PREVIEW: Title race ramps up in Women’s South Island League

By Logan Smith

This weekend ushers in the third-to-last round of the Women’s South Island League, with one fixture each on Saturday and Sunday followed by midweek action next Wednesday.

What each team needs is becoming clearer, as Cashmere Technical and Coastal Spirit both trail competition leaders Dunedin City Royals by six points, though Technical have a game in hand.

Coastal Spirit kick things off on Saturday morning, welcoming last-placed Nelson Suburbs to English Park with both teams in need of victory.

A defeat against the Royals and a draw with Otago University have severely dented Coastal’s title ambitions, while Nelson Suburbs are still searching for their first win.

On Sunday, Cashmere Technical head south to face Roslyn-Wakari at the Caledonian Ground in Dunedin.

After their flights to Nelson last round were cancelled, Technical will be keen to play this weekend and put another three points on the board.

Finally, Dunedin rivals Otago University and Dunedin City Royals will face off under the lights at the Football Turf on Wednesday night, with the fixture delayed due to the Royals being in Kate Sheppard Cup action on Saturday.

Game of the week

Dunedin City Royals are set for a hectic schedule, and they won’t expect Otago University to go easy on them at all.

After hosting Western Springs in the Kate Sheppard Cup on Saturday, they’ll play University on Wednesday night before a long trip to Nelson next Saturday.

University could be a real banana skin here; they’re confident after fighting a 2-2 draw with Coastal Spirit, will have the fresher legs and have already challenged the Royals a couple of times this year.

This could be a great test of the Royals’ mettle as they pursue the league title.

*Coastal Spirit’s Melanie Cameron (10) takes on the Cashmere Technical defence during the midweek Reta Fitzpatrick Cup semi-final. Photo credit: Jim Watts Photography / @jimwattsphoto*

Player to watch

Coastal Spirit forward Melanie Cameron has been causing trouble for South Island defences for many years, and she has again played an important role for Coastal Spirit despite the club not meeting its own high standards this year.

Cameron is in form, with five goals in the Women’s South Island League putting her only behind Rose Morton of Dunedin City Royals.

She added her fifth on the brink of halftime to put the Spirit 2-1 up in a game they eventually drew against Otago University.

She’s a player Nelson Suburbs will need to shut down on Saturday if they’re to get a result, and they’ll know it because she’s scored in four consecutive games against them.

Bold prediction

Certainly, things haven’t gone to plan for Nelson Suburbs since qualifying for this league, but still, the league table might be a tad deceptive about their quality.

They’ve shown promise in a few close games, such as their 2-1 loss to the Royals in Dunedin, but have not quite delivered in the final third at times.

Coastal Spirit will be hurting after a few tough results, including a 3-2 defeat against Cashmere in the Reta Fitzpatrick Cup semi-finals midweek, so I’m predicting a surprising 2-2 draw in this fixture.

The sides drew earlier in the season, and I don’t see why it couldn’t happen again.

Golden Boot

6 — Rose Morton (Dunedin City Royals)
5 — Anna McPhie (Cashmere Technical), Mel Cameron (Coastal Spirit)
4 — Margi Dias (Cashmere Technical), Emma Kench (Cashmere Technical)
3 — Whitney Hepburn (Coastal Spirit), Bel Van Noorden (Coastal Spirit), Holly Lyon (Coastal Spirit)
2 — Aimee Phillips (Cashmere Technical), Raegan Potter (Dunedin City Royals), Zara Pratley (Roslyn Wakari), Rosie Hayman (Cashmere Technical), Annalie Longo (Cashmere Technical), Lainey Altieri-Need (Cashmere Technical), Hannah Mackay-Wright (Dunedin City Royals), Denva Perrott (Cashmere Technical), Giselle Rynvos (Nelson Suburbs), Lara Wall (Cashmere Technical), Jemma Wilson (Roslyn Wakari), Nieve Collin (Dunedin City Royals), Aynsley Martin (Otago University)