A superb hat-trick from Rebecca Tegg, allied to the exploits of stand-in goalkeeper Maggie Lankshear, earned Eastern Suburbs a 4-2 win at Galloway Park on August 7 which ended Claudelands Rovers' reign as holders of the ASB National Women's Knockout Cup at the quarter-final stage of the 2011 competition. That outcome didn't look likely in the early stages of the competition, however, with the home team tearing into "The Lilywhites" from the outset. In just the seventh minute, a late lunge by Mariah Meagher on Olivia Chance - her technique paled in comparison to that Marlies Oostdam employed to thwart Holly Patterson seconds earlier - allowed Sarah McLaughlin to curl a teasing free-kick in from the left to the far post,. Katherine Robinson sent a header crashing against the post on receipt of the ball, while two minutes later, Erin Nayler smothered a low drive from McLaughlin, who only just failed to get on the end of a low cross from Chance in the thirteenth minute, after the Football Ferns flyer had been slipped through by Kate Loye's measured through ball. All Suburbs could offer by way of resistance at this stage of proceedings was a couple of long-range efforts from Lankshear and Grace Vincent. Naomi-Beth Carter gobbled these up with contempt, but she was powerless to prevent an absolutely stunning goal in the seventeenth minute. Meagher's throw-in was flicked on by Lankshear to Tegg, who swivelled and unleashed a first time dipping angled volley which sailed over Carter before crashing into the far corner of the net from the most oblique of angles - a world-class finish from a player who is fast heading towards 200 goals in her career. This strike was reminiscent of the legendary Pernille Andersen at her brilliant best, and after Tegg had rattled the side-netting and sent a right-foot volley flashing past the far post, she doubled Suburbs' lead in dramatic circumstances. Rovers were pressing for an equaliser in the 26th minute when Loye sent Chance careering through on goal with just Nayler to beat. The winger slid in for the ball as the 'keeper dived for it on the greasy surface, and boot met jaw in an unintentional but frightening collision. Nayler was instantly in agony - she was later found to have bitten clean through her lip, and required several stitches to repair the damage. But while the brave 'keeper lay stricken, her Suburbs team-mates inexplicably kept on playing, presumably unaware of the severity of their custodian's injury. Meagher gathered the loose ball and played it to Oostdam, who, with calls to knock the ball out of play growing in number, pinged it forward for Tegg, who, unlike Rovers' rearguard, played to the whistle, and raced on before calmly curling the ball around Carter into the net beyond - 2-0, and certainly one of the more bizarre goals you'll see. Referee Anna-Marie Keighley awarded the goal, and instantly signalled for Nayler to receive treatment. The teenager was in no state to continue, and with her watching parents on hand to help her from the field, attention turned to who would become Suburbs' fifth goalkeeper this season. A new volunteer put up her hand to don the gloves, and her subsequent display suggested Lankshear is a bit of a natural twixt the sticks, even though this was her first time in goal. She's raw, understandably, but her height, physical presence, and the communication and distribution qualities she employs in her midfield role are attributes which could be of benefit to New Zealand in a position where depth is sorely lacking. It wasn't too long before Claudelands were looking to test the new custodian, whose first task was to pick the ball out of the net in the 36th minute. Kate Carlton won the ball well off Melanie Gooch on half-way, and instantly played the ball wide to Kylie Jens. She worked a one-two with McLaughlin before sliding a pass into Loye, who turned the ball into the stride of Chance. With a deft touch, she lifted the ball over a defender then, as it dropped, lobbed it over the advancing figure of Lankshear, just as the 'keeper recovered her footing after slipping on the uneven playing surface. As an aside, it's a wonder that Claudelands play football to the quality and standard that they do, because the Hamilton City Council does them no favours whatsoever with the surface they are forced to play on at Galloway Park. Poor doesn't even begin to describe it. In an era where there is talk aplenty about the benefits of artificial surfaces, surely the local body could do something to improve the quality of this natural surface for the benefit of the city's foremost female footballers? Or are they only interested in ensuring the cricket blocks next to the pitch are in pristine condition? After reducing the deficit, Rovers pressed hard for an equaliser before half-time. Libby Williams roasted Harriet Steele down the right before firing in a cross which Lankshear punched out to Loye. She volleyed this chance over the top, while McLaughlin, scampering down the right in the shadows of the half-time whistle, attempted to chip Lankshear from out wide, but lacked the accuracy to match her execution.

