Aotearoa Domestic Football Roundup – August 24
Men’s Central League
We’ve still got a title race in the Men’s Central League despite one of this weekend’s results and because of another. The ‘despite’ comes from the Saturday slate of games where Petone held Wellington Olympic to a 1-1 draw, with all the fun stuff happening in the last ten minutes. Ta Eh Doe (81’) gave Petone the lead with a beautiful low curling effort off his left, shaping past his marker to find space from 20 yards out. But then Seb Barton-Ginger did something similar up the other end roughly 100 seconds later for Olympic (82’), albeit from inside the area. Ben Mata stayed forward as a makeshift target man striker the rest of the way however the Greeks couldn’t create much else playing into a tremendous breeze.
What that meant was that Napier City Rovers went into their match against Miramar Rangers the following day knowing that they could clinch the title with a win. Anything else and they’d have to wait until the final round next week... where admittedly they’re home against FC Western but when it comes to trophies you always want to wrap them up as soon as possible because funny things can happen in this sport. Funny things definitely happened in this game. Incredible action as Jacob Fenton (8’) and Aston Hurd (48’) scored early in each half to give Rovers two separate leads around an Adam Hewson goal (28’) – Hewson spent the previous two years with NCR although is from Otago originally. Fenton’s goal was a beaut, first time into the top corner after Hurd set him up. That had Rovers 25 minutes from glory until Nico Bobadilla ran onto a deflected ball in behind to equalise with a dinked finish (66’) and then, deep into added time, Theo Ettema put his head on an inswinging corner from Owen Smith (90+5’) and Miramar Rangers had won it 3-2.
There isn’t much difference between a draw and a loss for Napier City but it’s a gigantic result for Miramar Rangers since it lifts them above Wellington Olympic into second place by one point. Heading into the last round, Napier City Rovers still only need to win away to FC Western to win their first regional league title since 2018. They should do that without a fuss – they beat those guys 6-1 when they met in Napier earlier in the campaign. But if they do happen to slip up (and a draw is as bad as a loss since they have the worst goal difference of the three contenders) then Miramar Rangers can repeat their 2020 championship by also defeating Western Suburbs at home. As for the five-time defending Central League champs Wellington Olympic, well, they need both NCR and MR to fail and they also themselves need to beat Waterside Karori at home. Napier City need one result to go their way (their own). Miramar need two results to go their way. Olympic need three results to go their way.
Western Suburbs would have been chuffed to see 18yo midfielder George Green summoned into the NZ U19s squad for the Oceania Championships next month. They’d have been further chuffed to see him score the opening goal (23’) as they beat Waterside Karori 3-0. Kyle Carr scored a pair of penalties (74’, 80’) to make sure of the result... and also to send himself back top of the Golden Boot charts with one round to go. The American has 11 goals to his name while Martin Bueno (MR) and Lucas Hansen (UHC) are on 10 goals. Can’t count out Connor Gaul (MR) or Ben Stanley (NCR) with 9 goals either. Alas for Western Suburbs, the win for Miramar means they cannot qualify for this year’s National League and will also need to go through the playoffs to earn a spot in next year’s new format. If Rovers had beaten Rangers then Wests would have had a chance to haul them down on both counts when they go head to head next week. To be honest, that’s the bigger prize from Miramar’s win in Napier, considering it’s still very probable that NCR wins the title: double National League qualification!
Upper Hutt City won 3-0 against FC Western with goals from Riley Allison (41’), Lucas Hansen (48’, 82’). That double from Hansen is what’s gotten him into Golden Boot contention... Hansen has scored in seven of his last ten matches which includes goals against three of the top four sides. He’s only a year out of school too (St Pat’s Silverstream). It’s been a breakthrough year for that lad, no doubt about that.
(Turn the volume up on that clip for some great insight from the FCW keeper)
Finally, the Wellington Phoenix Reserves were leading 1-0 at half-time away to Island Bay United thanks to a goal from Luke Mitchell (31’). Then a brace from Giovanni Darroch (48’, 52’) turned things around the other way for a 2-1 IBU victory. Nice mahi from Island Bay, backing it up after their 4-2 win over Upper Hutt in their previous outing. Kinda concerning for the WeeNix though – that’s 11 games without a win (including a Chatham Cup exit also against IBU) since winning 3-1 against Island Bay way back in May. They only had three players in the NZ U19s squad that was just announced (Dan Nelson, Jayden Smith, Eamonn McCarron), all of whom started this match. Much bigger presence in the NZ U16s a couple months ago and a few of those guys have been involved throughout the season (Jack Clegg and Ben Trenberth started this match while Zach Cashmore came off the bench) so it could simply be that they’re in between peak waves of talent. That sorta thing does happen sometimes.
