Oceania Women’s Champions League

It didn’t come easy for them but Auckland United have made it three OCL titles in a row. They won 2-1 in the semi-final against Tafea FC (Vanuatu) with goals from Charley March (49’) and Olivia Ingham (55’) before Nettie Kalsau pulled one back at the end (87’). The group stage had been pretty cruisey for them but AUFC had to dig deep in the knockouts, held scoreless into HT of this one before March sliced an intended cross inside the near post (although the nutmeg one-two with Ingham was all class in the build-up). Nice effort from Ingham for the second too, running near post onto a Shev Edwards cross and from there it was clinical with one touch to turn and a second touch to shoot.

That meant that for the third year in a row it would be Auckland United (New Zealand) against Hekari Women (Papua New Guinea) in the grand final. Plenty of PNG internationals in that squad – you probably remember goalkeeper Betty Sam after she had the game of her life against the Football Ferns in the final of World Cup qualifying earlier this year. She was one of five players lining up for Hekari who also started against NZ in April (Betty Sam, Serah Waida, Anashtasia Gunemba, Ramona Padio, and Phylis Pala) while two others came off the bench that day (Michaelyne Butubu, Nenny Elipas) and a further two were also in that PNG squad (Raynata Samuel, Calista Maneo). Plus they’re coached by the same bloke: Ericson Komeng. It may as well have been an international fixture for Auckland United... against a team that NZ’s own national team struggled to beat 1-0.

That was an off-day for the Ferns and AUFC were keen to avoid anything similar, quickly taking a fourth-minute lead as Alaina Granger headed in from close range... although Hekari got back level through Nenny Elipas (18’) after a little lapse with some penalty area defending from AUFC. It wasn’t until the shadows of half-time (45+3’) that Sasha Adamson curled in a beauty of a finish from outside the area and even then they didn’t find the killer blow until the finish line was in sight when Aniela Jensen (87’) followed up on a clearance off the crossbar to make it 3-1. Awesome to see Saskia Vosper make a late cameo off the bench to mark her return from an ACL injury. With that, Auckland United are champions of Oceania once again and have booked a return to the FIFA Champions Cup where they’ll face Asian champs Naegojyang of North Korea in the first round.

Women’s NRFL Premiership

The aforementioned confederation activities meant that Auckland United vs Fencibles United was postponed, leaving AUFC with a couple of league games plus a Kate Sheppard Cup quarter-final to catch up with now that they’re back in the country. It also seems likely they’ll be contributing a bunch of players to that Auckland FC vs Chelsea exhibition game next month, based on the presence of AUFC players at the announcement. Otherwise it’d be a top-five team on the planet against an U17s team so yeah. Good thing United have got a very deep squad because they’re going to need it.

Tauranga Moana put up a decent fight against Eastern Suburbs, holding them scoreless through the first forty-five at Fergusson Park before goals from Anna McPhie (52’), Stacey Martin (75’), and Sam Tawharu (82’) eventually settled it as a 3-0 victory for the Lilywhites. With AUFC having been busy elsewhere, that’s allowed Eastern Suburbs to put some points on the board and move three clear at the summit. AU still have the superior goal difference but they’re both unbeaten with only two draws (one of which was against each other) hence we’re going to have ourselves quite the title race, by the looks of it. Those two teams face off in a rescheduled midweeker on Wednesday 22 July, not to mention that KSC game which doesn’t appear to have an official date yet.

There were some good underdog areas from Western Springs, who only lost 1-0 away to West Coast Rangers with Nicole Stratford scoring the lone goal for WCR (22’). Springs have gotten better and better since Ben Bate stepped in as coach... though turning their competitive outings into results remains an issue. Probably on account of having only scored four goals in 12 matches. But they’re getting closer. As for Rangers, it doesn’t look like their title defence is going to happen however with home games to come against both Auckland United and Eastern Suburbs they are still hanging around. Must-wins from their perspective – the first of those coming next week against AUFC. Catch them while they’re adjusting back to the Auckland winter, not a bad time for it.

By the way, Maggie Jenkins left Auckland United for Essendon Royals two months ago and yet she remains five goals clear atop the Golden Boot chart in the NRFL Premiership. 16 goals for Jenkins... you’d imagine that Emily Lyon (11, WCR), Juliette Lucas (10, ES), maybe even Laura Bennett (9, MU) or Shev Edwards (9, AU) will catch her eventually but it hasn’t happened yet.

