Oceania Women’s Champions League

It’s Champions League time over in the Solomon Islands where Auckland United will take a week break from domestic duties for the next two weeks to try lift the OCL title for the third year in a row. They’ve sent a very strong squad over, even stronger than expected with the inclusion of Zoe Benson in the travelling group. She’s back after a year as a youth player for the Wellington Phoenix where she made 15 A-League appearances (all off the bench) with one goal. This doesn’t mean she won’t be back for the Nix next season, by the way, it just means she doesn’t want to sit around doing nothing until the U20 World Cup in a few months. Benson spent a year with AUFC prior to joining the Phoenix, earning Grand Final MVP honours after scoring the winner in the National League decider. She’s the third Nix player to join AUFC this year following Olivia Ingham and Grace Bartlett.

Game one was routine stuff for Auckland Utd as they coasted to an 11-1 win against Drehu Athletico (New Caledonia). An own goal got them started (12’) followed by Kara McGillivray (13’), Aniela Jensen (22’), and Sasha Adamson (27’) goals. Kané Dralu (29’) got Drehu on the board after a mix-up at the back from the Aucklanders. Then the procession resumed with goals for Piper O’Neill (39’), Grace Bartlett (46’), Shev Edwards (54’), Rena Okutsu (62’), Adamson’s second (77’), Olivia Ingham (80’ pen), and Okutsu’s second (88’).

Next up they face Puaikura FC from the Cook Islands, another club making their tournament debut. That game is on Tuesday at 7pm NZT. There are only seven teams in the competition and AUFC are in the group with three so that’s all they’ve got in store during that phase. The semis are one week later and then the final on the following Friday. So far so good. The highlight of this match was probably the goal for 18yo homegrown prospect Kara McGillivray. Auckland United do get the known-name signings but they’ve also got one of the top academies in the country.

Women’s NRFL Premiership

With Auckland United busy with confederation activities, we’ll have to wait for their blockbuster rematch against fellow unbeaten challengers Eastern Suburbs (those two are also meeting in the Kate Sheppard Cup quarters scheduled for next weekend... that fixture will have to be reaccommodated too). That in turn gave the rest of the field a chance to catch up and West Coast Rangers accepted that invitation with a tough 2-1 win over Fencibles United. Shannon Henson gave Rangers the lead (37’), Tineke de Jong equalised (50’), then Dani Canham provided the decisive last blow (59’) for the team out west. Former Football Fern Nicole Stratford was in the line-up for WCR, rejoining after a couple years elsewhere. These two teams are likely to be slugging it out for third place. Rangers have now moved above Fencies by two points thanks to this win although Fencibles have a game in hand.

The rest of the fun happened down the bottom of the ladder, with Western Springs continuing their steady improvements by banking a 1-1 draw against Ellerslie. They were leading 1-0 at the break thanks to Indigo Kirk (41’) though a Hollie Leona penalty (55’) matched that for the Ponies, who’d used all five subs by 65 minutes as they searched for a winner that never arrived. Big result for Springs who thus avoided an NRFL Prem defeat for only the second time this season (they also won 2-1 vs Melville a few weeks back). It’ll mean a bit more doing it against Ellerslie too, given that’s where club legends Rina Hirano and Arisa Takeda now play. Kitty Jacob was also a pretty prominent Swans player these last few years and she featured off the bench for Ellerslie. Chloe Carmichael also made that same transfer but she’s since returned to Springs. Another WSAFC signing: Angela Pivac popped up on the bench in this game, a former Auckland United, Wellington Phoenix, and NZ U17s rep – that’ll be the Ben Bate connection at work.

The reason Western Springs have been able to jump a spot with that draw is because Tauranga Moana’s trip to face Melville United ended in a 5-1 defeat for Moana. Happy days for Melville as they finally won a game at Gower Park after five previous defeats – although they have also won away against Tauranga and Western Springs hence they’re now closer to fifth-placed Ellerslie than they are to seventh-placed Western Springs. No surprises whatsoever that it was Laura Bennett who got them going after 19 minutes. Collected a loose ball in midfield and had the defence expecting a quick shot from distance, instead she rolled her foot over the ball and charged into the area to score 1v1. Eight goals for Bennett out of the 14 scored by Melville to that point, still only 17 years old and clearly one of NZ’s best attacking prospects.

