Central outgunned by Canty
FOOTBALL: Central has slumped to their third straight defeat to start this year’s National Women’s League.
On Sunday at Massey University in Palmerston North, table toppers Canterbury United Pride romped home 7-0 against Central.
Canterbury have now scored 17 goals in their three games so far and are yet to concede one.
The prospects of Central getting off the mark did not look promising and an upset seemed even less likely after just four minutes when a header rattled the bar and Amelia Abbott was on hand to tuck home the rebound for the visitors.
Fielding such an array of talent, Canterbury hardly needed a helping hand, but they were granted one anyway as the unfortunate Mackenzie Barry – who otherwise put in a superb shift – turned a corner into her own net soon after and the result was seldom in doubt from that point on.
Central nearly came back into the contest on 25 minutes when Lydia Bamford struck the bar, but it was 3-0 at halftime after Canterbury’s lead was extended by a well-placed Gabrielle Rennie header.
Another own goal, this time coming from Kate Watson, left Central four goals down early in the second half and the moment of the match was then produced just past the hour – Canterbury captain Annalie Longo showing her class with a stunning longrange strike to make it five.
A pair of substitutes completed the scoring late on as Cody Taylor and Jayda Stewart both found the net.
Central coach Donald Piper had no qualms about the result but, despite the heavy nature of the defeat, was proud of the way his young charges competed against some of the best players in the country.
‘‘It’s clear the Pride are a class act and that was reflected in the result today,’’ he said.
‘‘I think what we’ll take out of it is another 90 minutes of experience for such a young group, we had another four debutants out there today and, outside of the score, I do believe we acquitted ourselves very well.
‘‘We’re just going to continue to develop our style and philosophy and try to impose that more on our opposition.’’
Central, who sit last on the table, lost to Southern United in the first round and Capital at home last week.
They play away to the Northern Lights in Auckland on Sunday, before returning home on October 14 against Auckland. Stuff