Aotearoa Domestic Football Roundup – May 19
Men’s Northern League
Feels like someone has to say this every year but once again reports of the competitive demise of Auckland City Football Club have been exaggerated. They were on the skids a month ago with a new coach integrating a few new players but they’ve now won four in a row after coming from behind in a 3-1 result against Auckland FC Reserves on Friday night out in the (proverbial) shadows of the Waitaks. It was 1-0 to the Ressies at half-time after another Harley Hill goal (33’), following his brace last week, and during the second half AFC did briefly think they’d doubled that lead only to have that goal disallowed.
Then Angus Kilkolly took over with a fine header from a Tom Golding corner (61’) and then a delicious first touch from a Shaan Anand through ball to put City ahead (70’). Nathan Rostron applied the last coat of paint with a header from a Golding free kick (84’). Set pieces were the difference there, though ACFC grew stronger into the game the further it went. Nice impact off the bench from 18yo Shaan Anand who was picked up from Auckland United this year and who has no doubt played plenty of footy with and against many of those AFC lads. Kilkolly has scored four goals in his last three matches. Believe it or not, this was the first time that Auckland City have beaten the AFC Reserves after two draws and a loss in 2025.
Heck of a win for Tauranga City this round, only their second of the season, beating Western Springs 4-2 at their natural Links Avenue habitat. Morgan Wellsbury’s been quiet thus far but he got them going with a quickfire double (8’ pen, 17’) while winger Jayden Hyland (14’) also whipped out his dance moves to make it 3-0 bright and early... only for Liam Knight to be red carded soon afterwards for a last-man challenge that altered the vibe in a hurry. George Cooper put one away for Springs (37’) to cut the margin yet they never got any closer than that. Solid work from Tauranga with ten men. Colin Innes buried a fourth near the end (89’) before Kenta Nakashima (90+2’) saved some face for Springs with a late second.
Birkenhead United’s title charge collected another credential as they did that thing that championship teams so often do by scoring a late winner in a game where they didn’t even play that well. Barely made a dent for the majority of the match away to Fencibles United... then suddenly flipped the switch in the last few minutes with Alex Connor-McClean starting with hitting the post with a warning shot before Zachary Chung, three minutes into stoppages, arrived in the area to fire Birko to a 1-0 victory. Another three points. Another clean sheet. Fencibles have been an excellent team at home (and the opposite away) and they’ll definitely feel they deserved something from that match. But nope. Birko have taken 28 points from a maximum of 30 thus far, conceding four goals in ten matches with seven clean sheets. They’ve already beaten all four of the other National League qualifiers from last year and are five points ahead of second-placed East Coast Bays... who are the only team to avoid defeat against the red and white stripes.
East Coast Bays did win their own fixture, beating Eastern Suburbs 1-0 at Bay City Park. Guy-Frank Essome Penda scored the winner with twenty mins to go. Another superb result for this exciting Bays outfit who you’ll recall only missed out on the top four last year by goal difference, rebounding from their first defeat last week away to Auckland City. That’s only the second loss for Eastern Subs. There was also a 3-0 win for Auckland United away against Bay Olympic. Goals for Boyd Curry (30’), Will Mendoza (42’), and Jack Beer (57’). And Melville United were too good for Manukau United, winning 2-0 at Gower Park thanks to goals from Ryen Lawrence (45+2’) and Jama Boss (70’). That’s rough for Manukau since Boss was scoring for them before transferring recently. That result lobs Melville up a couple spots on the ladder while Manukau remain last with one draw and nine defeats.
