New Zealand Universities scored a convincing 4-0 victory over an under-strength Lynn-Avon United at a windswept Albie Turner Field on July 12, as the Northern Premier Women's League champions-elect made do without the services of first team regulars Melanie Hansen, Dana Heiford and captain Terry McCahill for a variety of reasons. The sight of a Lynn-Avon team-sheet sans the last-mentioned of that trio is a rarity indeed - you can count on the fingers of one hand the number of games McCahill has missed for the club since Avondale United formed its Premier Women's team in 1993. But absent she was, albeit from the playing side of things only, and it presented patrons with an interesting insight into what life for Lynn-Avon might be like without their highly influential skipper in the not-too-distant future - Father Time, of course, catches up with us all, no matter how willing the spirit may be to continue to do the things which have come naturally to us over many a past year. It was still a solid United combination which took to the field for this friendly fixture, however, with stand-in captain Rebecca Parkinson setting the tone of the early stages of the match by putting herself about somewhat over-zealously during the first ten minutes, as NZU full-backs Kimberley Lewis and Jane Archer will be able to testify from the stud marks on their ankles! It wasn't long before the striker got some of her own back, but before she did, Lynn-Avon were shorn of the services of their goalkeeper, Stephanie Puckrin, after just twelve minutes of play. She was caught in possession by Rebecca Tegg as she dribbled out of defence, the NZU striker following Parkinson's lead with a bone-jarring challenge which left Puckrin hobbling straight away. While the 'keeper was able to clear her lines on this occasion, then looked on soon after as a Rebecca O'Neill shot drifted past the post, her limited mobility saw Puckrin's evening end before the goal kick could be taken, Kelly Leaper taking over between the sticks as United were reduced to the bare eleven - the watching Ashleigh Cox, now at Three Kings United but with Lynn-Avon at the start of the year, was coaxed into helping out in an outfield role for the second half. When the chips are down, as they certainly were for Lynn-Avon in the circumstances, you tend to discover the true character of the players in the team, and it came as no surprise to see one individual in particular rise to the occasion and produce a mammoth personal performance for the good of the cause. Not to put too fine a point on it, Jennifer Carlisle was absolutely immense in this encounter. But for her defensive efforts, Universities would have gone on to win this match by a far greater margin. Yet it was as an attacking force in which she was first sighted in this match. Catching Lewis in possession half-way inside NZU's half, Carlisle then evaded her opponent, and scythed inside Nancy Campbell's challenge, only to lose her footing at the point of letting fly. Chelsea Aim was little troubled by this sixteenth minute effort. Three minutes later, the former New Zealand international was fulfilling her defensive duties, foiling a Denbigh O'Keefe effort after a neat interchange between O'Neill, Tegg and Emma Humphries. The last-mentioned curled another effort into the side-netting soon after, a result of Hannah McEwan dispossessing Vicki Rainbow and powering past three players before crossing in the 24th minute. Four minutes later, a McColl through ball sent newly introduced substitute Leanne Tiffen racing through the inside right channel, seemingly with just Leaper to beat. Carlisle had other ideas, however, and despite giving Tiffen a three yard start, managed to chase down the Universities midfielder and pull off a superb recovering tackle before Tiffen could shoot, a feat she was to repeat in the last minute of the half. The resulting corner from Humphries found the head of O'Keefe, but Leaper swatted the ball to safety. Soon after, Anne Tansell was to the fore in thwarting McColl and Tiffen in separate incidents, as the Universities squad piled on the pressure. Kura Richards, making her first appearance in six weeks for Lynn-Avon, was also struggling by this time, and was caught in possession by Humphries ten minutes before the interval, with the New Zealand striker making good use of the prevailing south-westerly wind gusts by unleashing a high curling effort over Leaper, but beyond the far post as well. The chilling winds made quality football somewhat