Whatever the situation, they’ve gotta shape up for some National League soon after having only won 2/17 Central League games. Last year they won 8 games and finished fourth. Even if the WeeNix win next week against UHC, this is still going to be their worst Central League effort dating back to the start of their partnership with Lower Hutt City in 2019. Fewest wins, fewest points, fewest goals scored... and it’s not even close on any of those counts – they’d have to win 17-0 in their last game to match their previous lowest goals tally from two years ago. Granted, that’s also evidence of a more competitive top-to-bottom Central League these days compared to even just three or four years ago. Credit where it’s due because the WeeNix have been really good defensively; Wellington Olympic are the only team to score more than twice in a game against this side. Their backline has a lot more senior experience than their attackers so that stacks up.
Women’s Central League
Say, would you look at that...
Wellington United are champions of the Women’s Central League. That’s a sentence that could have been spoken at any time in the past three years and it would have been equally true (in fact, this makes it 8 of the last 11 titles for the Diamonds)... although for much of this season it was anyone’s guess whether the three-peat would be happening with both Petone and Waterside Karori putting up hefty challenges of their own. Ah but consecutive wins to nil against those sides in July put Wellington United in the box seat and they made sure to appreciate the view.
Since the 3-2 loss against the WeeNix in June, the Diamonds have won six games on the trot scoring 34 goals and conceding one. That one was scored by Iris Reweti-Gould for Miramar Rangers in the 13th minute of their match on the weekend yet by that time Farina Anchico (3’, 6’) and Hannah Pilley (10’) had already put WU up by three. Kennedy Corkin (65’) and Jemma Robertson (90+1’) added further strikes as Wellington United won 5-1 to confirm their title with a game to spare.
Victoria University had already won 2-0 in an upset against Petone last week. Palmerston North United had the Taradale Bye. That left two other games in this division. One of those was Seatoun 1-0 Palmerston North Marist, where the decisive goal came courtesy of Nikola Szentirmay-Ross (57’). Fifth win of the season for Seatoun (not including their second round win vs Taradale before that lot withdrew); that pair drew 1-1 when they met in Palmy in May. The other result was Waterside Karori winning 2-0 away against the Wellington Phoenix U18s. Goals from Jessica Woodside (20’) and Sophie Burchfield (76’) got that one done for the Wharfies as they climbed to second in the standings, a couple of hours before finding out that Wellington United had won to move out of reach in first.
Men’s Northern League
One of the most significant games of the entire season took place on a sneaky Wednesday night in East Auckland where Fencibles United, fresh from qualifying for the club’s first ever Chatham Cup final, put themselves right back in the hunt for National League with a 4-1 win over Auckland United. They weren’t quite as quick off the mark as they had been in the cup semi but a brace from Dylan Laing-McConnell (12’, 38’) and another from Jordan Boon (41’) had them three up at HT. Oli Fay’s reply (55’) gave AUFC a pathway back into the match before DLM broke away and was sliced down in the area, allowing Ronaldo Lopez Munoz (71’ pen) to seal the deal for Fencies. Super penalty into the top corner. All four Fencies goals were excellent finishes – the others being two emphatic headers and a dipping banger from range for DLM.
Heck of a few days for Fencies but they couldn’t quite make it a perfect week, drawing 0-0 with Birkenhead United on the weekend. Birko had Monty Patterson red carded after 42 minutes for a late lunging tackle. Overly enthusiastic on the press, immediately apologetic, but late and reckless nonetheless. Very helpful circumstance for Fencibles alas they weren’t able to cash in against the champs, in fact it was 10-man Birko who had the better moments the rest of the way... although Kodie Nicol did rattle the crossbar from distance for Fencies. The goalless draw keeps Birkenhead Utd undefeated with only Bay Olympic (A) left to manoeuvre past as they seek to go undefeated throughout the entire campaign.
That’d be the same Bay Olympic who lost 3-1 away to Auckland United on Saturday. Lucas Lovelock (43’ pen) did give them a half-time lead from the spot, to the utter delight of any Fencibles fans who were checking their phones during their own game (which kicked off half an hour before). But Auckland United roared back in the second spell via a double from Otto Ingham (55’, 71’) and an own goal (59’) to earn a 3-1 win that puts AUFC back up into fourth. It’ll be a fascinating final round because Auckland United are away to East Coast Bays, not an easy fixture, while Fencibles host Western Springs. They’re level on 38 points but AUFC have a +5 goal difference advantage so Fencies either need to better the AUFC result or else they need to win by five goals more than Auckland Utd do. All games kick off at the same time in the Northern League (which isn’t the case for all of these divisions). For those of you who love a mathematical possibility, Auckland United are all but confirmed for the 2027 National League but there is still the tiniest of chances that they drop to sixth place and have to contest the playoffs (which Western Springs are otherwise destined for). For that to happen, Auckland Utd would need to lose by at least 10 goals against ECB (along with a Fencibles victory).
