Reigning National Women’s Soccer League champions Auckland-Manukau began their 2004 campaign on a winning note on October 17, but they used their "Get Out Of Jail" pass in squeaking past Central Soccer 4-3 to retain the Challenge Cup in a riveting encounter at Otahuhu’s Seaside Park. The visitors weren’t the least little bit overawed by the reputation of their hosts, and demonstrated as much in the early stages with some robust challenges which put the Aucklanders on the back foot, and, in the case of a first minute Jo Evans raid, left goalkeeper Ashleigh Cox in need of treatment to a leg injury. The home team weathered this early storm, and created the first chance of the game in the eighth minute, with Leah Tagaloa, Kirsty Yallop and Melissa Ray combining to provide a cross which Sarah Gibbs headed at Central goalkeeper Lisa Wilson. Seconds later, Gibbs went close again, rattling the sidenetting after a fine move which involved Maia Jackman, Ray, Tagaloa, a fine run by Michele Keinzley, and a slick one-two between Gibbs and Rebecca Tegg. Former New Zealand international Evans was causing the Auckland defence no end of trouble, however, with Cox only just clearing ahead of the closing striker as she looked to chase down a Terry McCahill back-pass in the eleventh minute. Seconds later, Cox tipped a long-range free-kick from fellow NZ Secondary Schoolgirls international Hannah Bromley over the crossbar, prompting an inswinging corner from Jane Archer which, like others she delivered, caused a few heart flutters in the home team’s defence. Those nerves were calmed somewhat on the quarter hour, as Auckland took the lead. McCahill flighted a well-weighted free-kick from just inside Central’s half just over the heads of the visitors’ defenders, forcing them to turn. When they did, they found Tegg had stolen in behind them, and the striker produced a cool finish to steer the ball wide of Wilson and into the far corner of the net. This briefly threw the visitors, and the home team wasted little time in looking to double their advantage. Tagaloa - what a game this raw sixteen-year-old was to have! - raced down the right before crossing for Tegg, who turned the ball into Gibbs’ path. Amanda Feast denied her on this occasion, but Gibbs took the resulting throw-in, finding Tegg in the box. The striker got to the by-line and pulled the ball back for Yallop, who volleyed over the bar from close range. Back came Central, Chelsea Aim sending a long ball through for Evans to chase to the by-line. She pulled the ball back to Ella Wiebe, who outwitted Ray before drilling a shot goalwards, only for Cox to save with her legs. The goalkeeper then watched as a twenty-five yard effort from Elina Tito fizzed over the crossbar in the 21st minute, before producing a last-ditch save five minutes later to prevent Central from equalising. Archer’s corner picked out Wiebe at the near post, and her header caused an almighty scramble before Cox got her hands on it - according to assistant referee Chris Richardson, who was perfectly placed to judge the incident, the ball was half over the line when she stopped it. Now it was Auckland’s turn to rally once more, with Hannah Rishworth leading the charge out of defence in the 27th minute. Tegg and Keinzley followed her example, the latter crossing for Yallop, who sent the ball zooming across the face of goal. The recently-capped New Zealand international then sent a twenty-yarder fizzing narrowly wide of the mark after more Rishworth promptings, before linking up with Keinzley and Tagaloa to turn defence into attack in the 29th minute, Gibbs sending the ball over the crossbar to conclude this raid. Tegg spurned a great opening forced by Petria Rennie, who was rock-like in the tackle all day long. And after Evans had turned McCahill, cut in-field and sent a twenty-five yarder

flashing past the post, another   Auckland raid saw Tagaloa’s rising drive clear the angle of near post and crossbar, after Yallop and Tegg had teamed up to good effect. The talented Tagaloa’s moment of glory was just seconds away, however, the 39th minute providing a player who gave her all and then some for the cause the goal her efforts deserved - she was running on fumes long before the end of the game, but never once shirked responsibility, even when her inexperience saw her concede possession. Rishworth somehow squeezed the ball between Archer and Tracey Foulkes to Tegg, whose through ball turned Central’s central defenders around once more. Feast held all the aces, but Tagaloa was snapping at her heels, and duly robbed the defender of possession - a case of from Feast to famine? It mattered not to the young striker, who placed her shot across the flat-footed Wilson and into the far corner of the net - 2-0. Central were still reeling from this blow when Yallop robbed Archer in midfield, and Tegg and Gibbs duly combined to prise open the visitors’ defence once more. The ever-vocal Auckland midfielder was in a close one-on-one situation with Wilson when brought down from behind by Aim as she attempted to get the ball. So close was Gibbs to Wilson that the ‘keeper was also downed in the challenge, and referee Sam Tompsett was so concerned with the prone custodian’s injury that the idea of awarding a penalty for the infringement which prompted it never crossed his mind. Central weren’t going to lie down without a fight, however, and only a timely tackle by McCahill thwarted Evans in the 44th minute, prior to another Auckland raid inside the five minutes of first half stoppage time culminating in a corner. Gibbs’ delivery picked out Ray’s head, and Rishworth fired the dropping ball straight at the by-now-recovered figure of Wilson, who promptly launched the ball downfield. The home