Dunedin Technical midfielder Shontelle Smith says her team has a target on their back this season.

The defending champions of the NZ Football Foundation Kate Sheppard Cup, who made history last year when they defeated Forrest Hill Milford United 4-1 to claim their first-ever win, are looking to back up that achievement this year.

The first task at hand is getting past Coastal Spirit in their quarterfinal tomorrow night at Logan Park in Dunedin.

“There is 100 percent more pressure on us this year,” said the 22-year-old midfielder, who scored in Dunedin’s 10 -0 win over Roslyn Wakari in Round Three.

“It took us eight years to work up to the position of winning the final last year. It is a bit nerve-wracking being the No 1 or the defending champions as the target is on our back and everyone is looking to knock us off that position. For every game in this competition we have gone into them with no assumption that we are going to win. We have kept very level-headed and we know that there is still a lot of work to be done.”

Smith said they are expecting a very tough challenge from Coastal Spirit, who defeated Waimakiriri United 4-2 away from home to make the quarterfinals.

Coastal are top of the Mainland Women’s Premier League table after one loss and eight wins from nine games.

“Every time we come up against Coastal it is a real challenge. I remember taking them on in the Cup two or three years ago and they were always the team that prevented us from taking that extra step further. It will be the same again this year. They have got some really classy players and Coastal is never a team you can underestimate. We will be putting everything out on the field to try to make the next round.

“We know that we have to focus on the game ahead of us because if you don’t win that one then there is no tomorrow.”

The Dunedin Technical side is different to the one who won the title in 2018. Long-time coach Graeme Smaill bowed out after the win, and has been replaced by Craig Johnston, and there are a number of new players.  They are currently top of the Football South Premier League and have kept on winning in the Cup to make the quarterfinals.  

Smith, the winner of the Maia Jackman Trophy for the Player of the Final in 2018, said holding aloft the trophy was a career highlight for all of the players.

“Everything about the final was special. I can remember every moment from the final. As a team we have watched it four or five times on repeat because it was such a special moment for us,” she said.  “Coming from down south, we don’t get recognised a hell of a lot so it was nice to get out there and be recognised for something that we have worked really hard towards. It was a moment that all of the girls will remember for the rest of their lives.” 

Smith said their win of the NZ Football Foundation Kate Sheppard Cup was an important moment for the legacy of football in their region.

“We have a lot of young girls down here who have been on scholarships and on the right pathway so it was nice to show the younger girls coming through that there is a possibility to get places in football from Dunedin.” 

NZ Football Foundation Kate Sheppard Cup Quarter-Finals

Northern/Auckland/WaiBOP

Sunday 7 July 

Hamilton Wanderers vs Western Springs, Porritt Stadium, 2pm
Forrest Hill Milford United vs Eastern Suburbs, Becroft Park, 2pm

Central/Capital

Saturday 6 July 

Wellington United vs Wairarapa United, Newtown Park, 1pm

Mainland/South

Saturday 6 July

Dunedin Technical vs Coastal Spirit, Logan Park Artificial, 6.30pm

For more information on the NZ Football Foundation Kate Sheppard Cup please click here

Article added: Friday 05 July 2019