Canterbury defence denies Southern
IT battled hard, but Southern United could not find a way through.
Canterbury United showed its defensive class as it held out the host in the national women’s league at Logan Park on Saturday.
For the fifth time in six games it kept a clean sheet as it returned to the top of the table with a 20 win.
It was not for a lack of trying and Southern at times did look dangerous.
But clearcut chances were rare and the Canterbury defence did well to challenge Southern’s shots.
Two quick goals midway through the first half gave the visitor a handy buffer for the majority of the game.
Bel van Noorden and Gabi Rennie slotted home in the 24th and 32nd minutes and that lead never looked in danger.
It had been an even start before Van Noorden scored the first.
Southern had looked to attack up the right wing, finding Mikayla Gray and Amy Hislop in space.
However, the stiff breeze behind it often resulted in slightly too much being put on its passes.
Canterbury had a handful of chances on the counterattack, although the Southern defence did well to quell the threats.
It took a quality piece of play to break the deadlock.
Nicola Dominikovich took the ball deep into the box and threaded a cross through the defence to Van Noorden.
She was able to just beat Southern defender Mikaela Hunt to get a foot to the ball and put it past Jade Middleditch.
The second came not long after. Southern attacked dangerously up the left, but Canterbury struck on the counterattack.
Rennie found space up the right wing and ran down field, before finishing well in a oneonone with Middleditch.
From there the Southern defence locked in again, but the damage was done.
The hosts had a strong period late in the half, holding dominance and forcing several corners, but the Canterbury defence held.
Southern looked to keep the ball at its feet more as it turned around into the wind at halftime.
It was dangerous doing so, as well.
Amy Hislop and Ruby Anderson both made several threatening runs.
But neither was able to turn those into a genuine chance, although Southern did get several shots off.
Georgia Brown, in her first game back at Southern, was injected at left back and immediately created several intercepts.
But Canterbury transitioned back well on to defence, as it had the whole game.
It held and denied Southern a goal.
The win takes Canterbury to 15 points, one ahead of Northern at the top of the table.
Southern remains in fourth on 10.
The teams will face each other again today in Christchurch in the second match of the Labour weekend doubleheader.
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