Eastern Suburbs secured the final place in the 2024 National Women's League on September 1, deservedly edging West Coast Rangers 1-0 at Fred Taylor Park to book their spot among the ten teams who'll be vying for national supremacy from the end of the month. Shion Hwang's well-taken goal after just 135 seconds ultimately settled the contest, one which "The Lilywhites" would have won by a greater margin but for the exploits of Emily Couchman twixt the sticks. Rangers' skipper kept out attempts by Saki Yoshida, Zoe Brazier and Millie Boyle throughout proceedings, with the home team rarely threatening Nikki Whyte's goal, save for a Maisy Dewell corner which hit the crossbar. As things panned out, a draw would have been suffice for Suburbs to confirm a top-four finish, as Fencibles United, the other contenders for the remaining NWL spot going into the final round of action, slumped to a 2-1 defeat at Stanmore Bay Reserve, where Hibiscus Coast came from behind to prevail against the East Auckland outfit. All was going to plan for "Fencies" when Taylah Byers belted home a penalty on the quarter hour, but when Grace Chitty netted an equaliser on the stroke of half-time, their plans were thrown into disarray,even more so when Mischa Marias had the misfortune to score an "oggie" ten minutes into the second spell. "The Coasters" never rescinded that advantage, and ended up finishing their campaign just two points behind fifth-placed Fencibles, in doing so recording more wins (seven) this season than in their previous two Lotto Northern Premier Women's League campaigns combined. The match which, at the start of the week, looked like having the destinies of two teams riding on it, ended up being something of a procession for Ellerslie as they romped to a 3-0 win over Hamilton Wanderers at Michaels Avenue, producing their best display of the season in doing so - must be something to do with the 1pm kick-off time … Hollie Leona's goal on the stroke of half-time - she

also missed a second half penalty - put "The Ponies" in charge on the scoreboard, and when Kate Duncan rammed home their second ten minutes after the interval, "The Blue Army"'s hopes of bowing out of the top flight were dashed. Substitute Julia Robinson's long-range strike six minutes from time sealed the deal for Ellerslie, who finished eight points clear of Hamilton, whose relegation brings to an end thirty years of Waikato's foremost female footballers competing in the best league in the country. At the other end of the table, Auckland United became the first champions in eight seasons - since parent club Three Kings United in 2016, in fact - to win the league without enduring defeat as they edged Western Springs 1-0 at Seddon Fields in a dress rehearsal for Saturday's Kate Sheppard Cup Final. Charlotte Roche's goal ten minutes into the contest sealed the deal for the title-holders, who will hope to repeat this victory on Saturday and become the first team in the history of NZ women's football to hold all four major honours in the game - OFC Women's Champions League, National Women's League, Kate Sheppard Cup and Northern Premier Women's League - simultaneously. The Kate Sheppard Cup Final between United and "The Hoops" - the cup holders, don't forget - brings the curtain down on the winter season, with the showpiece fixture kicking off at 4pm at North Harbour Stadium on Saturday, three weeks before the National Women's League commences. Next weekend's wrap-up will see the announcement of the individual award-winners for the season, along with the traditional roll call of the goalscorers throughout the campaign. Details: Ellerslie 3 (H. Leona (43), K. Duncan (55), J. Robinson (84)), Hamilton Wanderers 0  HT 1-0 Hibiscus Coast 2 (G. Chitty (45), "oggie" (55)), Fencibles United 1 (T. Byers (15 pen))  HT 1-1 West Coast Rangers 0, Eastern Suburbs 1 (S. Hwang (3))  HT 0-1 Western Springs 0, Auckland United 1 (C. Roche (10))  HT 0-1