Eastern Suburbs have gone seven points clear at the top of the Women’s National League with a 3-0 win against Capital Football.
Bottom-placed Central Football went close to breaking through for their first point in the competition but were denied after late goals by Canterbury United Pride.
Main photo: Eastern Suburbs … happy with their ninth win of the season. Photo: Joan Grey.
Here’s our round-up of Sunday’s games:
Suburbs close in on place in Grand Final
Eastern Suburbs are close to securing a place in next month’s Grand Final after their latest win in the Women’s National League.
Their 3-0 win against Capital Football at Madills Farm maintains their 100% winning record after nine rounds.
Suburbs need only four points from their remaining five fixtures to be sure of a spot in the top two, and secure their place in the December 18 final.
Their latest win began with a goal from striker Tayla O’Brien in the 33rd minute, her 14th of the season.
Ella Findlay doubled Suburbs’ lead two minutes later, giving the Lilywhites a 2-0 half-time lead.
Nicole Mettam completed the win with a goal in the 65th minute.
Stoppage time winner crushes Central
Bottom-placed Central Football went within a few minutes of landing their first point of the season — or even a win — before Canterbury United Pride condemned them to their ninth loss in a row.
With five minutes to go, Central were leading 2-1 at Massey University but a late charge by the southerners saw them squeak home with a win.
Pride took the lead after 25 minutes through Britney-lee Nicholson.
But on the half-hour, Central levelled through Holly Kleinsman.
The sides turned around locked at 1-1.
When Rebekah Trewhitt put Central 2-1 up in the 71st minute, it looked as though the home side might be heading for their first positive result of the season.
But Charlotte Roche found an equaliser for the Pride in the 85th minute.
Two minutes into stoppage time, Rebecca Lake scored the winner for the Cantabrians.
The win gives Pride an outside chance of making the final but will need to keep winning, and hope their Auckland rivals start losing.
Results
Games played on Sunday November 6, 2022
Central Football 2 (Holly Kleinsman 29′, Rebekah Trewhitt 71′)
Canterbury United Pride 3 (Britney-lee Niicholson 25′, Charlotte Roche 85′, Rebecca Lake 90+2′)
Eastern Suburbs 3 (Tayla O’Brien 33′, Ella Findlay 35′, Nicole Mettam 65)
Capital Football 0
Games played on Saturday November 5, 2022
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Northern Rovers 3 (own goal 5′, Kelli Brown 52′, 67′)
Auckland United 2 (Manaia Elliott 11′, Ruby Nathan 44′)
Southern United 1 (Jasmine Prince 90+1′)
Western Springs 1 (Sofia Garcia 51′)
Standings
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