Laura Bennett scored her ninth for Melville United as they hosted Ellerslie. Great run from wide, getting onto an excellent diagonal over the top from Shion Hwang, and then making no mistake after the defence backed off her in the penalty area. That was Melville 1-0 Ellerslie after 39 minutes... alas it didn’t stay that way. Anita Trudgen buried a pinpoint finish across the keeper running into the area on 53’ and then Arisa Takeda converted at the back post on 78’ for the hard-fought win. Bummer from Melville who’d have climbed within a point of Ellerslie if they’d held that half-time lead, instead it’s the Ponies who now look very firmly entrenched in fifth-place.

Men’s Northern League

Game of this Northern League round was Fencibles United 3-2 East Coast Bays. Fencies have been the form team of late while ECB have been up near the top all season. Big game for both sides and it was current form that triumphed as Liam Wessels (19’) and Yoichi Kawachi (32’) scored first half goals either side of an equaliser from Guy-Frank Essome-Penda (24’). Bays made a few subs trying to get back in the hunt but it was Liam Wessels who bagged his second (76’) to put Fencibles on course for victory, although Luke Flowerdew did get one back (84’) to keep it slippery.

That all made for a great game at Riverhills between two very good teams from outside the usual powerhouse names... with Fencibles extending their winning streak to nine in all comps and six in the league, scoring multiple times in every one of those games. It turned out to be a disaster outcome for East Coast Bays though. Losing is bad enough but all the other top teams won which means that ECB have dropped from third (behind ACFC on goal difference with a game in hand) to fifth and outside the National League spots. Unfortunately they’ve only won three of their last eight fixtures so that’s what’ll happen.

Moving through all those other winners, Birkenhead United kept it zooming with a 4-0 win over Auckland United. Dino Botica set it up with a pair of set piece headers (40’, 52’) before Hamed Basiri (75’) slammed in a third and Monty Patterson (85’) dinked home a fourth. If there’s a way to stop that Birko team, nobody’s yet figured it out. 14-2-0 record to be 11 points clear with six games remaining (okay they did lose to Fencies in the Chatham Cup so there is that). Tough loss for AUFC who’d been on a tidy run since re-integrating a few Pro League guys... they’ve had some highs and some lows this season, that’s for sure, but they’re only three points outside of the top four.

Auckland City have launched their way up to second after a 5-0 win away against Manukau United, albeit having played an extra game than the teams around them. They gave their new Czech forward Pavel Osmančík a debut and he scored a bloody hat-trick (25’, 47’, 72’) while Ryan Watson (69’) also got amongst it as a new addition, joining recently from Western Springs, before the ever-dependable Angus Kilkolly applied the finishing touches (87’). AK’s got 10 goals now, he’s only one behind the duo of Monty Patterson and Marius Zabarauskas for the league’s top scorer. That’s three wins-to-nil in a row for ACFC.

Eastern Suburbs left it incredibly late but a stoppage time goal from Ignacio Machuca Matureno served them up a 1-0 win away against Western Springs. It was a fantastic hit from IMM on the half-volley, flying in via the underside of the crossbar for the decisive moment in the match. Just like their late equaliser against Birko recently, it began with a long throw... but this one was much less controversial. Still, the Lilywhites are making a bit of a habit of getting these late ones. That was also the sixth 1-0 result they’ve been involved in this season, four wins and two losses. Six goals conceded in 16 matches is crazy stuff.

That accounts for the changes to the top four. Further down the ladder there was also a 1-1 draw between Melville United and Bay Olympic. Maximilian Franke (48’) put Melville ahead but the couldn’t shut the door, with Giovanni Peredo (84’) hitting back to keep those two sides on equal points for at least another week. We’re not expecting to see relegation this year but if there were, it’d be a killer race between that pair and Tauranga City one point above to see who’d go down with Manukau. It was Tauranga City 1-2 Auckland FC Reserves at Links Ave on Saturday. Dejaun Naidoo (25’) scored his first ressies goal of the season while Harley Hill (54’ pen) scored his ninth. A Campbell Higgins goal (72’) wasn’t enough to salvage it for Tauranga... who’ve also now lost Morgan Wellsbury but that’s a topic for another section. AFC have won three of their last four NL fixtures, directly aligning with when Charlie Hale joined the club. The AFC Ressies have used 31 different players during this Northern League season.