That’s now 8/18 goals for Bennett/Melville because a few teammates joined the party to bust things open in a five-minute burst during the second half against Tauranga. Tyla Webster (65’), Lola Williams (67’), Mia Humphrey (70’). Webster’s goal was a sliced cross but her running up the left wing was instrumental in the next two, both tap-ins from square deliveries. Five minutes of carnage to go from 1-0 to 4-0 just like that. Brooke Barclay did get one back for Tauranga (85’) however Evie Wilson got through and rounded the goalie to ensure that Melville had the last laugh (90’). Tauranga fall to last place as a consequence. We’re probably not getting relegation this year due to the National League revamps but nobody wants a wooden spoon. Those subsequent Tauranga vs Springs/Melville games are going to be critical.

Men’s Northern League

Now there was supposed to be an Auckland City vs East Coast Bays game midweek, would have been a doozy with those clubs fighting for top four finishes (and having each had a couple slip-ups recently)... but it rained too much so they had to can it. Save it for another time. Both teams quickly refocussed with wins on the weekend. East Coast Bays hosted Tauranga City and their two main men up top put them in the ascendancy with goals from Luke Flowerdew (11’) and Marius Zabarauskas (39’). That’s 11 for the season for Zaba who moves top of the charts. Seven for Flowerdew although this was his first since transferring from Auckland United to East Coast Bays. Colin Innes gave Tauranga a lifeline (82’) but ECB closed it out for the 2-1 victory. Bays had a minor blip there for a few weeks but that’s now consecutive wins against teams near the bottom of the ladder to restore some balance and lift them up to second on the ladder.

As for Auckland City, they won 3-0 against Western Springs at Kiwitea thanks to goals from the reliable duo of Gerard Garriga (10’) and Angus Kilkolly (69’, 90+1’). Garriga’s goal was an Olimpico using the heavy breeze to his advantage. That was all there was to separate the sides until Kilkolly came off the bench and scored twice in the 25 minutes he was out there for, hunting those six-yard box finishes like a Proper Striker. ACFC had all three of their Pro League signings in the starting eleven (Christian Gray, Fergus Gillion, Matt Foord) yet Western Springs had a few of their own with Jackson Manuel (previously with South Island United), Reid Drake and Oscar Mason (both Auckland FC) all rejoining the Swans and going straight into the starting eleven. As did Harry Mason, older brother of Oscar who had been playing for East Coast Bays up until a couple weeks ago. Harry and Oscar were also teammates at Napier City Rovers until Oscar moved north to Springs in 2024. Those additions should do plenty for Western Springs over the rest of the campaign however they couldn’t prevent Auckland City from returning to winning ways after draws against Eastern Suburbs and Auckland United and a loss to Birkenhead in their last three league games.

A small chunk of ground was lost by Birkenhead United atop the Northern League as, for just the second time all year, they were held to a draw. Still undefeated but Eastern Suburbs weren’t standing on ceremony for the runaway leaders. For 85 minutes, this was a duel between the two best defensive units in the division. Then suddenly Rayhan Carlson-Du Toit gave Birko the lead (86’) on the end of some long throw craziness... only for Tyler Lissette (90+2’) to level up in dramatic late fashion. Also from a long throw. Granted, there was a blatant foul on the keeper that didn’t get called. Like, seriously people, what are we doing here lol...

This result means that Birkenhead are now only a measly 11 points clear of second place with seven rounds remaining. Three points separate second from sixth.

The form team in the Northern League is suddenly Fencibles United, believe it or not. They’re the ones that knocked Birko out of the Chatham Cup a couple weeks ago... and after a 2-1 win away to Bay Olympic they’ve now won five on the bounce in the league. Derek Tieku’s goal had BO leading from the eighth minute all the way beyond the eightieth minute... but Fencies are the top scorers in the division and eventually Connor Probert (83’) and Ryan Clarke (85’) flipped it around in their favour with a pair of sharp low finishes. Fencibles have scored 42 goals in 15 matches, five more than Birkenhead while no other team in the North has even reached 30 yet. Twelve different blokes have found the net for Fencies – Ryan Clarke leads the way with seven while Ronaldo Lopez Munoz is on six. Some of that has come from putting the sword to the lower teams but mate if you can score goals then you’re always in the contest.

