Aotearoa Domestic Football Roundup – April 6
Men’s Northern League
Easter weekend means double duty for the Northern League lads, it always does. Games on Friday and then more games on Monday. It’s one of the ways the Northern League crams in its extra games and it’s also a handy checkpoint for when the table begins to take form. We’ll do this chronologically.
There was exactly one (1) team in the Northern League that began 3-0-0 and that was Auckland Ci... no wait it was Eastern Su... hold up, actually Western Spr... nope it was Fencibles United. Big happenings in the Big East. Fencies hosted Melville United and gave them a bit of a serving, scoring five times in the first half on the way to a 7-1 victory. Hectic stuff from the Rhys Ruka coached outfit whose only blip in this match was failing to hang on for the clean sheet after going seven up. Aidan Purkiss had them leading after 45 seconds and from there it went Ryan Clarke (16’), Finn Wessels (29’), Clarke again (38’), Dastgeer Lai-Sai (45+2’), Clarke for his hatty (51’) and Ronaldo Lopez Munoz (73’)... before Jake Bell got a consolation off the bench for Melville (79’). Clarke’s first goal was a banger. He’d scored off the bench last week vs Manukau and the Cook Island rep sure made it count as he was elevated to the starting team. Four goals in 95 minutes thus far in 2026. Fencies have beaten Bay Olympic, Manukau, and Melville – that’s two promoted teams and none of last year’s National League reps yet... tougher tasks to follow. But so far so good.
It was looking typically resplendent for Auckland City after they beat Western Springs first up. But since then they’ve lost to Eastern Suburbs and now they’ve been beaten 1-0 by Birkenhead United. It was Shiv Nair who bagged the winner for Birko (45+2’), back from the AFC Reserves and showing his old club what he learned. Pretty scrappy goal where he just nipped in ahead of the keeper onto a deflected effort from Zachary Newman. Very physical game between two tough rivals (who competed in the National League grand final two years ago) and it was Birko who got the better of it to maintain their sharp start and pile the pressure upon the Navy Blues.
There was nothing between Eastern Suburbs and Auckland United. That fixture was a 0-0 draw at Madills Farm. Oliver Pocock (ES) and Ngereine Maro (AU) are both new goalkeepers at these clubs and they’ve each fitted in smoothly... but there’s never much to say about a goalless draw. Moving on and East Coast Bays got their first win (after a pair of draws) when they topped Manukau United by a 3-0 scoreline. Ihaia Delaney scored twice (45’, 56’), once on either side of the break. Marius Zabarausk got the clincher (67’) to go with his stoppage time equaliser last match. The Lithuanian’s up to three goals in kiwi football already.
Bay Olympic won 1-0 against Tauranga City. Derek Tieku scored the goal at Crum Park. Jake Woolford set it up as he continued his fine form since returning from the AFC Ressies. Tauranga City have lost a few of their best youngsters to AFC and beyond, that’s the price of success, so this might turn out to be a rebuilding year for them. We shall see. Good response from the Bay after losing with almost the last kick of the game against Western Springs last match.
And then to wrap up the Friday games, it was Western Springs vs Auckland FC Reserves and it was 1-1 when the final whistle blew. Ben Wallace (a former WeeNix lad) scored on 45+1’ to have the Swans ahead before Harley Hill (signed this year from Hamilton Wanderers) got goal number one for his new club on 60’... about a minute after he’d been subbed on. Note that Harrison Tisch played off the bench for AFC – he’d not previously been announced, a midfielder originally from Tauranga and previously of Upper Hutt city who spent a few years in the Phoenix Academy. Keep in mind that AFC Reserves coach Rory Fallon also spent time in the Phoenix Academy and at Upper Hutt City so there’s your undeniable connection. First Ressies appearances of the year for Eli Jones, Matt D’Hotman-de Villiers, and James Mitchell. Nobody from the Pro League squad was involved this time, while Finn McKenlay was listed in the extended A-League squad so presumably travelled to the game in Adelaide. After three Northern League games, AFC had already used 23 players. Good point for Springs considering that AFC’s Pro League squad nabbed almost as many players from them than they did from themselves.
Okay so that was the first round of games. Then a whole extra round took place on Easter Monday – short turnarounds and let’s start with Auckland United vs Auckland City at Keith Hay Park... bit of the ol’ Dominion Road Derby. This one was very finely balanced in less-than-ideal conditions until a couple mins before half-time when a long ball over the top by AUFC drew City keeper Nathan Garrow way off his line and in going for the ball he clattered into teammate Nathan Rostron who was under some pressure but could have dealt with the situation alone. Instead he got barged over and Luke Flowerdew was able to walk it in from thirty metres out. The kind of calamity that you’d ever expect from Auckland City.
