Auckland United and West Coast Rangers continued on their winning ways in the Lotto Northern Premier Women's League on the second weekend in April, setting up a Thursday night showdown at Fred Taylor Park in doing so. United were made to work hard for their 3-0 win over a stubborn Hibiscus Coast at Keith Hay Park on Saturday evening, with "Coasters" 'keeper Sasha Brett producing a string of saves which frustrated the home team's attempts to build on Charlotte Roche's tenth minute, not the least of which was a penalty save from the same player on the stroke of half-time. Talisha Green and Saskia Vosper also found the young custodian equal to their best efforts before the interval, while after it, the woodwork also aided the visitors' cause, as Green, Alexis Cook and Kate McConnell can testify. Yume Harashima could have had a second half hat-trick in a four-minute spell but for Brett and her team-mates, whose resistance was finally broken by an unlikely source twenty minutes from time. Jess Philpot goals are rare birds at the best of times, but even more so when what was intended to be an angled delivery into the penalty area from 35 yards out ended up avoiding contact with allcomers and finding its way into the far corner of the net. Cook wrapped up the scoring ten minutes later, crowning an eye-catching display with a teasing cross-shot which deceived Brett and found the net via the far post to send Auckland three points clear overnight. Rangers pegged them back on Sunday avo, eclipsing Ellerslie 5-1 at Michaels Avenue where the bulk of the damage was inflicted before the interval. Minji Yun capped off a fine move to give the visitors a sixth minute lead, only for Maddi Ollington to storm downfield and restore parity sixty seconds later. "The Ponies" were only on level terms for seven minutes before reigning Golden Boot Shannon Henson capped off a raid with her fourth goal of this campaign, a tally matched by Emily Lyon on the stroke of half-time, soon after Sienna Higinbotham had made it 3-1. Andrew Clay's charges extended their lead twenty minutes from time when Yun did justice to a Taylor Vujnovich pass, but they couldn't add to their tally for the game, meaning they trail Auckland by a solitary goal in the goal difference stakes, with both teams boasting four wins apiece from the first four rounds of action.

That leaves them five points clear of third-placed Eastern Suburbs, whose clash with fourth-placed Western Springs on Friday evening saw a hard-fought 1-1 draw unfold at Seddon Fields, where chances were at a premium. There were plenty of impressive cameos on display - Jess Innes, in particular, rose to the occasion against her old club - with "The Lilywhites" the superior team in the first spell, and "The Hoops" enjoying that status after the interval. Angelique Tuisamoa's saves kept Springs in it early doors, while Nikki Whyte's denials frustrated the home team in the second spell. Both 'keepers were beaten once, however, by the same player! Ella Findlay had the misfortune to be in the wrong place at the right time as Charley March's cross ricocheted off the former Suburbs' player into Springs' net halfway through the second spell, but the versatile age-grade international had the last laugh, steering home the equaliser as the game entered stoppage time. There was still time for Sofia Garcia to produce a goal-line clearance to ensure Suburbs held on for a draw, a result which didn't affect the positions either side enjoys on the table, thanks to results elsewhere. Fencibles United now lead the chasing pack in fifth place after they condemned Tauranga Moana to a fourth successive defeat, 3-0 at Links Avenue. Hayley Miller broke the deadlock on the half-hour, but it wasn't until she and Mischa Marais netted in a five-minute spell with around twenty minutes remaining that "Fencies" could be certain of victory. As well as the clash of the top two on Thursday evening, Good Friday sees the other teams engaging in fifth round action. "The Lilywhites" take on Tauranga at Crum Park - Suburbs' senior men's team is playing at Madills Farm at the same time, hence the change of venue. "The Coasters" welcome "The Hoops" to Stanmore Bay Reserve, while "The Ponies" head east to take on "Fencies" at Riverhills Park. Have a Happy Easter! Details: Auckland United 3 (C. Roche (10), J. Philpot (69), A. Cook (81)), Hibiscus Coast 0  HT 1-0 Ellerslie 1 (M. Ollington (7)), West Coast Rangers 5 (M. Yun (6, 70), S. Henson (14), S. Higinbotham (39), E. Lyon (45))  HT 1-4 Tauranga Moana 0, Fencibles United 3 (H. Miller (31, 73), M. Marais (68))  HT 0-1 Western Springs 1 (E. Findlay (90)), Eastern Suburbs 1 ("oggie" (66))  HT 0-0