Women’s NRFL Premiership
The big news outta the NRFL Prem is that the Golden Boot race is back on. Maggie Jenkins was unstoppable scoring 16 goals in seven matches for Auckland United, clearly too good for this level... so she’s left this level to sign with Essenden Royals in the Victorian Premier League across the ditch. She’ll be teammates with fellow kiwi Kendrah Smith over there and will be coached by another one in Jaiden van der Heijden. The NPL leagues have been a pretty good launching pad for getting NZers into the Aussie A-League clubs in recent years with Deven Jackson, Kelli Brown, and Charlotte Lancaster all benefiting from that route (and all becoming regular Football Ferns as their next destination) while Jenkins is already on record saying that’s her target. And guess what? She went straight into the starting eleven for Essenden and scored a double in a 4-1 win against South Melbourne. Geo Candy was in goal for the opposition. Jenkins probably would’ve scored more except she took a knock and had to be replaced after 37 minutes.
Alrighty then, no Maggie Jenkins for Auckland United? No problem. They won 6-0 away against Tauranga Moana with Siobhan Edwards picking up the baton with a 31-minute three-for (17’, 30’, 31’) paving the way for further additions from Yume Harashima (60’) and Aniela Jensen (65’, 74’). Plenty more when that came from for AUFC who remain undefeated: Jenkins has her 16 goals but Shev Edwards and Olivia Ingham have seven each and Aniela Jensen is on six herself with Sasha Adamsen on five.
Did Western Springs score a goal this week? Again the answer is ‘no’. Crazy that we’re this far into the season and there’s a top flight club that still hasn’t celebrated a goal. Eight games deep and nothing to show for it. Mentioned before that they have seemed sturdier under Ben Bate’s coaching... but away to Eastern Suburbs was never going to be a very fruitful fixture. The Lilywhites were four up at HT and eased off – even subbing off their goalkeeper during the second spell. Goals for: Juliette Lucas (14’), Erika Skindlov (29’), Millie Boyle (40’), and TJ Anderson (43’). Another clean sheet for Eastern Suburbs – their fifth in eight games. They’re the only team to take points of Auckland United thus far and if they win their game in hand they’ll be within range of the leaders when they meet them again.
West Coast Rangers won 3-0 against Melville United which sounds about right... although they left it late to apply the final touches. Goals for Chloe Bellamy (23’), Maisy Dewell (81’), and Arisa Kida (90+3’). Would have to say that’s one of the better efforts that Melville have produced against a top-half team this year... very different to the 10-4 result when they hosted Rangers a few weeks back
Finally, there was a 1-0 win for Fencibles away against Ellerslie. Winning goal supplied by Rosie Missen on the hour. Fencies also subbed on Natalie Young in this match, an U17 World Cup rep last year formerly of the Wellington Phoenix Reserves - they’ve effectively done a swap-deal for Mikaela Bangalan. She’s originally from the Waikato where she was teammates with current Fencies defender Zara Erol-Watt at Hamilton Wanderers. Fencibles have won six and lost two, firmly establishing themselves in the top four... and they’ve also only conceded six times in those eight games. Talking about credentials, they deserve to be much more in the top of the table conversation (with AUFC, ES & WCR) than the mid-table conversation.
Men’s Central League
It was game of the round territory when Miramar Rangers met Napier City Rovers, two teams needing strong seasons to ensure their place in the revampted National League next year and two teams absolutely delivering on that promise. Predictably, there wasn’t much between them but there were a few moments of separation at David Farrington Park. One came after 34 minutes when Spencer Cameron leapt up and headed home from a swirling corner kick delivery by the in-form Connor Gaul. Miramar ahead at the break. The home side then extended that when Martin Bueno stretched the defence and nodded a clever header over William Tønning for 2-0 (59’). It was Napier City that the Uruguayan Bueno first played for when he moved to Aotearoa in 2018.
Rovers weren’t going away quietly so Jacob Fenton hauled them back in range with the third headed goal of the day, his a close ranger from open play after 75 mins. Jacob Fenton is a 26yo English addition who missed a lot of the start with a knee injury but has been back in recent weeks – presumably no relation to Louis and Tim Fenton who do their thing for Miramar Rangers (no Tim in this match but Louis featured off the bench). He wasn’t able to find another hence Miramar won 2-1 to maintain their lead atop the Central League, whiel NCR suffer their first defeat – and the first game in which they’ve conceded multiple goals this year. They did sneak a new signing out there though: Daniel Makowem, former Phoenix Academy winger, back after a year at Stetson University. Very good get for a team chasing that little extra jolt on attack.
