Coastal Spirit, for so many years the standard-setters in South Island women's football, are in danger of missing out on qualifying for this season's South Island Women's Championship after being held to a 1-1 draw by Canterbury Universities in the latest round of Mainland Premier Women's League action on May 4. Katie Harris' fifteenth minute opener for the students was matched by a Sam Whyte strike before the interval in a match which saw Varsities guarantee themselves a top-four finish and involvement in the South Island League, which involves the top four teams in the Mainland competition and the top two finishers in the Football South Premier Women's League - almost certainly unbeaten duo Dunedin City Royals and Otago University. To be sure of advancing, Spirit have to win their last two fixtures, a task which, on paper, they should achieve. But they certainly aren't the Coastal Spirit we've been accustomed to so far this season, and any more stumbles may bring about the seemingly unthinkable. Cashmere Technical have no such concerns, cruising to a 7-0 win over Selwyn United to secure their South Island League spot with a round to spare. Aimee Phillips and Anna McPhie led the way with a brace apiece, while Grace Johns, Anija Irvine and Claudia Wilson also chimed in at Garrick Memorial Park. Across town at Halswell Domain, Halswell United saw off Nomads-Waimakariri United 3-0 to give themselves a great chance of a top four finish - beat Spirit in their final game and they're assured of trips to Dunedin in June and July! Rachel Brodie's usual goal-a-game return didn't happen in this match, so "The Hawks" turned to Sarah Campbell to score the goals which clinched victory, her second half double sandwiching a Charlotte Grey effort. Kate Sheppard Cup action takes centre stage on the second weekend in May, with Selwyn and Cashmere kicking things off at Foster Park on Friday night. Saturday's ties sees Spirit and the students meeting again, this time at Linfield Park, while Halswell and Waimakariri lock horns at Halswell Domain. Elsewhere, there's a Nelson derby at Guppy Park, with FC hosting Suburbs, while Queens Park welcome Grants Braes to Invercargill on a day Thistle makes the trek north to Tahuna Park to take on DCR. Green Island and Otago University lock horns at Sunnyvale Park, while Northern and Roslyn Wakari square off at the Caledonian Ground. Details: Canterbury Universities 1 (K. Harris (15)), Coastal Spirit 1 (S. Whyte)  HT 1-1 Cashmere Technical 7 (G. Johns (10), A. Phillips (13, 21), A. McPhie (30, 35), A. Irvine (40), C. Wilson (51)), Selwyn United 0  HT 6-0 Halswell United 3 (S. Campbell (51, 82), C. Grey (68)), Nomads-Waimakariri United 0  HT 0-0

It's already shaping up as a two-horse war in the Central Region Premier Women's League competition, after perennial title challengers Wellington United overcame reigning champions Waterside Karori 2-1 in front of around 350 fans at Newtown Park on Friday evening. All the scoring came in the second half of this closely fought encounter, Bella Cartman breaking the deadlock ten minutes into the second half before Jemma Catherwood fired "The Diamonds" into a seemingly impregnable position on the scoreboard eight minutes from time. But Kaley Ward had other ideas, the UK-bound striker halving the deficit soon afterwards to set up a grandstand finish. "The Magpies" were unable to repeat the dose, however, and as a result find themselves three points behind their conquerors and Petone, who have emerged as a team to watch this season following their convincing Kelly Cup pre-season triumph. They maintained that winning form at Seatoun, early goals from Pepi Olliver-Bell and Danielle Ohlsson setting up a 3-0 win at Seatoun Park, with club stalwart Libby Boobyer icing the cake early in the second spell. 3-0 was also the outcome at Boyd Wilson Park, where Taradale scored a solid win at the expense of Victoria University, who succumbed to goals from Maddi Hughes and Kya Solomon in the last ten minutes after the former had given the visitors an eighteenth minute lead in a round which saw Marist Palmerston North and Moturoa battle out a scoreless draw at Arena Manawatu. Attention this weekend turns to the Kate Sheppard Cup, with former winners Wellington United welcoming competition debutants Wellington Phoenix to Newtown Park in a Friday night affair. Saturday's ties see Moturoa and Marist doing it all again, this time at Onuku Taipari Domain, while "The Magpies" should hold too many guns for Brooklyn Northern United at Karori Park in a round which Petone and Seatoun sit out - they drew byes. Sunday's fare sees Island Bay United and Upper Hutt City locking horns at Wakefield Park, while Te Kotahitanga welcomes North Wellington to Mazengarb Park on a day the Victorians grace Miramar Rangers' Dave Farrington Park home. Details: Marist Palmerston North 0, Moturoa 0 Seatoun 0, Petone 3 (P. Olliver-Bell (3), D. Ohlsson (12), L. Boobyer (48))  HT 0-2 Victoria University 0, Taradale 3 (M. Hughes (18, 80), K. Solomon (84))  HT 0-1 Wellington United 2 (B. Cartman (55), J. Catherwood (82)), Waterside Karori 1 (K. Ward (85))  HT 0-0