Defending champions Auckland and 2015 winners the Northern Lights have both taken significant steps towards a spot in the National Women’s League final after earning crucial wins this afternoon.

The pair are fighting it out for the right to have a crack at the title against Canterbury United Pride, who remain on track to claim the minor premiership and host the final after notching another comprehensive victory today.

The news isn’t as positive for Capital, whose chances of making it into the top two were dealt a near fatal blow by Northern, while Southern United’s hopes are in tatters after they failed to take anything from their trip to Auckland.

Much of today’s attention was focused on the match of the week at McFetridge Park on Auckland’s North Shore though as Northern hosted Capital in a real six-pointer. Capital needed to take maximum reward from their visit to the big smoke and appeared capable of doing so after an impressive display in the first half.

The Lights had taken an early lead through a sensational long-range volley from former Football Fern Kate Loye but Capital were back on level terms mid-way through the half when golden boot leader Sarah Gregorius struck her eighth goal of the season with a composed finish.

But the game changed in the second half as Northern had more joy stretching the Capital defence and went in front just before the hour when Ava Pritchard burst onto a perfectly-placed through ball from Jane Barnett and prodded it home at the second attempt. The lead was short-lived though, Capital immediately breaking forward and equalising through a Danielle Ohlsson screamer as an afternoon of stunning finishes continued.

The next goal that arrived was again of the top-drawer variety, Barnett going from provider to scorer by latching onto a dinked ball from Nicole Stratford and volleying it past Capital goalkeeper Courtney Norman. The celebrations had barely subsided by the time Northern had another just seconds later, Pritchard again racing clear to wrap up a thrilling 4-2 win.

Northern’s three points put pressure on neighbours Auckland to match that showing across town at McLennan Park and they duly obliged, coming from behind to eventually defeat a determined Southern 3-2.

A first-half double from Emily Morison had shocked the reigning champions as Southern took a 2-1 lead into the break, Grace Jale supplying Auckland’s response with a long-range rocket to set up a fascinating second half. Jale struck again mid-way through the second spell to equalise before Nicole Mettam found the top corner from distance with 15 minutes remaining to seal a dramatic win for Auckland.

The margin of victory was far larger down at English Park in Christchurch, where Canterbury continued their seemingly unstoppable march towards the minor premiership with yet another win, this time 8-0 over Central.

Cody Taylor led the way with a hat-trick while Hannah Wong, Chloe Jones, Jasmine Donald, Whitney Hepburn and Annalie Longo all also got on the scoresheet. Finding the net will be captain Longo’s final act for the Pride for some time as she is now about to depart for New Caledonia with the Football Ferns for the OFC Women’s Nations Cup.

The National Women’s League returns with another full round on the coming weekend, for the table and other information please click here

National Women’s League Match Week Nine Results

Northern Lights 4 (Kate Loye 7’, Ava Pritchard 54’, 66’, Jane Barnett 65’)
Capital Football 2 (Sarah Gregorius 22’, Danielle Ohlsson 55’)
HT: 1-1

Auckland Football 3 (Grace Jale 36’, 69’, Nicole Mettam 75’)
Southern United 2 (Emily Morison 29’, 38’)
HT: 1-2

Canterbury United Pride 8 (Cody Taylor 13’, 56’, 67’, Hannah Wong 15’, Chloe Jones pen 43’, Jasmine Donald 54’, Whitney Hepburn 58’, Annalie Longo 90+4’)
Central Football 0
HT: 3-0

BYE – WaiBOP Football

Article added: Sunday 11 November 2018