Legendary action-thriller master writer Jack Higgins has penned dozens of rip-roaring yarns over the course of his fifty-plus year career as one of the world's finest authors, one of which was entitled "The Last Place God Made". As titles go, it's a fitting description for Ngahue Reserve, a featureless, shelter-free, financially challenged football facility which is currently the focus of legal activity, including a Serious Fraud Office investigation regarding an alleged misappropriation of funds. At its heart are two floodlit turf pitches, and it was on one of these that NZ Football Foundation Kate Sheppard Cup holders Glenfield Rovers advanced to the semi-finals of this season's competition on July 26, edging Eastern Suburbs 4-3 on penalties after these rivals - the top two teams in the Lotto Northern Premier Women's League - had scored a goal apiece in two compelling hours of closely-fought football. That the match had to be played here at all came about due to their original quarter-final encounter, at Madills Farm eleven days earlier, being abandoned at half-time with "The Lilywhites" 3-1 to the good, but with conditions having reached the unplayable stage and the safety and well-being of players and match officials alike having increasingly become a factor as play continued. Suburbs were a bit miffed that the match couldn't resume with their hard-earned advantage intact, and forty-five minutes still to be played, but it is standard procedure in football the world over that when a game is abandoned, the page is turned and it needs to start all over again. There is precedent in this competition, with the 2009 encounter between Three Kings United and Lynn-Avon United being abandoned after 62 minutes due to Keith Hay Park being waterlogged (yes, that drain-related problem has been around that long!) with the score locked at 0-0. The match was replayed in full ten days later - for the record, Lynn-Avon won 2-1. As then, so now, with both teams shorn of their Junior Ferns' stars for this duel. The NZ U-20s squad had set off for France earlier in the afternoon on one of the world's longest flights, the 17 hours 40 minutes mission which is Qatar Airlines' direct flight from Auckland to Doha. The absence of the six players charged with national representation impacted both teams in key areas, particularly in attack, so a tight, keenly fought encounter with few scoring chances was anticipated between two well-matched combatants. They didn't disappoint. Both teams struggled to get to grips with the artificial playing surface - weighting a pass on turf is a far more challenging practice than it is on good old-fashioned grass, and with the prevailing down-the-ground wind tinged with hints of ice, the idea of this place being "The Last Place God Made" certainly has merit. Rovers were first to threaten, an eighth minute raid turning defence into attack via the passes of Kylie Jens, Sydney Bultitude, Estelle Harrison - a welcome return after her self-enforced absence from the fray since the end of last season, Geena Gross and Kate Loye. The last-mentioned threaded the final pass of the move into the stride of the hard-charging Harrison, who careered into the penalty area before looking to pick out Gross with a cross. Kate Seatter had other ideas - danger thwarted. Six minutes later, Suburbs responded, Hannah Pilley swooping on a defensive mix-up between Serena Murrihy and Tessa Berger to storm through on goal with just Alice Noyer to beat, and two team-mates in support. The advancing figure of Noyer blocked Pilley's shot with her legs, the ball rebounding to Jade Parris, who instantly let fly. Much to her dismay, her shot struck the retreating figure of Loye square between the shoulder blades and ricocheted straight into the grateful gloves of Noyer. She launched an instant counter-attack, with Emily Oosterhof leading the charge down the right before picking out Gross. Her bid to work a one-two with Harrison foundered on the return pass, Corina Brown anticipating instinctively before, at the feet of Gross, saving bravely. Back came Suburbs, Leah Mettam releasing Yeongha Kim down the left, where she left Murrihy for dead before picking out Parris with a cross which struck the striker's hand. She gained an advantage from it, but shot wide of the mark as Glenfield howled in protest at referee Beth Rattray, whose overall performance was painfully inadequate for a game of this magnitude. Noyer's resulting goal-kick sparked another Rovers raid, with Loye again feeding Harrison on the left as Kate Carlton struggled to cope with the twin threats posed by Jens and Rovers' new recruit bearing down on her - a smart tactical deployment by Glenfield gaffer Andrew Clay. Harrison's cross to the far post only just flew beyond the incoming figure of Liz Savage, arriving at the end of a strong untracked run from deep. The sight of the ball heading out of play pleased Brown, who next had to deal with a long-range attempt by Berger before sparking Suburbs' next attack, down the left. Kim was again the outlet, getting in behind Oosterhof - for neither the first nor last time - before whipping in a low cross intended for Pilley, but intercepted by Jens, a terrific piece of tracking by one of the best left-backs to have graced the women's game in the northern region so far this century. Jens it was who ignited the move which led to the game's first goal, in the 33rd minute. It was the left flank trio operating in concert, with Loye and Harrison the other elements of an attack which culminated in a cross which found Gross in the heart of Suburbs' penalty area, with time to control the ball then dispatch it beyond Brown - 1-0. Three minutes later, an incisive off-the-ball run