There was also a 3-0 win for Auckland United against Melville United. Ben Wallace scored a first half brace (15’, 33’) before Jack Beer (66’) added another one to make it safe. Otto Ingham’s joined Auckland United following his stint with Vanuatu United in the OPL. Another Pro League returnee, this after Oli Fay and Adama Coulibaly got amongst it last week (both got minutes here as well). AUFC are one of those teams in that 2-6 range on the ladder so they’ll be banking on these additions giving them that extra boost to get back into the National League.

Plus there was an exciting 3-2 win for the Auckland FC Reserves against Manukau United. A game that both teams would have been targeting, desperate for some points. Nathan Martin (33’) and Charlie Hale (44’) put AFC ahead before Ibrahim Nadir (45’) closed the distance right before the break. Charlie Hale got his second (52’) to make it 3-1 but Russell Currie (60’) soon had Manukau back in range. That was all. No more goals in the last half hour.

It’s a weird one with Currie because he joined Manukau from Fencibles at the start of the year and scored a couple goals... then transferred to Western Springs where he made a handful of appearances. Now all of sudden he’s back at Manukau (probably not a coincidence he left right after the Pro League influx). Righto then, as you were. Couple of debutants in the AFC squad too: double goalscorer Charlie Hale was literally playing for the Wellington Phoenix Reserves last week, in fact he’s been a regular for that team appearing in every Central League game until this weekend. We’ve seen a few players who’ve spent time in both academies but this is the first instance of a direct mid-season transfer between the two A-League rivals. Loeki van Baarzel was the other debutant, he’s an 18yo defender previously of Eastern Suburbs.

Women’s South Island League

Hold up, what’s going on here? Two nil-all draws in the same weekend in the same division in New Zealand regional football... that just doesn’t happen. Except it did this week. Nelson Suburbs drew 0-0 with Universities of Canterbury for starters. Nelson Subs are yet to score a goal in three home games during this South Island League, while Cantabs Unis remain undefeated in away games (having already beaten NW, Otago Uni, and RWAFC... although they haven’t hosted Cashmere for Dunedin City yet), so perhaps we should have anticipated that result.

But Cashmere Technical 0-0 Otago University was different gravy. Cashmere had won 6/6 leading into this game, scoring 29 goals in those fixtures. They’ve been absolutely flying... ah but Otago Uni’s excellent defence finally gave them a puzzle they couldn’t figure out. Signs of life in the title race even if Cashmere are still four points clear of DCR (albeit having played an extra game).

There were plenty of goals as Dunedin City Royals tonked NW United by a 7-0 scoreline. This game kicked off concurrent to the Cashmere one so it would have been a double celebration afterwards when they heard they’d made up ground on the leaders rather than just matching strides. It was the Georgias who led the way in this fixture. Goals scored by: Georgia Keen (28’, 31’, 88’), Georgia Nixon (34’, 67’, 82’), and Ruby Burgess (45+1’). Hat-tricks for Keen and Nixon... Nixon now has nine goals this term, doing superb things as she maintains the smart form she showed for Otago Uni and Southern Utd last year.

And in the other game, a double from Saki Nagai (25’, 63’) earned Coastal Spirit a 2-1 win over Roslyn-Wakari. Not just any win but their first win of the entire season. Lucy Dermody scored RW’s goal on 87’. Wasn’t particularly comprehensive but a win is a win and Coastal needed that. Having lost to NWU last round, they couldn’t afford to drop points against the other team in the bottom trio. This two-goal haul doubled Coastal’s season tally. Overdue is the word that springs to mind.

Men’s Southern League

Cashmere Technical got the train back on the tracks without worry, responding to blowing a two-goal lead in the draw against Nomads United last week by smashing their closest challengers Ferrymead Bays by a 4-0 scoreline. One short of the winning margin when they faced those guys away earlier in the season. All four goals were scored in the first half: Garbhan Coughlan (3’), James Brittain (7’), Zander Edwards (28’), and Garbhan’s second (41’). In other words, it could have been worse for Ferrymead, who have only conceded 16 goals in 12 games yet incredibly nine of them have come in the two games against Cashmere. Garbhan Coughlan now has 21 goals this season and his teammate Zander Edwards (11) is the only other dude in the Southern League to have hit double figures.

