Auckland United and Southern United shared the spoils in their top-of-the-table National Women's League clash at Keith Hay Park on 29 October, their 1-1 draw played in extremely challenging conditions, made so by a gusty cross-field wind as the legacy of the latest cyclone passing through our area of the Pacific gave the country a friendly reminder that Mother Nature still calls the tune, even though we're nearer summer than winter. The visitors started strongly, taking the game to Auckland from the off, and going close to opening the scoring in just the third minute. Raegan Potter and the effervescent Margi Dias - a non-stop ball of energy throughout the contest - combined to play in Bianca Park on the right, where she skipped past a defender before letting rip, only to see her shot flash across the face of goal. Ben Bate's charges responded via a long-range Chelsea Elliott free-kick, which Southern's defence didn't deal with adequately, allowing Yume Harashima to unleash a twenty-five yarder which flew past the near post. From the resulting goal kick, the southerners stormed downfield and took the lead. Kendrah Smith and Abby Rankin combined to prise open the Auckland rearguard, with Park stealing in to tuck the ball home beyond Aimee Hall in the twelfth minute - 1-0, to the delight of Graeme Smaill's charges. It's not often Auckland find themselves trailing on the scoreboard, particularly on home turf, and they duly set about the task of righting that perceived wrong almost immediately. It took them nine minutes to carve out an opening of note, however, Talisha Green feeding Rene Wasi, who worked a one-two with Maisy Dewell before picking out Danielle Canham. She had Suya Haering overlapping her and eventually utilised the talented fullback's run, playing the age-grade international into the penalty area. A low cross duly zoomed across the face of Amelia Simmers' goal, with Shannon Henson a stride or two away from being in a position to do it justice. Six minutes later, Hannah Mackay-Wright made a pig's ear of a free-kick on halfway, gifting possession to Wasi … and off she raced, taking on all-comers at breakneck pace before looking to set up Alexis Cook. Marissa Porteous read the move brilliantly, however, and stepped in to avert the danger in fine style, even if she ruffled Simmers' feathers in doing so - better that than to concede, methinks! Back came Southern just after the half-hour mark, Potter picking out Dias, whose feint flummoxed Elliott completely and created the space for the pint-sized powerhouse to play in Park, who sent the ball flying past the post. After Henson had fired an effort past the upright upon receipt of another opening engineered by the combination of Green and Wasi on the right, Auckland earned a 38th minute corner which Haering fizzed into the danger zone. Mackay-Wright's header out wasn't convincing, but neither Elliott nor Wasi could capitalise upon the opportunity, much to the visitors' relief. Seconds later, Green picked out Haering, who completely deceived her marker before unleashing a shot which bounced in front of the diving figure of Simmers, who reacted superbly to the ball's change in direction and parried the ball away. Canham was following in, however, but she, too, met her match in the recovering 'keeper - a terrific double save to maintain Southern's lead. Still Auckland pressed, another right-flank raid by Wasi resulting in a shot which Simmers could only parry. The Papua New Guinea native swiftly latched onto the rebound and sent the ball sizzling across the goalmouth, just beyond the incoming figures of Canham and Henson. Haering, hurtling in on the far post, slammed a shot into the side-netting - 1-0 it remained, but the home team was gaining momentum. The half-time whistle halted it, and it was Southern who had the bit between their teeth in the early stages of the second spell, now playing with the benefit of the angled cross-field winds more behind them than before them. Seconds after Porteous had stopped Wasi in her

tracks with a stunningly timed tackle, Dias unleashed an angled drive which was grabbed by Hall, who was pleased to see another effort by Southern's show-stopper sizzle narrowly over the bar on the hour after a concerted attack featuring Park and substitute Amy Hislop. Spurred on by this close call, Auckland regrouped and recaptured the attacking form with which they'd closed out the first half. Green galloped down the right past two opponents before delivering a cross which arced beyond substitute Pia Vlok. Cook was racing in behind, but with Simmers scrambling across her goal, she completely miscued her shot - a let-off for the visitors halfway through the half. Soon after, Green and Wasi were up to their tricks once more down the right - the visitors had trouble containing this duo throughout the contest. On this occasion they worked a one-two, but Green's cross, with three players lining up in the goalmouth, was cut out by the retreating figure of Rose Morton. Auckland finally gained the reward their pressure merited sixteen minutes from time, and unsurprisingly, it was from the right flank where the opportunity emanated. Vlok and Cook worked an opening which invited Green to once again deliver quality, but on this occasion no one in blue had picked up the well-timed run of Canham, who ghosted in on the far post and gleefully tucked home the equaliser - 1-1. Hell hath no fury like a Southern woman scorned, and when you've upset eleven of them … Rankin rampaged down the pitch straight from the kick-off and set up a chance for Dias which was thwarted by Hall's brave save at her feet. Seven minutes from time, Hislop did Elliott a treat in the area before letting fly, and her shot was destined for the bottom far corner of the net until Greer MacIntosh's timely intervention. Hall then produced a string of saves to keep efforts from Rankin, Dias and Hislop at bay after Auckland's defence failed to clear a cross from Smith in the 84th minute - no other words to describe this but brilliant goalkeeping. Back came Auckland, Elliott picking out the highly promising Poppy O'Brien, who did fellow substitute Jemma Wilson a treat before being felled in the area by the impressively performed Toni Power, whose heart was in her mouth for a brief moment until she saw referee Lindsey Robinson signalling for a corner - she could just as easily have pointed to the penalty spot. Southern's response to this scare was led by Hislop, a rampaging run from halfway which took her past three opponents and into Auckland's penalty area, where she looked to fire past Hall into the bottom far corner of the net, only for the 'keeper to produce a solid one-handed denial to her left. Auckland's custodian was right behind a long-range effort from Smith as the seconds ticked down, with the last chance of the match falling the way of Madeleine McCormick, who was unable to direct her effort on target after being picked out by Hislop's cross. The 1-1 draw suited the visitors better than their hosts, given Southern will be heavily favoured to pick up maximum points from their last two games, which see them playing the bottom two teams in the league after they take on Waterside Karori next week. Auckland has a far more challenging schedule, with two trips to the capital - today's windy conditions will stand them in good stead in that regard - sandwiching what should be a belter of a clash with fellow Grand Final contenders Western Springs at this venue in a fortnight. All to play for, then, and one suspects this may not be Southern's last visit to Auckland this season. On this highly competitive showing, they will be worthy Grand Finalists, make no mistake. Auckland:     Hall; Green, MacIntosh, Elliott, Haering; Canham, Harashima, Dewell (Brill, 77); Cook (O'Brien, 77), Henson (Vlok, 65), Wasi Southern:     Simmers; Power, Mackay-Wright, Porteous (booked, 66); Park (Wilson, 61), Smith (booked, 72), Morton, Roome (McCormick, 77); Potter (Hislop, 35), Dias, Rankin Referee:     Lindsey Robinson