You also don’t expect them to be kept scoreless very often but guess what that happened too. Auckland United 1-0 Auckland City. Third defeat in a row for ACFC and they haven’t scored in any of them (all 1-0 losses). Two were at Kiwitea Street too. You can’t even give them the benefit of a tough run of matches either because they’re the National League champions... they’re supposed to be the intimidating ones. The team’s not that much different to last season except the players that they’ve lost were among their most best (Nikko Boxall, David Yoo, Myer Bevan, Christian Gray, etc) and they haven’t signed players of equal calibre to replace them. But there’s plenty of time to turn things around. Meanwhile AK United remain undefeated with two wins and two draws.
There are two other undefeated teams left in the Northern League and neither of them are Fencibles United, whose perfect start jammed to a halt away against Tauranga City. Eventful game in which TCAFC scored first through Colby Brennan (16’), Fencies equalised through Ronaldo Munoz (20’), Campbell Higgins made it 2-1 (29’), Yoichi Kawachi scored a second levelled for Fencibles (35’)... but after Brennan got his second for the home side the pattern got skewed when Fencibles scored an own goal instead of an equaliser (60’) – Tauranga’s socials gave the goal to Morgan Wellsbury but officially it’s gone down as an OG. That was shortly after they also picked up a red card when Kawachi was marched. Jayden Hyland got another one late for Tauranga City for a 5-2 final scoreline. City had only scored once in three games then suddenly here came five all at once to topple a team that had won three in a row beforehand.
With Fencibles slipping up, Birkenhead United have gone to the summit after Monty Patterson scored twice in a 2-0 victory against the Auckland FC Reserves. One goal in each half. AFC Ressies had a very strong team with Luka Vicelich, Finn McKenlay, and Isa Prins all involved. Yet they could find no way through though – happy days for James Taylor and Shiv Nair who used to play for AFC but have returned to Birko this year and both featured in this game. Birko are one of those undefeated teams, the other is East Coast Bays after a thrilling 4-3 win against Western Springs. Lots of goals to speak of although this game also explained the Harrison Tisch signing for AFC. How come he turned up all of a sudden and was wearing Nick Gaze’s jersey? Because Nick Gaze has gone back to East Coast Bays. In fact, he scored two minutes into his return to ECB.
Despite that rapid goal, Western Spring were up 2-1 after quarter of an hour following goals for Ryan Watson (7’) and Ben Wallace (14’) – two players signed from the WeeNix. Nothing more until the second half when Bays came back firing with Guy-Frank Essome Penda (50’) and William Jones (55’) putting them ahead. Ryan Watson got his second for the Swans on 61’ to make it 3-3. Then Ben Hooper won it for the visitors (78’). Defeat for the defending champs. ECB are up to third. Bays don’t have the backlog of results to put them in the frame for 2027 National League but they should absolutely be in the hunt for top four and entry to the 2026 Nats (the last of its kind).
Beyond that there were two 1-1 draws. Manukau United got their points tally started, finally, when they drew 1-1 with Bay Olympic. Russell Currie scored his second of the season in the 16th minute for Manukau before Noah Hrdlicka tied it up late in the half (43’). Nothing split them from there. And Melville United’s game against Eastern Suburbs followed a similar script. Luis Hamblin put the Waikato side ahead almost immediately after the game began but a late-half goal for Malcolm Young salvaged a draw on the road for the Lilywhites. Only difference was that this goal was late in the second half (87’), not the first like Bay Olympic’s. Poor old Melville led for 86 minutes of the match and didn’t win.
Women’s NRFL Premiership
There were goals galore at Michaels Avenue where Ellerslie hosted Melville to begin this third round of NRFL Prem fixtures. Livestreamed too, thanks to Ellerslie’s fine broadcast work. Most of those goals came in the first half... not sure anybody who turned up to watch was expecting to see Ellerslie go ballistic but that’s what happens when you unleash star signing Arisa Takeda for the first time. Kitty Jacob and Cleo Carmichael (fellow Western Springs refugees) were also in the starting line-up... but while they may have lifted the levels they weren’t the ones doing the damage. That honour belonged to Kirsty Gage on the right wing who scored four times. She had the Ponies leading 2-0 in a hurry (3’, 13’) before Hannah Barclay added a third (24’). Melville got on the board when Laura Bennett made it three games in a row with a goal, thumping in a screamer from distances on 31’. Unfortunately, she’s about six weeks to old to go to another U17 World Cup this year (although her Melville teammates Mia Humphrey, Miché Cloete, and Emma Meadows won’t be) but expect to see plenty of Laura Bennett in the next U20s wave.
