Northern Rovers have extended their lead to 11 points in the Lotto NRFL Women’s Premier League after other results went in their favour.
While Rovers were beating Hamilton Wanderers, nearest rivals Western Springs were losing to Auckland United, and dropping two places on the table.
Springs also suffered from a three-point deduction after the reversal of their recent win against Ellerslie, after they fielded an ineligible player.
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Here’s our round-up of latest games:
Former Waikato players help sink Wanderers
Northern Rovers extended their unbeaten streak to 14 games with a comfortable 4-0 win against Hamilton Wanderers at McFetridge Park.
Rovers effectively won the game in the first half when they stacked up a three-goal lead in the game’s first quarter.
Courtney Noble opened the scoring in the 13th minute.
Five minutes later, Michaela Foster scored from the penalty spot to double the lead against her former team.
An own goal in the 24th minute made things more difficult for the visitors.
In the second spell, Wanderers showed resilience, holding firm until the 70th minute when another former Waikato player, Leanna Ryan, stretched Rovers’ lead to 4-0.
Main photo: Rovers celebrate an unbeaten run of 14 games. Photo: Shane Wenzlick / Phototek.
Early goals give Auckland United the edge over Springs
Auckland United did leaders Northern Rovers a big favour by beating second-placed Western Springs 2-1 at Keith Hay Park.
Springs could hardly afford to lose, and the loss dropped them from second to fourth on the table.
United did the damage early, scoring through Bree Johnson in the 9th minute and then doubling their lead through Isabella Richards after 17 minutes.
That’s how it stayed until the last minute of the match when substitute Maia Lythe picked up a consolation goal.
Suburbs overcome early setback to beat Rangers
Eastern Suburbs had to overcome a bad start before they could get past mid-table West Coast Rangers at Madills Farm.
Rangers got off to a flyer with a goal after three minutes from Luci Hollister.
For the next 40 minutes, the visitors held their lead and they must rue giving it up so close to half-time.
Suburbs’ Deven Jackson, the league’s leading goalscorer, scored her 10th of the season just before the break to send the teams into the interval locked at 1-1.
Suburbs asserted themselves in the second half, taking the lead through Jackson’s 11th of the season, scored in the 51st minute.
Tayla O’Brien stretched the lead to 3-1 in the 67th minute and almost from the restart, Julette Lucas struck her side’s fourth of the day.
Ellerslie in goal-happy form against Tauranga City
Doubles by Britney Cunningham-Lee and Kimberley Oosterbeek helped give Ellerslie their biggest win of the season as they coasted to a 6-0 against bottom side Tauranga City at Michaels Ave Reserve.
The Ponies took a 2-0 lead by half-time with Cunningham-Lee scoring in the 36th and 42nd minutes.
Oosterbeek extended the lead to 3-0 just after the hour mark before an own goal by Tauranga’s Emma Cawte in the 70th minute.
Oosterbeek added her second with 10 minutes to go and Leigh Aitken chipped in with a late goal to make it 6-0.
Results
Games played Sunday July 24, 2022
Eastern Suburbs 4 (Deven Jackson 42′, 51′, Tayla O’Brien 67′, Juliette Lucas 68′)
West Coast Rangers 1 (Luci Hollister 3′)
Northern Rovers 4 (Courtney Noble 13′, Michaela Foster 18′ pen, own goal 24′, Leanna Ryan 70′)
Hamilton Wanderers 0
Auckland United 2 (Bree Johnson 9′, Isabella Richards 17′)
Western Springs 0 (Maia Lythe 90′)
Ellerslie 6 (Britney Cunningham-Lee 36′, 42′, Kimberley Oosterbeek 63′, 81′, own goal 70′, Leigh Aitken 84′)
Tauranga City 0