened...
Well, damn. Perhaps some tired defending as substitute Stella Lawson skipped past multiple tacklers and then a wicked ball over from Shev Edwards to meet Jensen’s late run towards the back post, where she was marked by wing-back Farina Anchico who isn’t really a defender and who also might have been the shortest player on the pitch. Even still, it was a perfect header from Jensen for the winner. You can never count a team like that out. One lapse and even in the sixth minute of added time they still punish you. Devastating way to lose for Wellington United but AUFC will do that to you. Aniela Jensen scored twice last week so she’s up to three for the season and they’ve all been scored after the 85th minute. Gotta mention Halle Johnson, the American centre-back for Auckland Utd because she looks a magnificent player at this level. If you’re looking for a chink in the armour of the champs, they might be lacking a clinical finisher on the end of their moves... but that’s about all. Six goals without reply. Six points from two games.
Wellington United 0-1 Auckland United
90+6’ | 0-1 | AU | Jensen (Edwards)
Eastern Suburbs vs Wellington Phoenix Reserves
It took absolutely no time at all for Erika Skindlov to give it a burst up the left wing and then a low cross for Ella McCann who pulled out the heel flick to score against her old team... 27 seconds on the clock as that one rustled the net for Eastern Suburbs against the Wellington Phoenix Reserves – which was actually slower than it took her to score on Lilywhites debut in week one (25 seconds). Two weeks in a row that Ella McCann has scored within 30 seconds of kickoff! A couple minutes later the other Macca, Anna McPhie, eyed up a half-punch from Neary off a corner kick and thumped that one home as well. Much more forceful finish, same result. 2-0 to Eastern Suburbs after four minutes. The WeeNix blokes lost 10-0 to Cashmere Tech earlier that morning having also been two goals down after four minutes.
This one wouldn’t get that bad, blessedly... but it was pretty much over as a contest after five minutes. Eastern Suburbs can do that to you, they’re Kate Sheppard Cup champs after all. They made a couple changes here with Ella Findlay, Anna McPhie, and Nicole Mettam all brought into the eleven while the WeeNix were strengthened by U20 World Cup reps Brooke Neary and Freya Des Fountain (along with Mackenzie Greene who played last week) which meant Mackenzie Bryant moved into the midfield and Jada Szeto played further forward. Amelie McClintock also got a start.
After the excitement of those two early goals, it all got kinda quiet. The tendency is to give credit to the team in the WeeNix’s situation after the game levels out following a couple early concessions... though often it’s more that the team ahead has taken their foot off the accelerator with the lead established. Eastern Suburbs were entirely comfortable even if they didn’t score again during the first half. Ella McCann had a couple halfies. Skindlov went close with a curler from outside the area. The Nix sharpened up their defensive marking and got a little more front-foot with it and even managed a couple passing moves building out from the back. But they had nothing in the other half, the only shots they mustered being long attempts from McClintock and Bryant.
The Nix still get their credit though, because after being 2-0 down after four minutes, they only conceded once more in the entire match. It’s one thing to say that Suburbs eased off but they also were still able to sub on players like Maddi Ollington and Stacey Martin during that second half and yet the WeeNix kept it steady the rest of the way. Brooke Neary rose to the occasion with a superb stop 1v1 against McCann right at the start of the second stanza and would make several more impressive saves before McCann did finally get a second goal with a thumper of a strike after 72 minutes, unmarked in the middle after a stray pass across the backline dragged the Phoenix out of shape. McCann was taking no chances with that one, hitting it hard enough that even a hand from Neary made no difference.
Maisy McDonald did hit the post from a direct free kick for the WeeNix. Would have been an unreal goal (after Sienna Candy’s mazy dribbling had won the foul). Ah well, they’ll just have to settle for a composed 85 minutes with solid performances highlighted by the likes of Neary, Des Fountain, and Bryant. Terrible start to the game but they didn’t allow it compound (like their men’s team had done a few hours earlier) despite the tough match-up. And after next week perhaps they’ll be able to get a few fringe first-teamers on board once the A-League gets going.
A three goal victory for Eastern Suburbs marks routine activities at Madills Farm. They took an early lead and never looking troubled from there. Consecutive clean sheets for Nikki Whyte and her defence. A brace for Ella McCann against her former team – McCann scored six goals in eight games for the Phoenix Reserves in the 2023 Nats (including a hatty vs Ellerslie, so this wasn’t even a personal best) before tearing her ACL at the U20 World Cup. Three goals in two games for Eastern Suburbs now. Still a few Nix Reserves players who she’d know very well from that time (Neary, Greene, Candy, etc). Erika Skindlov continues to be an absolute weapon on attack. They’ve got depth, they’ve got a back four as good as any in the country. And two weeks into the National League they’re leading the way... ahead of two other Auckland sides who’ve also won two outta two with zero goals conceded. Eastern Subs have the bye next week so if they’re still top when they next play then we’ll have lived through a crazy third round of the WNL.
Eastern Suburbs 3-0 Wellington Phoenix Reserves
1’ | 1-0 | ES | McCann (Skindlov)
5’ | 2-0 | ES | McPhie
72’ | 3-0 | ES | McCann (Skindlov)
| P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Suburbs | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 6 |
| Auckland United | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| Fencibles United | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 6 |
| Waterside Karori | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Wellington Phoenix | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | -1 | 3 |
| Wellington United | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
| Canterbury United | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 0 |
| West Coast Rangers | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 6 | -5 | 0 |
| Otago University | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | -8 | 0 |
| TOP SCORERS | ||
|---|---|---|
| Ella McCann | Eastern Suburbs | 3 |
| Aniela Jensen | Auckland United | 3 |
| Erika Skindlov | Eastern Suburbs | 2 |
| Mihiro Kisu | Fencibles United | 2 |
| MOST ASSISTS | ||
|---|---|---|
| Natalie Young | Fencibles United | 2 |
| Erika Skindlov | Eastern Suburbs | 2 |
Week 3 Fixtures
Eastern Suburbs – BYE
Otago University vs Waterside Karori
Fencibles United vs Wellington United
Auckland United vs Canterbury United
Wellington Phoenix Reserves vs West Coast Rangers
The Niche Cache can only do what we do thanks to the fine folks who support us on Patreon, Substack, and Buy Me A Coffee... don’t be shy if you appreciate the yarns
Also helps to tell your mates about us, whack an ad while you’re here, and do the social media stuff for the algorithms