Men’s Southern League

Friday night under lights at Ferrymead Park was the scene for a second versus third scrap-out between Ferrymead Bays and Coastal Spirit... although the scrapping only went in one direction. Bays were tremendous and Spirit were the complete opposite. Omar Cameron put Ferrymead ahead inside of two minutes before doubling that on 12’. The slippery Jackson Cole, in only his second game since signing for the club, made it 3-0 on 34’ and then Sorasit Mac Prathumphithak (45+1’) made it four with a cruncher of a finish. Devastating stuff. Omar Cameron later rounded off his hatty (80’) and then Emlyn Williams (90+1’) completed the rout for a 6-0 final score. That puts Ferrymead four points ahead of Coastal and has them genuinely on track for National League qualification. It also bodes well for Christchurch United’s ongoing quest to close the gap between them and Coastal for 2027 MNL purposes. Omar Cameron has 10 goals this season, he’s having a banger year.

Christchurch United did what was required of their side of the bargain by winning 4-0 away against Wānaka FC. Charlie Beale broke the deadlock on 36’ and then their superior depth eventually gave them some wiggle room thanks to a brace from Joel Stevens (76’, 87’) and a goal for Ry McLeod (86’). None of those guys had scored for the Rams this year in previous Southern League activities. Might be that CUFC have finally located those extra gears that they’ve long been suspected of having.

Nelson Suburbs got the job done with a 2-1 win away to Selwyn United. Trevin Myers put them ahead with a beauty from distance (35’), Finlay Cotton got free in the box and benefitted from a goalkeeping fumble to tie to things back up (48’), Nelson missed a penalty that was saved by John Antcliffe (58’), but Ben Polak won it for Nelson Subs on the end of a sharp transition attack (78’). Nomads United won 2-0 against Dunedin City Royals with Flynn Holdem (65’) and Angus McIntyre (85’) providing the goals, getting themselves into the right places at the right times to earn a valuable three points. Those are two parallel results that keep Nomads and Nelson Subs level on points, now just one behind third-placed Coastal. Nelson Suburbs won 11-0 last week so their goal difference is miles better for the tie-breaker but other than that it’s neck and neck and both of them still have to face Ferrymead Bays again so there could yet be a twist in the race for second. Meanwhile, Selwyn and Wānaka are level on seven points at the bottom and play each other in a couple of weeks in what’ll likely be the wooden spoon decider.

And you don’t really need to ask but yeah Cashmere Technical won again. And yeah Garbhan Coughlan was amongst the goals. Tech beat Northern 3-0 on the road, dealing a rare defeat to the Dunedin club on their home ground... and also extenuating some troubling form after that 11-0 loss in Nelson last week. At least this was a lot better than that. Coughlan (16’), Coughlan (45+1’), and Edy Belingher (70’) with the goals. Garbhan Coughlan’s 23 goals are more than double the next bloke in the top scorer’s list (Zander Edwards of CT and a pair of Nelson dudes, Lennon Whewell & Johnny Reynolds, who all have 11 each). The man simply cannot be contained.

Women’s South Island League

It may have been the lowest scoring South Island League week all year as all eight teams were involved and yet none of them, not even Cashmere Technical, scored more than twice. Cashmere Tech still won though. They had a tricky one hosting an in-form Universities of Canterbury side where only a 35th min goal from Margi Dias (who else) could separate the sides as Tech claimed a 1-0 victory. They’d won 5-2 in the corresponding away fixture back in May, though since then UoC had only conceded three goals in six matches. One was enough for Cashmere as they surge nine points clear at the top of the ladder with an 8-1-0 record and +32 goal difference. Margi Dias has scored 17 goals in a division where still only one other player (Georgia Nixon of DCR with 11) has more than five. There are 5/8 teams in the WSIL who’ve scored fewer than Dias alone.

