Penalty save swings game in favour of Rovers and keeps title chase alive

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Northern Rovers kept themselves in the chase for a national title challenge when they beat Canterbury United Pride 4-1 at English Park.

The win leaves the Lotto NRFL Women’s Premier League champions a couple of points behind pacesetting leaders Eastern Suburbs and Western Springs, at least until those teams play on Sunday.

Here’s our round-up of games played on Saturday October 15:

Main photo: Ellen Blount saves a penalty to kick-start Northern Rovers’ win at English Park.

Penalty save inspires Rovers to crucial win in Christchurch

A penalty save by Northern Rovers’ Ellen Blount turned out to be a game changer as the Aucklanders beat Canterbury United Pride 4-1 at English Park.

With the game scoreless, Pride were awarded a penalty in the 17th minute.

Britney-lee Nicholson struck it well but Blount guessed well and reached the shot at full stretch, turning it round the post.

Within a minute, Rovers had taken the lead against a home side still ruing the missed opportunity.

Rene Wasi got the ball inside the Pride half and ran at the defence before unleashing a vicious shot that flashed past ‘keeper Una Foyle and into the net.

The home side came out strong for the second half, scoring an equaliser in the 46th minute when a Frankie Morrow shot went into the net off a defender.

But then the Rovers side found their rhythm and took control.

Kelli Brown put Rovers ahead in the 59th minute, and almost added another when she almost reached a Leanna Ryan cross a couple of minutes later.

In the 64th minute, Pride didn’t deal with a corner and Rovers captain Talisha Green struck a hopeful shot into the area. The ball went through the pack and into the net.

Rovers kept Pride under pressure with a series of inswinging corners, delivered with deadly accuracy by Michaela Foster.

One such corner provide the fourth goal in the 81st minute when substitute Maisy Dewell found the net.

Capital and Auckland United share eight goals

Auckland United surrendered the lead three times in an action-packed game that provided Capital Football with their competition point when the game ended 4-4 at Petone.

The home side took the lead in the third minute through Pepi Olliver-Bell.

United levelled through Alosi Bloomfield in the 14th minute before Isabella Richards put the visitors in front midway through the half.

Sydnie Williams found Capital’s second goal as the teams were going to the break.

United took a 3-2 advantage through Emmelin Bowala in the 70th minute but again, Capital bounced back, levelling through Danielle Ohlsson in the 86th minute.

Bloomfield appeared to have won the game for United when she made it 4-3 to the visitors in the final minute.

However, Capital weren’t done. They scored yet another equaliser, this time through Olliver-Bell, three minutes into stoppage time.

Results

Games played on Saturday October 15, 2022

Canterbury United Pride 1 (own goal 47′)
Northern Rovers 4 (Rene Wasi 19′, Kelli Brown 60′, Talisha Green 65′, Maisy Dewell 81′)

Capital Football 4 (Pepi Olliver-Bell 3′, 90’+3′, Sydnie Madison Williams 45′, Danielle Ohlsson 86′)
Auckland United 4 (Alosi Bloomfield 14′, 89′, Isabella Richards 23′, Emmelin Bowala 70′)

Standings

Fixtures

Games to be played on Sunday October 16, 2022

Eastern Suburbs v Southern United 
Madills Farm, Auckland, 1pm

Central Football v Western Springs
Massey University, Palmerston North, 2.15pm

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