team was forced to concede a corner, which invited another Archer delivery. This time, Central’s captain varied the routine, clipping the ball out to the edge of the penalty area, where Tito headed the ball into the danger zone. Auckland’s defence froze, everyone in blue-and-white seemingly expecting Cox to come and gather it, but Jenny Moore had other ideas, and stuck out a foot to steer the ball past the approaching goalkeeper - 2-1, much to the undisguised delight of the green-clad goalscorer. The second half continued in similar helter-skelter fashion to the first forty-five minutes, with play swinging from end to end - it was a real roller-coaster ride for the 200-odd in attendance, never mind the coaching staff of both teams. Two minutes into the second spell, Auckland came close to re-establishing their two-goal cushion, Tegg, Keinzley and Tagaloa combining for Gibbs to send a shot careering narrowly past the far post. But within three minutes, Central had drawn level. Gibbs was caught in possession by Evans, who promptly played the ball forward for Wiebe to latch onto. Jackman hurtled back to dispossess her and turn the ball back towards Cox, who was racing out of goal with Wiebe having been close to the edge of the penalty area when Auckland’s newly-named captain intervened. The inevitable happened, with neither skipper nor goalkeeper able to prevent Wiebe reacting to the loose ball and steering it into the unguarded net - 2-2. Jackman, who was unable to attend her grandfather’s funeral at short notice due to it taking place at the same time as this match, sought to right matters at the other end of the park five minutes later, but sent her header from Yallop’s corner bulleting over the crossbar. Yallop then chanced her arm herself, her low drive through the crowd being grabbed by Wilson on the hour. The goalkeeper launched the ball downfield once more, and

Evans latched onto it on the left, getting past Jackman to the by-line before crossing to the near post for Wiebe. Cox judged the bounce perfectly in getting there first. More Auckland pressure followed, Wilson parrying then grabbing a Yallop shot before Gibbs could pounce, then clutching a Keinzley cross intended for the same player. Next, it was Tagaloa’s turn to be thwarted by Wilson, after a raking wind-assisted Cox clearance sent the striker racing through. The rebound fell to Tegg, who looked on in disbelief as her shot at the unguarded target hit the post. In the 67th minute, Auckland took the lead once more. Gibbs fired in a deep corner to the far post, where Kimberley Lewis - the replacement for McCahill in what was an eye-raising substitution four minutes earlier - was lurking. The former Waikato representative flicked the ball back across goal for Ray to head home her first goal for the province - 3-2. Seconds later, Tagaloa set off from half-way once more on a great run. Yallop - another top performance - came steaming up in support, and was on hand to play a slick one-two with her young team-mate … although when you consider Yallop herself is only seventeen …! Tagaloa beat Wilson all ends up with her shot, but the ball flew over the angle of near post and crossbar once more. Back came Central, and in the 69th minute, they were level again. Another Yallop drive through a crowded goalmouth was blocked, with Jackman this time looking to pick up the pieces, leaving Ray and Lewis to cover her. After beating one player, Auckland’s captain was crowded out, and Julie Ng swiftly launched the ball downfield once more. Evans got the better of Ray in the race for the ball, and battered it past Cox for, in terms of the quality of execution, the best goal of the game - 3-3. The thrilling nature of the contest continued unabated, as both teams charged into the final twenty minutes with the same gusto they had shown at the start. Aim thwarted Tagaloa with a timely challenge after Ray and Keinzley had combined well, only for Wiebe and Evans to reply in kind for the visitors, the latter holding off Ray before firing wide past the advancing Cox. Nine minutes from time, Auckland began to press strongly for a winner. Keinzley - a solid display - cut in past two players before shooting at Wilson. The goalkeeper, seconds later, collected a Gibbs corner at the third attempt, but was beaten all ends up in the 84th minute, as Ray met Yallop’s corner with a glancing header to put the champions in front once more, 4-3. This time, Central couldn’t respond again, as Auckland kept hammering away for a fifth goal. Wilson denied Gibbs, Tegg, Tagaloa and Vicki Rainbow - with her first touch upon coming on as a substitute - before the final whistle, and looked on as a Yallop drive seared the airspace above the crossbar. But a fifth goal would have been harsh on the visitors, whose efforts were well worthy of at least a point in this match, if not more - their tenacity was insatiable, and their disappointment in defeat at the finish was not unmerited. They certainly gave the Challenge Cup holders a genuine hurry-up in becoming just the second team to score three or more goals against Auckland since 1980 (Wellington, in winning the 1994 National Tournament Final 4-2, also achieved that feat). But the mindset which fuels the home team’s intention of going out to win their twin titles again - as opposed to defending them - helped spur Auckland-Manukau onto an odd-goal-in-seven victory which, over the course of ninety enthralling minutes, they just about deserved. Auckland-Manukau:     Cox; Ray, Jackman, McCahill (Lewis, 63), Rennie; Keinzley, Yallop, Rishworth, Gibbs; Tegg (Rainbow, 89), Tagaloa Central Soccer:     Wilson; Aim, Bromley, Feast (Scott, 89), Tito; Moore, Archer, Foulkes, Ng; Evans, Wiebe Referee:          Sam Tompsett