Two second half goals from New Zealand U-20 representative Emma Rolston helped to push the visitors across the line after Estelle Harrison’s first half opener for Northern.
Emma Proctor gave the hosts a lifeline in the 65th minute, pulling the score back to 2-1 but Rolston’s second of the day, an excellent volleyed finish from outside the area, put Northern up 3-1.
Fresh from making her international debut for the Football Ferns against Brazil earlier this week, Aimee Phillips boosted Northern’s total with a late penalty after being brought down by Victoria Esson in the area.
And they needed Phillips’ contribution as well, as Mainland somehow found time for two more goals; Monique Barker – scorer in the 2014 final win by Mainland – stabbing in the first of those in stoppage time before returning Football Fern midfielder Annalie Longo drilled a low free kick inside the Northern area into the bottom corner.
But Paul Greig’s Northern side survived the remaining few seconds to net their first competition win since back-to-back league victories in 2011 and 2012.
Northern Football’s Harrison gave the visitors the lead in the 11th minute, finishing off a neat Northern passing move which pierced the centre of Mainland’s back four.
Mainland goalkeeper Esson was the standout feature of the remainder of the first half, making several excellent saves to keep her team in the match.
The first of those came in the 27th minute as the former New Zealand age-group international denied another ex-U-20 representative when the Mainland keeper bravely closed down the angle on Katie Rood and smothered the Northern striker’s shot from close range.
A minute later, Esson came off her line to narrow the angle enough for Rolston to stab her shot wide when through one-on-one, while five minutes before the break Esson was again superb, making an outstanding stop with her feet with Rood again clean through.
The importance of those interventions was heightened in the 67th minute when Proctor profited from an errant Northern back pass towards Erin Nayler, slotting home into the bottom left corner to give her side a lifeline.
But Northern were never really threatened from that point, Rolston restoring the two-goal advantage with an excellent lobbed-volley finish on the end of a long pass from Belinda van Noorden before Phillips’ spot kick made it 4-1 in the closing moments.
From there, despite the late drama caused by Barker and Longo’s quick-fire goals, the visitors held on to take out the 2015 ASB Women’s League title.
Story courtesy of New Zealand Football

Share