Women’s Central League

Let’s begin here with Victoria University 0-13 Wellington United. That’s a paddlin’. Goals scored by: Farina Anchico (11’), Ela Jerez (29’), Hannah Pilley (41’), Madeline O’Farrell (42’), Pilley (45+3’)... that made it 6-0 at HT, okay let’s continue... Marla McInnis (54’), O’Farrell (56’), Jemma Robertson (59’), Robertson (63’), Leonora Webb (69’), Pilley (78’), Robertson (79’), and Webb (86’). Three for Hannah Pilley and Jemma Robertson (the latter off the bench) and two each for Madeline O’Farrell and Leonora Webb. Thus Pilley extends her Golden Boot lead having reached 23 goals in just 12 matches. Madness. Farina Anchico is also up to 10 goals this Central League, putting that Tania Dalton Foundation scholarship to good use. Pretty nasty stuff for Vic Uni who also lost 7-0 away to Palmy Utd last week so that’s 20 goals conceded in 180 minutes during the month of July.

That result means there’s a new leader in the WCL as Wellington United leap into tahi status thanks to a 1-1 draw between Waterside Karori and Petone. The goals were supplied by Pepi Olliver-Bell (54’ P) and Renee Bacon (60’ WK), aka the usual suspects. Nice way for Renee Bacon to celebrate her 100th game for the Wharfies... she’s scored 77 goals in those 100 games. But the draw doesn’t really help either team. Petone slip to second while Waterside Karori will still be third even if they win their game in hand. Having said that, both of those teams have matches remaining against Wellington United so nothing is much closer to being settled despite this latest swing.

Gotta watch out for Palmerston North United after Annabel Irwin’s 49th minute goal gave them a 1-0 win against Miramar Rangers to continue their sizzling form. Six wins from the previous seven matches with only a defeat to Welly Utd in the middle. Make that nine goals overall for Irwin... dunno her exact age but she and sister Georgina Irwin (twins, surely) were doing NZ U16s trials last year so this is the kind of goal-scoring, from outside the dominant clubs, that should get folks sitting up and taking notice. Same deal with Laura Bennett at Melville. Bennett’s already got plenty of international age grade pedigree and we’ll see what kinda opportunities come Annabel Irwin’s way from here... a National League invite would be nice. There’s no Central Football squad this year but with the form of Palmy United perhaps she can qualify the old fashioned way. No word on what the WNL will look like without Central (who as mentioned last week have understandably opted to focus on the National Youth League) but if they do the obvious thing and give a third spot to this region, same as is the case in the Men’s NL, then Waterside Karori (11 games, 25 points) and Palmerston North United (12 games, 22 points) might suddenly be in for a tussle.

The withdrawal of Taradale meant that Palmerston North Marist had a week off. That leaves us with one other game where there was a wee bit of an upset as the Wellington Phoenix U18s lost 3-1 to Seatoun, whose only two previous wins this season had come against Vic Uni and Taradale. Pam Pelders scored late in the opening stanza (38’) and then doubled that lead with a crucial second (67’). Isla Cleall-Harding popped up with a late one (90’) to give the Nix a hint before Nikola Szentirmay-Ross scored even later (90+3’) to give Seatoun the celebrations. Haven’t seen Cleall-Harding for ages - a substitute appearance for a 19-year-old in an U18s team rings of ‘returning from injury’ so cool that she marked that with a goal. ICL has been a prominent figure in the past two National Leagues for the Nix. Darcey Sutherland is a new name on that Nix U18s teamsheet, formerly of Island Bay United and a NYL rep for Capital last year.

Men’s Central League

Might as well start with a heavy win on this side too because Wellington Olympic 9-0 FC Western was a completely anticipated result but the margin was something else, considering how Western had been going alright of late with draws against Wests and the WeeNix. But the Greeks had some extra firepower for this fixture with the addition of 20yo striker Morgan Wellsbury, the tall and mobile striker prospect who was equal top-scorer in the Northern League for Tauranga City last year with 14 goals in 20 games (although had only scored three in a weakened TCAFC squad this time around). Wellsbury also played some National League for Birkenhead United as an U20s loanee. And what did he do on debut for the Greeks? He scored twice, that’s what (he almost had three but the first was credited as an OG).

The procession went: Own Goal (6’), Jack-Henry Sinclair (10’), Morgan Wellsbury (21’), Jaylen Rodwell (28’), Luke Stoupe (37’), Wellsbury (47’), Kieran McMinn (71’), McMinn (74’), Gianni Bouzoukis (84’). So, yeah, not only did they sign Wellsbury but Bouzoukis is back scoring after injury too. With McMinn and Stoupe also in the goals (Stoupe has scored in three straight games) that’s going to give Ekow Quainoo some selection headaches. What’s more, Adam Supyk played having returned to the club after his OPL efforts with Bula FC. Might as well bolster the defence too while they’re at it.