The reason Cashmere have stretched their lead is because their main challengers, Dunedin City Royals, fell in a 2-1 loss away to Otago University. It was scoreless at the break before Hannah Mackay-Wright gave DCR the lead (52’)... then quick strikes from Georgia Kennedy (61’) and Jemma McCormick (64’) changed the tune to give Otago Uni their best result of the year and serve DCR only their second defeat (the other, of course, coming against Cashmere Tech). They were going neck and neck with Tech for a wee while but this result straight after their 3-3 draw with Roslyn Wakari last time is probably going to leave them with too much to do. Even if they beat Tech in the rematch, they’ll need someone else to trip them up as well. Last week it was Morgan MacCormick who scored the very late equaliser for RWAFC, this week it was Jemma McCormick with the winner for Otago Uni. Different spellings, unrelated ballers, but gotta watch out for those Maccas down south.

Morgan MacCormick scored again as Roslyn Wakari won 2-0 against NW United. It was MacCormick (26’) and Sienna Neill (42’) who got the job done there as RWAFC moved three points clear of last-placed NWU. That’s Roslyn Wakari’s first win of the campaign and it had been long overdue for a team that had previously managed draws against local rivals Otago Uni and Dunedin City as well as away to Nelson Suburbs. Those are tough results that suggested a team worthy of more than they’d been getting. Also fitting that an S.Neill should be on the scoresheet for an Otago-based team after the week that was.

Last but not least, Nelson Suburbs won 2-1 vs Coastal Spirit. Anise Bazley (37’) and Sola Tsuruta (50’) scored on either side of the break before Ashlyn Gillespie-Nye (81’) did her best to spark a comeback. Wasn’t to be. That result sees Nelson Subs leapfrog Coastal on the ladder.

Men’s Central League

The task for Napier City Rovers is now a simple one: win their last four games and they’ll be champions of the Central League for the first time since 2018. No reason to think they can’t since they’re already on a four-game winning streak following a 2-1 triumph away to the Wellington Phoenix Reserves. Mac Munro put the Ressies ahead after 33 minutes but Caleb Hunt tied things up right before HT (45+1’) to mess with the team talk vibes. Close game, not much between them, great effort from the WeeNix lads... but Jacob Fenton scored in the 85th minute to give Rovers the victory and keep them top of the table with four rounds left. That’s seven games without a win for the WeeNix. Preseason training for the A-League team has started so they might be stretched thinner than usual from here on out, particularly with a heavy contingent also currently in the NZ U16s squad that’s over in Papua New Guinea. Cailean Hamilton made his first CL appearance of the year in this match. He’s the 32nd different player used by the Nix Reserves in the 2026 Central League.

Wellington Olympic held serve with a 2-1 win of their own, beating Island Bay United away. Morgan Wellsbury continued his happy introductions with another goal (35’). Timothy O'Farrell levelled things up (58’) to introduce some nerves into the equation for the five-time defending Central League champs... but that’s what Gianni Bouzoukis is for. His goal (72’) won it for the Greeks. Goal #123 for Bouzoukis in Greek colours as he moves within seven of the club record. Meanwhile, Miramar Rangers did not hold serve. They double faulted with a 1-1 draw away to Petone. Alex Davies (signed from Olympic at the start of the year) put Petone ahead (4’) with a very nice goal cutting in from the left wing and only an Owen Smith penalty (65’) saved them from defeat. What that means is Napier City are two points clear of Miramar with Olympic a further point behind them. All with four games left. Good fun.

Western Suburbs are in fourth, a little too far away to mount a challenge. They won 2-1 away to Upper Hutt City on the weekend with goals from Tareq Morgan (14’) and Hamish Clark (84’) trumping Lucas Hansen’s late reply for UHC (88’). And there was also a 3-2 win for Waterside Karori away against FC Western. Much better from Western this week after shipping nine unanswered against Olympic last outing. Jacob Jefferson (45’) and Albert Francis-Alles (64’) put the Wharfies up by two before Connor Oliver-Rose (66’) managed to halve the deficit and then Leo Elder (90+4’) to seemingly scored a dramatic equaliser... except there was still enough time for Francis-Alles to win it even later (90+7’). Thaaaat’s brutal.

