Football returned on the weekend

Brent Youngson

Women’s Federation Cup

The two semi-finals were finally able to get underway after the delay due to Covid and the Grand Finalists found. In Taranaki Excel Refrigeration Moturoa hosted OneStaff PN Marist and the match needed extra time to find the winner which was Moturoa by a score of 3-2. After first half goals by both teams it look like PN Marist would take the win after taking the lead through Jess Robinson in the 62nd minute but a late equaliser from Kate Phipps in the 80th minute sent the game into extra time. With the match looking likely to head to penalties Danielle Lucinsky stepped up and scored a great goal in the 116th minute to send Moturoa through to the final. In the other Semi Final at Bluewater Stadium in the Hawke’s Bay Taradale AFC played Steve Jude Motors Western Rangers in a local derby with the Federation League side Taradale running out winners 6-1, thanks to a hat trick from Aleesha Heywood and brace to Cara O’Neill. Taradale will now host Moturoa at Bluewater Stadium in the Grand Final on the 10th of October. 

Men’s Federation Cup

With Isles Construction Massey University FC already booking their place in the Grand Final earlier in the season it just left the second Semi Final to be played and it was a Taranaki local derby between TMT Building Ltd Moturoa and Peggy Gordons NP Rangers. The match was in the balance for a long period with both teams having chances throughout the first half and early parts of the second but it was Moturoa that put their noses in front through Oliver Hill’s header in the 73rdminute. The game was then sealed three minutes later when a Scotty Manson free kick hit the back of the net sending Moturoa through to the final with a 2-0 win. The Grand Final now sees Moturoa hosting Massey next weekend the 18th of September at Onuku Taipari Domain.

Women’s Federation League

The Women’s Federation League restarted on the weekend with just the one Round 12 catch up match played. Team McGhie Football Whanganui hosted Isles Construction Massey University FC with Massey just doing enough to win 1-0 thanks to a 70th minute goal from Anneka Voss. The win sees them close the gap to PN Marist at the top of the table to just three points but Massey still have a game in hand so the league is going to go down to the wire.

Lotto Central Federation League

We had just one match needed to be played to complete the Men’s Federation League campaign for 2021 and it was between Isles Construction Massey University FC and Levin AFC. With both teams having limited preparation before getting back on the field it was Levin who took the lead in the first half through Oliver James with Massey responding just after half time thanks to Dominic Rankin and that’s how it finished in a 1-1 draw. The final league positions are now confirmed and listed below:

Havelock North Wanderers
Watsons PN Marist
GJ Gardner Homes
Whanganui Athletic
Waikanae Beach Top10
Gisborne Thistle
Isles Construction Massey University FC
Turbine Residential Ltd North End
Alexander Electric Napier Marist
Levin AFC
Peggy Gordons NP Rangers