Fascinating result across town where Nomads United held Christchurch United to a 0-0 draw, backing up what Nomads did by taking points of Cashmere last week. Nomads have been a far better team that the Rams across the full season but a few OPL additions from South Island United seemed to have turned things around for CUFC based on last week’s efforts. Not enough to take down the Nomads though... maybe they still need to scoop up a few more of those SIU hombres while they’re at it.

Coastal Spirit took advantage of that Nomads draw with a big win to leap above them into third place. They travelled the relatively short distance to Foster Park where Selwyn United were waiting for them... and pumped them 5-0 with an own goal (12’) followed by strikes from Khalil Vanderpool-Nurse (36’), Max Chretien (37’, 55’), and Kaleb De Groot-Green (61’). First time that Coastal have won a game by more than two goals this Southern League... very good for the goal difference. Remember they’re trying to stay at least two spots above Christchurch United to qualify for the 2027 National League... right now they’re four spots above.

Nelson Suburbs won 4-1 away against Dunedin City Royals with Johnny Reynolds scoring a first half hat-trick. Lucas Hogg got it going (11’) before Reynolds did his thing (17’ pen, 42’, 45+3’ pen). Two of them were penalties but nevertheless. Jacob Fielding popped up off the bench to score DCR’s lone goal (78’). And in the other game, Wānaka FC drew 1-1 against Northern. Dillan Kahale (57’) had WFC on course for a rare victory until Nick Brett scored for Northern in the fourth minute of second half stoppage time. Jeepers. That goal is the difference between Wānaka climbing above Selwyn on the ladder versus staying in last place on goal difference. That GD gap has shrunk with Selwyn’s big loss, admittedly. Not a great result for Northern despite the late equaliser, they’d have fancied that for their first away win of the campaign. Instead their season remains drastically split between home form (5-0-1) and away form (0-2-4).

Women’s Central League

Wellington Phoenix U18s 3-2 Wellington United. Been waiting all year for this new wave of Nix U18s to produce a banger result like this. It was actually one of their old players, Ela Jerez, who put the Diamonds ahead in the second minute (six goals in three games for Jerez since joining WU) but a penalty from Eliza Vincent (15’) and a Florence George goal (26’) soon had the WeeNix leading. Madeline O’Farrell converted a penalty up the other end (62’) for equal footing... but then Evie Baird’s 75th min goal sent this one in the direction of the Nix U18s. That’s a rough result for United that does some damage to their title hopes.

United’s loss made it a glorious weekend for Petone who may have played an extra game... but after a 10-0 thrashing of Palmerston North Marist they’re now four clear atop the standings. They spread the feast out evenly with five goals in each half against PNM. Erika Saxby (2’), Jazz Shailer (9’), Beth Whiteside (15’), Kyra Elder (34’), Chelsea Whittaker (42’), Pepi Olliver-Bell (48’), Marie Green (53’), POB again (57’), POB for her hatty (74’), and Emmy Lantz (75’). Count ‘em up and that’s ten. With Waterside Karori not active this week, Petone have been able to stretch their arms and admire the view. Plus that goal difference boost puts them ahead of both Karori and United in that stat – this was their second 10-0 win of the season after doing the same thing to Vic Uni a month ago. Petone have kept four clean sheets in a row in the Central League, it’s been 376 minutes since they last conceded.

And what do ya know, Seatoun won 6-2 against Taradale. Home side Taradale were 2-0 up after goals from Caitlyn Turner (14’) and Ruby Gilbertson (19’) only to concede six unanswered in front of their own fans, yikes. Natalie Johnston (21’, 23’) buried a rapid double to level things up. Then Sarah Cook (27’), Nikola Szentirmay-Ross (33’), and a double for Ana Olsson (55’, 66’) did the rest of it. That one got out of hand. And that’s all we got dished up from the WCL this week.

