Southern United snatch late draw with Northern Rovers in Women’s National League

posted in: News, Women's National League |

Northern Rovers and Southern United completed their Women’s National League programme with a 1-1 draw at McFetridge Park on Saturday.

The game was an even affair and the draw a fair result, as Rovers completed their season with a third placing.

Rovers took the lead just before half time when striker Leanna Ryan was brought down as she turned her defender, prompting a penalty.

Striker Kelli Brown struck the spot kick cleanly into the net.

Main photo: Kelli Brown (10) scored from the penalty spot for Rovers.

In the second half, Southern United increasingly got into the game and the momentum was their’s as the game entered its final stages.

With 10 minutes to go, Kennedy Bryant had to leave the field with a head injury, leaving United to finish the game with 10 players.

From the restart, Southern worked a direct free kick move, clearly planned on the training pitch, and Toni Power’s shot from 20 metres flew into the net with the help of a deflection off the Rovers defensive wall.

Both sides looked tired as the game — and a year of football in which some players had played more than 40 games — came to an end.

The Northern Rovers v Southern United was broadcast live on Sky Sport.

The other Saturday fixture was cancelled due to COVID-19 issues in the Canterbury United Pride squad.

The league schedule will be completed on Sunday when the competition’s two bottom sides, Auckland United and Central Football, meet in Palmerston North.