Back:  Cook, Mitchell, MacIntosh, Roche, Elliott Front:  Harashima, Wasi, Vosper, Green, Knott, Canham

Back:  Savage, Jacob, Burrows, Dunn, Lee, Hollis Front:  Hirano, Takeda, Hill, Lythe, Bloomfield

A twenty-five yard rocket from Charlotte Roche, struck just as the North Harbour Stadium ground announcer was revealing there would be a minimum of an additional eleven minutes of time to play in the 2024 Kate Sheppard Cup Final on 7 September, broke the hearts of Western Springs and fired Auckland United into the history books. The only goal of this keenly contested Central Auckland derby saw the 2022 cup winners eclipse their 2023 successors to claim the trophy for a sixth time, but more importantly add it to the silverware they already hold as winners of the 2023 National Women's League, 2023 and 2024 Lotto Northern Premier Women's League, and the 2024 OFC Women's Champions League - the first team in NZ women's football history to hold all four honours simultaneously. It wasn't the only bit of history in the match, mind. This was the first Kate Sheppard Cup Final in history to see both teams' coaches - United's Ben Bate and Springs' Maia Vink - absent from the dugouts. Both are on international duty at present, with the Young Ferns and Junior Ferns respectively. Auckland's high press afforded "The Hoops" all sorts of problems in the early stages of the final, with Amberley Hollis' attempted clearance being charged down by Rene Wasi in the seventh minute. It was a very relieved 'keeper who watched the ball ricochet past the untended goal. Seconds later, Hollis, who kept goal for United during their OFC Women's Champions League campaign, once again had Springs' fans' hearts in mouths. This time, she received a back-pass from Tiana Hill - she had a great game - and promptly gifted the ball to Roche, who lashed a snapshot over the bar from inside the 'D'. Saskia Vosper has been a serial pest for opponents down United's left wing throughout the season, and in the twelfth minute was released down said flank by the combined efforts of Wasi and Chloe Knott. The overlapping fullback's swerving low cross on the run sizzled across the bows of the incoming Roche and Alexis Cook, careering in on the far post at a great rate of knots. After this raid, Springs started to get a toe-hold in the contest, but in the twentieth minute, Wasi beat Hill in an aerial duel and raced on before sending Vosper in on the overlap once again. This time her low cross picked out Roche, but Hollis saved bravely at the striker's feet. "The Hoops" were under further pressure soon after, but this time Charli Dunn stepped in to avert the progress of Wasi, in doing so sparking a counter-attack which culminated in a cross from Hill which careered across the goalmouth, forcing the outstanding Talisha Green to concede the game's first corner. United dealt with this, and responded by sticking the ball in the net at the other end of the park in the 25th minute, only for Roche's strike to be ruled out by the offside flag, something she would be frustrated by at regular intervals in this contest. By the time Vosper endured the game's first injury scare, around the half-hour mark, Springs were getting back into the contest, with Liz Savage and Alosi Bloomfield prominent features of their bid to break the deadlock. It was United who continued to look the more threatening combination, however. Chelsea Elliott let rip from long-range with a shot which Hollis grabbed under her crossbar ten minutes before half-time, while Wasi rattled the staunchion soon afterwards, having got the better of Hill when cutting in off the left. Seven minutes before half-time, Elliott and Greer MacIntosh combined to send Cook away down the right, with Green storming up in support inside her. The fullback's run was duly rewarded, but her cross was cut out by Hill, only for Wasi to pounce on the ball in an instant. It broke for Knott, who opted to pass when a shot was on - the last chance of the half went begging. Springs were in need of the half-time rev-up they received, and after Hollis saved at the feet of Roche right on the edge of the area as the striker looked to exploit Cook's lobbed pass, the cup holders went close to breaking the deadlock, Arisa Takeda's drive from a partly cleared corner breaking for Dunn, whose shot was blocked by Green. Back came United, with Roche afforded another chance to score, this time after Dunn's attempted clearance cannoned off Wasi straight into the stride of the rampaging striker. But with just Hollis to beat, she dragged her shot wide of the far post - the groans of United's fans spoke volumes. 'Twas a great opportunity. Roche tangled with Megan Lee soon after, and sadly for the former Football Fern, 'twas the end of her shift. She was stretchered from the field with a knee injury, and was getting around on crutches as the post-match ceremonies were taking place.

