The National Women’s League action this weekend all went the way of the form book with the Canterbury United Pride continuing their march towards the minor premiership while Auckland and Southern United both kept in touch with the top two with important wins of their own.

The Northern Lights had the bye but remain in second place and are likely to have to hold off the challenge of Auckland and Southern for that second berth in the final if Canterbury proceed as they have been.

In contrast to the free-scoring nature of previous weeks, only one match featured more than a solitary goal and it was the Pride who again went on the rampage.

They were only one goal up at the break on their trip to Capital after Nicola Dominikovich found the net but the second half belonged to the visitors as Gabi Rennie made it two before Britney-Lee Nicholson helped herself to a double, taking her season tally to nine in the process.

Capital could only reply once through Jemma Robertson late on as their two-match winning streak was snapped.

In Palmerston North, Central were chasing their first points of the season as Southern came to town but that search will continue after Amy Hislop’s early strike proved enough for an away win.

Southern will be relieved to have taken all three points back to Dunedin as they can’t afford any slip-ups from here on in if they are to make the final.
 

Britney Cunningham-Lee is congratulated on scoring Auckland's winner (Photosport)

Auckland are in a similar boat but drew level on points with crosstown rivals Northern courtesy of their 1-0 triumph at home to WaiBOP.

After being held to a pair of successive draws by Northern over the double-header week, Auckland needed to return to winning ways to keep their title hopes burning brightly and an early goal put them on course for that.

The identity of the scorer was no surprise as Britney Cunningham-Lee struck for the sixth time this season, extending WaiBOP’s wait to add to their solitary win.

Their next chance to do so comes next weekend with a visit to Southern, who will join Northern and Canterbury in looking to take advantage of Auckland sitting out the action with the bye.

For the table and more information on the National Women’s League please click here

National Women’s League Match Week Eight

Saturday 2 November

Capital 1 (Jemma Robertson 79’)
Canterbury United Pride 4 (Nicola Dominikovich 30’, Gabi Rennie 55’, Britney-Lee Nicholson 66’, 83’)
HT: 0-1

Sunday 3 November

Central 0
Southern United 1 (Amy Hislop 17’)
HT: 0-1

Auckland 1 (Britney Cunningham-Lee 10’)
WaiBOP 0
HT: 1-0

BYE – Northern Lights

Article added: Sunday 03 November 2019