The Wellington Olympic downfall was also heavily exaggerated. They’re only three points behind Miramar following a 5-1 win over Petone. It wasn’t only the new signings this time either: Seb Barton-Ginger did get them started with a brace (18’, 27’) but from there it was the familiar faces of Justin Gulley (45+2’) and Gavin Hoy (86’, 90+4’) who put the icing on the cake. Island Bay did briefly make it 3-1 when Ashtun Lake scored after 79 mins, a third of the season for that bro (who is still a few weeks shy of his 19th birthday).
But Western Suburbs weren’t able to keep pace as they were held to a 2-2 draw away against Waterside Karori. Tomas Alvarado (5’) started it for the home side. Kyle Carr levelled up from the penalty spot (20’) only for Tuawhiorangi Reedy-Dunn to respond shortly after (26’) and have the Wharfies ahead again. Two half-time subs from Michal Walesiak were followed by another within ten mins of the resumption and eventually the tinkering paid off when Cam MacKenzie, one of those changes, banged in an equaliser for Wests (73’). But that was all. Kyle Carr is the top scorer in the division though, the American’s goal here holding off the charge from Barton-Ginger and Bueno. He’s got six and they’ve got five. Karori have had a rotten start losing six of their first seven games but they’ve done some work to turn it around, with Sam Law and Albie Frances-Alles both appearing off the bench here. Law was with the Phoenix Reserves and AFA with Auckland United, each having already played for those other teams this year.
FC Western scored another goal, they’re on a roll suddenly... alas, they were alread two down against Upper Hutt City when Akwasi Agyekum (32’) did that and ultimately lost 4-1 at home. Lucas Hansen (11’), own goal (27’), Lucas Hansen again (77’), and Donal Gahan (81’) with the goals for UHC. Seven losses from seven for Western but, dunno, it feels like they’re starting to close the gap. Oddly, all three of Upper Hutt’s wins have come in away games although that may only be because they’ve played the three bottom teams in such matches (vs Petone, Karori & Western).
And the Wellington Phoenix were victorious at Fraser Park beating Island Bay United 3-1. Tim O’Farrell did score for IBU after seven minutes but then came goals from Nathan Walker (18’) and Jack Clegg (37’, 62’) to snap a four-game losing streak for the WeeNix. This was Clegg’s first appearance in the Central League, having joined from Auckland United last year. He’s an U16s rep for New Zealand and not entirely sure but he seems to be the younger brother of Milly Clegg – if so then goal-scoring will come naturally. Nathan Walker has started all seven games for this team, scoring three goals and shrugging off his horrid injury run from last year. Familiar guys like Dylan Gardiner, Xuan Loke, Hayden Thomas, and Eamonn McCarron have also started every game but in amongst they’ve found room for fresher prospects like Clegg, Ben Trenberth, Dan Nelson, and Willem Des Tombe (the latter two didn’t play this match). Nice to see a bit of reward there with the result following a nasty spell having to face Miramar (lost 1-0), Napier City (lost 2-1), Western Suburbs (lost 1-0), and Wellington Olympic (lost 3-1) all in a row.
Women’s Central League
Full slate of fixtures over these parts with all ten teams in action... and we have a new leader after Petone won 3-1 against Wellington Phoenix U18s. The Nixers gave half-games to Holly Robins and Maisy McDonald (both also played for the U20s the following day). All the action happened in the last twenty minutes as Chelsea Whittaker (73’) struck first for Petone only for Florence George (74’) to immediately equalise. The WeeNix haven’t really had a statement result this year as the next wave of academy talent takes over from a very impressive group last year (that included Robins and McDonald). This was almost that... until Pepi Olliver-Bell (88’) and Beth Whiteside (90+6’) sealed the deal for Petone. Six wins and one defeat for Petone who are the only team in the WCL averaging less than a goal per game against them.
