Palmerston North United’s involvement in this season’s national cup competitions has already delivered plenty of drama, emotion, and contrasting fortunes for the club’s senior sides.

Our Women’s First Team travelled across town on Friday night to face local rivals Marist in the opening round of the Kate Sheppard Cup, and the derby certainly lived up to expectations.

United looked in control early, taking a 3-1 lead into halftime thanks to a brace from former Marist player Mel McKenna and a goal from Annabel Irwin. Despite controlling large spells of the second half, United were unable to find the fourth goal that would have put the game to bed, and Marist punished them late with two goals to force extra time.

What followed was pure derby football.

Another former Marist player, Izzy Yarwood, battled through severe calf cramp during extra time and somehow produced a remarkable hat-trick while barely able to run. Her heroics helped United secure a dramatic 6-3 victory in a match full of intensity, grit, and no shortage of feistiness both on and off the pitch.

With several players having crossed the divide between the two clubs in recent seasons, there was plenty of edge to the contest, but after 120 heated minutes, mutual respect prevailed at fulltime.

United now progress to the next round, where they will travel to face Miramar Rangers over King’s Birthday weekend, with the exact fixture date still to be confirmed.

Matchday Squads

Palmerston North United: Sophia Bolton, Charlotte Moss, Caitlin Byrne, Mel McKenna, Carmen Su, Vannesa Taylor, Annabel Irwin, Jess Smith, Shania McIntosh (c), Aimee Powick, Izzy Yarwood
Subs: Jorja Horn, Maire Walker, Mica Reyes, Paris Liu, Libby Dombroski

Palmerston North Marist: Alice Kang, Livvy Watson, Ivy Henderson, Caylee Fergus, Caitlin Smith, Ella Johns-Stewart (c), Aimee Stubbs, Ruby-Aroha Gurnick, Hannah Marginson, MacKenzie Butler, Ashleigh Gunn
Subs: Courtney Stewart, Ava Oatway, Leah Dixon, Lauren Owen, Libby Harris

Meanwhile, our Men’s First Team saw their cup journey come to an early end after falling 3-1 to Havelock North Wanderers.

The visitors arrived in strong form, sitting second in the Eastern Premiership with four wins and two draws from their opening six matches. United fielded a slightly rotated side, with captain Patrick Smither among those rested, while also trialling a new formation.

The game quickly swung in Havelock North’s favour. United fell behind inside 15 minutes, and by the 20-minute mark trailed 2-0. Jack Parker completed his hat-trick before halftime to leave United staring down a 3-0 deficit at the break and with plenty to reflect on.

Four halftime substitutions sparked improvement in the second half, with United looking far more composed and dangerous after the restart. Ants Jones pulled a goal back in the 76th minute to give the home crowd some hope, but United were unable to find the two further goals needed to force extra time.

After last season’s memorable run to the Round of 16, the men’s side bow out of this year’s competition at the first hurdle.

Matchday Squads

Palmerston North United: Brooklyn Browne, Frank Tombs, Dylan Pearson, Daniel McDougall (c), Aaron Richardson, Ants Jones, Reuben Goga, Thomas Cudby, Jerri Tiakiwai-Baker, Ben Mori
Subs: Jacob Riley, Matt Draper, Jacob Hansen, Reuben Rose, Sora Moriyama

Havelock North Wanderers: Thomas Hooper, Mason Cook, Liam Carrington, Samuel Wait, Jack Sanko, Jack Parker, Risqi Triyanto, Lukas van der Werff, Tomas Suarez (c), Harry Bayliss, Vinnie Hutchins
Subs: Riley Carrington, Emilio Wathey, James Mack, Ollie Chalmers

Article added: Monday 11 May 2026