Loaded WaiBOP have taken a massive stride towards a place in the National Women's League playoffs, with a hefty win pushing them up to second in the table.
With defending champions and leaders Northern Football sitting out the weekend with a bye, WaiBOP were the first to take fulladvantage, making no mistake against winless Southern United with a thumping 6-2 triumph in Dunedin on Saturday.
Leanna Ryan gave WaiBOP the lead on the break in the 12th minute and it was 2-0 by the 27th minute as Serena Murrihy slotted home from the spot.
Southern refused to lie down and Lara Wall smashed in after a goalmouth scramble on 37 minutes. But WaiBOP restored their two-goal cushion just a couple of minutes later when a header from New Zealand U17 captain Michaela Foster found the net.
On the stroke of halftime the hosts responded again through the head of skipper Annabel Gilchrist.
Loaded WaiBOP (red) were dominant in their victory over Southern United on the weekend. PHOTO/SUPPLIED.
In the second half WaiBOP took control once again just past the hour when Helen Arjomandi converted the second penalty of the match, before a clever chip from Foster completed her brace soon after.
The visiting side did squander the chance to extend their lead when they were awarded yet another penalty which Rotorua's Kim Maguire blasted over the bar.
There was time for one more outstanding goal though, former Dunedin-based striker Theresa Rhein marking her return by curling in WaiBOP's sixth.
The result leaves WaiBOP unbeaten in second on goal difference, after four games - just two points behind leaders Northern.
"Our performance in the first half wasn't at the standard we expect from the players," WaiBOP coach Barry Gardiner said.
"But take no credit away from Southern, I thought they came with a game plan to press us high up the field and worked us really hard.
"But it was hard for them to last for 90 minutes like that and gaps appeared in the second half which we capitalised on."
Meanwhile, fellow playoff contenders Canterbury and Capital faced each other on Sunday and it was the Pride who emerged victorious - a 3-1 win taking them within a point of the third-placed Wellingtonians with a game in hand.
And Auckland made the most of finally facing an opponent outside of the top four with a satisfying 5-1 win over Central.
WaiBOP will look to continue their winning streak when they take on fourth-placed Canterbury United Pride at home next Sunday.
"The game is certainly going to be a step up and the hardest of the season so far," Barry Gardiner said.
"Players will just need to remember that if we win we will definitely be in the playoffs. But we will have to improve in possession and be better defensively organised."
National Women's League - Round Five results:
Southern United 2 (Lara Wall 37', Annabel Gilchrist 45') WaiBOP Football 6 (Leanna Ryan 12', Serena Murrihy pen 27', Michaela Foster 39', 64', Helen Arjomandi pen 62', Theresa Rhein 89') HT: 2-3
Canterbury United Pride 3 (Annalie Longo 8', 45', Arna Roberts 87') Capital Football 1 (Maggie Jenkins 86') HT: 2-0
Auckland Football 5 ('Alosi Bloomfield 9', Leah Mettam 41', Tessa Leong 58', 87', Annie Byrne 83') Central Football 1 (Hannah Robert pen 56') HT: 2-0
BYE: Northern Football
National Women's League table: Northern Football,12, WaiBOP, 10 Capital Football 10, Canterbury United Pride, 9, Auckland Football, 3, Central Football, 0, Southern United, 0.