by the goalscorer created space behind her into which Savage charged with ball at toe. She spread play wide to Harrison, who swiftly rewarded the overlapping run of Jens, the deliverer of a cross which had Gross' name written all over it until Rebekah Van Dort intervened. While Glenfield were making in-roads down Suburbs' right, "The Lilywhites" were keen to probe the holders' defensive deficiencies on the opposite side of the field, and gained reward for doing so in the 41st minute. Mettam launched a long throw-in which found Parris bursting through the inside-left channel in Rovers' penalty area. Two seconds later, she was tasting the turf, scythed down by Murrihy whose challenge prompted referee Rattray to instantly point to the penalty spot. And that was it! The only punishment administered to the offender for a challenge which had "yellow card at worst" written all over it. Lucy Carter administered the coup de grace from twelve yards - 1-1. Murrihy was extremely fortunate that the official had seemingly left her cards in the dressing room. Had the referee from the abandoned encounter been in charge again … Morgan Archer brooks no argument where breaches of the Laws of the Game are concerned, and the players know it. Unfortunately, Beth Rattray is far less authoritative, and her comparative shortcomings were frequently exploited. Before the break, both sides sought to break the deadlock, Jens via a twenty-five yarder which Brown gobbled up. But quite what Carlton was doing so far up-field in stoppage time … Rovers' penalty area is nose-bleed territory for the fullback, but she didn't hesitate to shoot, then deliver a cross from the rebound resulting in a Mettam corner which Berger headed to safety. After Gross had headed a Savage cross past the far post in the 47th minute, any doubts anyone present held that the referee wasn't up to the task were dispelled by her inaction following a Glenfield free-kick in the centre circle. The speed with which Jeongwon Shin was retreating from the ball made a snail seem turbo-charged, and Rovers rightly appealed for encroachment as their free-kick struck the Korean. Their appeals were the only air expelled in relation to the incident - no whistle was blown, so play continued, and no yellow card was issued. Rattray was now the match referee in name only. The players now got on with the job in spite of the official's presence - they deserved far better for a game of this standing. Jens stormed down the left in the 52nd minute before drilling a low cross into the goalmouth. Suburbs didn't clear it adequately, presenting Harrison with a shooting chance which she drilled narrowly past the post. This sparked a spell of incessant Glenfield pressure, much of which foundered on the outstanding figure of Van Dort - she had an exceptionally good match, even by her lofty standards, to the extent that she

was arguably the best player on the park all evening, with Loye and Savage a close second and third respectively. Talking of whom, 'twas her corner which Savage met with a header which flashed past the post just shy of the hour mark, at which time Savage released Gross through the inside left channel. Initially outpacing Seatter, the striker stumbled once in possession, allowing the defender to come back for a second bite of the cherry. Gross was released down the left by Harrison in the 63rd minute, and once more exposed Seatter's shortage of pace. Brown came to her team-mate's rescue this time round, blocking at the striker's feet, albeit at the expense of a corner, which Loye delivered into the danger zone. It was cleared to Harrison, whose shot cannoned off Seatter to safety. Two minutes later, Harrison was the beneficiary of a delightful piece of skill by Loye right on the touchline. With two opponents breathing down her neck, she conjured an opening which defied logic to get the ball to her team-mate, who set up Gross for a shot on the run which threatened to clear the netting behind the goal at the College Road end of "The Last Place God Made". Rovers continued to pile on the pressure - Suburbs were genuinely hanging on for grim death by this time, and simply getting bodies in the way as the cup holders probed and prodded for an opening. Harrison thought she'd found one in the 68th minute, but the door was swiftly slammed shut, albeit at the expense of a corner, which Loye delivered onto the head of Berger. Her header bulleted mere inches past Brown's right-hand post - a foot to the right and Rovers' defensive rock would have been leading their celebrations. Van Dort had clearly had enough of being forced to play on the back foot by the 71st minute, so she took matters into her own hands and led a swashbuckling counter-thrust from which Suburbs took immense heart. She did well to win the ball initially, then retained possession well on half-way before sending the tireless toiler that was Parris - she had run a country mile and then some pursuing Rovers' rearguard as they recycled possession prior to launching another raid - off in pursuit of a through ball. The pace of the pass on the turf surface meant Noyer was always going to be the favourite to reach it, but it was enough to give Suburbs hope, although they had to withstand further Glenfield pressure before they could continue to aspire to it. Savage led the 82nd minute charge before linking with Harrison once more. Her cross forced Mettam to direct it towards her own goal, the ball flying past Brown … but not Van Dort, who cleared off the line. Straight away, Suburbs countered, Pilley releasing Parris down the right on a run which she started just inside her own half. Into open spaces she hurtled, Murrihy racing across in cover, ultimately forcing Parris