Canterbury United 2023

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Barnstorming First Half Sees Auckland Down Canterbury

by Jeremy Ruane

A barnstorming first half saw Auckland United record a 4-2 victory over Canterbury United Pride in their National Women's League encounter at Keith Hay Park on September 24, with all the goals scored in the first 33 minutes of the match, while a penalty was saved in the shadows of the half-time whistle.

The visitors set out their stall from the outset, Anna McPhie lashing one narrowly past Amberley Hollis' right-hand post inside the opening sixty seconds of play, Ellena Firth and Charlotte Mortlock having combined to reward their team-mate's incisive off-the-ball running.

Two minutes later, ponderous play by Greer MacIntosh was pounced on by the speedy Nicola Dominikovich, but Hollis proved equal to her shot, then sparked a counter-attack from which the Lotto Northern Women's Premiership champions opened the scoring with their first attack of the match.

Talisha Green spread play wide to Bree Johnson, whose murderous pace saw her having a field day all game long at Canterbury's expense down the left flank - they simply couldn't handle her.

On this occasion, the beneficiary of that pace was fellow speedster Alexis Cook, whom Johnson picked out with a measured cross which allowed the Junior Fern to volley home from eight yards in the fourth minute.

The third member of Auckland's jet-heeled attack, Rene Wasi, featured in their next attack of note, a tenth minute raid in which she played in Johnson, who saw her drive tipped over the bar by Una Foyle.

Three minutes later, United doubled their lead. Manami Nishio's neat flick brought Green into play again, and although she was fouled on halfway, Auckland's captain managed to get the ball away to Johnson - praise is due to referee Sam Clement, who played a terrific advantage.

"BJ" hit the turbo button, leaving Lainey Altieri-Need in her wake before scything between two opponents prior to picking out Wasi, ten yards out from goal. An unerring finish into the bottom far corner of the net duly followed - 2-0.

Canterbury found themselves under the cosh again four minutes later, as United's forward line teamed up to create further mayhem in their opponents' defensive third. Wasi and Cook teamed up with Johnson, who went past Altieri-Need as if she wasn't there before unleashing a low drive which Foyle blocked. Lily Fisher cleared the loose ball on this occasion.

Somewhat against the recent run of play, the visitors pulled a goal back in the 21st minute. An early ball forward allowed Dominikovich to catch out Auckland's defence with her pace, and while Chelsea Elliott raced across to cover, an even greater threat was looming behind her.

Dominikovich duly picked out said threat, and Britney-Lee Nicholson duly let rip from the edge of the penalty area. The diving figure of Hollis got her hands to the shot, but such was the power with which it was struck that the ball carried on into the bottom far corner of the net - 2-1, game on!

United responded immediately, restoring their two-goal advantage with an absolute snorter of a strike from their Japanese midfield maestro. Straight from the kick-off, you-know-who left the occupants of Canterbury's right flank trailing in her slipstream once more before roasting Firth inside the area and seeing another shot foiled by Foyle.

The ball was scrambled clear to the edge of the penalty area, where Nishio was lurking with intent. From twenty yards, she picked out the top corner of the net with an inch-perfect curler, Foyle flailing in vain - there was no stopping this one! Quality with a capital Q!!

In the 26th minute, Canterbury was gifted a goal by Hollis, whose woeful goal kick was directed at Dominikovich. "Thankyou very much, don't mind if I do!" said she, returning the favour with gleeful interest, the sight of a ball bulging the net in the gaping goal behind her one which left Auckland's goalkeeper looking both sheepish and crestfallen simultaneously - 3-2.

The home team was far from finished, and conceding such a soft one merely spurred them on. Just after the half-hour mark, Maisy Dewell saw her corner cleared to Wasi, who crossed the ball back to the corner-taker. Dewell duly weaved her way through three challenges before inviting Nishio to let fly once more, this time past the post.

Auckland quickly regained possession from the resulting goal-kick. Nishio and Maya Vince combined to send Cook racing past Fisher before whipping in a cross which Wasi gleefully turned home - 4-2 after 33 minutes.

Canterbury had to be next to score, and Nicholson would have done had MacIntosh not produced a timely block to divert the striker's shot to safety in the 36th minute. The defender then linked with Green to send Johnson rampaging down the left once more, but after leaving her opponents in her wake once more, Foyle once more proved to be the speedster's nemesis, smothering her shot.

Three minutes before half-time, Canterbury earned a corner which Mortlock sent flying across the face of goal towards the far edge of the penalty area, where Green was adjudged to have fouled an opponent by the officials, whose vantage point was better than those on the dugout side of the ground.

