Hibiscus Coast are closing in on a possible league-cup double, as well as the prospect of an unbeaten league season.
The NRF Women’s Championship title winners have beaten Fencibles United 4-2 in their latest league fixture.
Next Sunday (September 11), they meet Manukau United in the semi-finals of the NRF Women’s Knockout Cup.
Coast have now played 14 league games without defeat.
Here’s our round-up of latest Championship games:
Onehunga Sports hang on for draw with Franklin
A late surge from Franklin United earned them a 2-2 draw with Onehunga Sports at Waikaraka Park.
The two teams went into the match vying for the chance to secure second place in the competition.
Onehunga looked to be heading for the win they needed when they were ahead 2-0 late in the game.
Simone Boonekamp had given them a 1-0 lead at half-time, with a goal after 16 minutes.
Former Fern Pip Meo had doubled their lead in the 53rd minute.
But Franklin came back with a strong finish, scoring through Ekaterina Lieshout in the 77th minute.
Chloe Martin got the equaliser with three minutes left on the clock.
The result means Franklin can still overtake Onehunga, providing their rivals lose to Hibiscus Coast on September 18, and Franklin beat Manukau United … and then it’s down to goal difference.
Coast finish best for 4-2 win at Fencibles
Hibiscus Coast beat Fencibles United 4-2 under floodlights at William Green Domain.
The champions took a 2-1 lead by half-time, with goals from Peta van Hattum and Stacey Martin.
Fencibles had replied with a goal from Elizabeth Takerei.
When the second half started, Takerei levelled the scores at 2-2 to set up a decent contest between the sides.
However, Connie Lawrence put Coast ahead 3-2 with a goal midway through the half.
Any hopes of Fencibles forcing a draw were extinguished when Danica Urlich-Beech scored Coast’s fourth goal with only a few minutes left.
Central rescue a point in 2-2 draw at Manukau
Two late goals salvaged a 2-2 draw for Central United in their game at Manukau United’s Walter Massey Park.
Manukau had taken a first-half lead through Joyce Barroso who scored after 27 minutes.
In the 65th minute, Ashley Porter doubled Manukau’s lead.
But Central came back, reducing the deficit to 2-1 with a Steph Trowill goal in the 77th minute.
Central’s saviour then became substitute Lauren Henry who came off the bench in the 87th minute and scored the equaliser a minute later.
Results
Game played Friday September 2, 2022
Fencibles United 2 (Elizabeth Takerei 18′, 46′)
Hibiscus Coast 4 (Peta van Hattum 9′, Stacey Martin 23′, Connie Lawrence 67′, Danica Urlich-Beech 86′)
Games played Sunday September 4, 2022
Manukau United 2 (Joyce Barroso 27′, Ashley Porter 65′)
Central United 2 (Steph Trowill 77′, Lauren Henry 88′)
Onehunga Sports 2 (Simone Boonekamp 16′, Pip Meo 53′)
Franklin United 2 (Ekaterina Lieshout 77′, Chloe Marthe 87′)
Standings
Fixtures
The next round of championship games will be played on Sunday September 18, 2022.
Hibiscus Coast v Onehunga Sports
Stanmore Bay Park, Auckland, 1pm
Central United v Fencibles United
Kiwitea St, Sandringham, 1pm
Franklin United v Manukau United
Bledisloe Park, Pukekohe, 1pm
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