Good Friday wins by Western Springs, Auckland United and Northern Rovers have kept the three clubs locked together at the top of the Lotto NRFL Women’s Premier League.
However, fixtures to come on Easter Sunday and Monday will further influence the composition of the table going into next week.
Here’s our round-up of Good Friday’s games in round four:
Takeda double helps Springs win with second-half rally
A second-half fightback saw Western Springs beat Hamilton Wanderers 3-2 after trailing 2-0 at the interval.
The Porritt Stadium spectators had plenty of thrills as the home side took an early lead through former Football Fern Helen Arjomandi.
Her goal in the 5th minute gave Wanderers the edge and captain Tiana Hill doubled her side’s lead with a goal five minutes before the break.
However, Springs came out strongly in the second half and Arisa Takeda struck back with goals in the 60th and 65th minutes to tie things up.
Lara Colpi scored the winner in the 73rd minute to ensure Springs remain one of the three clubs locked on nine points at the top of the table.
Rovers keep their 100% win record with narrow win against Ellerslie
League leaders Northern Rovers kept their perfect start to the season intact with their third win from as many games, beating Ellerslie 1-0 at Becroft Park.
Rovers are benefitting from good recruitment in the close season and have a formidable defence which played a big part in claiming the Good Friday points from an Ellerslie side that’s been scoring plenty of goals so far this season.
Former Waikato striker Leanna Ryan scored the all-important goal for Rovers in the 50th minute.
On Monday, she and teammates Michaela Foster and Chelsea Elliott will play their former club Hamilton Wanderers when the sides meet at McFetridge Park (1pm).
Another win for Rovers will see them put a three-point gap on the rest of the title-chasing pack.
Junior Fern helps Auckland United to crucial win
It’s been a huge week for 16-year-old striker Milly Clegg who scored a fine individual goal for New Zealand’s U-20 side in the 1-1 draw with Australia a few days before helping fire Auckland United to a 3-0 win against champions Eastern Suburbs.
Clegg, the daughter of former Black Sticks hockey captain Kylie Clegg, has emerged as a goalscorer with speed and strength this season.
She opened the scoring for United at Keith Hay Park, netting in the 32nd minute to send the teams into half-time with the home side 1-0 ahead.
Futsal international Tessa Leong doubled United’s lead in the 54th minute, scoring her third goal in as many games.
Main photo: Tessa Leong (right) … on the scoresheet again. File photo: Shane Wenzlick / Phototek.
Suburbs’ misery was completed in the 77th minute when Rebekah Van Dort was credited with an own goal.
On results so far, Suburbs’ reign as the north’s strongest women’s team is under threat and the Lilywhites will soon be playing catch-up as their rivals forge ahead on the table.
Results
Games played Friday April 15, 2022
Auckland United 3 (Milly Clegg 32′, Tessa Leong 54′, own goal Rebekah van Dort 77′)
Eastern Suburbs 0
Hamilton Wanderers 2 (Helen Arjomandi 5′, Tiana Hill 39′)
Western Springs 3 (Arisa Takeda 60′, 65′, Lara Colpi 73′)
Northern Rovers 1 (Leanna Ryan 50′)
Ellerslie 0
Standings
Sunday fixture
West Coast Rangers (6th) v Tauranga City (8th)
Fred Taylor Park, Whenuapai, 3pm
Monday fixture
Northern Rovers v Hamilton Wanderers
Becroft Park, Auckland, 1pm
Women’s All Stars
Friends of Football have launched their women’s All Stars team — click here to read about the side and their first exhibition game >>>>