By Warren Olson and Jack Sharp
With a third of the competition completed, four clubs remain undefeated in the Women’s National League.
Defending champions Auckland United, two Wellington sides and a revitalised Canterbury United Pride are locked on seven points, separated only by goal difference.
On form, all four sides could continue their excellent starts to the nine-round competition, shaking off the rest of the field.
Auckland United host local rivals Western Springs at Keith Hay Park on Saturday, and are favourites to win.
Second-placed CF Waterside Karori take on Central at Martin Luckie Park.
The depth of their squad and experience should see the Magpies cement their position at the top end of the table.
Their United States imports have added plenty to the Waterside Karori midfield, in particular, where Emma Starr has certainly been shining brightly.
Lilly Dowsing did well to get an early goal for Central Football against the strong Auckland United side last week, and is clearly the main goalscoring threat for the side in green.
Past title winners Canterbury United Pride have cast aside memories of a sub-par 2023 season and are looking potential challengers for this year’s grand final.
First, they’ll have to get past last season’s runners-up, Southern United, who they meet at Dunedin’s Logan Park on Sunday.
Having played only twice (their Round 2 game against Central Football was postponed), it’s not easy to get a read on Southern United’s form this season.
Facing an in-form Canterbury side will flush out some clues, and this match looks to be the pick of the round.
At the foot of the table, it’s not getting any easier for the young Wellington Phoenix reserve side, especially as some of the scholarship players who bolster the ranks from time to time are away with the senior side on their pre-season tour or at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
For last weekend’s game against Wellington United, the Phoenix had only three players on their bench.
Georgie Furnell always looks dangerous out on the flank, while despite being under plenty of pressure, MacKenzie Greene impressed in defence against Wellington United last week.
With their skills and ball control, the ‘Nix are well capable of scoring against an Eastern Suburbs who are yet to find the net in this year’s competition.
Players to watch
Substitutes had a big influence in Round 3.
As added time loomed, Canterbury United trailed West Coast Rangers 3-2 at English Park.
The home side brought on substitutes Petra Buyck and Charlotte Mortlock.
Buyck levelled three minutes into stoppage time, and Mortlock sealed the winner four minutes later.
Former Ellerslie player Buyck (21) played her winter football for Universities of Canterbury but has played National League for United since 2022.
Mortlock (18) is back with Canterbury after a season with Sydney club Northern Tigers.
Another to make a late-game contribution was Auckland United substitute Penny Brill (18), who grabbed a stoppage-time double in her side’s 5-1 win against a tiring Central Football side last weekend.
Well-timed substitutions are paying off for coaches this season, especially when fatigue is a factor after long-distance travel.
Watch for more impacts off the bench.
— Jack Sharp
Bold predictions
CF Wellington United face a tough opponent in league debutants West coast Rangers.
Goalkeeper Molly Simons has played countless games with defenders Zoe Barrott and Caelin Patterson and the trio provide a resilient wall. Midfielders Hope Gilchrist and Jemma Catherwood have vision and experience, while forwards Hanna Pilley and Nat Olson are as good a finishers as any in the league.
With few weak spots, United might just edge this one.
I’ll tip Wellington to get the points with a 2-0 win.
— Warren Olson
Auckland United will play Western Springs for the fourth time this season.
In May, United won 1-0. In July, United won 1-0. In September, United won 1-0.
It’s hard not to go with the trend, so I’m picking Ben Bate’s side will collect their fourth win by a single goal.
— Jack Sharp
Central Football have played only twice, due to a weather-forced postponement, and they will take time to gel as a rep side drawn from the region’s clubs.
They’ll have limited opportunities against a Waterside Karori side with too much strength and experience.
I’ll pick the side from the Capital will run out comfortable 4-0 victors.
— Warren Olson
… and one more thing
The winner of this year’s grand final will automatically qualify to represent New Zealand at the 2025 OFC Women’s Champions League in Tahiti.
OFC have confirmed Tahiti as the venue for the tournament to be held between May 4-17, 2025.
It will be the third edition of the OFC Women’s Champions League and is expected to help identify which club will represent the region when the long-awaited FIFA Women’s Club World Cup gets underway.
With the men’s version of the revamped Club World Cup, Auckland City earned the right to represent Oceania based on its results at the last four OFC Men’s Champions League tournaments.
Auckland United won the 2024 OFC title, beating seven rivals for the title at a two-week tournament in the Solomon Islands.
In 2023, New Caledonia’s AS Academy won the inaugural OFC title after a five-club tournament in Papua New Guinea.
New Zealand champions Eastern Suburbs withdrew from the tournament after the draw, citing financial, logistical and security reasons.
Golden Boot
3 — Renee Bacon (CF Waterside Karori), Rina Hirano (Western Springs), Kendall Pollock (CF Waterside Karori).
2 — Penny Brill (Auckland United), Nicola Dominikovich (Canterbury United Pride), Shannon Henson (West Coast Rangers), Bree Johnson (West Coast Rangers), Emily Lyon (West Coast Rangers), Anna McPhie (Canterbury United Pride), Charlotte Mortlock (Canterbury United Pride), Natalie Olson (CF Wellington United), Charlotte Roche (Auckland United), Nicole Stratford ((West Coast Rangers).
Highlights from Round 3
Fixtures
Games to be played on Saturday October 19, 2024
Auckland United v Western Springs
Keith Hay Park, Mt Roskill, 1pm
CF Waterside Karori v Central Football
Martin Luckie Park, Berhampore, 2pm
Games to be played on Sunday October 20, 2024
Wellington Phoenix v Eastern Suburbs
Fraser Park, Taita, 12.30pm
Southern United v Canterbury United Pride
Logan Park, Dunedin, 1pm
West Coast Rangers v CF Wellington United
Fred Taylor Park, Whenuapai, 1pm
Warren Olson
Warren Olson is a Wellington-based enthusiast for and long-time follower of women’s football.
Jack Sharp
Jack Sharp is a long-time follower of club football in New Zealand and is a volunteer writer for Friends of Football.
This story was first published on October 18, 2024.
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