Aotearoa Domestic Football Roundup – June 22
Men’s Northern League
This was the week that the Oceania Pro League players returned. Four weeks after Auckland FC lifted that championship (overshadowed by another one they lifted that same weekend), we have begun to see the various kiwi players involved in that competition dispersed back around the league. There may have been a stand-down period before they could return to amateur footy plus those guys probably also needed/wanted a bit of a break. But the scattering has begun... with Auckland City picking up Christian ‘El Profesor’ Gray, Fergus Gillion, and Matthew Foord. Gray was a hero for ACFC throughout 2025 before getting a run for South Island United. Gillion and Foord are former WeeNix lads who were with Bula FC – of course, Fergus’s brother Liam previously starred for Auckland City before joining Auckland FC’s A-League team.
All three were involved as Auckland City took on Birkenhead United at Shepherds Park on Saturday night, Gillion and Foord starting while Gray came off the bench. Perhaps it should have been the other way around because Birko were 2-0 up after six minutes thanks to a Monty Patterson brace (5’, 6’), rough start for Foord (especially the first goal where he couldn’t claim a cross). Gerard Garriga promptly hit back (7’) to make it 2-1, though a Josh Redfearn goal later in the half (33’) restored that advantage. Auckland City have been on a wicked run lately, going ten games unbeaten in all comps, but the very late second for Garriga that they mustered (90+6’), straight in from the corner kick, was not enough to keep it going. 3-2 to Birkenhead United... who also made a fancy signing with Devin Slingsby rejoining after six months at Wellington Olympic. Birko’s lead atop the Northern League is now 13 points and they’ve won 12 consecutive league games since a 2-2 draw vs East Coast Bays (in which they conceded a last-minute equaliser) back in week two. That was in March. 13 points clear with eight rounds remaining... nobody’s gonna catch them, right?
Another Pro League returnee, sort of, is Adama Coulibaly who played a few Oceania games for AFC towards the end of their championship run and did make a pair of appearances for the A-League side in the season before... but was released at the end of his two-year scholarship contract so he’s now at Auckland United. Coulibaly was formerly with Western Springs before his AFC stint. Oli Fay has spent some time overseas but he was an Auckland United player before joining South Island United and he’s also back in black. Coulibaly was an unused sub but Fay played 62 minutes as Auckland United did something only two other teams have done this year: they beat Eastern Suburbs. And Matt Conroy, who got the winning goal with ten mins remaining, did something that only four other blokes have done this year: he scored a Northern League goal against Eastern Suburbs. Dino Botica, Josh Redfearn (both Birko), Luis Hamblin (Melville), Guy-Frank Essome-Penda (ECB), and now Matt Conroy (AUFC). Five goals conceded in 14 games for the Lilywhites... but they’re only scoring 1.3 goals per game themselves (18g in 14gm) and therein lies the problem. That’s why they’re not keeping pace with Birkenhead. Excellent win from AUFC though, lifting them up to fifth place.
Auckland FC Reserves went down 1-0 to Western Springs on a very wet Friday night out west. Joao Moreira scored the only goal late in the first half (39’) – yes, that same Joao Moreira... 40 years old and still banging them away. That result was about par for how these teams have been tracking. Springs lost four players to that AFC Pro League squad, no sign of any returnees just yet but we’ll see how it goes. As for AFC, that’s six losses in the past eight Northern League games and they’ve been held scoreless in the last two of those defeats. The good news is they haven’t lost three in a row all year (excluding the Chatham Cup) so watch out next week when they face... Manukau United... okay yeah they genuinely might win that.
East Coast Bays picked up three more points with a 2-0 win over Manukau United, thanks to a goal in each half from Marius Zabarauskas (37’, 56’). That keeps him level with Monty Patterson in the Golden Boot charts with 10 goals overall. With Eastern Subs losing, that means ECB have caught up to them in second paces, equal on points but behind on goal difference. Manukau Utd are stuck at the foot of the table... and they’re drifting further from shore after Bay Olympic grabbed a 2-1 win against Tauranga City. On the road too. Jacob Woolford (23’) and Raphael Conway (52’) scored the goals for Bays while Tauranga didn’t find the net until Morgan Wellsbury scored a very late penalty (90+4’). Little bit surprising how much Tauranga have fallen off this year – that was only Wellsbury’s second goal having been tied Golden Boot leader last season. Shout out Bay Olympic though... they beat Manukau 1-0 in their previous league game so that’s back to back wins and the return of winger Woolford (who spent a year in the AFC Reserves in 2025) seems to have had at least a little bit to do with that.
