The Northern Lights have continued their unbeaten start to the National Women’s League season, earning a first three-pointer of the campaign with a 4-1 triumph on the road at Capital.

New coach Gemma Lewis and her side were forced to wait to get off the mark as they sat out the opening week with the bye but are now well-placed to launch a bid for the title after following up last weekend’s scoreless draw against Southern United with a strong second-half showing in Wellington this afternoon

While few would argue Northern did not deserve the points, an under-strength Capital side will feel they came closer to matching the 2015 champions than the scoreline suggests and it took two late goals for the Lights to finally pull away at Memorial Park.

The visitors had a stiff breeze at their backs in the second half and Lewis felt that played a part in her team’s performance.

“I think playing in this wind makes things interesting, we couldn’t really go longer and we had to play out from the back, try and control the game a little more and wear Capital down a bit,” she said.

“When we had the wind in the second half, it made all the difference because it was very hard for Capital to get out of their own half. The wind was definitely a big factor but we tried to use it to our advantage as best we could and I do think our pressing and the things we have been working on defensively helped us too."

Capital were not able to field talismanic striker Sarah Gregorius but did still boast senior international experience in fellow Football Fern Anna Green while Lewis included five full internationals in goalkeeper Anna Leat, Kate Loye, Malia Steinmetz, Maggie Jenkins and Liz Savage.

That gave Northern the edge on paper but the hosts threatened to cause an upset when Emma Main gave them the lead mid-way through the first half, pouncing on an under-hit back pass to prod the ball past Leat.

But the advantage lasted only a matter of seconds as Northern found a swift response, Helena Kelderman slotting in an equaliser after catching Capital goalkeeper Ronisa Lipi in possession. It was somewhat of a historic goal as it was the first since her side’s naming rebrand and a first ever at this level for Kelderman.

It looked like the scores would be locked at 1-1 at the break as the half-time whistle drew near but the team talks were significantly altered when captain Claudia Bunge side-footed home from close range to put Northern in front.

With such experience and quality on their side, the visitors were not likely to squander their winning position and, with the wind now behind them, they went on to dominate the second half.

Capital remained right in the game until the dying stages though, finally having to give up any hopes of claiming at least a point after failing to defend a pair of set pieces.

Coach Emma Evans had been forced to replace Lipi with Courtney Norman with only a few minutes left on the clock due to injury and – aside from acrobatically tipping a Samantha Tawharu strike over the bar – the newcomer’s main tasks were to pick the ball out of her net twice.

Savage ensured all three points would be going north when she headed in an in-swinging corner at the back post and that same route to goal brought a fourth for the Lights soon after. Norman managed only to partially parry another corner and Tawharu was on hand to apply the finishing touch and complete a satisfying afternoon for her side.

Despite the loss, Evans had reason to feel positive about aspects of Capital’s play and joined Lewis in citing the wind as a key influence on the outcome.

“I think we had to adjust our game slightly as the wind started to pick up and we didn’t quite manage to do that,” she said.

“We kept trying to play the same way and forcing the play a little bit so full credit to Northern who definitely took their chances.”

The Lights have now moved up to third on the table and must wait to see if they can remain there tomorrow as defending champions Auckland head down to Southern United and Central play host to leaders Canterbury United Pride. It doesn’t get any easier for Capital as they now face a trip to meet Auckland next week while Northern will host winless Central.

National Women’s League Match Week Three

Capital Football 1 (Emma Main 24’)
Northern Lights 4 (Helena Kelderman 24’, Claudia Bunge 43’, Liz Savage 85’, Samantha Tawharu 88’)
HT: 1-2

Central Football vs Canterbury United Pride
Massey University, Palmerston North
Sunday 30 September, 1pm

Southern United vs Auckland Football
Tahuna Park, Dunedin
Sunday 30 September, 2pm

Article added: Saturday 29 September 2018