After 18 league games unbeaten, Lotto NRFL Women’s Premier League champions Northern Rovers have finally been beaten.
In a Friday night game at Seddon Fields, Western Springs beat the Kate Sheppard Cup finalists 2-1 after a dramatic exchange of goals in the dying minutes.
Springs had taken an early lead in the match through Sam Tawharu who found the net in the fourth minute.
That’s how the score stayed until the 86th minute when Angela Pivac scored an equaliser for Rovers, having come off the subs’ bench only three minutes earlier.
Pivac’s goal gave Rovers supporters hope their side had rescued their bid to finish the season undefeated.
But within a minute, Springs regained the lead when Lily Taitimu found the winner.
The result means Springs have emerged as the likely runners-up in the competition while Rovers can now concentrate on their upcoming Kate Sheppard Cup final on Sunday September 11.
They will meet Auckland United in the final.
Only 24 hours before Rovers lost their first game, United were emphatically beaten 6-1 by Ellerslie in the WPL.
Main photo: Lily Taitimu (left) … late winner for Springs at Seddon Fields. Photo; Shane Wenzlick / Phototek.
Results
Game played Thursday August 25, 2022
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Ellerslie 6 (Britney Cunningham-Lee 21′, 45′, 90′, Sarah Carpenter 29′, Kathryn Gow 47′, Cat Pretty 77′)
Auckland United 1 (Bree Johnson 54′)
Game played Friday August 26, 2022
Western Springs 2 (Sam Tawharu 4′, Lily Taitimu 87′)
Northern Rovers 1 (Angela Pivac 86′)
Standings
Fixtures
Game to be played Saturday August 27, 2022
West Coast Rangers (6th) v Hamilton Wanderers (7th)
Fred Taylor Park, Auckland, 12.30pm
Game to be played Sunday August 28, 2022
Eastern Suburbs (3rd) v Tauranga City (8th)
Madills Farm, Auckland, 3pm
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