And last but not least, Melville United lost 3-2 against Fencibles United. The home side took the lead from the penalty spot with Jama Boss converting (23’) but Liam Wessels equalised almost immediately for Fencies (25’). It was then Ronaldo Lopez Munoz’s turn from the penalty spot (50’) after getting an arm across his shoulder running into the box, putting Fencies ahead 2-1. Melville’s hopes then shrunk further when Connor Austin was sent off after a second yellow (72’) for jumping too heavily into an aerial challenge in the eyes of the ref. Dastgeer Lai-Sai crept a third goal home for Fencies (90’) and that was that as far as the result went... but there was still time for Melville to chuck numbers forward and guess who scored their 90+6th min goal to restore just a slimmer of hope? Super Max Tommy, that’s who. Header from the man with the gloves. Same bloke who once scored in the last seconds of a Chatham Cup final to take it to penalties. Gotta love a goal-scoring goalkeeper.
Buuut Fencibles did win the game and Ronaldo Lopez Munoz now has seven goals, equal second in the standings, while his team have risen to fourth in the standings. That could change by the next time they play since East Coast Bays and Auckland City have a Wednesday nighter upcoming (to help clear the calendar for City’s Oceania Champions League quest later in the year).
Women’s NRFL Premiership
This round was supposed to begin with Fencibles vs Western Springs on Friday evening... but it got postponed so we’ll have to wait to see if Springs can translate their recent cup form into some results in the NRFL Prem. Other than that, there were three hefty wins for the expected teams in the Sunday fixtures. Eastern Suburbs kicked off first against Melville United. The Hamiltoninans kept it close for most of the first half but not all of it, with Maddi Ollington breaking the deadlock on 44’. Juliette Lucas then scored a six-minute hat-trick (50’, 54’, 56’) to complete a 4-0 win for the Lilywhites. They subbed Lucas off straight after her third or else there may have been more in store for the striker, recently returned from some college ball activities in the United States.
West Coast Rangers also won 4-0, in their case it was away against Tauranga Moana and the scoring was more evenly dispersed. Taylor Vujnovich (15’), Dani Canham (45+3’), Maisy Dewell (76’), Jessie Christie (86’). Slightly rotated Rangers side for the trip to the Bay of Plenty yet they still got what they needed. With Fencies not playing, that raises WCR up within a point of them on the ladder. Little chance of either dropping outside the top four.
And Auckland United were 6-1 winners against Ellerslie at Michaels Ave. Piper O’Neill (6’), Talisha Green (37’), Shev Edwards (54’), and Sasha Adamson (64’) kept the scoreboard ticking over at regular intervals before Anita Trudgen got one back for the Ponies (73’)... then Olivia Ingham (86’) and Grace Bartlett (90+3’) rubbed a bit of salt in the wound with additional AUFC strikes. Some very beautifully worked goals from AUFC in there, with Shev Edwards’ runnign and crossing causing all sorts of problems. All relatively close-range finishes too which shows they were creating some really high-quality chances. But they still can’t shake that Eastern Suburbs shadow with those two teams level on 32 points after 12 games (10-2-0) and only goal difference keeping Auckland United ahead as they seek to regain the title that West Coast Rangers took off them last year.
Men’s Central League
The Central region didn’t have a Pro League team, not this year anyway, but plenty of the kiwis involved have spent time there in the past - particularly though the Wellington Phoenix Academy and Ole Academy. Wellington Olympic may have lost Devin Slingsby to a Birkenhead buy-back but they did scoop up defender Jaylen Rodwell from South Island United, himself a former Birko (and WeeNix and Wests) representative. Straight into the eleven to face Western Suburbs in another of those massive clashes between the four clubs contending not only for the title but also for National League qualification this year and next. Every one of these meetings is crucial.
