Slow start for Central
The Central women gave Auckland too much of a free ride in the first half in the latest round of the national football league.
Auckland won 4-2 at Memorial Park yesterday, where Auckland were allowed to lead 4-0, before Central fought back in the late stages of the game.
Central coach Simon Lees was disappointed to have lost their third game of the season.
‘‘We probably showed them to much respect,’’ he said. ‘‘We didn’t have enough possession to be fair.
‘‘We showed a lot of character to come back into it. We could have scored another one right at the end, should have scored
another one.’’
Auckland were up 2-0 at halftime, then 4-0 in the second half, and despite Central scoring two late goals and having the better of the final stages, Auckland had done enough to win the game.
Aleesha Heywood impressed with two goals in the final quarter of the game, the first where she chipped the keeper and the other where she finished off a move where Amber Phillips squared it back into the goalbox.
Central could have had another late on, but there was no-one to finish.
Lees said they’ve got to play for 90 minutes.
‘‘We weren’t aggressive enough,’’ Lees said. ‘‘They came down here expecting us to be really physical and aggressive.
‘‘Some of their interchange play, having trained together, they were able to open us up at times.’’
One of Auckland’s goals came from a deflection and another where a player clattered into goalkeeper Courtney Norman.
Central defender Phillips had an outstanding game, but there were also quality performances from Norman, who was filling in as captain, Sophie Crewe and Rose Morton.
Central were without three key players in regular captain Leah Gallie (head knock), Sarah Morton (pulled groin) and Meisha Boone (unavailable), but all three will be back for their next game.
Central have the week off with the bye next week, which will allow their injured players to get fit, then are away against Waikato-bay of Plenty.
In other games, Southern upset Canterbury 2-1 in Christchurch and Capital beat Waibop 4-1 in Cambridge. Northern had the bye.