That wasn’t a comeback trigger though. Instead, Gage got in behind again and scored her third just a couple of minutes later (34’) and then she set up Barclay for her second (36’) to make it 5-1. Melville struck back once again when Lola Williams flipped an opportunistic half-volley over the keeper, tidy finish for Melly’s second (38’), only for Gage to run onto a switch as Ellerslie kicked off again and her cross was sweetly flicked inside the far post by the heel of Cleo Carmichael (39’). Melville retaliated again to make it 6-3 as Mia Humphrey poached another (40’)... however Kirsty Gage had the last laugh when she wriggled away from her marker and finished smartly for another (43’). That made it 7-3 at half-time, no kidding. Kirsty Gage had four goals and two assists within all that – absolutely unstoppable from their new signing, an NZ Maori representative.
Compared to all that, the second half was downright boring. But Ellerslie did add another through substitute Miya Stott (80’) for an 8-3 final score. There ya go. Second win on the trot for Ellerslie but very different to the 2-1 result vs Tauranga last week. Melville beat Western Springs in their first game after promotion but have had a couple heavy defeats since, learning some tough lessons about the margins in the top flight. Curiously, Melville have used three different goalkeepers in these games: Emma Meadows, Leonie Heck, and Elin Gainsford. Meadows kept a clean sheet... the other two have shipped 13 combined goals.
West Coast Rangers were winless after the opening fortnight, albeit after a narrow loss to AUFC and a draw with Eastern Subs. They weren’t going to stay winless after they’d faced the 2026 version of Western Springs though. It was close for about ten minutes then WCR started to turn the screws leading to Marissa Porteous heading in from a corner kick (13’) before Taylor Vujnovich doubled that from the penalty spot (25’). From there it was full control apart from when Sienna Makwana chipped a free kick off the crossbar. Goal difference is going to matter in a title race so on came Emily Lyon, Maisy Dewell, and Chloe Bellamy at half-time... and that’s when it got out of hand.
It took 12 seconds for Lyon to nick the ball away and whack in a snapshot for 3-0. Then Porteous headed in from another corner (50’), Lyon rounded the keeper for her brace (55’), and then Dani Canham, having joined from rivals Auckland United this year, made it six (57’) to cap a run of four goals in 22 minutes. There would be one more where that came from and it was nearly gonna be a hatty for Porteous... except this corner kick went over her head for Mia Ferrentino to nod into the net instead (75’) and cap a 7-0 win for West Coast Rangers. First win for them and a thoroughly convincing one. Western Springs have now lost all three having failed to score a single goal. The Swans have let a combined 20 past them in their last 180 minutes: 13-0 vs Auckland United and now 7-0 vs West Coast Rangers.
Two things happen when Auckland United play football: Maggie Jenkins scores multiple goals and they win. Three matches into the season, that’s been true in every case... so we must logically assume it will continue to be so. Away against Fencibles, they did find themselves trailing 1-0 at the midway point thanks to a goal from Hyunjeong Kim... but Jenkins struck twice down the back straight, both assisted by Aniela Jensen, for a 2-1 AUFC victory. First defeat for Fencies who, like WCR against United in the opening round, were right there with them most of the way but couldn’t quite see it through. That means AUFC have already opened up a lead at the summit. Maggie Jenkins has scored nine goals in three games. Here are the highlights of her five last week, including the overhead kick.
And then we had Eastern Suburbs vs Tauranga Moana which had to wait until Sunday. Big news for the Lilywhites was that Zoe Barrott made her debut after moving north following a tremendous spell at Wellington United. One of the best defenders in the country, huge transfer coup for ESAFC. And as if that wasn’t enough, they also had Rebekah van Dort coming off the bench for her first appearance of the season – last year she was playing in Oz during the winter but she returned to boss in the Nats and is sticking around. Combine those elements and Tauranga weren’t going to be scoring many goals at Madills Farm. As it happens, they scored none. Eastern Suburbs won 5-0 with goals from Sam Tawharu (9’), TJ Anderson (11’ pen), Maddi Ollington (14’), Ella Findlay (36’), and Juliette Lucas (56’). They were three up after quarter of an hour. Two wins and a draw thus far for Suburbs who have only conceded one goal. They host Auckland United on Anzac Weekend so circle that one on the calendar.
