The National Women's League reached the halfway mark on Labour Day, and Eastern Suburbs are the only team who have reached the milestone having won all seven of their matches to date in the competition. They had to do it the hard way on this occasion, however, coming from behind to down Auckland United 3-2 in yet another Keith Hay Park thriller between these clubs, who have a storied history of highly memorable encounters over the last twenty years. This saw another chapter written in that riveting tome, both teams twice going close to scoring before Bree Johnson stormed through the inside left channel and fired in a driven cross-shot which Brooke Bennett found too hot to handle, the goalkeeper fumbling the ball over her line on the quarter hour before she could claw it back into play. Seven minutes later, United, enjoying the prevailing sou'wester at their backs, doubled their advantage, Manaia Elliott ramming the ball home from close range after Tayla O'Brien directed her clearance from a Ruby Nathan corner straight to the Young Ferns captain. Just after the half-hour mark, Aimee Feinberg-Danieli and Jade Parris collided as the striker poked the ball home following an Aimee Atkins cross. The goal was ruled out for a foul on the 'keeper, who lasted until five minutes into the second spell before signalling that she was still feeling the after-effects of this episode, and had to come off. This put United in a dilemma, as their injury crisis left them with thirteen players for this match, with neither of the substitutes being a recognised goalkeeper. So Maya Vince was given the gloves and told to do her best. She did, but she was unable to prevent Tayla O'Brien reducing the deficit within minutes of the change of goalkeeper. Nicole Mettam capitalised on a mix-up between Vince and Aimee Barnard to level the scores seventeen minutes from time, to which United responded via another Elliott goal, only for it to be ruled out by the offside flag. Charlotte Wilford-Carroll rattled the crossbar from twenty-five yards as Suburbs piled on the pressure, and with four minutes remaining, Zoe Benson clinched a thrilling come-from-behind victory for "The Lilywhites", who are now outright leaders of the competition. That's because fellow co-leaders going into this round, Western Springs, were held to a 1-1 draw by Northern Rovers at McFetridge Park, after the teams mirrored Friday night's encounter between them by playing out a scoreless first half. It wasn't chanceless by any means, but the second spell offered much more in this regard, beginning with Greer MacIntosh blocking Lily Jervis' header on the line, to which Rovers retorted by taking the lead through Alexis Cook five minutes into the half. Their advantage was short-lived, Arisa Takeda levelling the scores from the penalty spot after "The Hoops" had the ball in the net, only for play to be

called back by referee Jack Henderson for a foul in the build-up. Keely Taylor produced numerous saves to prevent Rovers from regaining the lead, Kelli Brown in particular having reason to curse the 'keeper, so often was she denied. Springs, too, had chances to change the scoreline, but neither of these heavyweights could deliver the knockout blow this time round, meaning "The Hoops" dropped points for the first time this season. Southern United have closed to within a point of third-placed Northern after claiming South Island bragging rights at Logan Park, conquering Canterbury United Pride 2-1, a defeat which almost certainly ends the reigning champions' hopes of retaining a title they won in 2020. All the scoring came in the second spell, Hannah Mackay-Wright affording United the lead before Jasmine Prince doubled it eighteen minutes from time. Chloe Bellamy halved the deficit ten minutes later to set up a grandstand finish, but when the final whistle sounded, it was Southern who were "Queens of the South" for the second year running, after winning last year's South Central championship. Renee Bacon's goal six minutes before half-time proved suffice for Capital Football to edge Central Football 1-0 at Petone Memorial Park, a result which leaves the beaten side without a point to their name after seven rounds of action. They'll be hoping that situation changes against injury-hit Auckland at Keith Hay Park on Sunday, while at the same time, Southern and Northern will be disputing third place at Logan Park. Saturday's fare sees Capital welcoming Canterbury to Petone Memorial Park, but the biggie is on Friday evening, with "The Hoops" and "The Lilywhites" locking horns at Seddon Fields in their top-of-the-table tussle. The same teams contest the final round of National Women's Youth League action on the last weekend in October, with Canterbury United Pride having wrapped up the silverware thanks to an emphatic 5-0 rout of Southern United at English Park, led by Charlotte Roche's hat-trick. Auckland United are odds-on to finish second after fringe first team players Emmelin Bowala and Issy Gerrand clinched a 2-0 win at Eastern Suburbs. Across town, Northern Rovers and Western Springs fought out a 1-1 draw, the home side levelling late on through Sienna Vercauteren after Maia Lythe looked to have won it for "The Hoops". Details: Auckland United 2 ("oggie" (15), M. Elliott (22)), Eastern Suburbs 3 (T. O;Brien (56), N. Mettam (73), Z. Benson (86))  HT 2-0 Capital Football 1 (R. Bacon (39)), Central Football 0  HT 1-0 Northern Rovers 1 (A. Cook (50)), Western Springs 1 (A. Takeda (54 pen))  HT 0-0 Southern United 2 (H. Mackay-Wright (58), J. Prince (72)), Canterbury United Pride 1 (C. Bellamy (82))  HT 0-0