The gulf between Auckland women’s soccer and that played south of the Bombay Hills couldn’t have been more clearly demonstrated than at Ken Maunder Park on August 18, 1996, where the Northern Region champions, Toyota Lynn-Avon United, dealt out a comprehensive 7-0 lesson to Hawke’s Bay’s Taradale. While not wishing to undermine Lynn-Avon’s success, and, with it, the achievement of becoming the first-ever Auckland team to qualify for the final of the SWANZ Knockout Cup, the scoreline speaks volumes for the lack of real depth in women’s soccer outside the Queen City. Taradale came to Ken Maunder Park as the second-placed team in the Central Region, albeit some eight points distant of perennial title-winners, Petone. On this showing, Taradale would struggle to foot it with West Auckland in the Auckland competition, a team which finished dead last. Taradale’s performance can be partly explained by their province’s non-appearance at any National Women’s Soccer Tournament since 1991, when Hawke’s Bay finished fifth overall. The lack of competition since has clearly stunted the players’ development, and the resulting decline in standards was there for all to see in this match. Lynn-Avon opened the scoring in the seventh minute. Angela Vujnovich struck the first goal of her hat-trick, the culmination of good approach work by Jill Corner and Maia Jackman on the right. Vujnovich and Lyn Pedruco both went close soon after, before the second goal came about in strange circumstances. Katrina Sharpe’s 22nd minute corner was headed goalwards by Pedruco. Goalkeeper Kath Atkins and Lynn-Avon’s captain, Terry McCahill, arrived at the same time, with the former Auckland skipper’s momentum enough to force the goal, Atkins landing on her back with the ball still in her hands yet over the line. Delwyn Hearn was next to get a sniff of a goal, before Vujnovich made it 3-0 on the half-hour.

McCahill turned defence into attack, Sharpe continued the momentum, and the scorer beat the offside trap and drew the goalkeeper before firing in off the post. Vujnovich completeted her hat-trick in style in the 42nd minute. Fending off a challenge from Karen Linton, she ran on and fair blasted the ball home into the top corner of the net - top strike!! 4-0 became 5-0 right on half-time, with McCahill thumping home through the crowd, after Taradale’s defence had failed to clear a Sharpe corner, this resulting from Pedruco, Hearn and Jackman combining to force an Atkins save. Jackman, in all honesty, should have scored - her performance was certainly worthy of a goal. In the second half, Corner’s 53rd minute penalty hit the post, following a change of spot-kicking style. This chance came about after McCahill’s header, from another Sharpe corner, had been handled on the line. Jackman went close soon after with a fine diving header, before Dana Heiford unleashed a 66th minute corker into the bottom corner of the net for number six. Two minutes later, Sue Gregory, who had an outstanding all-round game, capped her performance with the game’s final goal. Corner’s corner was headed on by Pedruco, and Gregory sent a looping header home off the underside of the crossbar - 7-0. Hearn missed an absolute sitter in the seventieth minute, after a glorious move which featured McCahill, Vujnovich, Jackman and Corner, then produced an even more inglorious finish when faced with an open goal ten minutes from time. Corner delivered a great cross for Hearn and Vujnovich, but the ball went beyond both strikers. Thankfully, Sharpe was following up, and she unselfishly laid the ball inside for Hearn, who, with the goal at her mercy, made it easy for Atkins to save. It’s as well the outcome was well in hand!