Referee Clement pointed to the spot, and Nicholson duly stepped up to attempt to convert it. Having gifted the visitors a goal earlier in the match, Hollis made amends on this occasion by producing a splendid save, diving to her right to divert the ball

to safety. Mortlock fired the resulting corner into the danger zone, but Auckland cleared their lines to go to the dressing rooms 4-2 to the good.

Canterbury were the beneficiaries of a half-time rev-up from coach Alana Gunn, who wasn't best pleased with some of the things she witnessed from her charges during the first spell. As a result, the visitors were the more impressive side in the second half, but couldn't find a way through Auckland's rearguard to reduce the deficit.

Hollis thwarted Dominikovich's initial attempt in the 48th minute, which was just as well as United were furious with referee Clement, who allowed play to continue despite Lisa Evans' involvement in play upon coming back from an offside position, an offence which was flagged by the referee's assistant.

Six minutes later, Evans invited McPhie to chance her arm from range, her last act before becoming one of three players withdrawn from the fray. Hollis saved her last kick of the match, then looked on as the action centred on Canterbury's goal, Altieri-Need finally having got close enough to Johnson to foul her just outside the penalty area, the speedster landing inside it, prompting penalty appeals.

Elliott wasted the free-kick, firing it low round the defensive wall thus making life a lot easier for Foyle than would have been the case had the ball been elevated - for a tall 'keeper, the Pride number one has some major issues dealing with shots above head height, a weakness which was ruthlessly exploited on her previous visit to Auckland a month ago, but not on this occasion.

On the hour, Foyle grabbed a free-kick from freshly introduced Auckland substitute and debutant Yume Harashima - like her countrywoman, Nishio, another high quality technician who made a strong impression in the half-hour she graced the pitch.

Canterbury responded to this via Lara Wall, who sparked a 63rd minute attack which also featured McPhie and Dominikovich, whose cross picked out Nicholson. Her glancing header was well anticipated by Hollis, who was right behind a Dominikovich drive four minutes later after Firth and substitute Whitney Hepburn had prised an opening for their team-mate's benefit.

Nineteen minutes from time, Nicholson's corner found Fisher flying in on the far post, but she directed her effort straight at Hollis. 'Twas the corner-taker's last act of note in the match, for she was soon to be replaced by Alison Noniewicz, who certainly made an impression on proceedings - sadly, not one which had playing football as its prime purpose.

Within six minutes of entering the fray, she earned herself a yellow card for repeated fouls on Green, the first of which left the fullback gingerly feeling her rib cage. United's players were not best pleased with the primitive tactics employed by the newcomer, and a few words were exchanged when opportunities arose to do so - Noniewicz wasn't satisfying the behavioural standards expected by her peers, and they weren't shy in letting her know of their disapproval.

Before the newcomer had made the acquaintance of referee Bennett, Green sent Johnson away down the left once more. A low cross targeted Shannon Henson, racing through the middle, and she went down in the area with Fisher in close attendance. No penalty was forthcoming, quite rightly - if there was any contact, it was minimal at best.

After Hollis had pawed a Jonelle Arthur corner to safety, Nishio scampered down the left before crossing to the near post, where Henson was arriving on cue, only to lift her close-range volley over the upright when a deft flick would likely have brought greater reward.

Cue more Noniewicz nonsense, another reckless challenge which, in all honesty, should have seen the referee brandishing the yellow card again, followed by the red one. Clement by name, clement by nature, however - a firm talking-to was all the offender received, much to the ire of United's bench, who had a bird's eye view of her latest indiscretion.

Their reaction prompted a response from Canterbury's assistant coach of the "Are you trying to get her sent off?" variety, which left this writer wondering if Noniewicz's disreputable antics were actually being condoned, rather than discouraged, by those in positions of influence.

Let's put it this way. Had any player in my 1986 championship-winning St Peter's College team behaved in this manner, I wouldn't have hesitated in withdrawing the offender from the fray on the spot, even if all substitutions had been made, for three reasons - out of respect for the game, because the performance and behavioural standards I expected of all the players in that squad were being undermined by the individual's antics, and because I don't suffer fools.

Auckland's bench was further miffed soon after when Vince was booked for a technical offence, but they were smiling come the final whistle - three points from a 4-2 win over the six-time National Women's League champions marks a great start to the campaign for United as they look to add the national crown to their Lotto Northern Women's Premiership title in 2023.

Auckland: Hollis; Vince (booked, 90), MacIntosh, Elliott, Green; Dewell (Harashima, 59), Canham, Nishio; Cook (McConnell, 89), Wasi (Henson, 69), Johnson

Canterbury: Foyle; Altieri-Need (booked, 57), Firth, Fisher, Wall; Keogan (Hepburn, 55), Mortlock (Bellamy, 55), McPhie; Evans (Arthur, 55), Dominikovich, Nicholson (Noniewicz, 73 (booked, 79))

Referee: Sam Clement

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