This one finished with a 2-1 win for Wellington Olympic. No scoring in the first hour, then Jack-Henry Sinclair (62’) and Cam Mackenzie (67’) split a pair of efforts. JHS hustled a partly-saved shot from Kieran McMinn over the line for Olympic, then Mackenzie did something similar with a header from very close range after Kyle Carr’s effort was blocked by the keeper. Both might have been going in anyway but you’d be mad not to make sure of it. Luke Stoupe then scored the winner on 82’, a goal that made the previous two in this match look like pure tiki taka magic in comparison. You’re going to need to see this one to believe it...
Napier City Rovers were up to their usuals with a 1-0 win away against Island Bay United. Callum Cooke scored the only goal after 50 minutes. A seventh clean sheet in 11 matches for William Tønning. That’s a resumption of regular proceedings after they shipped three in a draw with Wests last CL match - almost half their season’s concessions in that one game. That leaves Miramar Rangers as the other contender and it proved to be a tricky one away to Upper Hutt City... but Rangers still won 3-2. Spencer Cameron (5’ MR) and Joe Cornille (24’ UHC) had it level at HT. Connor Gaul (64’) and Adam Hewson (66’) then gave Miramar the boost they were after, though Lucas Hansen (85’) did pull one back to keep it funky. Remember that thing about the OPL players returning? Yeah so Miramar subbed on Owen Smith (2025 National League MVP) about ten minutes before they score those two quick goals, heck on an injection into a title race.
This array of outcomes means that Western Suburbs are falling away from the pack, now five points behind the three teams tied for top spot: Wellington Olympic, Napier City Rovers, and Miramar Rangers. They’ve all been trading results when they’ve played each other and there are enough meetings remaining that there’s no way of predicting how the next seven matchweeks will unfold.
Wellington Phoenix Reserves 0-0 Waterside Karori was a mutually beneficial result that doesn’t change much. Both teams needed the point though, especially the Nix Reserves who’d lost seven of their last eight games (including the cup) with their last outing being a defeat against FC Western. They had a new face in goal with Liam McMaster making a debut at this level. Can’t tell you anything about him other than that he was previously playing in Australia for APIA Leichhardt in their youth system, also appearing for the NSW Metro rep team. Going to assume he’s got some kiwi heritage in there if he’s joining the Nix at U20s level. Clean sheet on debut for him so no worries there – Eamonn McCarron had played the previous nine league games without a single shutout.
Finally, Petone won 2-1 away against FC Western. Leo Elder put Western ahead after 66 mins... but Leo Gunn (82’) and Jarden French (84’) gave Petone the fast finish to spoil it for their hosts, who were seeking a second win of the season. Petone jumped two places with the win. Western didn’t score in any of their first five games but have scored in all five games since.
Women’s Central League
One of the form teams in this competition at the moment is Palmerston North United. They may have started the season looking like relegation candidates but something has clicked and they hosted Wellington United this round on the back of a four game winning streak (including victories against Waterside Karori and the WeeNix)... and after Kate MacPherson’s early goal (5’) they were on course to make it five in a row as the half-time oranges were served. Ah but then Wellington United did their Wellington United things and scored four times unanswered for a 4-1 victory. Goals from Hannah Pilley (48’), Ela Jerez (50’), Madeline O’Farrell (55’), and a second for Pilley (86’). Another goal for Jerez after the four-for she got on debut. Hannah Pilley is unstoppable with 19 goals in her team’s nine CL games (she also scored a hatty in the cup so she’s got 22 in 11 overall).
All three of the title contenders had away victories this round. Wellington United are on 24 points with a game in hand. Waterside Karori are also on 24 points following a 6-1 victory away against Victoria University. Natelie Orellana (12’), Sophie Burchfield (13’), and Jessica Woodside (21’) ensured they were leading comfortably the entire way. Burchfield added a second before the break (43’) and then, after an own goal gave Vic Uni something (80’), the Wharfies added another flourish at the end as Burchfield completed her hatty (81’) and Renee Bacon got amongst the party too (88’). American winger Burchfield has 14 goals so if it wasn’t for Hannah Pilley she’d be leading the charts. It also appears that Karori have scooped up defender Caitlyn Byrne who’d been playing for Palmy United as recently as last week. Those two late goals were pretty helpful as they tipped the goal difference scales in Karori’s favour over Wellington Utd for second place.
