PREVIEW: Dunedin sides hit the road in Women’s South Island League

By Logan Smith

Dunedin’s top clubs will rack up more air miles this weekend, with all three heading north for away fixtures as the Women’s South Island League moves into the second half of its home and away fixtures.

All teams will play the same opponent they played in Round 1, with home advantage reversed.

First up at midday on Saturday, Cashmere Technical play Otago University at English Park.

The visitors come in with momentum after a 2-0 win in Nelson, but Cashmere should still be too strong and comfortably triumph.

Elsewhere, Nelson Suburbs welcome Roslyn-Wakari to Saxton Fields, with both teams still winless after five rounds of competition.

Suburbs are bottom of the table after a tough campaign so far, but a home game against arguably the weakest opponent they will face in this league presents an excellent opportunity to rectify that.

*Roslyn Wakari get the chance to regroup when they meet Nelson Suburbs this weekend. Photo credit: Jim Watts Photography / @jimwattsphoto*

On Sunday, all eyes will be on Coastal Spirit and Dunedin City Royals when they meet at English Park.

Both have four wins from five games so far and enter this round as the top two; it’s clear this is another clash of contenders.

Game of the week

It’s back-to-back top-of-the-table clashes for the Dunedin City Royals, who drew with Cashmere Technical last week and now face Coastal Spirit in an equally-important match with high stakes and narrow margins.

The Royals still lead the league and remain unbeaten, but lost ground last weekend with Coastal winning against Roslyn-Wakari. The gap at the top has been reduced to one point.

Coastal Spirit could go top with a win, but will be all but sidelined from the title race if they lose and fall four points behind the Royals.

Expect another brilliant game, and expect Cashmere Technical to be watching closely.

Player to watch

Dunedin City Royals centre-back Hannah Mackay-Wright has been a standout player in the league this season, and put in another excellent performance as the Royals drew 1-1 with Cashmere Technical.

Mackay-Wright and the rest of the Royals’ defence repelled ball after ball as Cashmere looked to throw everything at them. They were unlucky not to win, with the hosts finally equalising deep into second-half stoppage time.

An adaptable player capable of playing out from the back but also with a talent for long, forward passes, she’s one to watch as the Royals face another title rival in what should be a close game.

Bold prediction

Nelson Suburbs and Roslyn-Wakari have both had serious issues at the back in the Women’s South Island League, conceding 19 and 21 goals, respectively, in just five rounds of action, including a double-figure defeat to Cashmere for both clubs.

With that in mind, and also the motivation for both clubs looking for a first win, you’d say a first clean sheet for either side is unlikely at Saxton Fields.

I’m picking Nelson Suburbs to fire their way to a 4-2 win.

Golden Boot

4 — Margi Dias (Cashmere Technical), Emma Kench (Cashmere Technical), Mel Cameron (Coastal Spirit)
3 — Anna McPhie (Cashmere Technical), Whitney Hepburn (Coastal Spirit)
2 — Aimee Phillips (Cashmere Technical), Bel Van Noorden (Coastal Spirit), Rose Morton (Dunedin City Royals), Reagan 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), Holly Lyon (Coastal Spirit), Denva Perrott (Cashmere Technical)