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Rd 7
Four Into Two Won't Go!
by Jeremy Ruane
The top four teams all scored victories in the Guy Fawkes weekend round of National Women’s League action, meaning that with two rounds
remaining, all four still harbour Grand Final hopes – as we all know, four into two won’t go!
Reigning champions Eastern Suburbs remain in the box seat to make back-to-back Grand Finals, retaining their two-point lead thanks to a
come-from-behind 3-2 win at Wellington United, for whom Natalie Olson opened the scoring just five minutes into the contest.
“The Lilywhites” turned things round before the interval, however, Charlotte Lancaster’s equaliser halfway through the half paving the way for Nicole Cooper’s two-goal salvo inside the next ten minutes to put the title-holders in command come the half-time whistle.
Straight from the kick-off at the start of the second spell, “The Diamonds” dragged themselves back into contention through Hope Gilchrist, but they couldn’t find an equaliser, thus were consigned to
a second successive defeat and the end of their faint Grand Final hopes.
Across town at Fraser Park, Auckland United handed Wellington Phoenix a footballing lesson, a scintillating second half display setting up a 6-1 victory over a team which fielded three Liberty A-League regulars in their starting line-up.
United opened the scoring through Alexis Cook in the nineteenth minute, but Ella McCann had Wellington back on level terms just before the interval, immediately after which Auckland restored their lead through Bree Johnson.
It was the departure of Wellington’s defensive rock, Rebecca Lake, twenty minutes from time that allowed the visitors to tear their opponents apart, and goals from Yume Harashima, Talisha Green,
Danielle Canham and substitute Penny Brill duly followed before the final whistle, significantly bolstering Auckland’s goal difference should that be a factor in deciding a Grand Final berth.
At Seddon Fields, Canterbury United Pride made all the early play, but found themselves trailing Western Springs by two goals at the twenty-minute mark, clinical finishes from Sofia Garcia and Lara Colpi
earning “The Hoops” their advantage against the run of play.
Chloe Bellamy halved the deficit soon after, and after chances at both ends, Anna McPhie should have levelled the scores ten minutes before half-time, only for Mickey Mitchell to come up trumps in a fine one-on-one denial.
Her opposite number, Una Foyle, also produced her fair share of fine saves in this highly entertaining encounter, one in which Lara Wall was outstanding for the visitors. But two goals in six minutes halfway
through the second half from Ela Jerez and Colpi put the result beyond doubt, and while Canterbury kept plugging away in response, their only reward was a Nicola Dominikovich strike with the last kick of the game, bringing about a final 4-2 scoreline in favour of the home team.
Southern United remain well in contention for a Grand Final berth after scoring a routine 3-0 win over Waterside Karori, who succumbed to early goals in each half at Logan Park. Kendrah Smith did the damage on the quarter hour before Amy Hislop doubled United’s advantage in the 52nd minute, with 70th minute substitute Maddy
McCormick wrapping up the scoring within four
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minutes of her introduction to proceedings.
In the wooden spoon encounter, Central Football captain Mikaela Bouwmeester was far and away the best player on the park at Michaels Avenue as she led her team to a 1-0 win over Ellerslie, scoring the
decisive goal after nineteen minutes.
It was a game “The Ponies” should have won based on the possession they enjoyed, but they were just too predictable in their play, and a disallowed goal - for offside – by half-time substitute Cilla Fa’afua
apart, they were beaten by the hungrier team, who would have won by more but for the efforts of Ellerslie goalkeeper Petra Wedlake.
All eyes will be on Keith Hay Park next week as Auckland and “The Hoops” lock horns with their respective Grand Final hopes on the line,
particularly given Suburbs and Southern are likely to record victories in their matches – “The Lilywhites” entertain Ellerslie while the southerners head to Central.
There’s a Wellington derby between “The Magpies” and Wellington Phoenix at Martin Luckie Park, while Canterbury welcome “The Diamonds” to English Park in matches which will see the teams involved playing for pride only, given their title aspirations are now a pipe dream.
Details:
Ellerslie 0, Central Football 1 (M. Bouwmeester (19)) HT 0-1
Southern United 3 (K. Smith (15), A. Hislop (52), M. McCormick (74)), Waterside Karori 0 HT 1-0
Wellington Phoenix 1 (E. McCann (43)), Auckland United 6 (A. Cook (19), B. Johnson (46), Y. Harashima (73), T. Green (76), D. Canham (84), P. Brill (90)) HT 1-1
Wellington United 2 (N. Olson (5), H. Gilchrist (46)), Eastern Suburbs 3 (C. Lancaster (21), N. Cooper (23, 31)) HT 1-3
Western Springs 4 (S. Garcia (16), L. Colpi (20, 71), E. Jerez (65)), Canterbury United Pride 2 (C. Bellamy (23), N. Dominikovich (90)) HT 2-1
Canterbury United Pride clinched the National Women’s Youth League title with a couple of rounds to spare on Guy Fawkes weekend, but didn’t do so in the manner to which they’ve become accustomed after being held to a scoreless draw by bottom-placed Western Springs at Seddon Fields.
Nearest challengers Central Football were also held on the road, a brace of Shion Hwang goals earning Melville United a 2-2 draw at Centre Park in Mangere, the unusual choice of venue necessary given Central’s senior team was playing across town at Michaels Avenue at the same time.
It was a good round for teams from the capital, with first half goals from Amelie Deane and Saffron Millar earning Capital Football a 2-0 win at oSuthern United, while all the scoring came in the second half at Fraser Park as goals from Wellington Phoenix duo Angela Pivac and Leonara Webb earned their team a 2-1 win over the erratic Auckland United, who parted company with coach Katie Duncan after the game.
The under-new-management team will finish their campaign at home to Western Springs in eighth round action at Keith Hay Park, while there’s a Wellington derby at Petone Memorial Park. Fencibles and Melville lock horns at William Green Domain as Southern make the trek to Massey University to take on Central Football. Canterbury has the bye.
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