Still leading the way is Petone after a 3-0 win over Seatoun put them onto 25 points. Again, Welly Utd have a game in hand that would send them top with a win but points on the board are the ones that matter and for now it’s Petone with the most of those. Petone got their goals from Emmy Lantz (45+2’), Kyra Elder (63’), and Rebecca Otte (83’) in this Seatoun victory. Another clean sheet for Aoife Gallagher-Forbes too. There have been a few of those for a team that’s only conceded five times in ten matches (six clean sheets, to be specific).
Miramar Rangers also kept a cleanie in a 2-0 win over Palmerston North Marist. Stella Pratt was between the sticks for that one. David Farrington Park is one of the great National League venues and in four home matches during this Central League season, Miramar have yet to concede a single goal. That includes a 0-0 with Petone a few weeks back. Granted, this hasn’t translated to their away form at all, where they’ve conceded 15 goals in five games. They also haven’t faced Wellington United or Waterside Karori at Davey F yet. But that’s still quite a stat. Their goals against PNM were scored by Lucie Wells (14’) and Iris Reweti-Gould (88’ pen).
Up in the Hawke’s Bay there was a wild contest between Taradale and the Wellington Phoenix U18s. It was 2-0 to the WeeNix after only six minutes as Piper Rickey (1’) and Charlotte Robinson (6’) both got on the scoresheet. Bridie Christie (30’) then made it three, goals in consecutive games for Christie who didn’t feature during the first few months (presumably injured) but scored 10 times last year so she’s a difference maker. However, Taradale then got a rapid double from Caitlyn Turner (32’, 38’) and all of a sudden it was game on again... right up until Elsie Sroufe also scored her second in two weeks (90+1’) for a 4-2 Wellington Phoenix U18s victory.
It’s been a slow start from the WeeNix but it seems their new wave is starting to settle. Fixture list has been a bit kinder to them lately as well. Meanwhile, the Nix U20s were back in Cap Development League action with a 2-1 loss against Greytown U15 Boys. Maisy McDonald scored the goal. Starting line-up was: Addie Ferris, Freya Des Fountain, Alyssha Eglinton, Holly Robins, Mackenzie Bryant, Sienna Candy, Katie Pugh, Amelie McClintock, Lily Brazendale, Mikaela Bangalan... just to give you an idea of where that team is at. Still looking very strong after the departures of Ela Jerez, Ella McMillan, and Grace Bartlett. More than half of that eleven were playing regularly for the U18s this time last year... while Ferris and Bangalan were still playing in Auckland.
Men’s Southern League
Christchurch United might be back, folks. Been waiting all along for them to get some Pro League players back and finally there were five of them involved as they hosted Selwyn United in the pouring rain... and overcame an own goal (23’) to win 4-1 thanks to a hat-trick from Rovu Boyers (30’, 37’, 48’) and one from Wyatt Borella (52’). Boyers is a Solomon Islands international who also scored the OPL’s first ever hat-trick. As a teenager he bounced around a few lower-league spots in Europe seeking an entry into pro footy before heading to West Adelaide in 2025 to be nearer to family. He did great there and he did great for SIU and now Christchurch United have been able to keep him around. As they’ve also done with Callum Kennett and Ry McLeod – neither of whom were Rams players before joining SIU. Charlie Beale and Riley Grover were already with CUFC before the Pro League stints so they’re just landing back where they jumped from. Waisea Henry has also returned to the club after some time abroad.
Prior to this big victory (against an admittedly laboured Selwyn side), the Rams had lost four Southern League games in a row and also been knocked out of the Chatham Cup. They were languishing in the bottom half of the ladder. With only seven games remaining, it’s too late to be thinking about a title challenge... but the aim will be to try overhaul Coastal Spirit on the ladder and get that second automatic qualifying spot for the revamped 2027 National League. With Cashmere Technical already scooting towards the title, that may end up being the main thing to track over the remaining few months. It appears that Coastal need to finish two places ahead of Chch Utd to hang onto that spot (the other will enter the playoff rounds for the last spot – no other club has the backlog of results to be in contention).
