Football: Hamilton Wanderers women's team proceeds to quarter-finals

Hamilton Wanderers coaches Stephen Cox and Jeff Sole have turned around the team fortunes compared to recent seasons. Photo / Rob Young

Hamilton Wanderers premier women's team are into the quarter-final of the Kate Sheppard Cup after a 4-1 win over Onehunga Sports in Hamilton on Sunday.

Wanderers women's side are already seeing success in the premier league after two years of being involved in a relegation battles, but now they are just three wins away from potential silverware.

The team has gone through some player changes with Michaela Foster joining the blue side of Hamilton for several games. The former New Zealand Under 17 women's football captain is on semester break from the University of San Diego.

However, Wanderers also lost Jayden Watts who made the switch to Auckland side Papakura FC.

One move that has been paying off for the team, however, is the positional change of Chelsea Elliot. The former striker has reinvented herself as a centre back, and has helped with Wanderers build up play from the back.

Wanderers were on the front foot for the majority of the first half. Ella Golding was able to capitalise on good build-up from her teammates and put the home side up early.

Kelli Brown was second on the score sheet for Wanderers after using her pace to get past the Onehunga defence and slot the ball past the keeper.

Katie Williams, who was having a strong game, was caught off guard by Onehunga's attack and miss-played a pass which led straight to a goal for Onehunga, allowing them a life line back into the game.

After a nervy second half, Kelli Brown showed her class again, beating two defenders and rounding the keeper from an acute angle and slotting the ball home for Wanderers third.

It was a dream end for Wanderers as Brown was able to play the ball into the box with Michaela Foster slamming home the cross for her first goal for the club.