By Jack Sharp
Defending champions Auckland United go into Round 3 of the Women’s National League looking to extend their unbeaten record to 42 games.
The side has gone more than a year since last losing a game in any competition.
United’s run includes 21 games in the Lotto NRFL Women’s Premiership, five in the OFC Champions League, five Kate Sheppard Cup ties and 10 matches in the National League.
Of those fixtures, United have won 37 and drawn six.
The last side to beat coach Ben Bate’s side were local rivals Eastern Suburbs who scored two late goals to snatch a 3-2 win at Madills Farm on October 1, 2023.
The next team trying to derail United’s marathon run of form are Central United, who host the Aucklanders on Saturday morning at Massey University, with an 11am kick-off.
Central Football struggled in last year’s competition, winning only once in the nine-round league.
This time round, they lost their season opener 5-0 at home to West Coast Rangers, and were denied a second round game when extreme weather forced the postponement of their game against Southern United in Dunedin.
The result between Central and Auckland United will demonstrate the differing fortunes of what is essentially a regional rep team, drawn together from geographically diverse clubs and a squad that plays together all year.
United have also bolstered their squad with the signing of Football Fern Paige Satchell. She managed 60 minutes game time in her first outing for United last weekend, having not played competitively for several months.
Round 3 gets underway on Friday night when CF Wellington United host the Wellington Phoenix reserves.
United are one of five clubs sharing the competition lead and start the game as favourites against a Phoenix side at the foot of the table, having conceded nine games in their two losses.
The game of the round is Canterbury United Pride’s fixture against West Coast Rangers at English Park on Saturday, starting at noon.
United are past national champions and after a disappointing 2023 campaign, are showing signs they’ll be competitive this term.
Rangers lack experience at this level, with long away trips and no easy games.
But they’ve started well and have the squad capable of staying with the leading bunch.
Western Springs host last year’s runners-up Southern United on Saturday, a game that will provide clear pointers whether either (or both) will be among the title chances this season.
Springs are still in search of their first win and can ill afford to lose while Southern United are yet to show their capability, after last weekend’s postponed game against Central.
CF Waterside Karori go into the weekend as league leaders.
By Sunday, they’ll know what they need to achieve at Eastern Suburbs’ Madills Farm to stay at the top.
Their opponents, who have only one point from two games, will badly need the win to get into the title race.
By the final whistle on Sunday, a third of the fixture list will have been completed and the margins for error will be fast diminishing.
Bold predictions
With Southern United having the weekend off last weekend due to weather conditions, they will be fresh and eager to go to Western Springs’ Seddon Fields.
With Springs leaking six goals in their first two games. Southern have every chance to let loose and I predict Southern to win comfortably by, say, 4-1.
— Max Fletcher
Canterbury United Pride and West Coast Rangers will provide a lively game at English Park, with the potential for plenty of goals.
I’ll predict five goals or more in an even game, with Rangers getting the win.
— Jack Sharp
Highlights from Round 2
Fixtures
Game to be played on Friday October 11, 2024
CF Wellington United v Wellington Phoenix
Newtown Park, Newtown, 7pm
Games to be played on Saturday October 12, 2024
Central Football v Auckland United
Massey University, Palmerston North, 11am
Canterbury United Pride v West Coast Rangers
English Park, Christchurch, 12pm
Western Springs v Southern United
Seddon Fields, Westmere, 3pm
Game to be played on Sunday October 13, 2024
Eastern Suburbs v CF Waterside Karori
Madills Farm, St Heliers, 2pm
Jack Sharp
Jack Sharp is a long-time follower of club football in New Zealand and is a volunteer writer for Friends of Football. You can show your appreciation for his work by buying him a coffee.
This story was first published on October 11, 2024.
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