to check inside, where she ran into the formidable figure of Berger, seconds after the pair had clashed in another incident, earning both a talking-to from referee Rattray. The ball didn't go too far from Glenfield's goal, for within seconds, Shin was in possession. She surged towards the target before playing in Kim on the left, from where she drew a save from Noyer - a challenging night concentration-wise for the 'keeper, who wasn't called upon often, but stood tall when the spotlight's glare was upon her. There was drama at the death, with extra time imminent. Mettam's corner wasn't cleared, inviting Molly Bryans - far from her best game - to shoot. Her blocked effort fell invitingly for Pilley, whose effort ricocheted off a defender, allowing Noyer to grab the ball under the bar. To extra time we went, half-an-hour in which the challenge became as much mental as physical, with a couple of players visibly struggling as the combination of the demands of the quarter-final and playing on a surface which neither team regularly graces took their toll. Savage was the first to fire a shot in anger in the additional half-hour, lashing one past the post prior to Pilley holding off then turning Harrison and attempting to weight a pass for Parris on the slick surface - Noyer's ball every day of the week! Brown was to the fore as the first half of extra time drew to a close, anticipating a Gross cross intended for substitute Tamami Endo before smothering a ricochet off Van Dort after another pair of fresh legs for Rovers, Helena Kelderman, got to the byline on the right and fired in a cross. To the 109th minute we went, when a rare error by Van Dort let in Gross. But the defender's blushes were spared by Brown, who hurtled off her line to save a certain goal with a fine block. Two minutes later, Shin and Parris combined to send the only Suburbs substitute employed, Emily Gillion, dashing through the offside trap. Once more, Noyer stood firm as the lone player between "The Lilywhites" and the semi-finals, blocking the shot with her legs while outside the penalty area. Instantly a Rovers retort was unleashed, with Seatter blocking Gross' latest attempt at the pointy end of it. That meant another Glenfield corner, the outcome of which saw Savage narrowly astray with a twenty yard chip. The dying minutes loomed large, and Glenfield, eager to avoid being taken to penalties for the second successive tie, pressed for a dramatic winner. Carter pulled up with cramp as Berger burst past her on a buccaneering run which took her well into enemy territory before she picked out Gross. Van Dort blocked her shot for the final corner of the game, the culmination of which was a Murrihy run and cross inviting Savage to let fly. She did so, but past the post, meaning the fate of this clash of the titans would be decided from twelve yards. But unbeknown to many present, there was a further twist to the plot! It was now 9.20pm turned, and the floodlights were scheduled to switch off automatically at 9.30pm! Throw in the custodian on hand wasn't one little bit amused that this game was going all the way, which meant a late night at the office … welcome to the club, son! Welcome to the club! Within three minutes of the final whistle, we were under way with the penalty shoot-out - that must be some sort of record in itself! And the first player stepping up to the plate was Carter, who rarely misses from the penalty spot. That's when she's fully fit and focused. But this kick was taken mere minutes after she had pulled up lame with cramp while pursuing Berger's 119th minute charge downfield, and the outcome was costly - saved by the legs of Noyer. Advantage Glenfield immediately, one Savage confirmed with their first kick. Parris then produced a text-book twelve yard finish, right in the corner, before Loye scored with her second attempt, Brown having saved her first. But she was deemed to have moved before the kick was taken, and the rare sight of a goalkeeper being booked in a penalty shoot-out added further drama - if she did it again, she'd earn a second yellow, and one of her team-mates would have to don the gloves … Pilley sent Noyer the wrong way from the spot before Murrihy buried Rovers' third attempt to Brown's right. Up stepped Shin to dispatch a high quality penalty over and above the diving figure of Noyer - 3-3, with Suburbs having taken one kick more. Cue Harrison. Cue Brown, her save leaving the tie perfectly poised with one penalty apiece still to take before we went to sudden death, and the prospect of the tie being abandoned due to floodlight failure - wouldn't that have been bizarre? Would another replay have been required in such circumstances? One would have to say 'yes'. Thankfully, we never got to find out, for with Suburbs' last kick, Mettam stepped up, only to see Noyer save it. But wait - more drama! Out came the yellow card again, and Glenfield's goalie's name was now in the book. So Mettam faced the test of nerve again. She sent Noyer the wrong way, but her rising spot-kick hit the angle of crossbar and post, presenting Bultitude with the chance to clinch Glenfield's place in the semi-final, one she did not spurn. 4-3 on penalties to the cup holders, and as the teams trudged off following this epic Kate Sheppard Cup quarter-final - Glenfield gleefully, Suburbs gloomily - the lights went out at the venue which, in Godzone, has to rank as "The Last Place God Made". Suburbs:     Brown; Carlton, Seatter, Van Dort, Mettam; Carter, Shin, Bryans (Gillion, 93); Pilley, Parris, Kim Glenfield:     Noyer; Oosterhof (McIntosh, 116), Murrihy, Berger, Jens (Endo, 91); Savage, Bultitude, Loye; Turnbull (Kelderman, 79), Gross, Harrison Referee:     Beth Rattray