Central dealt football lessons on the park
The young Central team is learning the hard way about the harsh realities of representative football, but their second loss in the National Women’s League wasn’t all doom and gloom.
Central went down 5-0 to Capital at Massey University, Palmerston North, on Sunday.
But, encouragingly, Central kept the women from Wellington to only one first-half goal.
That’s a good effort considering the Capital lineup included the likes of Football Ferns Sarah Gregorius and Anna Green, who has returned to Palmerston North to live but is playing the national league for the Wellington club.
In contrast, 22-year-old Mikaela Boxall is Central’s most experienced hand.
Green played a part in setting up Capital’s goal, scored by Meisha Boone in the 10th minute, but that was all they could muster with the wind in perfect, warm conditions.
After the changeover, the goals came faster. Emma Main put away Capital’s second in the 46th minute. Then Gregorious got into the action, slotting her first in the 52nd minute, before a powerful long-range shot found the net nine minutes later.
Debutante Charlotte Wolford Carroll made it five for the Wellington team, reversing their 5-0 loss to Canterbury United Pride last week. Central coach Donald Piper said there were still plenty of positives for the home team.
‘‘At halftime we were in the game. I think our squad has the ability to compete with all teams, however, being so young and inexperienced, we lack in that area. So, the experience other squads have got in them allows them to make changes and put pressure on teams and they take opportunities,’’ he said. Three players made their debuts for Central, Jendi Frank, 18, Carina Flannagan, 15, (both Taranaki) and Freya Partridge-moore, 15 (Manawatu).