Cashmere Technical and Coastal Spirit kept up the pressure on Dunedin City Royals in the South Island Women's League on Kate Sheppard Cup semi-finals weekend in mid-August, closing to within three points of the leaders with convincing wins. Mel Cameron scored twice just before half-time before Britney-Lee Nicholson potted a penalty - her first league goal in another injury-plagued season - as Spirit saw off Nelson Suburbs 3-0 at English Park on Saturday. Twenty-four hours later, Cashmere went goal-crazy at the Caledonian Ground, thrashing Roslyn Wakari 11-0 with Olympian Annalie Longo helping herself to four goals. Captain Lara Wall bagged a hat-trick, while Anna McPhie, Grace Johns and Claudia Wilson also got in on the act on a day Yui Ishikawa helped the opposition's cause by putting through her own net twenty minutes from time. The round is completed on Wednesday evening when Otago University and "The Royals" meet at Logan Park. Next Saturday, Cashmere and Spirit square off at Garrick Memorial Park for the final time this season, while Dunedin take on Nelson at Saxton Fields on a day Roslyn and the students lock horns at Ellis Park. The Christchurch rivals met earlier in the week, of course, this time in the Morrison Mitsubishi Reta Fitzpatrick Cup semi-final at English Park. And it was Cashmere who prevailed, 3-2, to set up a final against Halswell United, 1-0 winners over Selwyn United seven days earlier courtesy Rachel Brodie's last-minute winner. Tech got off to the ideal start in this match, Lisa Evans netting after eight minutes. Lily Fisher bolstered their advantage halfway through the half, and when Evans struck again early in the second spell, the writing was on the wall for Spirit. Nicholson reduced the arrears halfway through the second spell, while Meg Simpson set up a grandstand finish when scoring in stoppage time, but time ran out for Spirit, allowing the cup holders to advance to next month's final. The Otago Daily Times Football South Premier Women's Championship is poised for a thrilling finale, with five of the six teams having gone into the weekend's matches with a chance of winning

the title. Two of those contenders were eliminated following Saturday's action, leaving Queens Park on top of the table going into the final round of action, two points clear of Green Island, with Northern three points further back but with a game in hand. Should "Queens" beat "The Royals" in Dunedin this Saturday, it will see the title heading to Invercargill for the first time ever. Details: Coastal Spirit 3 (M. Cameron (38, 42), B. Nicholson (60 pen)), Nelson Suburbs 0  HT 2-0 Roslyn Wakari 0, Cashmere Technical 11 (L. Wall (6, 53, 89), A. Longo (24, 26, 62, 84), A. McPhie (41), G. Johns (46), C. Wilson (69) ], "oggie" (70))  HT 0-4 Waterside Karori have taken charge of the Central Region Premier Women's League after coming from behind to down Moturoa 2-1 at Onuku Taipari Domain. Fernanda Toscani gave the home team the ideal start in this match, which was brought forward a couple of weeks, but second half goals from Kendall Pollock saw "The Magpies" home. Meanwhile, Petone consolidated their grip on third place by battering Victoria University 5-1 at Boyd Wilson Park. Tessa Brownlie equalised Phoebe Gray's opening goal to give the students hope after ten minutes, but the visitors piled on the agony for the home team, Olivia Gibbs restoring Petone's lead before the interval before Danielle Ohlsson, Kate Marra and substitute Sydnie Williams netted during the second spell. This weekend's action sees "The Magpies" and Petone meeting at Karori Park in the game of the round. Wellington United, who lie two points behind Waterside with a game in hand, visit Marist Palmerston North's Arena Manawatu home, while the students take on Seatoun at Boyd Wilson Park. The only game on Sunday sees Taradale taking on Moturoa at Taradale Park. Details: Moturoa 1 (F. Toscani (5)), Waterside Karori 2 (K. Pollock (46, 70))  HT 1-0 Victoria University 1 (T. Brownlie (10)), Petone 5 (P. Gray (7), O. Gibbs (24), D. Ohlsson (55), K. Marra (71), S. Williams (84))  HT 1-2