The twelfth match week of the National Women’s League takes place this weekend, find out what’s in store with the official preview.

Capital Football vs Canterbury United Pride 
Memorial Park, Petone
Saturday 1 December, 2pm
#NWL #CAvCU

Referee: A Turner
Assistant Referees: T Pedley, H Osborne
Fourth Official: J Williams

Squads

Capital Football: 1. Courtney Norman (GK), 2. Molly Woodhead, 3. Katie Barrott, 4. Danielle Turton, 5. Sarah Alder, 6. Charlotte Wilford-Carroll, 7. Danielle Ohlsson, 8. Anna McPhie, 9. Emma Main, 10. Michaela Robertson, 11. Kennedy Bryant, 12. Tory Schiltgen, 14. Asha Strom, 15. Zoe Barrott, 16. Meisha Boone, 18. Natasha Ingram (GK)
Coach: Emma Evans

Canterbury United Pride: 22. Una Foyle (GK), 3. Rebecca Lake, 4. Arna Roberts, 5. Annabel Gilchrist, 6. Chloe Jones, 8. Tahlia Herman-Watt, 11. Hannah Wong, 13. Whitney Hepburn, 14. Jasmine Donald, 15. Monique Barker, 16. Melanie Cameron, 17. Cody Taylor, 19. Ellena Firth, 20. Kate Taylor, 21. Lily Bray
Coach: Alana Gunn

Lowdown

After conceding a late equaliser in heart-breaking fashion against Auckland last week, Capital are now finally out of the title running but will want to prove a point by finishing on a high regardless. And they have the opportunity to play party poopers here as Canterbury are locked in an extremely tight fight to host the final and, with a very tough challenge against Auckland coming up, can’t afford to drop points here. With the table-topping Northern Lights having the bye, a win would put second-placed Pride back on the summit.

Quotes

Emma Evans (Capital coach): “While we can’t make the final anymore, I think it’s still really important that we show the same determination we’ve showed so far and finish the season on a high. The team set a goal at the start of the season of continuous improvement throughout and I think it’s something we still need to remain focused on. I think we need to really focus on some of the positives we’ve showed throughout the season and hopefully we can put in a full 90-minute performance.”

Central Football vs Southern United
Massey University, Palmerston North
Sunday 2 December, 12pm
#NWL #CEvSU

Referee: W McNeely
Assistant Referees: B Walker, Z O’Zaing
Fourth Official: J Marshall

Squads

Central Football: 1. Amelia Simmers (GK), 2. Freya Partridge-Moore, 3. Jenna Barry, 4. Kate Watson, 5. Charlotte Hunt, 6. Sophie Crewe, 7. Aimee Atkins, 8. Maggie Pedersen, 9. Mikaela Boxall, 11. Casey Ralph, 13. Charlotte Lancaster, 14. Florence MacIntyre, 16. Jendi Frank, 15. Aoife Gallagher-Forbes (GK)
Coaches: Matt Kilsby/Barry Scullion

Southern United: 16. Jordan Woodward (GK), 3. Kelsey Kennard, 4. Mikaela Hunt, 5. Lena de Ronde, 7. Shontelle Smith, 8. Renee Bacon, 9. Chelsea Whittaker, 10. Kirsty Hayr, 11. Coral Seath, 12. Emily Morison, 14. Lara Wall, 18. Ruby Anderson, 20. Britney-Lee Nicholson, 21. Mikayla Gray, 23. Georgia Brown
Coach: Ignacio Sande

Lowdown

Southern were dealt a tough hand this season with several quirks of the draw counting against them and, after a promising start, they embarked on a five-match losing streak which ruled them out of a title push. But they bounced back impressively to put five goals past WaiBOP last week for just their third win and will fancy their chances of going back-to-back against a side who have now conceded nearly 60 goals but, to their great credit, continue to show plenty of enthusiasm and determination. With the bye next week, this is Central’s final match of the campaign.

Quotes

Donald Piper (Central assistant coach): “We’re looking to finish our season properly and have a number of things we’ve worked on that we’d like to focus on for the last game. We just want to continue that improvement we’ve shown and a lot of that will come down to the girls and their attitude and enthusiasm has been infectious – I don’t expect that to be any different this weekend. I’m looking forward to them seeing the programme rounded out with a solid performance.”

Auckland Football vs WaiBOP Football
McLennan Park, Auckland
Sunday 2 December, 2pm
#NWL #AFvWB

Referee: B Baker
Assistant Referees: H Simons, B Kroonenberg
Fourth Official: C Dickson-Hards

Squads

Auckland Football: 16. Corina Brown (GK), 2. Kate Carlton, 3. Ava Collins, 4. Caitlin Pritchard, 5. Nicole Mettam, 8. Tessa Leong, 9. Jade Parris, 10. Lily Taitimu, 12. Sophie Bradley, 13. Kathryn-Anne Gow, 15. Leah Mettam, 16. Alisha Perry (GK), 18. Emma Phelps, 19. Lucy Carter, 24. Jade Morrissey, 26. Rebecca O’Neill
Coach: Tracy Wrigley

WaiBOP Football: 23. Amy Harrison (GK), 3. Kate Williams, 4. Olivia Hooper, 5. Chloe Henderson, 6. Jayden Watts, 8. Stella Neems, 9. Helen Talbot, 10. Ella Golding, 11. Lilly Muspratt, 13. Tiana Hill, 14. Richlyn Tuhoro, 15. Grace Cox, 19. Ashley Weld, 20. Chelsea Elliott, 21. Rylee Godbold (GK)
Coach: Michael Mayne

Lowdown

With leaders Northern sitting out the action with the bye and fellow title contenders Canterbury facing a testing trip to Capital, this weekend could be a good opportunity for Auckland to make a significant step towards a place in the final. They are likely to need all three points here as Northern will be expected to beat WaiBOP in the last week of the regular season while Auckland must face Canterbury, who are still picked by many as favourites for the title.

Quotes

Tracy Wrigley (Auckland coach): “It’s been a difficult week with players coming and going, we’ve got a couple more injuries to add to all the absenteeism. There’s been good spirits at training from the limited numbers we’ve had but I couldn’t really predict anything for this weekend because it’s probably been the toughest week of the whole campaign.”

BYE – Northern Lights 

Article added: Friday 30 November 2018