The second half was seven minutes old when Rovers, who had carried on from where they left off at half-time, were rewarded with the equaliser. And how! Holly Nixon's mother died of cancer last Monday, and the home team were wearing yellow armbands - Mrs Nixon's favourite colour - as a mark of respect for their team-mate's loss. Nixon chose to play in the match, and crowned her courageous performance by instigating a splendid equaliser. Initially linking with McLaughlin on the right, the midfielder then worked an opening with the generally subdued Patterson, who set up a chance on the half-volley for Robinson. She failed to take it, but made amends by setting up Jens, who came steaming in off the left flank and hit an absolute screamer into the roof of the net from fully thirty yards on the angle - the sort of strike few 'keepers in the world had a hope of stopping, never mind a rookie like Lankshear. 2-2 then, and very much game on in the cup-tie, although another twist in the tale wasn't far away. Grace Vincent stepped up her game in the second spell, the first sign of her doing so being a gem of a ball down the right to release Gooch at pace. She skipped past Carlton before scything into the penalty area, but instead of shooting, she cut the ball back. No-one in a white shirt was present, but Alex Shadbolt was on hand to clear for Claudelands, albeit at the expense of a corner. Oostdam's delivery was cleared back to her, and possession was disputed until the ball arrived at the feet of young Jolene Muir. She fired in a cross which Williams sliced past Carter into the net to give Suburbs the lead again, via a 57th minute own goal. With Rovers reeling from this setback, Vincent took charge of proceedings again two minutes later. Stripping Robinson of possession, the midfielder sprayed a measured pass into the stride of Muir, who swiftly found herself one-on-one with Carter. The 'keeper produced a fine save at the feet of her fellow U-17 contender. Carter cleared the ball upfield, and Claudelands pressed Suburbs back once more. Chelsey Wood was unable to clear the danger, and presented McLaughlin with the chance to let unleash one of her trademark thunderbolts. But Lankshear, who had shunned the dressing room during the half-time break in order to get in some goalkeeping practice, produced a superb one-handed save to punch the ball over the bar and keep Suburbs in front. It was a crucial denial, as was the timely point-blank range block of McLaughlin's next shot  by Sara Lovitz, after Patterson had skipped past Steele down the right and picked out the Football Ferns star with a measured cross in the 69th minute. Two minutes later, Suburbs restored the two-goal lead they had enjoyed for a time in the first spell. Lisa Kemp, who had blocked a shot with her face in the opening minute of play, and had to change her bloodied shirt during the match as a result, was playing in an unfamiliar role owing to the injuries which have befallen Suburbs in recent times. It was her interception which sparked the goal, the 2010 Junior Ferns Women's World Cup squad member storming downfield from half-way before being thwarted by Carlton's superbly timed tackle in the act of shooting as Kemp entered the penalty area. The ball fell to young substitute Eileish Hayes, who brought the ball out of defence but promptly gifted it straight to Tegg. Suburbs captain didn't hesitate, thundering through the inside left channel before, from wide on the left, lashing a devastating twenty-five yard drive over the head of Carter and into the roof of the net by the near post - 4-2. And seemingly no way back for Claudelands. But although time and the scoreboard were combined enemies, the cup holders pounded away in search of a lifeline back into the tie. Oostdam and Wood produced vital blocks to thwart McLaughlin and Nixon respectively, while soon after, Lankshear rose to punch a McLaughlin corner clear amid a mass of bodies. Then a Shadbolt error on half-way allowed Suburbs substitute Raima Harding to pounce and send Muir scampering down the right - a good young prospect, this kid. Harding raced forward in anticipation of a return ball, and was perfectly placed to receive it until Carlton swooped to avert the danger eight minutes from time. Four minutes later, Rovers knew the game was up when Carlton's ball forward saw Oostdam head the ball weakly back towards her goal. McLaughlin, racing after it, slid in on goal, but Lankshear confidently plucked the ball off the toes of the striker, the last chance the home team had to maintain their hold on New Zealand women's club football's ultimate symbol of supremacy. Their conquerors have been here before - Suburbs were runners-up in the 2004 final. This year, they plan to go one better, something which Coastal Spirit, Glenfield Rovers and Waterside Karori, the other semi-finalists, will doubtless dispute. Claudelands:     Carter; Williams, Carlton, Shadbolt (Stewart, 83), Jens; Loye, Nixon (Leong, 76), Robinson (Hayes, 70), Chance; Patterson, McLaughlin Suburbs:     Nayler (Muir, 30 (booked, 88)); Meagher, Wood, Oostdam, Steele; Lankshear, Vincent, Lovitz; Gooch (Chapman, 90), Tegg, Kemp (Harding, 75) Referee:     Anna-Marie Keighley