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| Every Team Needs a Jem - Capital have 2!!! Photo TJF Photos |
Five weeks in and the league is starting to have a familiar look about it with last years finalists Northern Lights and Canterbury United Pride leading the way and having opened up a five point lead on the others. It may seem inevitable but third place still gets a crack at getting into the final and it wasn't long ago that this preview would have been of the final round!
WEEK 5 REVIEW
CAPITAL 3 CENTRAL 2
This game was described in the official NZF press release as a "Thriller", which just goes to show that the PR was written by someone who was nowhere near Petone Memorial Park on Saturday! Yes there were five goals, and Central fought back from two down but as a spectacle overall, it wasn't great. The first half was decent, Capital almost scored in the second minute but Central keeper Brooke Bennett, managed to reach out and grab the ball on the line to stop the opening goal. From then on it was all Capital and how they weren't more than 2-0 up at the break is baffling.
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| Capital's Jemma Catherwood just misses the connection Photos TJF Photo |
Some fans turned up with a placard stating "every team needs a Jem" Capital were extra lucky in having two, Jemma Robertson and Jemma Catherwood. These two Jem's were playing wide on either side if the field and were creating space and getting plenty of crosses in but the final touch was just not coming for Capital.
In the 20th minute a cross found its way back to Charlotte Wilford Carroll in the midfield and she played a lovely ball through for Emma Rolston who easily slotted it in to make it 1-0.
Capital's second came on the stroke of half time, when Jemma Robertson created space for herself and launched a cross in to the box which Kelsey Wilkinson latched on to and directed into the back of the net for her debut goal for Capital.
While it should have been alot more for Capital, the second goal coming when it did was more of a curse as it seemed to put the team in the mind set that they had this won comfortably. Central on the other hand had other ideas and about 20 minutes in had pulled one back from a penalty, Captain Michaela Boxall scoring. Not long after a corner ball droped at Boxall's feet and she tapped in her second and it was all square.
The decisive moment of the game came two minutes from time when keeper Brooke Bennett clattered into Jemma Robertson and landed on her own defender. It was a clear penalty and really should have been a red card as it was dangerous play, but as seems to be the way these days it gets overruled by the double jeopardy rule and a penalty and a yellow card was all that eventuated.
Capital's captain, Katie Barrott, who had made the brave decision to play, just a few days after her mother had passed away, stepped up and sent her shot into the top corner. A great way to end an emotional day for her and for Capital who got their first win of the season.
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| Capital's Katie Barrott after scoring from the spot TJF Photos |
AUCKLAND 0 CANTERBURY UNITED PRIDE 1
A late change of venue saw this game moved from the unplayable McClennan Park, to Kiwitea Street. It was a game that the general consensus seemed to be Canterbury United should have scored more, but you only need one to win if the opposition don't score. The opposition not scoring is something that has happened at every Canterbury United game this season, with them yet to concede a goal. While at the other end Britney-Lee Nicholson has managed to score in every game this season and leads the goalscoring table with five.
NORTHERN LIGHTS 2 WAIBOP 0
Summary from Enzo Giordani - check out his blog - The Ninety Fifth Minute
Looked like the same Northern as last year - lots of sizzle and not a great deal of sausage!
At only 1-0 down with five to go I almost considered moving to the other end to try and get a photo of the possible equaliser but then Northern got their second. WaiBOP's attack was better today, especially in the second half when Lily Muspratt came on. She's a star. Just back from concussion. Another strong performance from Georgia Candy too.
WEEK 6 PREVIEW
English Park, Christchurch
Last Season : Canterbury United Pride 2 Northern Lights 1
Match of the round 2nd (Canterbury) v 1st (Northern), a repeat of last years Grand Final and lets be honest, probably a preview of this years Grand Final. Very hard one to pick five of the last seven meeting between these teams have been decided by a single goal, of the two that weren't one was a 2-2 draw and the only exception was Northern's 3-0 win at home last season.
MY PICK Canterbury as they have the home advantage
Logan Park, Dunedin
Last Season : Southern United 5 Capital 4
Southern United in 3rd take on 5th place Capital. Nine goals were scored in this fixture last season and that was also the first time Southern United had ever beaten Capital. I'd love to see Capital win this but from what I've seen of them I get the impression the coaches are still trying to work out their best line up (they have had a couple of injuries which hasn't helped), especially in defence, and i think this will ultimately cost them.
MY PICK Southern by 1 in a high scoring game
Massey University, Palmerston North
Last Season : Central 0 Auckland 4
Central are traditionally one of the weaker federations in the NWL, covering a large area and getting players together from New Plymouth, Gisborne, Napier, Palmerston North & Wellington isn't easy. But they do sometimes get the results, although not when they play Auckland. They have never beaten Auckland and in the last four games against them, they have managed just three goals while conceding 19!
My Pick Auckland 5-1
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