Auckland United served notice to nearest rivals West Coast Rangers at Keith Hay Park on June 11 that they have no intention of losing their grip on the Lotto Northern Premier Women's League trophy anytime soon. The teams went into this top-of-the-table clash level on points after Rangers' shock loss to Ellerslie allowed United, whom West Coast downed 2-0 earlier in the season to end Auckland's 55-match unbeaten run, to edge ahead of their nearest rivals on goal difference. So this was very much a mid-season showdown, one eagerly anticipated by many. Sadly for Rangers, they came across an Auckland side very eager to avenge the aforementioned reversal, a feat they accomplished via a 4-1 scoreline which could have been greater - the woodwork was struck three times by the home team in this match, while Rangers also hit the crossbar in an absorbing encounter. Rene Wasi was the first to strike the crossbar, her eighteenth minute attempt matched in kind by Emily Lyon five minutes later via a dipping thirty-five yard free-kick. But after Marissa Porteous' timely tackle had thwarted Chloe Knott in the act of shooting, and Sophie Campbell produced saves to frustrate Danielle Canham, Wasi and Knott, United deservedly opened the scoring in the 36th minute. Alexis Cook broke down the right before linking with Wasi, whose curling effort was spilled by Campbell. Zoe Benson was following in … 1-0. And after Canham had been denied a penalty when going down in the area under Laney Strachan's challenge, United doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time. Canham - a terrific all-round performance - got the better of West's best, Porteous, in midfield and instantly brought Wasi into play. She picked out Cook, who held the ball up well before returning the ball to the Papua New Guinea native, whose delicious curling effort deceived Campbell - 2-0. Cook was denied by Campbell as the death knell sounded on the first half, but just seventy seconds after the second half started, Canham made it three with a sumptuous twenty-five yarder, a goal her

performance richly merited. Further Auckland chances followed, with Campbell keeping out a number of efforts before Maisy Dewell fired Rangers' first shot on target in the contest just after the hour mark, to which United responded with a flowing six-player move culminating in a Cook drive which flew past Campbell and crashed against the far post before rebounding into the goalkeeper's grateful gloves in the 63rd minute. Hannah Mitchell was called upon to deny Porteous soon after, following which Strachan's tackle foiled Ava Pritchard, Benson's resulting corner being headed narrowly past the post by Greer MacIntosh. A fourth goal was imminent, and materialised in the 77th minute, Canham playing in Benson, who got the better of Mackenzie Longmuir before picking her spot beyond Campbell, a goal which prompted Rangers' best spell of the match. Lyon was denied by Mitchell before her 84th minute corner was headed home by Mila Morles, whose first goal in senior football this was. That brought about the final 4-1 scoreline, with the post denying Pritchard in the denying minutes after Auckland substitutes Tui Dugan and Penny Brill had opened up Rangers' rearguard once more. Auckland will look to carry that convincing form into the second half of the campaign, starting with a trip to Gordon Spratt Reserve to take on Tauranga Moana on June 22, a rare weekend when all four games in the Lotto Northern Premier Women's League are taking place on Sunday - somewhat ironic, too, given it's a public holiday weekend. Rangers head to Stanmore Bay Reserve to take on Hibiscus Coast, while Ellerslie and Western Springs meet at Michaels Avenue on a day East Auckland bragging rights are on the line at Madills Farm - Eastern Suburbs and Fencibles United lock horns in a round which sees the four teams fighting for a top-four finish meeting each other. Details: Auckland United 4 (Z. Benson (36, 77), R. Wasi (45), D. Canham (47)), West Coast Rangers 1 (M. Morles (84))  HT 2-0