Men’s Central League
The Wellington Phoenix Reserves were postponed last week so their match against Petone on the Fraser Park turf was our first glimpse of them for the new year. Always plenty of evolution from one year to the next with the academy sides... for starters, Chris Greenacre’s busy coaching the A-League team so Joshua Neff was listed as being in charge here. And it was a strong team, mate. Nathan Walker’s inclusion was awesome after an injury-plagued twelve months and he wasn’t the only one with ALM experience: Eamonn McCarron, Xuan Loke, Gabriel Sloane-Rodrigues, Ryan Lee, and Anaru Cassidy were all in the eleven. Dan Nelson was the most prominent fella promoted since the National League – he went to the U17 World Cup last year and was picked on the left-wing for this match. Joe McIntyre also got a go off the bench here from that U17s group.
It took two minutes before Nathan Walker used his famed pace to dash straight through between the Petone CBs and finish past the keeper 1v1. Last time he scored a goal it was at the U20 World Cup in September. He’s played a couple of reserves games since then but not much, having a torrid time with injuries. Didn’t take long to remind everyone what he can do. This game took a huge lurch after twenty minutes when the Nix were denied what they felt were two clear fouls in quick succession so Cassidy committed one of his own and was booked... having already seen a prior yellow waved in his direction. Red card after only twenty mins. But then came another swing when Nelson got free on the overlap and was brought down in the box by the goalie as he tried to get round him. Walker took the spot kick. Walker missed the spot kick. Went for the panenka and chipped it over the crossbar. He scored a penalty at the U20 World Cup but he sure didn’t hit it like that.
Walker was subbed at HT having presumably reached his minutes limit – Jack Perniskie came on for him. The WeeNix had begun with a back three and some hybrid set-ups but were forced to get more orthodox after being reduced to ten, then eventually reverted in the second half to a flat 4-4-1 shape. They defended pretty well despite the disadvantage... but Petone got more threatening as the game went on and ultimately got outta there with a 1-1 draw after Harry Lamont equalised on 83’. Deservedly so, though the Nix will feel they had that one with even numbers and may have still had it if they’d converted that penalty. Nevertheless.
The shock of the round, by far, was what happened at Wakefield Park where Wellington Olympic hosted Napier City Rovers... and got whupped 3-0 at home. After a scoreless first half, Aston Hurd (50’) put Rovers ahead when he finished off a sweet ball over from Sam Lack (the 21yo making his 100th appearance for NCR) before Ben Stanley supplied a late brace (78’, 90’). The margin’s a bit deceptive but Wellington Olympic are very rarely held scoreless at Wakefield. Looks like Rovers have done wonderful business with their imports yet again – Rovers are the most likely candidate ensure the new National League won’t be all just teams from the Auckland/Wellington/Christchurch triumvirate but they need a big season to make it happens. This kind of behaviour bodes very well for that objective.
FC Western were also playing game tahi (their match last week vs the WeeNix was postponed due to a bereavement close to the club)... they were away to Western Suburbs and gave a decent account of themselves against a National League calibre opponent. They went down 3-0 but it was only a couple of goals in the last half-hour that took them out of range. Up until then they were well in it. Scorers were Ryan Harrison (30’, 62’) and Dakota Brady (65’). That’s two games and two clean sheets for Quillan Roberts and the lads.
Miramar Rangers kept it all to plan as they won 2-0 away against Island Bay United courtesy of first half strikes from Nicolas Bobadilla (8’) and Martin Bueno (41’). Got their South Americans on the board and kept a clean sheet in the process, against an IBU team that’d been victorious in week one. Incredibly, the team at the top of the standings, the only team in the Men’s Central League two have won both their initial fixtures, is Upper Hutt City. Rio Winkworth (34’) and Lucas Hansen (65’) scored the goals against Waterside Karori as UHC pocketed a 2-1 win. The Wharfies pulled one back late thanks to Tomas Alvarado (86’) but the comeback attempt halted there. UHC have beaten Petone and Waterside... doubtful that they can last up there when tougher games come around but can’t argue with the points on the board thus far.
Women’s Central League
There was one Easter Friday fixture in these parts and that was Victoria University getting their campaign up and running with a 1-1 draw against Palmerston North United (who were playing their second match). The students were leading at half-time thanks to a goal from Mackenna Chittenden (a former Central United player from a few years ago) but Paris Liu levelled up midway through the second spell and that was that.
Wellington United didn’t play last week so their meeting with the Wellington Phoenix U18s at Newtown Park was the first glimpse of what’s become of their squad since Zoe Barrott, Nat Olson, Summer Laskey, Maggie Jenkins, Blair Currie, Sarah Alder, Amelia Abbott, and potentially one or two others all left (Jenkins, Currie, and Abbott were only there for the Nats, to be fair). And... yeah they’re still good. Don’t sweat. Crucially they’ve kept Hannah Pilley and Carolyn O’Reilly around and with Guillermo Schiltenwolf taking over as coach there’s still some continuity there. Lots of youngsters stepping up, with Louisa Egley-Turner, Marla MacInness, and Leonora Webb all in the starting line-up.
