It was a great round for travelling teams in the National Women's League on the first weekend in October, with all four fixtures played seeing wins recorded by the visiting sides, three of which hailed from the City of Sails. Co-leaders Eastern Suburbs and Western Springs maintained their perfect starts to the season with wins by a three-goal margin, while Northern Rovers moved into outright third spot as they went goal-crazy in Palmerston North on a day Southern United administered capital punishment in Wellington. "The Lilywhites" made a statement at English Park, crushing reigning champions Canterbury United Pride 4-1, in doing so scoring their 100th goal of the 2022 season, a feat achieved in just 27 games. Juliette Lucas opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the second minute, having been fouled by Una Foyle, who avoided a red card, much to United's relief. With no reserve goalkeeper named in the matchday squad - Maddie Iro being one of four Cantabrians currently in India with the Young Ferns - the home team would have found themselves in a right pickle had the card brandished by referee Simon Myers not been yellow in hue. The scorer turned provider six minutes before half-time, Deven Jackson the beneficiary of Lucas' contribution to the game's second goal. The midfielder put the result beyond doubt eighteen minutes from time, and while Lisa Evans pulled one back for United soon afterwards, Nicole Mettam restored Suburbs' three-goal winning margin in stoppage time to maintain their lead on goal difference from Western Springs. "The Hoops" also made it three wins from as many matches by winning 3-0 at Michaels Avenue, to where their clash with Auckland United was transferred after the home team's Keith Hay Park ground was left waterlogged by the rain which drenched the Queen City on the first day of the month. Rina Hirano got Springs off to a flying start with a tenth minute strike in challenging conditions, to which the co-leaders adapted far better than an out-of-sorts United side, for whom Emma Leaming went closest to scoring when her chipped effort was tipped over the bar by Angelique Tuisamoa. "Supersub" Sophia Dyer slammed home the victors' second goal twelve minutes from time after Sofia Garcia was denied by Jesse Barnard, who was beaten all ends up in the final minute by Jess Innes, who scored direct from a corner to cap off a solid win for Ryan Faithfull's charges. At Petone Memorial Park, Jasmine Prince struck twice in the first half as Southern recorded a 2-0

win over Capital Football, whose only company at the bottom of the table now is Central Football after they suffered their heaviest defeat since a 10-1 shellacking from Waikato-Bay of Plenty in the 2010 National Women's Youth League semi-final. Northern came calling at Massey University, and from the moment Kelli Brown opened the scoring within twenty seconds of the kick-off, you just knew this was going to be a long day at the office for the team in green. They were spared the agony of conceding double figures again, but having their heaviest ever home defeat inflicted upon them was the upshot of Rovers running riot to the tune of 9-0, Brown leading the way with five in fifty minutes. Rene Wasi and Maisy Dewell also chimed in, while Leanna Ryan netted in each half, both of her efforts coming amidst a flurry of goalscoring activity in a fifteen minute spell either side of the half-time, during which Northern netted six of their strikes. Next weekend's fare sees the spotlight fall on the Saturday lunchtime clash between Rovers and "The Lilywhites" at McFetridge Park, after which a quick dash across the Harbour Bridge will allow one to witness a fair chunk of "The Hoops"' encounter with Capital at Seddon Fields. Southern will be confident of scoring a home win when Central visit Logan Park on Saturday afternoon, while on Sunday, Auckland and Canterbury clash at Keith Hay Park in a match which is already shaping as a critical one in the visitors' season. From there, it's straight home in time to watch the Football Ferns take on Japan in Nagano. This weekend's Youth League action saw Canterbury continue to make every post a winning one, Charlotte Roche scoring twice in their 4-0 rout of Eastern Suburbs. They remain two points clear of Northern - Emily Lyon was among the goals in their 3-0 win at Central - and Capital, for whom Alyssha Eglinton's goal proved suffice to see off Southern. The match between Auckland and Western Springs was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch at Keith Hay Park. Details: Auckland United 0, Western Springs 3 (R. Hirano (10), S. Dyer (78), J. Innes (90))  HT 0-1 Canterbury United Pride 1 (L. Evans (75)), Eastern Suburbs 3 (J. Lucas (2 pen), D. Jackson (39, 72), N. Mettam (90))  HT 0-2 Capital Football 0, Southern United 2 (J. Prince (7, 37))  HT 0-2 Central Football 0, Northern Football 9 (K. Brown (1, 24, 38, 48, 51), R. Wasi (39), L. Ryan (43, 50), M. Dewell (72))  HT 0-5