Onehunga Sports threw the Lotto Northern Women's Championship title race wide open on May 26, thrashing leaders Franklin United 7-1 at Waikaraka Park to leapfrog them on the table and leave the top three teams covered by a single point. The Marlies James-less visitors were overwhelmed by "The Green Machine", for whom Annie Byrne and Holly Patterson struck hat-tricks. Taylor Bell also netted for the victors, while Sarah Carpenter notched a late consolation goal for the vanquished as Sports made amends for last week's surprise loss at Melville United in spectacular fashion. That gave FC Tauranga Moana the chance to take the outright lead, and while they did so, their advantage is a solitary point after they were held to a 1-1 draw by fourth-placed Northern Rovers, for whom Orla Chambers opened the scoring on the quarter-hour before Abi Witney-Collins replied soon afterwards at McFetridge Park. Across the Harbour Bridge, Melville United mauled Manukau United 10-1 at Walter Massey Park, where Laura Bennett struck five goals and Mia Humphrey three as the visitors ran riot, despite the stubborn resistance the home team briefly offered via Sarah Ireland. Stevie-Lee Tiller came off the bench to get in on the act for the visitors, while former Football Fern Andrea Rogers potted a penalty - at 52, she may well be the oldest goalscorer in the entire history of top-flight action in women's football in the northern region. (My comprehensive records don't cover scorers' ages!)

Meanwhile, Birkenhead United came from behind to score a 2-1 win at Kiwitea Street over Central United, for whom Anita Gross opened the scoring two minutes into the second spell. Nina O'Leary wasted little time in levelling the scores before the visitors bagged the points five minutes from time when Alexandrea Ape-Paia broke the home team's hearts, and sent the victors into Saturday's Kate Sheppard Cup tie - at Shepherds Park against Premier League team Ellerslie - in fine fettle. Tauranga will also be targeting a Cup-set that day when they entertain the holders, Western Springs, at Links Avenue. Meanwhile, Franklin welcome Waikato Unicol to the Drury Sports Complex in another Saturday affair, and there's an all-Championship tie on Sunday, when Northern and Sports square off at McFetridge Park. Details: Central United 1 (A. Gross (47)), Birkenhead United 2 (N. O'Leary (54), A. Ape-Paia (85))  HT 0-0 Manukau United 1 (S. Ireland (24)), Melville United 10 (M. Humphrey (3, 44, 77), A. Rogers (14 pen), L. Bennett (39, 47, 48, 64, 70), S. Tiller (90))  HT 1-4 Northern Rovers 1 (O. Chambers (15)), Tauranga Moana 1 (A. Witney-Collins (22))  HT 1-1 Onehunga Sports 7 (A. Byrne (31, 54, 84), H. Patterson (35, 63, 75), T. Bell (52)), Franklin United 1 (S. Carpenter (88))  HT 2-0