Eastern Suburbs and East Coast Bays played out a 1-1 draw. It was Guy-Frank Essome Penda for ECB (25’) and it was Ignacio Machuca (51’) for ESAFC. That’s a draw that doesn’t particularly suit either of them as Suburbs still have work to do in order to confirm second place ahead of Auckland City while East Coast Bays missed the chance to gain ground on the top four, leaving them three points adrift with much worse goal difference. The damage was done in previous weeks with consecutive losses against Melville and Auckland FC Reserves – ECB have only won 1/6 games since the beginning of July. This draw did at least snap a five-game winning streak for Eastern Suburbs though.
Western Springs won 5-0 against Tauranga City in a meeting of two very out-of-form teams. Western Springs had taken one point from their last six games including losing three on the bounce. Tauranga have now lost nine straight (the last four without scoring a goal). With Manukau and Bay Olympic having won in recent weeks, they were the two worst active winless streaks... that’s still a problem for Tauranga City but Western Springs don’t have to worry about that any longer. Caspar McGavin gave them the lead (19’) and then a red card for Tauranga’s Lucah de Roo (28’) led to some ruthless areas for the Swans with further goals for Joao Moreira (31’, 49’), George Cooper (54’), and Reid Drake (90’). This matches Springs’ biggest win of the season (they also won 5-0 vs Manukau earlier in the term).
And finally, Melville United won 1-0 against Manukau United up at Mangere Centre Park. Makaha Vieira Gall scored the only goal on 68’, a result that guarantees a ninth-placed finish for Melville while condemning Manukau to last. With National League reform they shouldn’t have to worry about relegation... that’ll all be sorted out in due course. At least it was another competitive effort from Manukau, who’d been getting thrashed every week until they randomly beat Western Springs last week.
Women’s NRFL Premiership
Another of the most significant games of the entire season took place on a sneaky Wednesday night in East Auckland where Eastern Suburbs met Auckland United for the fourth time this year. Not for the last either. The pair had drawn in their first meeting and then, not so long ago, Eastern Suburbs asserted their qualities with back to back wins over AUFC in both league and cup. And, tell ya what, when Ella Findlay gave them the lead in the opening minute it appeared they had their mojo working again.
But this was destined to be a back and forth affair... and in flagrant defiance of these two impeccable defensive records it was to be a high-scoring one too. Auckland United soon levelled from an own goal (12’). Sam Tawharu (30’) put Eastern Subs ahead only for Aniela Jensen (33’) to quickly balance that out. Auckland United turned up the intensity with goals from Olivia Ingham (52’) and Yume Harashima (58’) to go up 4-2... only for Maddi Ollington (68’) and an own goal (74’) to make it 4-4. That was not how it ended. AUFC won a penalty in stoppage time which Olivia Ingham converted (90+2’) and then Charlotte Roche added a clincher 90+5’) as Auckland United gained revenge for earlier ignominies by dealing Eastern Suburbs their first defeat of the year (just as ESAFC had done to them one month earlier).
This brought the pair back on terms so that Auckland United can reclaim first spot if they win their game in hand. Only by goal difference... but GD is not something they need to worry about, not after they followed this game with a 12-0 win over Tauranga Moana on the weekend. They rotated the side a bit and it didn’t even matter. Charlotte Roche (7’), Charlotte Roche (8’), Grace Bartlett (17’), Charlotte Roche (21’), Stella Lawson (35’), Charlotte Roche (47’), Olivia Ingham (53’), Grace Bartlett (54’), Grace Bartlett (57’), Zoe Benson (70’), Talisha Green (73’), and an own goal for good measure (81’). Four for Roche, three for Bartlett. Three of the starters for AUFC (Bartlett, Benson, and Charley March) have been named in the NZ U20 World Cup squad. Another one, Lexi Hedington, is part of the upcoming NZ U16s team. Midfielder Piper O'Neill is probably a bit unlucky not to also be in that U20 WC team.
