NWL Soccersouth 1, Waikato nil.
21st October, Rab Smith

Una Madden rammed in a superlative winner as Soccersouth beat Waikato 1-nil in a National Womens League football match at the Caledonian ground yesterday.

Midfielder Madden (18) showed with her devastating shot a direct positive attitude that contrasted with some over elaborate build up play by both sides.

The 67th minute goal had Irish coaches Hugh Madden and Tony McDermott doing a jig on the touchline, celebrating their first win since beating Canterbury 4-3 last year.

A difficult blustery wind dominated the match, but both sides played intelligent football in front of a noisy crowd that urged the home side onwards.

Soccersouth should have had an early goal when referee Calum Alexander awarded a fourth minute penalty, but untypically striker Jaime Hackett clipped the crossbar.

Waikato’s young side missed its New Zealand U17 representative Sarah McLoughlin who broke down in the prematch warm up, but coach Duncan Baird’s side played clever push-and-run football to good effect.

Both side manufactured breakaways that had keepers Noran Abazza ( Otago) and Charlotte Wood ( Waikato ) dashing out to smother shots at striker’s feet.

Soccersouth monopolized ball possession in the second half, yet after going ahead 1-nil the team tended to drop back, allowing Wakato’s passing game to create dangerous forays forward.

‘ The conditions were difficult,’ Soccersouth coaches agreed, ‘ but both Nancy Campbell and Cheryl McDairmid had error free games, and McDiarmid was named Player of the Day,’ said Madden.

Tireless in attack, strikers Hackett and Leanne Tiffen ran hard all day to try and get on the end of many over hit passes, while in midfield Jo Rombouts and Amanda Scott kept driving the team onwards.

Soccersouth’s next match is away to United 1, but on 4 November it returns home to play Mainland Pride ( Canterbury ) at the Caledonian ground.

SoccerSouth join Waikato/BOP in a pack of four teams on three points, and while Waikato/BOP remain in the top three on goal difference, the southerners - and Capital Football - have a game in hand.

Capital get the chance to overtake Waikato/BOP next week in Hamilton, while SoccerSouth face the longest trip in the league when they travel north to take on United Soccer 1 in Albany.

At the top of the table, Auckland face perhaps their toughest test yet against second placed Mainland at Christchurch's Tullet Park.

Lion Foundation National Women's League Round 3 Results

Auckland Football 3 (Rebecca Tegg 45+1, Betsy Hasset 77, Abby Erceg 81) United Soccer 1: 0, Sunday October 21, 1pm., Keith Hay Park No. 1, Auckland

Central Soccer 1 (Tanja Grunwald 45) Mainland Pride 3 (Claire Warner 7, Kelly Jarden 33, Aimee Phillips 74). (Halftime 1-2),  Sunday October 21, 12.30pm.
Memorial Park, Palmerston North

SoccerSouth 1 (Una Madden 64) Waikato/BOP Football 0 (Halftime 0-0), Sunday October 21, 1pm.  Caledonian Ground, Dunedin

Soccersouth squad : Abazza Noram, 2 Johanna Rombouts, 3 Cheryl McDairmid, 4 Nancy Campbell, 5 Una Madden, 7 Amanda Scott, 9 Leanne Tiffin, 10 Jaime Hackett, 11 Mariah Meagher, 12 Amber Mulhall-Larsen, 14 Monique Francois, Rebekah Brook, 6 Lauren Wallis, 8 Emily Frost, 13 Kath Doubleday, 15 Georgie Hawson.