Lord knows Lee's had enough lengthy injury-enforced absences throughout her career already. Here's hoping this isn't another one to add to that unwelcome catalogue of disappointments which have stifled her potential over time. The game took a few minutes to regain its momentum following the combination of the lengthy injury break and the sobering sight of Lee's departure on a stretcher - there but for the grace of God, etc., but Springs substitute Anya Stephan gave the cup holders renewed vim and vigour, and her pace gave United something new to contemplate. Elliott was caught out by it in the 73rd minute, her back-pass towards Hannah Mitchell of the under-struck variety, prompting the 'keeper to hurtle off her line and hack the ball to safety as Stephan stormed into view at a great rate of knots. Buoyed by this, "The Hoops" threatened again soon after, Hill getting the better of Wasi before picking out Rebecca Burrows, who surged forward before playing in Kitty Jacob. Mitchell grabbed her drive at the near post. Back came United, Cook - an eye-catching performance - and Knott combining on the right for the benefit of Vosper, whose piledriver was blocked by Hill. Seconds later, Elliott unleashed a long-range free-kick which had Hollis in all sorts of bother, the 'keeper just managing to scramble it to safety as the former striker looked to break the deadlock from distance. Two minutes from the scheduled end of the match, a delivery from Green wasn't cleared, prompting Roche to let fly once more. Once more, Hill played the role of human wall, blocking the ball to seeming safety. That was the case until Wasi appeared on the scene, but she drilled the rebound narrowly past the post. The fat lady was spraying her tonsils in preparation for launching her end-of-match aria when Springs' hearts were broken as the game moved into stoppage time. Cook picked out Estelle Harrison, who had replaced Danielle Canham during the second half, the young midfielder bravely opting to play despite enduring news of a family bereavement immediately before the final. Harrison is a former Maia Jackman Trophy winner - she won it in 2015 - and looked to work a one-two with Knott which didn't quite come off. Just as well from United's perspective, as things turned out perfectly for them seconds later. For the ball broke to Roche, who hesitated not in unleashing a rocket which screamed over Hollis' head and crashed into the back of the net, just as the fourth official was holding aloft a board indicating eleven minutes of stoppage time. 1-0 United, for the fourth time this season over Springs, with Roche the markswoman in three of those contests. They had eleven minutes to get back on level terms, a challenge which "The Hoops" tore into with gusto, and came desperately close to realising. Burrows thundered a shot across the face of goal, while Savage found the net from close range following a corner, only for well-positioned referee Sarah Jones to make the offside call. Having had a sniff, "The Hoops" came again, Takeda - a prodigious free-kick taker - unleashing a trademark long-range set-piece effort which beat Mitchell, but not the crossbar. Burrows, hurtling in to head home the rebound, couldn't believe her luck as the bar, still reverberating from Takeda's thunderbolt, once more intervened to United's relief. The danger wasn't over, however, the rebound this time inviting Rina Hirano to let fly from the edge of the six-yard box. Mitchell, still recovering from the first crossbar strike, instinctively flung herself at the shot, succeeding in blocking it before reacting quickly to smother the rebound and snuff out Springs' hopes of an equaliser. You somehow sensed that was "The Hoops"' last hope, and sure enough, it was, but United could have doubled their advantage before the final whistle sounded, Alaina Granger volleying narrowly past the post after Hill had hesitated when dealing with an incoming long throw-in from Vosper. The final whistle sounded soon after, prompting undisguised and understandable delight from the Auckland United squad, rejoicing in the knowledge that by winning the Kate Sheppard Cup on this occasion, they had made New Zealand women's footballing history, and done so on the back of an unbeaten run spanning eleven months and some 39 matches - and counting! Auckland:     Mitchell; Green, MacIntosh, Elliott, Vosper; Canham (booked, 44) (Harrison, 65), Harashima, Knott (Granger, 90); Cook, Roche, Wasi Springs:     Hollis; Hill, Dunn, Lee (Lewis, 62), Takeda; Savage, Burrows, Bloomfield, Hirano; Jacob (Uluvili, 88), Lythe (Stephan, 53) Referee:     Sarah Jones