Skipping back to Thursday night, that was when Ellerslie beat Western Springs 2-1. Rebound victory for the Ponies after getting thrashed in the Kate Sheppard Cup semis last week. They took the lead from the penalty spot thanks to Rina Hirano (58’), slightly fortunate penalty decision as Holly Leona clearly had her feet tripped but also neither she nor the defender were getting anywhere near the cross from Arisa Takeda. All the same, it was a great pen from Hirano, who later headed in a second from an Anita Trudgen cross (72’). Double for Hirano. Wasn’t long before Angela Pivac (74’) got the Swans back in the hunt, Katie Rood doing well to set that one up. Yet Ellerslie held firm despite some chunky pressure in the latter stages.
Both those teams were in action again three days later... and both of them lost. Thursday to Sunday turnaround. Fencibles United hosted Ellerslie and that was a 1-0 win to Fencies with Hayley Miller scoring right on the hour to decide that thing. Big week for the women’s programme at Fencies with former player Mikaela Bangalan picked in the U20 World Cup squad while Mila Clark and Morgan Day both made the NZ U16s squad. Clark started this game while Day came off the bench – both have been regulars this year. Ellerslie finish their season away to Auckland United where they’ll probably lose considering how they’ve gone 0-1-10 against the top four this year. On the flipside, they’ve gone 8-1-0 against the three bottom teams. You always know what you’re gonna get from the Ponies.
Meanwhile, Eastern Suburbs won 3-0 against Western Springs via goals from Erika Skindlov (29’), Rebekah van Dort (46’), and Yukino Nishizono (81’). Very windy at Madills Farm and that played a factor in all three scoring moments: stunner of a curling deep cross from Kenya Brooke to set up Skindlov’s goal, while RVD and Nishozono’s both came from corner kicks with Nishizono’s being an Olimpico. Thus the Lilywhites got the three points they needed to keep the pressure on Auckland United. Alas, the nine-goal swing in AUFC’s goal difference favour from those respective weekend games effectively takes that tiebreaker out of any relevance: AUFC are +78, ESAFC are +54. They’re not gonna overhaul that chasm in one round so the title hopes of Eastern Suburbs rest upon Auckland United vs Fencibles on Wednesday night, and Auckland United vs Ellerslie on Sunday. If Auckland Utd win both, they’ll be champs. If they drop any points along the way then Eastern Suburbs will win so long as they beat Melville United away.
It was Melville United 0-2 West Coast Rangers, with goals from Arisa Kida (11’) and Mila Morles (73’) for travelling Rangers. Nothing left to play for in the league for WCR and National League to prepare for hence they rested a few of their key players knowing that Melville usually plays a team full of teenagers anyway. That win coupled with Ellerslie’s defeat on the same day means that WCR are officially qualified for National League. Therefore all attention heading into the final round will be on the title race (especially that midweeker for AUFC vs Fencies – livestreamed on NRF’s YouTube) and also on the Golden Boot race where Maggie Jenkins somehow still leads with 16 goals despite only playing a third of the season... although both Olivia Ingham (AU) and Maddi Ollington (ES) are within range on 14 goals. Emily Lyon has 12 goals and a game against Tauranga Moana to follow but she didn’t play this week and by then may have already travelled to Poland for the U20 World Cup (the first game is on 7 September NZT so no time to waste).
Men’s Southern League
Cashmere Technical were being held scoreless after an hour against Dunedin City Royals, so you know what they did? They subbed on Garbhan Coughlan who promptly scored (64’) and then Lyle Matthysen (76’) and Danny Kane (90+4’) also scored and they won 3-0. That’ll do it. They’re already Southern League champs. They’re already into the Chatham Cup final. They’re also now just two games away from going undefeated through the entire league season – it’ll be a while before they can seal the deal on that though because their game against Wānaka has been rescheduled for 12 September, three weeks from now. Would have been the week prior except that they’ve got to play the Chatham Cup final instead. Righto, fair enough.
But we will find out next week who’ll be joining them in the 2026 National League. Ferrymead Bays are on track after a blistering 5-0 win against Nelson Suburbs. Omar Cameron (5’ pen), Christopher Murphy (7’), and Jackson Cole (15’) put them in full control from the get-go, with Cameron adding another from the penalty spot (44’) before Treye Butler (87’) put a bow on it. Omar Cameron now has 14 goals making him the best of the rest behind perennial Golden Boot hog Garbhan Coughlan (26 goals). Bays will confirm second spot if they win at home vs Dunedin City next week, although a draw will probably still be enough. However should they lose then Nomads United are only two points behind. This after Nomads won 6-1 vs Wānaka. Caleb Cottom bagged a first half hatty (5’, 34’, 41’) with Zack Adams-Biggs contributing to the Wānaka side of the scoreboard in the middle of all that (39’). Angus McIntyre (44’), Guy Reeves (57’), and Cooper Goldsmith (71’) took it from there. Nomads host Selwyn in the final round.