Then again, maybe not... because Cashmere Technical’s perfect record is gone. Ten wins on the trot and they were on course to make it eleven against Nomads United after Lyle Matthysen (16’) and Tom Schwarz (67’) had them 2-0 up... only for Angus McIntyre to score a brace off the bench. One a back-post finish for the immediate response on 68’, the other a last-minute penalty for a 2-2 draw. No doubt a bit of controversy about it (the penalty was given amongst a corner kick scramble) but Nomads kept themselves in range against a team that had put every other team they’ve faced to bed long before then. This was only the second instance of Tech being ‘held’ to two goals in a game this year – and the second instance of Garbhan Coughlan being kept scoreless in a game, he alone had scored at least twice in each of his previous six Southern League appearances (he has 19 goals in 10 matches overall). Lucky for them, neither of the two teams directly below them won this week so Tech didn’t even lose any ground.
That’s because Northern AFC won 2-0 against Ferrymead Bays. Snaps a run for Ferrymead that had seen them take 19 points from the last possible 21 points (although they did lose 4-3 to Cashmere in the Chatham Cup last week). First goal was an own goal (51’), second was scored by Alexander Dale (69’). Makes it five wins out of six for Northern in home fixtures. That’s quite a fortress that they’ve got at the mighty Caledonian Ground (compared to one draw and four losses in away games).
Speaking of teams with strong home advantages, Nelson Suburbs are trying restore theirs after a 6-0 win against Wānaka FC with goals from: John Reynolds (29’), Lennon Whewell (46’), Noah Platt (51’), Ben Polak (67’), Whewell again (83’), and La Bu Pan (85’). Lennon Whewell is up to eight goals for the season. With that loss, Wānaka stay last behind Selwyn by a single point. And Coastal Spirit got the job done with a 2-0 win against Dunedin City Royals, the goals scored early by Liam Cotter (16’) and Max Chretien (18’). Christchurch United might be good again (we’ll see how they go in nigglier fixtures) but Coastal have a chunky advantage and they held serve this week. Problem for them is that they need to be two spots above the Rams so they’re also relying somewhat on other teams. So far so good, though.
Women’s South Island League
Their men’s team may have finally dropped points but the Cashmere Technical ladies continue to storm forwards. They did concede first on their trip to face Roslyn Wakari, Lucy Dermody with the goal there (24’), but the retaliation was comprehensive as Dorothy Yek (40’), Margi Dias (42’), Yek (47’), Dias (79’), Dias (83’), and Tessa Toombs (85’) all scored in a 6-1 victory. Two goals for Dorothy Yek and three for Margi Dias. Six wins from six for Cashy Tech who have also won all three Kate Sheppard Cup games (all against fellow SIL clubs) by a combined scoreline of 25-0. Margarida Dias has scored 14 goals in those six league games and a further five goals in those three cup games. There’s nobody else in this division with even half that many goals.
Otago University vs Nelson Suburbs was postponed after the weather ruined Nelson’s travel plans. They’ll have to fit that one into the calendar – both clubs are already out of the KS Cup so that will help. It’s actually Universities of Canterbury who’ve been the standout student club this year and they hosted Dunedin City Royals in a second vs third meeting. Big test for both teams and there wasn’t anything to split them until the last quarter of an hour when goals from Georgia Keen (75’) and Hannah Mackay-Wright (79’) gave DCR a 2-0 victory, jumping them up to second place with a game in hand over UoC. Dunedin City did lose 1-0 to Cashmere Tech but have won 4/4 conceding just once in their other games. Royals and Cashmere will also have a rematch in the KSC quarters in a couple weeks. You can see the UoC vs DCR goals in the video below – the title is for the wrong game but the video is the right one...
That leaves us one other game and it was NW United vs Coastal Spirit. NWU took the lead on 60’ thanks to an own goal. Coastal levelled up through Ruby Hale (69’). NW then won it at the end when Abby Taylor struck (87’) for a 2-1 final scoreline. First win of the season for the Nomads-Waimakariri conglomerate! Sadly for Coastal, that means they remain without a win and have tumbled into last place. This from a club that won this championship as recently as 2022. Definitely not the squad they once were... but there’s still plenty of time to change the course.
Kate Sheppard Cup & Chatham Cup Draws
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