Southern still tied for second after draw with Auckland

Southern United came within a whisker of another wonderful result in the national women’s league yesterday.

They played some excellent football to share the points with powerhouse Auckland United following a 1-1 draw at Keith Hay Park.

Bianca Park gave Southern the lead with a nice finish in the 12th minute, and the Aucklanders grabbed the equaliser with 16 minutes to play.

It means Southern, tied for second with Auckland with an identical record, remain well in the hunt for a top-two finish and a place in the final with three rounds to play.

The visitors made a lot of the early running yesterday, playing with both urgency and patience as the situation required.

They took a well-earned lead when Abby Rankin delivered a delicate ball into the box and, after a deflection, Park was on hand to finish smartly for her first goal of the season.

Southern might have deserved a second goal, given their period of dominance, but it did not come.

Auckland, in turn, caused heart flutters in the final 10 minutes of the half as they came perilously close to equalising.

Southern goalkeeper Amy Simmers rose to the occasion with a couple of sublime saves before the break.

Simmers was caught out of position 15 minutes into the second half and Auckland looked certain to score, but Alexis Cook scuffed her shot.

The home side started to take control and finally got on the board when a looping cross fell to Danielle Canham, who scored a side-footed goal.

Rankin set up Margi Dias in the 75th minute but the pocket rocket shot wide.

One final opportunity came three minutes into stoppage time when Amy Hislop broke clear in the attacking third but could not beat the goalkeeper with her attempted chip.

Southern’s final three round-robin games are against opposition below them in the table.

They host Waterside Karori this Saturday, head to Palmerston North to play Central a week later, and come home to play Ellerslie on November 19.