CLINICAL CAPITAL SINK SOUTHERN

 

Southern United's Emily Morison & Capital's Libby Boobyer battle for the ball TJF Photos

Capital Football 5 Southern United 0

ISPS Handa Women's Premiership

Petone Memorial

Saturday 7 November, 2020

Att : about 120

Time was a 5-0 win over Southern United in the Womens National League was an expected result, however in recent times it hasn't been the case, in fact the last three meetings between these two sides before this game had resulted in wins to Southern United.

It's a game which has a bit of an edge with Southern United including ex Capital players Emily Morison, Lena De Ronde & Renee Bacon amongst their ranks, along with Western Suburbs and NZ U17 starlet Macey Fraser who opted to ply her trade in Dunedin rather than Wellington for this shortened league season.

New Zealand Football have managed to get ISPS Handa to extend their sponsorship this season and cover the Women's game as well as the Men's. The only real downside is that due to Covid-19 they opted to reduce the Women's league to one round. 

It means every result and every goal is vital if teams want a chance of finishing in the top two which will get them into the final. Capital had started last week with a valuable away point against Northern Lights, equalising in the 89th minute and almost stealing all three points in added on time. Southern United had played well but were unable to stop defending champions Canterbury United inflicting a 4-2 defeat on them.

Capital started well and had the majority of possession and territory in the first half but they were finding it hard to breakdown a well set up Southern United defence. It wasn't until the 33rd minute that they were able to force a breakthrough when Mickey Robertson collected the ball 20 meters out and sent a low shot to the left of Tessa Nichol in the Southern United goal to make it 1-0.

Four minutes later it was 2-0 when Kayley Ward, making her home debut for Capital, scored a goal out of nothing. The ball fell to her just inside the corner of the penalty area and she hit a shot with the outside of her foot which saw the ball fly into the top corner.

Southern United would have felt hard done by being 2-0 down going into the break. Coach Ignacio Sande's half time talk obviously had some effect and Southern came out in the second half and looked the better team for the first 20 minutes. Although it was their turn to be frustrated by a solid defence.

It was one of Capitals first attacks of the second half  that saw them win a corner, a well delivered corner was met by a Kayley Ward header at the near post and it was 3-0. While it could be argued that the goal came against the run of play, it turned the game back to Capital's favour and they dominated the rest of the game. Kayley Ward completed her hat-trick with a penalty after Charlotte Wilford Carroll was tripped in the box. Wilford Carroll had been having a great game and probably deserved a goal for her performance, she almost got one in the 87th minute. Hope Gilchrest broke down the right flank and sent a lovely cross over which Wilford Caroll jumped for but it was just too high for her, luckily for Capital sub Sam Whyte was on hand to control the ball and fire it into the top of the goal to make it 5-0. 

Southern United have now conceded nine goals in their two games and do look to be missing Mikelea Hunt, who has moved to Canterbury United Pride, at the back. Southern may have felt that the scoreline flattered Capital but overall it was Capital who deserved the win and they will be buoyed by the whole team performance as they head into next weeks game against this seasons pacesetters, Auckland.

FOR MORE PHOTOS FROM THE GAME CLICK HERE

Capital's Hat-trick hero Kayley Ward TJF Photos