With just two minutes remaining in the 1996 Auckland Premier Women’s Knockout Shield Final at Bill McKinlay Park, Eden and Toyota Lynn-Avon United looked set to go to extra-time and, such was the evenness of the teams on the day, possibly a penalty shoot-out, to determine the winner. Katrina Sharpe was lining up a corner for United, and fired it into the danger zone. Somehow, the ball made its way untouched through a crowded penalty area, with all missing it bar Lynn-Avon’s captain, Terry McCahill. Lurking on the far post, she stuck out a leg, as the sphere rolled across the face of the target, and prodded it just inside the post with a mere one hundred seconds of play remaining. It was to prove the only goal of a wind-ruined final, but what a priceless one it was to prove for Lynn-Avon. As well as securing them the Knockout Shield, to add to their league championship and SWANZ Knockout Cup awards, they picked up the Champion-of-Champions prize as well - a clean sweep of all the honours available to Auckland’s women’s soccer teams. Lynn-Avon enjoyed first use of the elements, and they largely dominated the first forty minutes. Eden’s Maria Wilkie headed off the line from Delwyn Hearn, while Angela Vujnovich was denied at point-blank range by Eden’s outstanding goalkeeper, Michelle Hodge, as United pressed for a first half goal. Other chances fell the way of Emily Drumm, McCahill, Vujnovich and Maia Jackman in the first spell, while Vujnovich and Hearn both went close in the second half, in which Eden, now with the wind behind them,

had more of the play. Newly-named New Zealand international Beth Clark fired narrowly wide of the far post soon after the interval for Eden, while Wilkie forced a good save from United goalkeeper Yvonne Vale, minutes before missing the best chance of the match. Wilkie’s speed took her clear of United’s defence in the 66th minute, but she rushed her shot as Vale advanced off her line, and sent the ball rolling agonisingly wide of a gaping goal. A series of corners from Michele Cox and Auckland’s Young Player of the Year for 1996, Marlies Oostdam, caused United some concerns, particularly one struck three minutes from time, which needed a smart smothering save by Vale to prevent Alisse Robertson from scoring a bizarre own goal. That chance was to be Eden’s last, McCahill’s late strike giving them no chance to reply in the time remaining. So they finish runners-up for the second season running - scant reward for a side which has kept Lynn-Avon honest in all four games the teams have faced each other in this season. But to the victor, the spoils, and the party at Lynn-Avon’s clubrooms was still going strong late on Sunday evening. The naming of Jill Corner as Auckland’s Player of the Year, and Auckland captain Lyn Pedruco, as Sportswoman of the Year, added further sparkle to the team’s grand slam-winning celebrations.