Women’s Central League

There were some top of the table antics on Friday night when Wellington United hosted Petone at Newtown Park. Petone’s draw with Waterside Karori last week had allowed the Diamonds to jump them into first place and, well, now that lead is even more assertive after a 5-0 win. Goals from Natalie Brooke (15’), Hannah Pilley (38’, 51’), Ela Jerez (80’), and Jemma Robertson (83’). The Jerez goal was a ripper from distance... she’s now scored eight times in six appearances since joining the team – a team which has won their last three games by a combined scoreline of 23-0 to surge to the top of the standings. To put this into context, Petone had only conceded six goals in 12 games before this... to then suddenly ship five in ninety minutes was quite abrupt. They’ve got the Taradale Bye next week so Petone might have fallen to third by the next time they play, depending on if Karori take anything off this Diamonds team in that fixture. Hannah Pilley has now scored 25 goals this Central League season – her former teammate Natalie Olson scored 35 in 16 CL games in 2025 so that’s the target to aim for, albeit unlikely with only four games remaining and a couple tricky fixtures in amongst.

Waterside Karori used a first-half blitz to stride towards a 7-1 win away to Palmerston North Marist. Jessica Woodside scored twice (26’, 33’) before Amelia Abbott (35’), Sophie Burchfield (41’), and Natalie Orellana (45+1’) ensured they were five up at HT and cruising. Orellana (60’) and Burchfield (61’) then added seconds of their own before Caylee Fergus (68’) at least ensured that PNM weren’t going home completely empty handed. Because of Taradale’s withdrawal, PNM had to play the three top teams all in a row and predictably that didn’t go too well: 10-0 to Petone, 5-0 to WU, 7-1 to Karori. But at least those games are out of the way now. For the Wharfies, this gets them within one point of Petone with a game in hand and much better goal difference. That’s also a game in hand on Wellington United so if they beat them next week then the Wharfies will be right back in the race. Top two for National League too, don’t forget (it might even be top three if they pass along the Central Football ticket that’s been declined).

Slightly surprising result with Seatoun holding Palmerston North United to a 1-1 draw. The home side scored early through Nicky Finn (7’), Kate MacPherson levelled it up in the second half (58’), and that was that. Points going missing for United as they attempt to keep pace with the top three. They’ll finish their season with consecutive games against Petone (home on 2 Aug), Waterside Karori (away on 8 Aug), and Wellington United (away on 29 Aug) so one way or another they’re going to have a big say in how this Central League season concludes.

And then there was a 2-0 win for the Wellington Phoenix U18s against Victoria University, made possible through the goal scoring feats of Victoria George (17’) and Ruby Barber (85’). Victoria George > Victoria University, apparently. Vic Uni have been getting battered during the second round of fixtures (although they’re a lot better at home) but the WeeNix have been pretty inconsistent as a new wave of players move into the U18s this year. Just gotta find a way to get the three points in those circumstances, learn what it takes and ingrain those winning habits. Mission accomplished there and they’ve now climbed above Miramar Rangers, who had the bye, and into fifth place.

It looks like Ruby Barber started and Victoria George was also on the bench for the Phoenix Reserves the following day as they came from two goals down to win 3-2 against Western Suburbs U15 Boys. Libby McMillan and Lily Brazendale (x2) did the scoring. Evie Baird also started both games after captaining the U18s on Saturday. Eliza Vincent and Madison Sharkey were the others to double up in both match-day squads. Decent bit of overlap there. Probably necessary in that pesky window between last year’s A-League contracts expiring and next year’s not yet having begun.

Men’s Northern League

News this week outta Western Springs that coach Scotty Hales will be stepping down at the end of the year. They’ve had a difficult year trying to stay competitive after losing a chunk of their squad to the Pro League but don’t forget the Swans won the Northern League in 2025. This was a pretty successful few years for them. Not much to play for but pride over the remaining couple months, since they won’t get top four for National League... but they are likely to end up in the playoff spots for next year’s National League so getting a bit of winning form between now and then is a necessity. If Hales can deliver them that as a farewell present then that’s primo for the next gaffer to inherit.

