Capital Football 1 (Emma Rolston)
Southern United 2 (Emily Morison, Renee Bacon)
National Women's League
Petone Memorial Park, Lower Hutt
Saturday 30 November 2019
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| Southern's Emily Morison pokes the ball home for the first goal TJF Photos |
Capital had their last home game of the season against Southern United who were playing their last game. There was nothing but bragging rights riding on this game as Capital were finishing fifth no matter what the result, while Southern would likely finish fourth or possibly third if other results went their way. But there was a bit or rivalry between these teams with ex Capital players Mikalea Hunt, Emily Morison & Lena de Ronde lining up for Southern United. One of the ball kids was even heard to shout "c'mon Southern" as the game kicked off!
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| Southern United Fans banner TJF Photos |
In the unwritten laws of football, one is that an ex player will always score against you and just two minutes into the game, Southern United's Emily Morison proved this to be the case when Capital's keeper, Molly Simons, failed to hold a corner and in the ensuing melee, Morison managed to poke the ball over the line.
It was a reasonably close game. Capital, who were continuing to play three at the back despite their more experienced defenders, Sarah Alder and Fran Grange being out injured, would have been thankful that the impressive Amy Hislop was having trouble timing her runs and was continually being called offside.
It was the second half before Capital leveled the scores. Capital's Emma Rolston and Southern United keeper, Jane Middleditch chased a loose ball, towards the edge of the penalty area, Rollo won the chase, turned and chipped the ball into the far corner from an acute angle. It took her tally of goals for the season to 10 and puts her atop the golden boot race.
Both sides had chances to score again, Capital's Molly Simons making up for her earlier mistake with some good saves. It looked as if the game would end in a draw when two minutes from time, Southern's Renee Bacon received the ball about 25 meters out, she swiveled and hit a sizzling shot into the bottom corner to give Southern United a 2-1 win, incidentally their first ever win in the Capital.
It is a result that shows how far Southern United have come in the last couple of seasons and what a little bit of belief can do. There has been a sea change down south in the whole federation, led by the women who before 2016 had never finished outside of the bottom two in the league (and more often than not in the bottom position). They have now finished third, fifth and fourth and their games are no longer the guaranteed three points the opposition expected.
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| Capital's Kelsey Wilkinson and Southern's Georgia Brown TJF Photos |
Capital on the other hand seem to be regressing and this has to be one of their more disappointing seasons. They do have a young team and have had bad luck with injuries using 23 players so in their 11 games so far. But there have been some, what I would term baffling selection and substitution decisions and the insistence on sticking with three at the back when some of the more experienced defenders got injured should have been looked at.
There have been bright spots, Jemma Catherwood has continued on her brilliant winter league form and been rewarded with a call up to the U17 NZ team. Emma Rolston has been a joy to watch, even if she does get quite frustrated but she should end up as the leagues top scorer this season. The youngsters in Kelsey Wilkinson and Nina Kondo have come on a lot and the future looks promising. But as a fan that's nice but I want to see us competing for the title, If I wanted to watch development football I'd go and watch the National Youth League! Hopefully the inclusion of Maia Vink, who came through the Canterbury United coaching system will allow Capital some insight into how to build a team that consistently competes to be the best in the country.
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