The team to beat in this season’s National Women’s League appears to be the Canterbury United Pride after last year’s runners-up posted their second big win in succession, sweeping aside WaiBOP 6-0 this afternoon in Christchurch.

They have now scored ten goals across their two matches so far and conceded none, laying firm foundations for what would be a sixth consecutive appearance in the final.

And, with defending champions Auckland having the bye this weekend and their other rivals not playing until tomorrow, Canterbury now have breathing space at the top of the table and will wait with interest to see if Southern United can join them on six points by upsetting the Northern Lights, who are set to play their first match after sitting out the opening round with the bye.

Much of the damage in the Pride’s first-up 4-0 win over Capital was done by Annalie Longo – who scored twice and set up another – and the Football Ferns playmaker was again an influential figure today, striking her third goal of the campaign in stoppage time to put the icing on the cake of another rampant display at English Park.

But the main goal-scoring heroine on this occasion was Monique Barker, who opened the scoring in just the second minute and went on to notch a hat-trick.

After witnessing his side concede four unanswered goals in their first game against Auckland, coach Michael Mayne would have wanted WaiBOP to keep things tight for as long as possible but that went out the window almost straight away when a misplaced goal kick was intercepted, allowing Longo to tee up Barker for her first of the afternoon.

The hosts were two up just over ten minutes later when Gabi Rennie found the net via a deflection inside the box and the game was all but over as a contest soon after when Longo and Barker again combined to lethal effect, the latter finishing from ten yards after being picked out by a pin-point cross from her skipper.

A real rout looked on the cards when Jayda Stewart then received the ball in the box from Rennie before turning and unleashing a stunning strike into the top corner.

At 4-0 down with barely half an hour on the clock, Mayne must have feared the worst but he will have been pleased with the response of his charges. WaiBOP finished the half with a couple of sights of goal, Kelli Brown and Tiana Hill both firing over the bar, and they proved much harder to break down in the second period.

The play became more evenly contested and it wasn’t until the dying stages that Canterbury were finally able to add to their tally. Barker firstly completed her hat-trick by tucking home a Cody Taylor pull-back and there was just enough time for Longo to get on the scoresheet, the inspirational captain latching onto a well-placed long ball before seeing off a challenge and slotting Canterbury’s sixth past WaiBOP goalkeeper Georgia Candy.

They are now sitting proudly at the summit but, after playing both of their opening matches at home, their title-winning credentials will be closely examined over the next fortnight with a pair of away games. WaiBOP will not get the opportunity to bounce back quickly as they have the bye next week.

The second week of the National Women’s League will wrap up tomorrow with the Northern Lights hosting Southern United and Capital making the short trip to neighbours Central.

National Women’s League Match Week Two

Canterbury United Pride 6 (Monique Barker 2’, 21’, 87’, Gabi Rennie 14’, Jayda Stewart 32’, Annalie Longo 90’ + 3’)
WaiBOP 0
HT: 4-0

Northern Lights vs Southern United
McFetridge Park, Auckland
Sunday 23 September, 12pm

Central vs Capital
Massey University, Palmerston North
Sunday 23 September, 2pm

Article added: Saturday 22 September 2018