The National Women’s League continues on Sunday when the second set of matches take place across the country, find out what’s in store with the official preview.

WaiBOP Football vs Southern United
John Kerkhof Park, Cambridge
Sunday 22 September, 12pm
#NWL #WBvSU

Referee: N Browning
Assistant Referees: H Welch, J Lee
Fourth Official: K Browning

Squads

WaiBOP Football: 1. Georgia Candy (GK), 2. Lisa Evans, 3. Rachel Major, 4. Caitlin Byrne, 5. Lilly Muspratt, 6. Annaliese Heuvel, 7. Olivia Hooper, 8. Chloe Henderson, 9. Emma Sizer, 10. Richlyn Tuhoro, 12. Shannon Trebes, 13. Paige McCloskey, 14. Maddison Ollington (c), 15. Stella Neems, 16. Maddison Williams, 21. Amy Harrison
Coach: Nico Girard

Southern United: 3. Kelsey Kennard, 5. Lena de Ronde, 6. Rose Morton, 7. Chelsea Whittaker, 8. Renee Bacon, 10. Amy Hislop, 11. Emily Morison, 12. Erin Roxburgh, 14. Hannah Mackay-Wright, 15. Mikayla Gray, 16. Jordan Woodward (GK), 17. Ruby Anderson, 19. Juliette Lucas, 21. Samantha Richards (GK), 22. Kirsty Hayr, 24. Jade Middleditch (GK)
Coach: Ignacio Sande

Lowdown

These sides experienced contrasting results on the opening weekend, WaiBOP being outclassed 3-0 by Auckland while Southern stuck six unanswered goals past Central. The southerners will therefore fancy their chances on this trip north but WaiBOP were not at full strength last week and coach Nico Girard will be expecting his reinforced squad to put in a stronger showing. The WaiBOP defence do not have an obvious player to focus on as six different names were on the scoresheet for Southern in that hefty first-up win.

Quotes

Nico Girard (WaiBOP coach): “Southern will come in very confident, as they should be after putting six goals past Central. They obviously have some strong players in midfield and up front who are capable of scoring goals. These are things we’ve looked at in training this week in preparation for the game and we’ll hopefully come out with a good result. The main objective is obviously always three points but, as a coach, I want to see our main principles in the four moments executed with efficiency and consistently as we develop this season.”

Northern Lights vs Capital Football
Allen Hill Stadium, Auckland
Sunday 22 September, 1pm
#NWL #NLvCA

Referee: W McNeely
Assistant Referees: R Blakeman, C McNeely
Fourth Official: B Baker

Squads

Northern Lights: 1. Lily Alfeld (GK), 3. Chloe Bellamy, 5. Saskia Vosper (c), 6. Ava Pritchard, 7. Chloe Knott, 11. Helena Kelderman, 12. Liz Savage, 14. Lily Jervis, 15. Laney Strachan, 16. Hannah Carlsen, 17. Vegas McCaroll, 18. Emily Couchman (GK), 20. Greer MacIntosh, 21. Emily Oosterhof, 22. Geneva Gross, 23. Catherine Pretty
Coach: Shane Verma

Capital: 1. Courtney Norman (GK), 2. Francesca Grange, 3. Zoe Barrott, 4. Sarah Alder, 5. Katie Barrott (c), 6. Juliana Los, 7. Jemma Robertson, 8. Nina Kondo, 9. Emma Rolston, 10. Michaela Robertson, 11. Libby Boobyer, 12. Jemma Catherwood, 13. Ellen Fibbes, 14. Molly Woodhead, 15. Kelsey Wilkinson, 18. Ariana Gray (GK)
Coach: Natalie Lawrence

Lowdown

The Northern Lights will be itching to get on the park after sitting out the opening skirmishes with the bye and there will be great interest in how they fare after finishing runners-up last year. It may still be very early in the season but this is already a vital fixture for Capital as they were swept aside 6-0 by Canterbury last week and need to respond positively to avoid getting stuck in a rut. Natalie Lawrence would have been concerned at the way her side folded in the second half against Canterbury and was particularly troubled by their defending from set pieces so will want an improvement in that area. Capital’s hopes will be boosted by the return of Sarah Alder and Francesca Grange from international duty with the Futsal Ferns while Emma Rolston is also in line for her first start after returning from a stint overseas.

Quotes

Katie Barrott (Capital captain): “Obviously, last week was disappointing but I think we’ve done really well at just taking the positives from that game. We need to build on those and fix some of those errors that we made. The feeling at training has been really good and everyone is up for the game – we have a point to prove so we’re looking forward to it. Northern are a really strong team but for us it’s about sticking to our process and trusting that. If we play our best and unlock our dangerous players then we can come away with the result against any team.”

Canterbury United Pride vs Central Football
English Park, Christchurch
Sunday 22 September, 2pm
#NWL #CUvCE

Referee: L Robinson
Assistant Referees: J Brown, H Croft
Fourth Official: C Downes

Squads

Canterbury United Pride: 1. Una Foyle (GK), 3. Rebecca Lake (c), 4. Lara Wall, 5. Annabel Gilchrist, 6. Chloe Jones, 8. Tahlia Herman-Watt, 9. Jayda Stewart, 11. Macey Fraser, 12. Lauren Dabner, 13. Whitney Hepburn, 14. Jasmine Donald, 15. Britney-Lee Nicholson, 16. Samantha Senior, 19. Ellena Firth, 20. Kate Taylor, 21. Nicola Dominikovich
Coach: Alana Gunn

Central Football: 1. Brooke Bennett (GK), 2. Freya Partridge-Moore, 3. Kate Bennett (c), 4. Jana Niedermayr, 5. Charlotte Lancaster, 6. Tyler Wood, 7. Emma Lees, 9. Natalie Olson, 10. Eve Barry, 11. Kate Mori, 12. Helen Talbot, 13. Jessica Gates, 14. Maggie Pedersen, 16. Florence MacIntyre, 17. Sophie Crewe, 20. Mikaela Boxall
Coach: Barry Scullion

Lowdown

It may be a fresh season but it appears as if the same old Pride have turned up again, the champions showing they have lost none of their class over the off-season by blowing Capital away on the opening weekend. In contrast, Central were on the end of a humbling by Southern so an away fixture against the benchmark team in the league is not exactly what coach Barry Scullion would have wanted right now. With a berth in the final an unlikely possibility, Central’s main focus is on player development though and testing themselves against the best in the country will prove beneficial in that regard for Scullion’s young charges.

Quotes

Barry Scullion (Central coach): “It’s a tough fixture for us as the Pride have shown the depth they have within the federation. We didn’t perform to what we know we’re capable of on Sunday and we’ve reviewed and reflected as a group. We’ll try to put in a more competitive performance this weekend, we know it will be a tough game but the players are relishing playing the top team in the country rather than fearing them.”

Alana Gunn (Canterbury coach): “We’re really excited to be at home for the second week, it gives us a good opportunity to play again in front of our fans. We were really pleased with the turn-out from everyone last week. Central are an enthusiastic bunch of young players which will be good to see. I think any team can beat any other team in this league so we need to really concentrate hard on our 90 minutes and make sure we put out a performance to guarantee three points.”

BYE – Auckland Football

For more information on the National Women’s League please click here

Article added: Friday 20 September 2019