Western Springs drew 0-0 away to Auckland United this week. A clean sheet is always pretty tasty... though this was a much better result for AUFC than it was for WS, with United knowing that they need to finish ahead of Western Springs to get automatic entry for the 2027 MNL and avoid the aforementioned three-way playoff for the last spot. A draw here keeps them eight points above (albeit damaging their chances of getting into the top four). Big day for the Manuel whanau too... with Tiahn Manuel (AU) playing against his brothers Jackson and Riley (WS). All three were in the starting line-ups.

Eastern Suburbs have been more renowned for their excellent defence this season than for their goal-scoring exploits but they sure let loose upon Manukau United in a 7-0 victory. Noah Karunaratne (10’), Jake Mechell (20’), Sam Wall (38’), Mechell for a second time (44’), Tino Contratti (64’), Keen Mandizvidza (71’), and Caleb Woodfield (83’). Cool to see 18yo Woodfield on that list. He only made his first team debut for Suburbs earlier this year, having previously been with Melville Utd. Hefty win to keep ESAFC on course for a top four finish.

Same goes for Auckland City who had to withstand some trouble from Tauranga City at Kiwitea Street. Colby Brennan put TC ahead in the third minute, then after a double from Tauranga native Nathan Rostron (29’, 33’) they were level again soon after the break as Benjamin Petrik scored (51’). Ah but then Gerard Garriga (56’) responded just as quickly and Auckland City got out of there with a 3-2 win. Impressive graft from a relatively embattled Tauranga side despite a fifth consecutive defeat. TCAFC have developed some superb talents in the last few years... but those blokes (like Rostron) always leave and they have to adapt. Right now they’re in the downswing though perhaps Ben Petrik will be the next breakthrough fella - he’s only 18 years old and his goal was a screamer in off the post from range. Lucah De Roo and Jayden Hyland were the other two teenagers who started this game for Tauranga City. But yeah, Auckland City had a little too much in the tank for them. Four wins in a row for ACFC who sit second, though have played an extra game than the two teams (Eastern Subs & Fencies) immediately below them.

There was another slip from East Coast Bays. They were only able to draw 2-2 with Bay Olympic, twice having to come from behind just to get that point. Derek Tieku (5’ BO), Guy-Frank Essome-Penda (27’ ECB), Giovanni Peredo (30’ BO), Guy-Frank Essome-Penda (49’ ECB). East Coast Bays have only lost to teams currently in the top half but they’ve had a couple too many draws against the bottom half contingent and are now three points adrift of the top four with very average goal difference. Gonna need a heavy push from here. Decent from Bay Olympic though, backing it up after their draw with Melville last time to climb up a rung on the ladder.

Auckland FC Reserves gave it a good nudge but weren’t able to halt this crazy Fencibles United winning streak. 2-1 to Fencies after Dylan Laing-McConnell (4’) and Owen Moyo (52’) scored early in each half with Charlie Hale (15’) getting another one for the AFC lads. Four goals in five appearances for Hale in blue and black... after ten scoreless for the WeeNix in the Central League prior to his transfer. Got a sighter of Eli Jones in goal against his former club... AFC have lost five of his seven appearances, though that’s because he mostly only plays the tough ones (like this game and both Birkenhead matches). But this wasn’t really about them. This was about the Rhys Ruka-coached Fencibles United side that have made it ten wins in a row across league and cup whilst scoring multiple times in every one of those outings. Top scoring team in the Northern League. Laing-McConnell’s fourth strike of the season makes him the seventh Fencies player to reach or surpass that goal tally. They’re still fourth... but only two points shy of second.

