Western Springs have gone clear at the top of the Women’s National League table with a 3-0 win against cross-town rivals Auckland United.
The match was meant to be a home fixture for United but it was transferred to the neutral turf of Ellerslie’s Michaels Avenue Reserve when heavy rain left Keith Hay Park under water.
For a while, it looked as though the game could be called off at Ellerslie but it started an hour late, and was played on a wet surface.
Western Springs settled to the conditions fastest and went ahead after nine minutes from a well-worked move.
United’s Alosi Blomfield lost possession in midfield and Emma Pinjnenburg played a perfectly-weighted ball through for Rina Hirano to run onto.
She kept her nerve and placed it past United ‘keeper Jesse Barnard and into the net.
Main photo: Rina Hirano opened the scoring for Springs. Photo: Shane Wenzlick / Phototek.
After turning round with their 1-0 lead, Springs took the game away from United when they scored their second goal in the 77th minute.
Top scorer Sofia Garcia had an attempt blocked and it fell to substitute Sophia Dyer who fired in the goal from an acute angle.
As the game went into added time, Springs delivered the final blow when Jess Innes scored from a corner.
The focus now goes on Sunday’s match between Canterbury United Pride and Eastern Suburbs as a Pride win or a draw will see Springs establish a useful early lead in the competition.
Watch again
Results
Game played on Saturday October 1, 2022
Auckland United 0
Western Springs 3 (Rina Hirano 9′, Sophia Dyer 77′, Jess Innes 90+3′)
Standings
Fixtures
Games to be played on Sunday October 2, 2022
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Capital Football v Southern United
Petone Memorial Park, Petone, 3pm
Central Football v Northern Rovers
Massey University, Palmerston North, 2.15pm
Canterbury United Pride v Eastern Suburbs
English Park, Christchurch, 2.45pm
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