The Northern Lights have earned the right to host the National Women’s League final and will take on Canterbury United Pride after both sides earned crucial victories in their last games of the regular season this weekend. Southern United have meanwhile signed off on a high after edging out Capital in one of the most high-scoring games of the campaign.

Going into the tantalisingly-poised action on Saturday, leaders Northern had already secured a berth in the final but needed to defeat WaiBOP on the road to make sure of home advantage while the other finalist was set to come from Canterbury’s hosting of reigning champions Auckland in what essentially amounted to a semi-final.

With so much on the line at English Park, it was expected to be a tight affair and so it proved as a strike towards the end of the first half from Gabi Rennie – who had just returned to Pride colours after performing heroics at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup – was enough to book Canterbury a sixth straight appearance in the final.

“I was so proud of the girls today, we set some tasks out at the start of the week and they achieved those,” coach Alana Gunn said.

“We wanted to come away with a win and not just a draw to get us through to the final and the girls put on a performance today that made me so proud as a coach. They did everything I asked them to do and more and we managed to scrape out the three points.”

Gunn believes making yet another final is a fitting indication of the strength of women’s football in the mainland region.

“The fact that we’ve been able to do it again is just so great for the region, it proves that we’re consistent and have sustainability,” she said.

Britney Cunningham-Lee bursts forward with the ball for Auckland (Photosport) 

Despite missing out on the chance to defend the title, Auckland coach Tracy Wrigley was likewise pleased with the efforts of her squad, which has been decimated by international call-ups and injuries in recent weeks.

“I said to the girls afterwards that sometimes you can play an outstanding game of football but not come away with the result. For all those players who have been away to come back in at short notice and put in a performance like that makes me really pleased,” she said.

“It’s been a really interesting season in terms of the comings and goings and the disruptions we’ve had. But it was made easier by a fantastic group of players, it didn’t actually matter who came in to cover and who went out. I can’t fault the players’ involvement and it’s been a pleasure to work with them.”

With that game kicking off earlier than Northern’s visit to Hamilton, the Pride players then had to wait to see if they would have to travel for the final and didn’t end up receiving the news they wanted to hear.

At one stage though, it was very much looking like the final could be in Christchurch again with WaiBOP 1-0 up at Gower Park and only about 20 minutes left on the clock. Chloe Henderson had given the hosts – who were searching for just their second win of the campaign – the lead mid-way through the first half when she found the top corner from outside the box.

But Ava Pritchard was obviously not keen on a trip to the Garden City and equalised with a similarly well-placed shot from the edge of the area before tapping the winner home from close range with seven minutes remaining.

Canterbury players Chloe Jones, left, and Rebecca Lake celebrate defeating Auckland (Photosport) 

In the only game to take place on Sunday, Southern United and Capital had the honour of closing out the regular season in Dunedin and the contest proved worthy of that billing.

It was the last match in charge of Capital for Emma Evans but she wasn’t able to go out on a high as Southern signed off on their campaign with a third successive win in exciting fashion, emerging on the right side of an action-packed 5-4 thriller.

Football Ferns striker Sarah Gregorius – who top scored for her country at the recent OFC Women’s Nations Cup – did her best to send off Evans on the right note with a four-goal haul, three of which remarkably came from the penalty spot. But she somehow still ended up on the losing end as a double from Renee Bacon, a penalty by Shontelle Smith and further strikes to Chelsea Whittaker and Mikayla Gray gave Southern a memorable victory.

Bacon’s second strike was a contender for goal of the season, the striker lacing an effort over goalkeeper Natasham Ingram from fully 40 metres. In failing to win, Capital missed out on the chance to leap-frog Auckland into a third-placed finish but remained fourth, one place ahead of Southern.

The National Women’s League final between minor premiers Northern and second-placed Canterbury will take place on the weekend of December 15-16 with the kick-off details and venue to be confirmed shortly.

For the National Women’s League final table and other information please click here

National Women’s League Match Week 13

Canterbury United Pride 1 (Gabi Rennie 38’)
Auckland Football 0
HT: 1-0

WaiBOP Football 1 (Chloe Henderson 21’)
Northern Lights 2 (Ava Pritchard 71’, 83’)
HT: 1-0

Southern United 5 (Shontelle Smith pen 8’, Chelsea Whittaker 20’, Renee Bacon 47’, 56’, Mikayla Gray 74’)
Capital Football 4 (Sarah Gregorius pen 35’, pen 52’, 56’, pen 78’)
HT: 2-1

Article added: Sunday 09 December 2018