There was a wee small window of time when Birkenhead United found themselves on the ropes against visiting Melville United. Luke Searle, himself a former Birko lad, put Melville ahead in the game (10’) to the delight of Auckland City, Eastern Suburbs, Fencibles, and maybe even East Coast Bays fans too. But it didn’t last. Within ten minutes they were winning and by the end of it they’d emerged with a very safe 4-1 victory. Josh Redfearn converted a penalty (15’) and Rayhan Carlson-Du Toit scored twice (17’, 31’) then Kian Donkers (49’) bagged one on his return from Pro League stuff with Auckland FC. Birko have 47 points on the board. The most that Eastern Subs or Fencibles can manage, with five rounds to go, is 49 points. Auckland City can only get to 48 points. Pretty sure that means that Birkenhead United will clinch the title if they win... not next week because that’s a Chatham Cup week but the week after when they’re away to Western Springs. Might as well collect the trophy while they’re there since Springs are the current holders. Bring a screwdriver to get into the trophy cabinet.

Women’s NRFL Premiership

We had some midweek footy here. Wednesday night at Riverhills Park was the scene as Fencibles United hosted Western Springs. It was also the livestream game for the round so you can catch all the action in the link below... or not because it was a 0-0 draw. Little bit uneventful although that’s a good point for Western Springs, especially with the clean sheet. Starting to get some rewards for their incremental improvements, that’s what you want to see from such a young side. Fencies should have probably found a way through with the team they’ve got... but it’s reached that stage of the season for them. No longer in the title race, under no threat for their top four spot. It is what it is. Take a breath and try find some momentum to take into the National League.

Games between West Coast Rangers and Auckland United are always worthy of circling on the calendar. Even when the goals don’t flow, there’s invariably plenty of spice. That was the case here as AUFC prepared for the game, their first since retaining the OFC Champions League, by scooping up a transfer from their opposition and rivals. Chloe Bellamy had scored three times for West Coast Rangers this year but she lined up in the starters for Auckland United against her old mates for this fixture. Feisty. However it was an early penalty from Olivia Ingham (6’) that mattered most. 1-0 to Auckland United.

Eastern Suburbs didn’t have it easy but they also won to stay three points clear at the top, having played one game more than AUFC. The Lilywhites beat Ellerslie 2-1 on the road. Stacey Martin (35’) put them ahead, Cilla Fa’afua levelled up for the Ponies (59’), then Zoe Brazier scored the winner (77’) to ensure nothing changed in the title hunt. No stumbles, no goal difference boosts. As you were for another week.

How about that Western Springs revival? The draw with Fencies was choice but they raised the ante on the weekend by beating Melville United 4-0 with goals from Hannah Saxon (2’), Hilary Halpin (17’), and a Katie Rood double (60’, 80’). Halpin is a recent addition, an American import who had initially moved here to join Auckland United. That’s consecutive clean sheets for Angelique TuiSamoa. Only the second win of the season for the Swans. Melville are still ahead of them by one point but Springs do have a game in hand.

Dunno what was served at the aftermatch of that Fencies vs Springs game but there was also a huge statement win for Fencibles in the days afterwards. They hosted last-placed Tauranga Moana and put eight past them, including five within the opening half hour. Goals for Rosie Missen (5’), Mihiro Kisu (10’ pen), Hayley Miller (18’), Tineke de Jong (19’), Hayley Miller (29’), Charlize Kerr (42’), Hayley Miller for the third time (66’), and a second for Mihiro Kisu (90+3’). It’s still the case that nobody is even within five goals of Maggie Jenkins for the Golden Boot lead (despite her having left for Australia in mid-May) but the Fencies club title is a sneaky one with Mihiro Kisu on nine goals, Tineke de Jong on eight goals, and Hayley Miller on seven goals.

The Niche Cache is made possible by the good sorts who support us on Patreon, Substack, and Buy Me A Coffee... please get amongst if you appreciate the yarns

Also helps to tell your mates about us, whack an ad while you’re here, and do all those liking and commenting and sharing things that the algorithms demand