challenging throughout proceedings, it must be said, but the players knuckled down to the task well, and it's fair to say that this game produced the best display of soccer seen at Albie Turner Field, the home of Northern League First Division team Metro, this season! Unlike their opponents, Universities had the luxury of a full bench to turn to, and all members of the squad had enjoyed a run by the final whistle. The frequent injection of fresh legs was a factor in a strong second half showing from the scholars, who made the most of the wind at their backs to leave Lynn-Avon largely surviving on scraps for the duration. Within four minutes of the resumption, both O'Neill, who rattled the sidenetting, and the charging figure of Lewis, with a teasing cross-shot, went close to breaking the deadlock, while a Tiffen cross arced behind Humphries on the far post soon afterwards - O'Keefe was unable to react quickly enough to retrieve the situation. The rock-like Carlisle then thwarted two Universities raids with timely challenges, before the students finally found a way through Lynn-Avon's rearguard. Brooke Rangi and McColl combined to send Tegg scurrying through, but she shot at Leaper under pressure from United's star turn. Lynn-Avon were rarely seen as an attacking force in this match, but Sam Selwyn ignited them in that regard in the 61st minute, turning defence into attack with a strong surge out of her defensive third. Margot Bowker and Parkinson then got involved, with the latter threading the ball through for Richards to rampage after. Aim wasn't to be beaten on this occasion, however, and hurtled out of goal to clear the danger. In doing so, she sparked the attack which finally saw the deadlock broken. It culminated in a corner, which Patrice Bourke delivered high into the wind. It hung awkwardly, and the aerial battle to commandeer possession fell Universities' way. Tiffen, inside the six-yard box, quickly pounced on the loose ball and hooked it home from close-range - 1-0. It was the straw which broke the camel's back, for nine minutes later, NZU doubled their advantage with a screamer! Tiffen caught Rainbow in possession inside Lynn-Avon's half, and the ball swiftly transferred between Bourke and Jen Kendall to Jamie Hackett. The substitute evaded a couple of challenges before finding Carlisle in 'Thou shalt not pass' mode once more. She cleared the ball up-field, but could only look on as Kendall pounced on the loose ball and let fly from thirty yards, the sphere careering into the roof of the net beyond the despairing Leaper. Lynn-Avon were now up against it in a huge way, and after Carlisle had thwarted Tegg and Hackett on a couple of occasions, and Leaper had pawed out a scrambled close-range effort following a Bourke corner, two goals in as many minutes emphasised NZU's dominance on the scoreboard. Another Bourke corner in the 83rd minute was scrambled clear, but Hannah Light managed to retrieve the situation, and played the ball back to the lurking figure of Hackett. From twenty-five yards, she curled a beauty into the top far corner of the net - 3-0. A minute later, Universities wrapped up their well-earned win with their fourth goal of the evening, and did so in some style. Tess Murphy instigated it, teaming up with Tiffen to send Tegg charging through on goal. Not even Carlisle could cover the threat this time, with the striker coolly luring Leaper out of goal before slotting the ball past her into the empty net to wrap up a decisive 4-0 victory. NZU's week-long camp continues at the same venue on Wednesday evening, with a clash against Eastern Suburbs at 7pm, while Lynn-Avon have clinching their sixth successive Northern Premier Women's League championship in their sights at old rivals Three Kings United on Sunday. But while they've made winning that competition a habit, on this occasion, their under-strength ranks were, the outstanding Carlisle apart, a distinct second best to opponents whose preparations for August's World University Games in Turkey are gathering pace by the day. Lynn-Avon: Puckrin (Richards, 12) (Cox, 50); Leaper, Gilmore, Tansell; Percival (Richards, 59), Rainbow, Selwyn, Bowker, Carlisle; Parkinson, Doubleday Universities: Aim; Lewis (Barnett, 68), Campbell, Rangi (Murphy, 57), Archer (Light, 46); McEwan (Tiffen, 27), O'Neill (Bourke, 57), McColl (Kendall, 68), O'Keefe (Hannay, 68); Humphries (Hackett, 60), Tegg Referee:     Stuart Lowry