Auckland United have won their second consecutive Delivereasy Kate Sheppard Cup crown with a 4-1 win over the Wellington Phoenix Women’s Reserves in the 2025 final at North Harbour Stadium. 

Two goals from Ava Collins led United to glory, whilst Chloe Knott received the Maia Jackman Trophy for the best player of the final. 

Victory makes it three Delivereasy Kate Sheppard Cup titles in four seasons for United, having also won in 2024 and 2022. 

Winners over Western Springs in the final last year, Auckland United were the aggressors again this time around and took an early lead. 

Alexis Cook won a penalty in the 13th minute, and Zoe Benson tucked the resulting spot kick past the diving arms of Brooke Neary into the bottom-left corner of the net. 

The Phoenix reserves rallied though, and were soon level when Amber De Wit split the Auckland defence with a pinpoint pass on the counter-attack, and Grace Bartlett poked the ball past Hannah Mitchell in the 24th minute.

United didn’t let that phase them, and continued to dictate more of the possession and field territory. 

Danielle Canham had a great chance to put them back ahead when Neary dropped a routine delivery into the box, only to have her effort blocked off the line.

Chloe Knott scored their second goal soon after, picking out the top left corner of the net with a stunning strike on her right foot from the top of the box. 

The goals kept coming for United, and they added a third just before half-time, when the Phoenix defence failed to clear a ball into the box and Ava Collins was on hand to pounce. 

Ford Football Ferns international Manaia Elliott tried to lift the Phoenix reserves in the second half, but the closest she came was a shot straight at Mitchell. 

Instead Auckland United continued to tighten their grip, Knott causing problems down the left with a couple of shots on goal. 

The fourth goal came in the 68th minute, when Collins converted a one-on-one opportunity with Neary, and scored her second. 

Knott almost added her second moments later too, forcing Neary into a good save from a close-range header in front of goal. 

Rene Wasi had an opportunity late off the bench, but saw her effort turned away as Auckland United held out for more Delivereasy Kate Sheppard Cup success. 

Auckland United FC: 4 (Zoe Benson 13’, Chloe Knott 32’, Ava Collins 45’, 68)
Wellington Phoenix Women’s Reserves: 1 (Grace Bartlett 24’) 

HT: 3-1

Article added: Sunday 07 September 2025