Men’s Central League

The top of the Central League table has taken another reshuffle after Napier City Rovers won 3-2 against Wellington Olympic in a fantastic game of footy. Luke Stoupe put Olympic ahead after 23 mins, finishing nicely after Jack-Henry Sinclair had dinked a pass in behind for him. Rovers got level through Daniel Makowem (34’). Good follow-up from him after Cam Emerson’s initial shot was saved by Scott Basalaj on the dive. Stoupe restored the lead for the Greeks with his second of the arvo (48’), again combining with JHS for the goods. Then Ben Stanley hit a mint strike as the ball dropped to him on the bounce in the area and it was level once again (58’).

What Olympic needed was another bit of JHS-Stoupe combo play. What they got instead was a red card for Ben Campbell (70’), sliding in hard to retain a heavy touch and ruled to have left his sprigs showing on the follow-through. One of those ones where whichever team you’re leaning towards, you’ll see it that way. Sam Lack got loose back stick to give Napier City Rovers an 89th minute winner against the ten men and that meant a 3-2 final score. Napier City have done the double over Wellington Olympic following a 3-0 win at the start of the term. Not often that the five-time reigning regional champions Wellington Olympic get doubled up. That also means the Greeks don’t get another crack at Rovers having fallen three points adrift... instead they’ve gotta bank on NCR slipping up against Miramar down the line. Other than that match, Rovers have four of their last six matches against teams in the bottom half and one against mid-table Upper Hutt. If they’re not starting to believe now then they’re not doing it right.

Napier City have gone top with that win while Olympic dip to third place. But Miramar Rangers are only goal difference behind NCR having won 4-2 against Island Bay United in their match. They were in a dose of trouble down 2-1 at the break after Martin Bueno’s goal (12’) had been bookended with headed strikes from corners courtesy of Michael des Tombe (10’) and Brendan McMullen (45+1’) for IBU. But Rangers got back on the beat in the second spell with Bueno grabbing a second (59’ pen) before Theo Ettema (61’) and Joe Harris (75’) ensured that Miramar walked away with the points. Bueno is up to seven goals now, only one behind leader Kyle Carr.

Kyle Carr scored again for Western Suburbs. He put them on the board after 35 mins away against FC Western... but he forgot to score a second and clearly Wests didn’t get the memo that the other Wests in the division have been getting more and more comfortable at this level as the season has gone along. Leo Elder struck an equaliser for them on 73’ and the game ended 1-1. Western did beat the WeeNix a few weeks ago but holding a top four side to a draw probably ranks as the higher achievement. As for Western Suburbs, in the past month and a half they’ve: drawn 2-2 with Karori, won 1-0 vs Miramar, drawn 3-3 with Napier, been knocked out of the Chatham Cup 2-0 by Miramar, lost 2-1 to Olympic, and now drawn 1-1 with Western. Some very tough games in there but one win out of five plus a cup exit is the kind of run that can spoil the whole year’s work. They’re still fourth but lagging seven points behind top spot with their National League hopes for this year and next now in serious jeopardy.

Chunky win for Upper Hutt City who put six unanswered past Waterside Karori. Five of those before half-time. Scoring went: Donal Gahan (10’), Gahan (12’), Joe Cornille (32’), Lucas Hansen (36’ pen), Connor McIndoe (38’)... and then Rio Winkworth added another (58’) for a 6-0 scoreline. Obviously captain Donal Gahan didn’t demand the penalty even though he was on a hatty. The Wharfies had been going alright with a 4-0 win over IBU and a 0-0 draw with the WeeNix before this thumping.

As for those Wellington Phoenix Reserves, they had a 1-1 stalemate away against Petone. Ben Trenberth scored their goal (31’) with the 16-year-old continuing to look like an amazing prospect... and it was assisted by Jack Clegg who is around the same age and starting to get similar prominence with plenty of NZ age grade stuff upcoming for both later this year. However Nick Drayton (84’) turned up to force a share of the spoils. Second start for new Nix goalkeeper Liam McMaster. Also a season debut, probably a Central League debut in fact, for 18yo Grayson Lunman who once took on the Mayor of Wellington in a football juggling contest when he was seven years old. He lost... but Mark Paston was there too and he touted him as a future All White. Now he’s cracked the Nix U20s team so who knows?

The Niche Cache is fully independent and dedicated to kiwi sports so if you rate what we do, please help us out on Patreon, Substack, or Buy Me A Coffee

Also helps to whack an ad, tell your mates about us, and also try do a bit of all that likes, comments, shares stuff for those pesky algorithms