Four teams remain unbeaten in the Ford National Women's League after fourth round action across the third weekend in October, but only three of them share the lead, a result of Wellington United being held to a 1-1 draw by West Coast Rangers at Fred Taylor Park, where the home team should have won. Emily Lyon got Rangers off to a flying start when netting from close range in the second minute, and both Shannon Henson and Lorna Selby should have extended that advantage before the half-hour mark. "The Diamonds"' cutting edge was severely blunted when Hannah Pilley came off much the worse for wear after a typically uncompromising Marissa Porteous tackle on the half-hour, but by the time they recovered, they should have been two goals down. The referee's assistant didn't see that the ball had crossed the line when Molly Simons spilled a Lyon cross in the shadows of the half-time whistle. The 'keeper grabbed the ball and whipped it back into the field of play, but NZ football's foremost photographer, Shane Wenzlick, was on his game and got the "goal that wasn't" snapshot! United enjoyed their best spell of the game early in the second half, with Zoe Barrott - a splendid effort - and Danielle Ohlsson going close, but Lyon should have put the game beyond doubt from the penalty spot seventeen minutes from time, only for Simons to save her modest attempt. That denial gave "The Diamonds" a boost, and with two minutes to play - and with Rangers having made some frankly daft substitutions when withdrawing two of their most experienced players in Henson and Nicole Stratford - substitute Sarah Alder exploited some defensive hesitancy to slam home the equaliser and preserve their unbeaten record. Reigning champions Auckland United left it even later to maintain a share of the league lead against Western Springs at Keith Hay Park. "The Hoops" had the better of the exchanges early doors, with Aimee Phillips in fine form - a former Football Fern she may be, but on this form, the next national coach would be wise to utilise her talents to help improve the all-round game of the forwards who'll take our national team through the rest of this decade and beyond. There was little between the teams throughout proceedings - no surprise given the last five clashes have been settled by a solitary goal, all in Auckland's favour. Make that six, because four minutes into stoppage time, Saskia Vosper uncorked a stunning strike from twenty-five yards out on the angle, the ball soaring over Angelique Tuisamoa before dipping into the top far corner of the net to clinch yet another United victory. It was a big weekend for the Vosper family, because Saskia's sister, Ariana, made her NWL debut for West Coast Rangers in their clash with Wellington, and in doing so became, at 14 years and 85 days, one of the youngest players to grace the competition since its introduction in 2002. As an aside, these were the first matches witnessed by this writer since returning from abroad, and one must make a comment about the officiating. Are the referees under instructions not to book players unless it's an absolute last resort? That's one of the impressions gained - how could you not when you see two players indulge in some push and shove and only get spoken to? Methinks it would be prudent to remind the match officials that the National Women's League champions will very likely be Oceania's representatives at the inaugural FIFA Women's Club World Cup Finals next year. These players are giving their all right now to realise that objective. At the very least, they should expect, in the games they play, the best efforts of those chosen to officiate their matches - anything less isn't good enough, but sadly appears to be the norm at present. Be better, please.   Kendall Pollock's hat-trick inspired Waterside Karori's 3-0 defeat of Central Football at Martin Luckie Park, while Canterbury United Pride came from behind to down Southern United 2-1 at Logan

Park and claim the South Island derby bragging rights for 2024. Not for the first time this season, the visitors' inability to play the ball out of defence was rightly punished by their opponents, Abby Rankin ramming home the opener for the home team inside the first two minutes of this match after Amber Bennett tried to be clever instead of getting rid! They nearly conceded a second through friendly fire soon after - a wayward defensive header hit the crossbar - but it was from a header that Canterbury restored parity, Anna McPhie's looping effort from a Margi Dias cross finding the net halfway through the first half. On the stroke of half-time, Nicola Dominikovich fired the visitors in front, steering home the rebound after her initial effort struck the post. The woodwork came to Canterbury's rescue twice in the second spell, Southern skipper Rose Morton one of those to rattle it, but the travelling team held on to keep pace with "The Magpies" and Auckland in the race for a top-two finish and a place in the Grand Final. The biggest win of the round was recorded by Eastern Suburbs, who walloped Wellington Phoenix 5-0 at Fraser Park, where Shion Hwang fired home a fine opener in the sixteenth minute. Reigning Golden Boot Sofia Garcia opened her account for the NWL season on the half-hour with a shot which Aimee Feinberg-Danieli will know she could have dealt with far better than was the case. Britney Cunningham-Lee bagged a second half hat-trick - her second was a trademark swashbuckling effort, with defenders left trailing in her wake before slamming the ball home - to make certain of "The Lilywhites"' first win of the season. Prior to this nap hand haul, they had scored just once in their last five Ford National Women's League and Lotto Northern Premier Women's League fixtures, dating back to mid-August. The Labour Weekend round of action sees six matches taking place. Saturday's fare sees the spotlight falling on English Park, where Canterbury and Auckland lock horns. "The Magpies" visit Western Springs' Seddon Fields home, while Suburbs visit Central's Massey University home on a day "The Diamonds" draw swords with Southern at Martin Luckie Park. That match has been brought forward 24 hours to accommodate the rescheduled clash of Southern and Central at the same venue on Monday. Meanwhile, Rangers will look to dip their bread at Wellington Phoenix's expense at Fred Taylor Park on Sunday. In National Women's League action, Wellington Phoenix edged the key game of the round, Ava Hipkins' twelfth minute goal earning them a 1-0 win over fellow title contenders Eastern Suburbs at Fraser Park. League leaders Fencibles United maintained their position with a 4-1 win over Western Springs at Riverhills Park, where Mischa Marais led the way with two goals. Meanwhile, the 24th minute dismissal of Canterbury United Pride's Charlotte Grey, for the denial of a goalscoring opportunity, paved the way for Southern United to win their South Island derby 3-0 at Logan Park. Capital Football and Central Football shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw at Petone Memorial Park, while in the lone game in this league on Labour Weekend, Melville United entertain Wellington Phoenix at Gower Park on Saturday. Details: Auckland United 1 (S. Vosper (90)), Western Springs 0  HT 0-0 Southern United 1 (A. Rankin (2)), Canterbury United Pride 2 (A. McPhie (22), N. Dominikovich (43))  HT 1-2 Waterside Karori 3 (K. Pollock (5, 29, 47)), Central Football 0  HT 2-0 Wellington Phoenix 0, Eastern Suburbs 5 (S. Hwang (16), S. Garcia (29), B. Cunningham-Lee (54, 64, 90))  HT 0-2 West Coast Rangers 1 (E. Lyon (2)), Wellington United 1 (S. Alder (88))  HT 1-0