The seventh match week of the National Women’s League takes place this weekend, find out what’s in store with the official preview. One match is set to take place on Saturday with Capital hosting Southern United while there are two matches in store on Sunday with the Northern Lights welcoming WaiBOP and the Canterbury United Pride travelling up to Auckland. Central Football sit out the action with the bye.

Capital Football vs Southern United
Memorial Park, Wellington
Saturday 27 October, 2pm
#NWL #CAvSU

Referee: S Jones
Assistant Referees: A Clarke, H Osborne
Fourth Official: J Williams

Squads

Capital Football: 1. Courtney Norman (GK), 2. Sarah Alder, 3. Katie Barrott, 4. Tory Schiltgen, 5. Molly Woodhead, 6. Danielle Ohlsson, 7. Kelsi Rutene, 8. Maya Hahn, 9. Anna McPhie, 10. Sarah Gregorius, 11. Kennedy Bryant, 12. Charlotte Wilford-Carroll, 14. Asha Storm, 15. Anna Green, 16. Meisha Boone, 18. Ronisa Lipi (GK)
Coach: Emma Evans

Southern United: 16. Jordan Woodward (GK), 2. Zoe Thomas, 3. Kelsey Kennard, 4. Mikaela Hunt, 6. Sam Baldwin, 7. Shontelle Smith, 8. Renee Bacon, 9. Chelsea Whittaker, 10. Kirsty Hayr, 11. Coral Seath, 12. Emily Morison, 14. Lara Wall, 20. Britney-Lee Nicholson, 23. Georgia Brown, 24. Jade Middleditch (GK)
Coach: Ignacio Sande

Lowdown

Capital were left to kick their heels in frustration over Labour weekend, unable to add to their points tally in sitting out the double header with the bye. In that regard, they appear to have drawn the short straw as they are now 11 points off top spot. But the silver lining is that they were able to put their feet up while all other sides had to get through two games in the space of a few days and they will be looking to make use of those fresh legs this weekend. Southern had it even tougher than most over the long weekend as they were forced to face leaders Canterbury back-to-back and coach Ignacio Sande will be hoping that has not sapped all his players’ energy. A win here is important as, like Capital, they are four points away from the all-important top two and whoever loses could well be out of title contention.

Quotes

Sarah Gregorius (Capital captain): “I think the timing of the break was quite good for us as it came midway through the season. I think everyone is pumped to be back on the field this weekend and we can hopefully continue the good momentum after the WaiBOP game. The table isn’t really at the front of everyone’s minds, we’re just focusing on what’s ahead of us and picking up the points where we can.”

Northern Lights vs WaiBOP Football
McFetridge Park, Auckland
Sunday 28 October, 1pm
#NWL #NLvWB

Referee: M Archer
Assistant Referees: D Neville, W Roberts
Fourth Official: W McNeely

Squads

Northern Lights: 1. Anna Leat (GK), 2. Claudia Bunge, 3. Arabella Maynard, 4. Aneka Mittendorff, 5. Saskia Vosper, 6. Nicole Stratford, 7. Malia Steinmetz, 8. Dayna Stevens, 9. Samantha Tawharu, 10. Maggie Jenkins, 11. Jane Barnett, 12. Liz Savage, 14. Hannah MacKay-Wright, 15. Vegas McCaroll, 16. Rose Luxton, 18. Emily Couchman (GK)
Coach: Gemma Lewis

WaiBOP Football: 1. Georgia Candy (GK), 3. Kate Williams, 4. Olivia Hooper, 5. Chloe Henderson, 6. Jayden Watts, 7. Emma Cawte, 9. Helen Talbot, 12. Kelli Brown, 13. Tiana Hill, 15. Grace Cox, 16. Grace Wisnewski, 19. Ashley Weld, 20. Chelsea Elliott, 21. Rylee Godbold (GK), 22. Lauren Henry, 24. Shae Brady
Coach: Michael Mayne