The reason that game sent Petone top is because Waterside Karori travelled up the coastline and were stunned 2-0 by Palmerston North United. Goals for Annabel Irwin (45’) and Carmen Su (55’) on either side of half-time. It wasn’t full capacity Wharfies but they still had Renee Bacon and Sophie Burchfield who between them have combined for three times as many goals as PNU have scored all season (16 vs 5... and that’s after this game). Genuinely, a 5-0 win would have been more expected than a 2-0 loss, that’s an unbelievable result for PN United. Shakes up the table too.
Wellington United did what they do with a 9-0 win away to Taradale. Kennedy Corkin scored a first-half hatty (4’, 30’, 37’) before Farina Anchico (45’) made it four at the break. Hannah Pilley’s always there or thereabouts so she scored straight after the resumption (47’) and then further goals for Anchico (62’), Georgie Furnell (66’), Anchico #3 (72’) and Pilley #2 (79’) completed the rout. So that was three each for Corkin and Anchico while Pilley got two to take her season’s tally to 10 goals and send her top of the Golden Boot rankings. The Diamonds have a game in hand on Petone and can go top via goal difference if they win it. Kennedy Corkin is still in high school at Wellington East Girls... she’s also a Samoan international who played against the Football Ferns earlier this year.
Elsewhere Seatoun lost 3-1 to Miramar Rangers. Nikola Szentirmay-Ross put them ahead in the second minute but that lead didn’t last very long before Iris Reweti-Gould cancelled it out (13’). Trinity Mairs then scored a late brace (78’, 87’) to send the points home with Rangers. Victoria University are now the only remaining winless team after they went down 1-0 to Palmerston North Marist on account of Caylee Fergus’ 40th min goal. Good week for the Palmy clubs both getting dubs. That’s PN Marist finally on the board after beginning with five consecutive defeats. Gotta win those games against the teams around you, those are the ones that count most.
Also, the Wellington Phoenix Women’s Reserves had a hefty win, beating Lower Hutt City’s U15 Boys team 8-1. Haven’t got goalscorers on hand but it was a strong team that included the likes of Alyssha Eglinton, Lily Brazendale, Poppy O’Brien, Holly Robins, and Katie Pugh in the starting eleven while the bench held seats for Ela Jerez and Ella McCann among others. McCann, a striker from Nelson, signed a two-year scholarship deal with the ALW squad in 2024 but spent basically that entire time out injured after tearing her ACL at the U20 World Cup so it’s brilliant to see her back in contention. She’s been chipping in as a sports scientist for the wider academy during her time out – something that the Nix have been pretty good at, with Ella McMillan regularly doing trainer duties for this team (and employed as the club’s “Head of Female Academy Physical Performance Scientist”) while Tessel Middag’s popped up on coaching staff a few times and CJ Bott’s been around the A-League team throughout her pregnancy. Lily Alfeld remains part of the operations staff after her playing career was cut short due to injuries. Good that they keep folks involved.
Might as well mention here that the coaching stuff at both Nix U20s teams has been chopping and changing in recent months with Chris Greenacre and Callum Holmes balancing NZ U20s jobs before moving into diferent roles (in Holmes’ case at a different club). If you were wondering, it’s Jess Fuller now coaching the Women’s U20s (she’s been at the club a couple years after joining from Southern Football where she was heavily involved in women’s development coaching) and the Men’s U20s are helmed by Josh Neff (an American who has just been confirmed to be replacing Greenacre, also holding the Assistant Technical Director title).