And yet that nine-bagger doesn’t even move Wellington Olympic up the ladder. Napier City Rovers took care of business with a 5-1 win against Upper Hutt City. Rare concession by that Rovers defence, letting Rio Winkworth on the scoresheet (83’)... although by then Napier had already scored five of their own so it didn’t matter: Dan Makowem (6’), Cam Emerson (10’), Ben Stanley (52’, 66’), and Liam Schofield (75’). Some superb finishes among those goals. Rovers continue to bank these wins.

As do Miramar Rangers after Martin Bueno’s 45+3th min goal gave them a 1-0 victory over the Wellington Phoenix Reserves. Not as emphatic as their rivals but it keeps Rovers and Rangers equal on 32 points, sprinting towards a possible title decider when they meet in the penultimate round. Wellington Olympic are three points further back with no further fixtures against those two (but better goal difference), putting their championship defence beyond their own control due to that defeat vs NCR in the previous round. Petone still have games against all three of those title challengers so we’ll call them the kingmakers. New name in that WeeNix team: Jiovanny Gabriel Mora. Can’t find any info about him but he was there and he played.

Western Suburbs won 2-0 against Island Bay United thanks to goals from Cam Mackenzie (12’) and Kyle Carr (89’). Carr needed that late one to stay ahead of Martin Bueno in the top scorer’s charts. Couple too many draws for Wests to realistically remain in the hunt for the trophy but at least they got back to winning ways following after two draws and a loss. Their home form is especially great with six wins, one draw (Napier City), and one loss (Olympic).

In other news, a goal from Matthew Henry (58’) gave Waterside Karori a 1-0 win against Petone. Presumably not the same Matt Henry who takes bundles of wickets for the Blackcaps although that bloke isn’t in the West Indies at the moment so you never know. Adam Milne won a Chatham Cup title with Wairarapa back in the day. There’s history with pace bowlers in cricket being decent footballers. Karori have jumped ahead of the WeeNix thanks to this win, dropping the Nix Reserves to second-to-last.

Random fact: Rio Winkworth’s goal or UHC against Napier was the only goal scored by an away team in this round of Central League footy.

Women’s South Island League

Cashmere Technical did what they normally do with a 5-0 win over Nelson Suburbs, getting goals from Jemma Wilson (26’), Kailey Short (40’), Margi Dias (55’), Laney Strachan (83’), and then a second for Dias (90+3’). Just a cheeky 16 goals this year for Dias... not bad considering Georgia Nixon (11 goals for DCR) is the only other player in this division with more than five. A fifth clean sheet for the Techies from eight games too. There just doesn’t seem to be any stopping them. Weird season for Nelson Suburbs in that they’re seven games deep and have been involved in a 4-0 win (NW), a 4-0 loss (CT home), a 5-0 loss (CT away)... and three 0-0 draws. Yet to be involved in a game where both teams score. Yet to concede a goal against anyone other than Cashmere Tech (against whom they’ve leaked one every twenty minutes).

Cashmere’s path to the championship got a little clearer when Dunedin City Royals were held 3-3 by Roslyn-Wakari in a thriller. It was RW who scored first through Amelia Smith (5’). It was DCR who fought back to be 2-1 ahead thanks to Jordan Tribus (14’) and Georgia Nixon (22’). Roslyn-Wakari levelled up at 2-2 via Charlotte Grey (35’). Georgia Nixon seemed to have won it for the Royals near the end (86’)... only for Morgan MacCormick (90+2’) to say No Deal. It was a fantastic outcome for Roslyn-Wakari to climb out of last place via goal difference and a terrible outcome for Dunedin City who are now six point behind Cashmere Tech and even if they win their game in hand and their away trip to Tech, they’re going to need Tech to drop points somewhere else due to the goal difference swing. Either that or start winning games by double figures themselves. That might be the more likely avenue. DCR appear to have rested a few of their big names following a tough Kate Sheppard Cup defeat to Cashy Tech last week (no Hannah Mackay-Wright, Abby Rankin, Aliya Garrett, for example) and may have been tripped up by that.

