Massey pushed the favourites hard throughout the 19th final, especially in the opening exchanges when Emma Boyack tested Three Kings goalkeeper Joanna Kennedy twice and Rosie Missen fired wide from close range.
But the Aucklanders took a 12th-minute lead with the first of Martine Puketapu’s two goals before Massey went close to an immediate reply when Rhonda Bridges hit the post and a few minute later a Boyack short was tipped over the bar by Kennedy.
Three Kings began to gain a firmer footing in the match as central defender Emily Jensen kept tabs on the dangerous Boyack and player of the final Annalie Longo won an enthralling midfield battle against former Football Ferns teammate Emily McColl.
Puketapu hit the woodwork just before halftime and Longo did the same after a weaving run midway through the second half as Three Kings threatened a second goal that finally came when 15-year-old Puketapu, the youngest ever scorer in a Women’s Knockout Cup final, capped the victory with a 90th-minute goal that took advantage of Rachel Ingram spilling a long-range shot.
After experience a gut-wrenching 5-4 extra-time loss in the final two years ago, Three Kings coach Andrew Clay said he was impressed by the way a young side missing a few regulars stepped up.
“It’s been some years since Three Kings won the Knockout Cup and the last trophy we won was the Northern Premier League five years ago,” Clay said.
“We’ve come close and we had that heartbreaking loss in the final two years ago and, amazingly, we only have two players today left from that line-up. We’ve got five players at the U-20 Women’s World Cup and senior players have moved on so, while that advancement is a measure of success for the club, it’s also great to win trophies.
“I worked out we had an average age of 17.4 and what really impressed me about them, in trying conditions, was that even at the end when I’m telling them to go long they’re still playing out from the back and keeping the ball.
“It was tough in the first half as we rode our luck a little at the start with a couple of chances that hit the bar. Massey tried to play as well but we got tighter at the back and still played while Longo came into her own as the game went on.”
19th ASB Women’s Knockout Cup final
Three Kings United: 2 (Martine PUKETAPU 12’, 90’)
Massey University: 0
Halftime: 1-0
Sunday 26 August
Newtown Park, Wellington
Three Kings United: 1-Joanna KENNEDY (GK), 2-Michelle WINDSOR, 3-Hannah HOEKSEMA, 4-Kristen MOLLOY, 5-Emily JENSEN, 7-Chloe KNOTT (14-Hannah ROBERT 87’), 9-Martine PUKETAPU, 10-Annalie LONGO, 11-Morany CHEK (8-Stephanie EATON 90+2’), 12-Jessie MATHEWS (captain), 17-Tina KOLOSE (6-Kirsty HAYR 90+2’)
Substitutes not used: 13-Shivanthi ANTHONY
Cautions: None
Coach: Andrew CLAY
Massey University: 1-Rachel INGRAM (GK), 2-Hollie CLEAVER, 3-Jane BARNETT (6-Coral SEATH 83’), 4-Leah GALLIE, 8-Rhonda BRIDGES, 9-Emma BOYACK, 10-Emily MCCOLL, 11-Jess GREEN, 12-Rosie MISSEN (captain), 14-Karin INGRAM (16-Siobhan PATTERSON 79’), 15-Jess OULAGHAN
Substitutes not used: 7-Kate BENNETT, 13-Charlotte HARRIS, 71-Lisa KING (GK)
Cautions: 12-Rosie MISSEN 58’
Coach: Simon LEES
Maia Jackman Trophy for Player of the Final: Annalie LONGO (Three Kings United)
Story courtesy of New Zealand Football.
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