Lights to host Pride in final
The Northern Lights will host the Canterbury United Pride in the final of the National Women’s Football League but they earned that right in less-than-convincing fashion.
Two late goals from 15-year-old Ava Pritchard helped Northern past Waikato-Bay of Plenty at Gower Park in Hamilton on Saturday, her strikes ensuring Chloe Henderson’s first-half goal counted for nothing.
WaiBop could have put the game to bed, had under-17 internationals Kelli Brown – who couldn’t beat Lily Alfeld one-onone – and Grace Wisnewski – who hit the crossbar – been on target before Pritchard struck.
The Lights needed the win to secure home advantage, after the Pride beat Auckland 1-0 at their English Park home earlier on Saturday. Both teams needed a win to join the Lights in the final but it was the home side – frontrunners for so long this season – who got it, thanks to under-17 international Gabi Rennie’s goal late in the first half.
The final will be held next weekend in Auckland at a time and venue to be confirmed.
In the final round-robin match, Southern United finished their season with thrilling 5-4 win over Capital.
Renee Bacon got a double for Southern, including a long-range screamer, while Sarah Gregorius scored all four goals for Capital, including three penalties.
Meanwhile, in the national men’s league, Eastern Suburbs were held to a surprising scoreless draw against Tasman United.
The third-placed Suburbs were expected to roll through the second-last Tasman but the visitors put up a resolute defensive wall which Suburbs were unable to break.
They had their chances to do so but last-ditch defending and a lack of clinical finishing cost them in the end as they missed the chance to leapfrog Team Wellington into second, who did not play while they attend the Club World Cup.
Hamilton Wanderers stayed in fourth spot after their 3-1 win over the winless Wellington Phoenix reserves. Tommy Semmy scored a brace, before Martin Bueno added the third in the 77th minute.
There were also wins for Canterbury United (2-1 v Waitakere United) and Hawke’s Bay United (3-2 over Southern United) as they kept pace with Hamilton for what will eventually be the final semifinal spot. National Women’s Football League, week 13:
❚ Northern Lights 2 Waikato-Bay of Plenty 1
❚ Canterbury United Pride 1
❚ Southern United 5
Points (games played): Capital 4
ISPS Handa Premiership, week eight:
❚ Eastern Suburbs 0 Tasman United 0
❚ Hamilton Wanderers 3 Wellington Phoenix reserves 1.
❚ Canterbury United 2
❚ Hawke’s Bay United 3
Southern United 2 Points (games played):
Auckland 0. Waitakere United 1