Elsewhere, Universities of Canterbury won 1-0 against NW United thanks to a goal from Kyra Lazor after 48 minutes. Quick strike at the beginning of the second half, Lazor showing some pace in behind to get past the on-rushing keeper and convert. Replay here if you’re keen. Not their most convincing result but UC are having a fine campaign with their only two losses coming against Tech and DCR thus far. The previous meeting between these sides was a 7-2 win for the Universities making these some very contrasting scenes.

Also, there was a surprise result as Coastal Spirit won 2-0 against Otago University. A couple years ago this would have been normal procedure but over the last two seasons it’s been the opposite dynamic. However, a brace from Olivia Woollett (50’, 63’) gave Coastal their second win in eight attempts. Not hard to see the issue for Otago Uni: they’re only conceding one goal per game but they just can’t score them now that Georgia Nixon has left. They also had Leila Hausia-Haugen, a Tongan international, banging them away for much of last year and she’s currently back at the University of Puget Sound. Those two scored 18 times between them in 2025 and they simply haven’t replaced that production. This year’s top scorers are Ashley Geusebroek, Georgia Kennedy, and Bridget Merkel with two each.

Men’s Southern League

There was no game between Cashmere Technical and Wānaka FC as flight cancellations meant they had to postpone it. No big win for Cashy Tech this week then, that responsibility instead fell to Nelson Suburbs who won 11-0 against Northern AFC. Yeah, no typo. These two sides met in the Chatham Cup last week where it was a 5-0 win for Nelson Suburbs and then poor old Northern had to make that same trip, almost the full length of the South Island, the following week. It would appear their hearts weren’t really in it after Zac Baird-Hodge was red carded after 36 minutes for lashing out at a man on the ground (that’s what it appeared like, anyway, though you often can’t tell bugger all from those automated cameras). Northern were already 1-0 down at the time after Johnny Reynolds’ goal (12’) and after the sending-off they at least kept it that way until half-time. Then this all happened: Jay Anderson (47’), Lennon Whewell (50’), Whewell (52’), Reynolds (55’), Ben Polak (60’), Polak (62’), Whewell (71’), Cory Vickers (77’), Brock Cotton (81’), Polak (87’).

Ten goals in one half of football. That’s three for Lennon Whewell, three for Ben Polak, and two for Johnny Reynolds. Northern had a chance from the penalty spot to at least get off the duck but it was that kinda day for them that Jack Caldwell missed the target completely. Northern had nine starters in common with last week’s meeting while Nelson Subs used the exact same eleven (as you do). One thing about this Nelson side is that they get when the getting’s good – at home against teams in the bottom half they’ve won 11-0 (Northern), 4-1 (DCR), 6-0 (Selwyn), and 6-0 (Wānaka). Northern’s home and away disparity has been mentioned a few times in these columns and it’s not getting any better with this result... only Cashmere Tech had scored more than twice against them until this belting.

A 0-0 draw between Christchurch United and Ferrymead Bays is an interesting one. Josh Rogerson and Ollie van Rijssel lined up for the Rams to make it seven members of the South Island United OPL squad who’ve turned up at CUFC since that competition wrapped up. Eddie Wilkinson featured off the bench too. But they couldn’t find a way past a very good Ferrymead Bays team that’s eyeing up second place and some National League footy later in the year. Couple of ex-CUFC players in that Bays team too which adds to the spice. The Rams need to get a move on to close the gap between themselves and Coastal Spirit with the 2027 National League in mind, they’re running out of time, but you can’t blame them for being held by a Ferrymead Bays team that’s only lost once all year against a team not called Cashmere Technical.

On that note, Coastal Spirit took a massive step forward with a 1-0 win over Nomads United. Kaleb De Groot-Green scored the only goal after 35 minutes, nodding home after Leonardo Uribe Sepulveda floated an angled cross into the mixer after his initial corner kick was cleared. Coastal’s points tally has mostly been built by being very good at putting away the lesser sides in the division while losing to the top ones - this win and the 1-0 win away to Nelson Suburbs are the exceptions. Huge result for them, especially with a few tricky fixtures remaining as they seek to stay two spots above Christchurch United for that automatic 2027 MNL spot.

Then in the other game, shout out to Dunedin City Royals for a 2-1 victory against Selwyn United. Eden Brummitt (2’) and Kazik Swain (46’) scored their goals – striking very early in both halves - while Dane van Berneveld (81’) hit back late for Selwyn. That lifts them six points clear of Selwyn and Wānaka who are equal on points at the bottom of the pile.

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