Beyond that, there was a 3-1 win for Northern AFC away to Selwyn United. Alex Dale (5’ for N) and Liam Coleman (7’ for SU) traded early strikes before Joshua Kotkamp (59’) and Angus Brett (88’ pen) clinched it for the visitors from down south. That was Northern’s first away win of the whole season at the very last attempt and it means they still have a chance to creep up until the top half. Nelson Suburbs are up against Cash Tech so if they lose and Northern beats Christchurch Utd then there ya go.
Coastal Spirit vs Christchurch United was a critical game not for this year’s National League but for next year’s one. All about that five-year formula for these two clubs. Christchurch United needed to finish no further than one place behind Coastal Spirit in order to get the second automatic spot, with the other side destined for the three-way playoff. That’s been looking unlikely for a long time but it’s now impossible after Coastal 2-1 CUFC. Khalil Vanderpool-Nurse (14’) scored the opener for Coastal, Oliver Grosso levelled up fresh from his NZ U19s selection (39’), then Michael Hogan won it for Coastal (67’). They’ll have their work cut out against the country’s best in 2027 but respect to that lot because they’ve earned that opportunity thanks to their consistency across recent seasons, most famously winning the Southern League in 2025. As for the Rams, it looks like it’ll be between them, Western Suburbs, and Western Springs for the final qualification spot. Those playoffs will happen next month – two games each, presumably one home and one away, with a mini-points table to decide things. Simplest way to look at it: if one of those teams wins both matches then they’ll qualify.
Women’s South Island League
There’s something about those two Cashmere Technical teams copying each other because the Cash Tech women also followed their winning cup semi-final performance with a 3-0 win to keep themselves on track for an undefeated season. They beat Roslyn Wakari thanks to goals from Lily Fisher (25’), Ruby Luxton (64’), and Kate Loye (81’). Ain’t no stopping them... except they will have to get past Otago Uni to complete their South Island League dominance and that lot are the only team to have avoided defeat against Tech this year, drawing 0-0 in Christchurch in their previous meeting.
There was a bit of an upset as Dunedin City Royals lost 2-0 at home against Universities of Canterbury. Late goals from Livia Deane (82’) and Holly Lyon (90+2’) got that done. That leaves DCR still needing to win their last game (away to NWU) to make sure of second place... and that’s only because Otago University didn’t take advantage of that slip as they only drew 1-1 themselves away to Nelson Suburbs. Emily Lauer scored for Nelson Subs (2’), Ruby Brathwaite (28’) scored for Otago Uni. These two teams played exactly one week earlier in Dunners where it was 3-0 to Otago Uni. That was the second leg of Nelson Suburbs’ tour of Dunedin where they also squeezed in a game against DCR the day prior. This time they had some rest and more of their top choice players available and were at home and look what happened.
There was also a 2-1 win for Coastal Spirit against last-placed Nomads-Waimakariri United. Amy McCutcheon put NW United ahead (47’) but Saki Nagai levelled up from the spot (64’ pen) before Olivia Woollett gave Coastal the points with her goal (82’). There’s still a chance that NWU can avoid the wooden spoon as they head into the last matchweek two points behind Roslyn Wakari. They’ve actually won more games than RW but haven’t been able to rack up the same quantity of draws.
Oceania Men’s Champions League
Finally there’s these guys...
Wasn’t always pretty with a lot of late goals required along the way but every single time Auckland City found what was required as they won 5/5 in Fiji to lift their fifth consecutive Oceania Champions League. 2-0 win over Central Coast (Solomon Islands) in the final thanks to goals from Ryan De Vries (69’) and Matt Ellis (81’). Ellis also scored in the 3-1 semi-final win over local favourites Rewa FC – the only game of the five where ACFC were leading at half-time – after previously getting the 90th min winner against AS Venus (Tahiti) in the last group game.
Matt Foord won the Golden Glove award but Golden Ball and Golden Boot both went to a Brazilian fella called Medina who was playing for Galaxy FC (Vanuatu), who scored 11 goals in four appearances including hatties in all three group games. Can’t argue with that, can ya? But Galaxy lost 3-2 in extra time against Central Coast in the final with Raphael Lea’i getting three that day. Matt Ellis also won the Oceania Pro League with Auckland FC, as did teammate Mike den Heijer, which makes those two the current Kings of Oceania.
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