Farina Anchico will be someone they lean on a lot to replace (some of) the copious goal tally that’s departed the club... and it was Anchico who opened the scoring on 43’. Close game against the WeeNix but goals off the bench for Kennedy Corkin (73’) and Jemma Robertson (76’) sent the Diamonds onwards to a 3-0 victory. Keep in mind that this is a very fresh WeeNix squad with their best U18s from last year having moved up to the Reserves – only a couple of these players having played National League. Still a couple of weeks before the Capital Development Leagues start and the Nix Reserves begin.
Petone 8-0 Palmerston North Marist was an eye-catcher. Goals for Beth Whiteside (9’), Caelin Patterson (15’), Chelsea Whittaker (42’), Whittaker (54’), Phoebe Hawes (68’), Whiteside (70’), Olivia Gibbs (84’), and Hawes (90’). So doubles for Whittaker, Whiteside, and Hawes in there. Petone’s always got a lock-it-down defence but the worry was whether they’d have enough goals in them. Doesn’t look like that’s gonna be an issue (although we will have to see how PN Marist track against a few other teams before we get a complete idea – this was their first game).
Also winning big were Waterside Karori, who were stuck in a tight game against Miramar Rangers after an hour only to blitz their way to the finish line with a flurry of goals, getting killer impact off the bench. Taylor Cooper (16’) and Renee Bacon (25’) had the Wharfies ahead at the break. Olivia Robson pulled one back for Rangers (60’). Then Jayden Watts (66’), Sophie Burchgield (78’), Jessica Woodside (82’), Bacon (90’), and Daniella Donn (90+2’) went crazy and Karori emerged with a 7-1 victory. And shout outs are due for Seatoun who grabbed their first win since promotion. At home against Taradale, they were trailing to a 23rd min goal from Megan Thomas but ended up with the 2-1 win thanks to goals from Nikola Szentirmay-Ross (39’) and Amy Foster (58’).
Men’s Southern League
In a week where Auckland City and Wellington Olympic both lost and the Men’s Northern and Central Leagues are looking like anyone’s for the claiming right now... one thing you can bank on is Cashmere Technical. They continued their sturdy control upon the South with a 5-0 win away against a good Ferrymead Bays team. Strangely none of those goals were scored by Garbhan Coughlan. Instead it was Rory Hibbert who bagged a hat-trick (35’, 64’, 73’), making a name for himself at his new club after helping Northern AFC get promoted to the Southern League last year. Lyle Matthysen (82’) and Aidan Barbour-Ryan (86’) also got goals... it was only 1-0 after an hour but typical Cashmere finishing with a flourish. Tech have scored 14 times in three games. This is ominous stuff.
Better from Christchurch United this week with a 3-0 win against Nomads United. Takumi Hiruma (7’, 43’) and Oliver Grosso (31’) got the job done there - Hiruma being a new Japanese import who most recently played in Lithuania of all places but has had a couple clubs in Australia too, while Grosso has joined out of the Phoenix Academy. Looks like they’ve coaxed Mason Stearn back from Coastal Spirit which is crazy because he captained Coastal in the first two games. With Joe Hoole joining Cashmere, there goes that excellent Coastal Spirit midfield pairing from the last two years. Great get for the Rams though, Stearn being a former player and all. Despite that blow, Coastal Spirit did win 2-1 against Selwyn United this week with an own goal and a Max Chretien effort accounting for their ones while Liam Coleman scored Selwyn’s goal.
Nelson Suburbs found some form with a 4-1 win against Dunedin City Royals. That’s one end of the South Island (almost) to the other. Tough away trip. Hence, in part, why Nelson Subs were so good at home last year... but they did lost to Coastal a few weeks back and it was only 1-1 at half-time after Cato Williams (45’) scored for DCR to cancel out Lennon Whewell’s opener (25’). Bit of a weight on those Suburbs shoulders until Whewell scored again (69’) and then Jarvis Vaai (76’) and Sebastian Hickman (90’) sealed the deal to get Nelson Subs on the board.
Last but certainly not least, it was almost exactly five years ago, give or take one month, that Northern AFC ended a 1001-day drought without winning a game. Funnily enough, a 16yo Rory Hibbert scored that day as they beat University 2-1. Now they’re playing in the Southern League and they just beat Wānaka 2-0 for their second win in three attempts. They’re perfect on the Logan Park turf since becoming a Southern League team. An own goal just before the half (45’) followed by a Nicholas Treadwell effort (55’) were the difference this time.
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