Ellerslie scored the biggest upset in the Bluebird Northern Premier Women's League since Te Atatu's 1997 defeat of Lynn-Avon United on April 30, coming from behind to down defending champions Three Kings United 2-1 at Michaels Avenue on the opening day of the new season, thus recording their first win over the club since 1993. The home side started brightly against their new-look opponents, and could have been in front after just ninety seconds. Lily Somerfield's shot was blocked by Helen Exler, with the rebound falling to Margot Bowker, who rounded the advancing Michelle Hodge and stroked the ball goalwards, only for Exler to race back and clear off the line. Three Kings began to impose themselves on the game soon after, and following efforts from Rebecca Sowden and Maia Jackman, Stacey O'Hara released Erin Martin with a splendid thirteenth minute pass. The US Under-20 international rounded Stephanie Puckrin before laying the ball back into Jackman's path. Her effort was blocked, as was that of Anne-Marie Scott, and Ellerslie breathed easily for the moment. Sowden found Puckrin's midriff with a twenty-five yarder three minutes later, while a further seven minutes elapsed before Simone Ferrara picked out Jackman with a corner, the SWANZ international's powerful header being cleared to safety by Claudia Hicks. Two minutes later, Martin careered past two challenges before whipping over a cross which Puckrin did just enough to prevent Scott from pouncing on. Ellerslie were defending like trojans as United probed for an opening, with Martin and Jackman both going close in the next eleven minutes. The latter, Auckland's Player of the Year in 1999, then played a one-two with Exler before breaking down the right at pace, five minutes before the break. Both Hicks and Dana Humby failed to clear her cross, which fell invitingly for Martin. The American's first touch let her down, Puckrin saving gratefully. The goal which had threatened for much of the first half came in the 41st minute, and Jackman was the architect. Her powerful running at pace saw off the challenges of both Somerfield and Hicks as she burst into the penalty area, where she unselfishly directed a low cross into Martin's path. She swept the ball into the top corner of the net to give Three Kings a deserved lead. The early stages of the second half saw United's dominance continuing, with the full-of-running Ferrara and Martin teaming up in the 52nd minute. The latter sent a looping header onto the roof of the net from the former's cross. The incident which changed the entire complexion of the match came four minutes later. A wayward back-pass from Hicks was apparently gathered beyond the dead-ball line by Puckrin, but neither referee Alex Paterson nor the home team's referee's assistant were anywhere near up with play, so couldn't make a decision. With United anticipating one, Puckrin played on, passing the ball to Humby, who hammered the ball upfield. Vicki Ormond was onto it instantly, scampered clear of the defence and rounded Hodge before rolling the ball into the empty net to level the scores. United now had a fight on their hands, as confidence visibly swept through the home team. But thirteen minutes later, following a call for greater efforts from her team-mates by United captain Tarah Cox, the alarm bells were ringing in Ellerslie's defence once more, Jackman again the source of their consternation. Her cross from the right was met on the volley by Martin, who beat Puckrin all ends up with a fiercely struck volley, only for the ball to ricochet off the upright back into the hands of the goalkeeper, who, it must be said, knew very little about it. With six minutes remaining, United came within inches of silencing the home supporters. Jackman fed the overlapping Exler, whose cross picked out Martin. She took the ball round Puckrin, but was on too acute an angle to steer the ball home, so laid it back for Emma Lothian. Her curling effort crept inches past the far post - 1-1 still. But only for a minute, as Ellerslie pounced on a defensive blunder to score what proved to be the winner. Bowker chased a lost cause, and her efforts prevented Exler from properly clearing it. Hodge was accorded the task, and she sent the ball forward in Sowden's direction. Kristy Hill darted in front of the midfielder and headed the ball forward, picking out Bowker, who cracked the ball home off the underside of the crossbar from the edge of the penalty area. She could have had another within four minutes, Hodge smothering her effort after a woefully under-hit back-pass by Mary-Lou Hendriks had been pounced on by Ormond, who squared the ball to her striking partner. But 2-1 the scoreline stayed, a fitting reward for Ellerslie's doggedly determined performance. They kept Three Kings honest throughout this match, and while the visitors created the lion's share of the chances, the home side made the most of those afforded them, although they were helped in their cause by a few United players failing to perform to the standards expected of them.