Four teams are locked on seven points after three rounds of National Women's League action, with Canterbury United Pride scoring twice in stoppage time as they came from behind to down West Coast Rangers 4-3 at English Park in the only clash between top-of-the-table teams heading into the second weekend in October. Kendrah Smith afforded the visitors the perfect start when rocketing home a free-kick into the top far corner in the ninth minute, but United were swiftly back on level terms, Lisa Evans ramming home the equaliser after a corner wasn't cleared by Rangers' rearguard. Honours were even until halfway through the second spell, when Nicola Dominikovich showed a striker's desire to go in where it hurts, something which Rangers' 'keeper, Joanne Peel, wasn't prepared to do to the same extent. Dominikovich headed the ball past her and into the untended net beyond - 2-1 United. Within twelve minutes, however, Rangers had turned things round, defensive blunders mercilessly punished by Lorna Selby and Maisy Dewell, the latter taking full advantage of yet another of those instances of one of this writer's pet hates - a team trying to pass their way out of defence from a goal-kick when they don't have the personnel capable of fulfilling the task. Heading into stoppage time, Rangers led 3-2, but they were undone by another error from Peel, who failed to gather a shot cleanly, allowing Petra Buyck to ram home an equaliser. United smelt blood, came again, and forced a corner, which Charlotte Mortlock curled directly into the net via the far post - an "Olimpico" which clinched a remarkable 4-3 victory for the home team. A Renee Bacon penalty eight minutes from time earned Waterside Karori a 1-0 win over Eastern Suburbs at Madills Farm, where both teams spurned plenty of chances to alter the scoreline. "The Magpies" were denied by a goal-line clearance just two minutes into play, while the post thwarted Britney Cunningham-Lee's bid to break the deadlock for "The Lilywhites" on the quarter hour, while a string of fine saves by Annie Foote kept the visitors in it during the second spell, before a clumsy foul by Kenya Brooke gave Bacon the chance to send Nikki Whyte the wrong way from twelve yards. The local derby at Newtown Park was a one-sided affair, with Wellington United routing Wellington Phoenix 4-0. "The Diamonds" couldn't have got off to a better start, with Natalie Olson taking advantage of some poor play in their opponents' defensive third just 43 seconds after the game had begun. The scorer turned provider fifteen minutes later, Pepi Olliver-Bell the beneficiary of Olson's pinpoint cross, while the Phoenix were further exposed defensively either side of the half-time whistle, Caelin Patterson and Hope Gilchrist heading home from corners to condemn their cross-town rivals to another heavy defeat. Central Football were also on the wrong end of a hiding, reigning champions Auckland United coming from behind to prevail 5-1 at Massey University, after Samoan international Lilly

Dowsing afforded the home team a fifth minute lead. Straight from the kick-off, Charlotte Roche levelled the scores for the title-holders, who eased into a 3-1 lead by the half-hour mark courtesy Saskia Vosper and Chelsea Elliott, both their goals coming from Chloe Knott corners. "Supersub" Penny Brill struck twice in stoppage time to wrap up a win which sends Auckland to the top of the table by virtue of having scored more goals than Karori - their goal difference is identical. Western Springs scored a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Southern United at Seddon Fields, where Shontelle Smith opened the scoring for the visitors just eight minutes into the contest via a cross-shot which completely deceived Angelique Tuisamoa. "The Hoops" took fifteen minutes to find an equaliser, but once Rina Hirano pounced on a stray pass, United were in all sorts of trouble, and Kitty Jacob was the beneficiary of her team-mate's selflessness. Both goalkeepers produced solid saves before the half-time whistle - that by Lauren Patterson to deny Hirano was one she knew little about - but there was little Southern's custodian could do to deny Springs' Japanese dynamo twelve minutes from time. Top far corner, no messing! United pressed for an equaliser, but after a weather-enforced week off last season's beaten Grand Finalists remain without a win to their name after three rounds of action, and their hopes of reaching successive National Women's League Grand Finals are already looking remote. In National Women's Youth League action, two convincing wins during the past week have fired Eastern Suburbs into title contention. Zoe Brazier's hat-trick inspired a come-from-behind 5-1 win at Central Football, while all the goals came after half-time as Capital Football were put to the sword 4-0 at Madills Farm. That was also the scoreline at English Park, where reigning champions Canterbury United Pride condemned Melville United to defeat, Dorothy Yek scoring twice for the victors, who also netted all their goals during the second spell. Sienna Vercauteren and Kate Berry struck twice apiece for Fencibles United as Central suffered their second 5-1 mauling in four days, while Sophia Body's goal inside the opening minute set up Southern United's 2-0 win at Western Springs. Details: Canterbury United Pride 4 (L. Evans (15), N. Dominikovich (66), P. Buyck (90), C. Mortlock (90)), West Coast Rangers 3 (K. Smith (9), L. Selby (72), M. Dewell (78))  HT 1-1 Central Football 1 (L. Dowsing (5)), Auckland United 5 (C. Roche (6), S. Vosper (22), C. Elliott (30), P. Brill (90, 90))  HT 1-3 Eastern Suburbs 0, Waterside Karori 1 (R. Bacon (82 pen))  HT 0-0 Wellington United 4 (N. Olson (1), P. Olliver-Bell (16), C. Patterson (43), H. Gilchrist (60)), Wellington Phoenix 0  HT 3-0 Western Springs 2 (K. Jacob (22), R. Hirano (78)), Southern United 1 (S. Smith (8))  HT 1-1