Lowdown

The Northern Lights pulled off the result of their season so far in bringing Auckland’s unbeaten run to an end on Tuesday and they have now edged ahead of their cross-town rivals in the fight for the top two. Aside from putting themselves right in the title mix and getting one over their neighbours, coach Gemma Lewis will have been particularly pleased to have found the net twice. Northern had scored just once in their three prior matches against fellow title contenders and, if they can continue to show more ruthlessness in front of goal, will go close to lifting the trophy as they have conceded only three times. WaiBOP have a far more porous defence but kept their first clean sheet of the season in a 3-0 win over Central which also got them off the mark. The Lights will be a far tougher prospect though so WaiBOP will need to be at their very best.

Quotes

Gemma Lewis (Northern coach): “WaiBOP are coming off their first win and I think that earlier loss to Central would have shaken them up and could actually prove to be a good thing. I think they’ll be raring to go and have got some great young players, including some who have just got selection for the New Zealand U-17 team. So we know they’re going to have threats within there, especially attacking-wise.”

Michael Mayne (WaiBOP coach): “Northern are a very strong team and are having a good run so we’re going to be up against it but we want to make sure we progress again in areas we’ve been working on. There’s a lot of players in that squad who have a great deal of experience so to be able to match up against them and see how much we’ve grown over the last few weeks will be an exciting opportunity.”

Auckland Football vs Canterbury United Pride
McLennan Park, Auckland
Sunday 28 October, 2pm
#NWL #AFvCU

Referee: N Browning
Assistant Referees: H Simons, B Kroonenberg
Fourth Official: B Rattray

Squads

Auckland Football: 16. Corina Brown (GK), 3. Liz Anton, 4. Rebekah Van Dort, 5. Nicole Mettam, 6. Stephanie Skilton, 8. Tessa Leong, 9. Jade Parris, 10. Paige Satchell, 12. Sarah Morton, 13. Kathryn-Anne Gow, 15. Leah Mettam, 19. Lucy Carter, 20. Grace Jale, 22. Genevieve Ryan, 23. Kim Nottingham, 25. Nadia Olla (GK)
Coach: Tracy Wrigley

Canterbury United Pride: 1. Victoria Esson (GK), 2. Marisa Van Der Meer, 3. Rebecca Lake, 4. Arna Roberts, 5. Annabel Gilchrist, 6. Chloe Jones, 7. Gabrielle Rennie, 8. Tahlia Herman-Watt, 9. Jayda Stewart, 10. Annalie Longo, 11. Macey Fraser, 13. Whitney Hepburn, 14. Jasmine Donald, 15. Monique Barker, 17. Cody Taylor, 21. Lily Bray
Coach: Alana Gunn

Lowdown

Auckland suffered the first real setback of their season in losing to Northern on Tuesday but they cannot afford to stew on that defeat as the most in-form team in the country are now coming to town. Coach Tracy Wrigley would have hoped for an easier fixture to help restore her charges’ confidence and successive losses would be a significant blow as Northern have now pinched second place off Auckland and are likely to pick up three points against WaiBOP. Canterbury continued their impressive winning streak with another pair of victories against Southern over the long weekend and it would now take an alarming drop of form for the Pride not to qualify for the final. They still have every reason to keep their run going though as coach Alana Gunn will be targeting the minor premiership.

Quotes

Tracy Wrigley (Auckland coach): “We’ve created a focus that’s pretty much about us, obviously we take into account what we’re going to face but it’s all about building our team performance. Football is in a funny game and I felt we played better in the loss than we did in the draw over the double header. So I don’t think we’re too worried or overawed about this weekend, we’re just looking forward to a game like we do every time there’s an opportunity.”

Alana Gunn (Canterbury coach): “There’s some pretty sore bodies but I think with six points in the bag we’re a pretty happy camp at the moment. That doesn’t really change anything though, we’re preparing for this like we have any other week. I think everyone is aware that Auckland have some really big names in their squad and I think it’s just a case of making sure we do what we can do right.”

BYE – Central Football

Article added: Friday 26 October 2018