Men’s Southern League
As usual, Cashmere Technical scored a bunch of goals and claimed another comfortable victory. This time it was a 5-1 win away against Coastal Spirit. In fairness, it was 1-1 at half-time after Khalil Vanderpool-Nurse (32’) had found a rapid response to Garbhan Coughlan’s opener (28’). Wasn’t until the 66th minute that Coughlan finally put the Techies back ahead and the last three goals didn’t arrive until the last five mins plus stoppages. Coughlan completed his three-for on 86’ and then Rory Hibbert (90’) and Tom Schwarz (90+2’) joined the party. Eight games played, eight wins for Cashmere. 42 goals scored and only three allowed the other way. Coughlan, incredibly, is already up to 16 goals this season which is double the next top scorer in the division... and that next top scorer is his teammate Zander Edwards.
Tech’s lead at the top is now five points after Ferrymead Bays were held to a 1-1 draw away against Nomads. Caleb Cottom put Nomads ahead on 13’ from the penalty spot, Jacob Killick levelled up in first half stoppages following up after Christopher Murphy had struck the crossbar. Both goalkeepers, Regan Frame for Nomads and Evan Ovendale for Ferrymead, made incredible saves late on. A goal after a dozen minutes for Connor Neil was enough for Dunedin City Royals to grab a very relieving 1-0 win over Northern at Tahuna Park in a Dunners Derby. That breaks a six-game drought without a win for DCR. It was a home game for Royals but it was also the first time that Northern have lost in Football South territory since being promoted – they’re 3/3 in home games and 0-1-3 in away games (all the other away games having been against Christchurch-based clubs).
With Dunedin City winning concurrently, that meant the game between Selwyn and Wānaka would determine who the new occupiers of last place would be... with Selwyn winning 2-1 to leap above their opponents by a single point thanks to a winner from Harry Brindley in added time (90+2’). Prior to that, Wynn Skinner had put Wānaka ahead (16’) before Liam Coleman tied it back up (37’). Wānaka have lost all four away games. And how about Nelson Suburbs getting a 3-1 win on the road against Christchurch United? Ben Polak gave Subs the lead (26’) though Takumi Hiruma made sure it was even at the break (37’). However it was Nelson Suburbs who had the extras with Lennon Whewell (63’) and Tinotenda Mupemhena (90+4’) settling the argument. Only two wins from eight games for Christchurch United. Good news for them is that the Oceania Pro League finishes soon so they should get a few players back from South Island United in the coming weeks. But how many and how soon will be pressing matters for a team that is usually up near the top of the Southern League yet currently finds itself 16 points behind first place and only two points above last place.
Women’s South Island League
Cashmere Technical let their old rivals at Coastal Spirit know what’s up last week when they smashed them 8-0 in the Kate Sheppard Cup. This week they met in the South Island League and it wasn’t quite so one-sided... but the Techies still emerged with a 4-1 win to keep themselves perfect through three matches. Margi Dias was the star with a hat-trick of goals (12’, 38’, 89’), while Ruby Luxton (61’ CT) and Laura Newman (63’ CS) traded goals. Dias already has six goals to take an early lead in the Top Scorer counts. Here’s one for ya: Cashmere’s 25yo American-born midfielder Maya Alcantara has nine caps for The Philippines national team and was a reserve player for the 2023 World Cup.
Otago University are going to have a tricky time repeating last year’s second placed effort, especially now that Georgia Nixon has swapped over to Dunedin City, but other than a narrow loss to that Royals team (which also stacks up with last season’s results) they’ve kept up a pretty consistent level so far. They won 3-0 against NW United this time, with goals from Ashley Geusebroek (15’, 56’) and Bridget Merkel (17’). All the uni students were on fire this week because Universities of Canterbury travelled downwards and won 4-0 against Roslyn Wakari, scoring through Liv Deane (32’), Lydia Gilbert (57’), Erin Roxburgh (62’), and Holly Lyon (79’). Weirdly, UC’s women’s second team and men’s team both won 4-0 on the same weekend as well.
And unfortunately the Nelson Suburbs vs Dunedin City Royals game had to be postponed due to travel complications – it’s a long way to travel, to be fair. That keeps DCR on six points having won both games with room to spare. A trip to Nelson would have been their first game outside of Dunedin though.
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