Wellington United and Wellington Phoenix found the going tough in the Anzac Weekend round of matches in the Central Region Premier Women's League, with both struggling to overcome spirited opposition in their respective fixtures. Indeed, Phoenix failed to maintain their perfect start to the season, a result of being held to a scoreless draw by Petone at Fraser Park. That opened the door for "The Diamonds" to take the outright lead, which they did, but only thanks to some Hannah Pilley magic as she struck a stoppage time winner to clinch a hard-fought 2-1 win over Victoria University at Newtown Park. All appeared in order for United when Farina Anchico broke the deadlock halfway through the first half, and that's how things stayed until eight minutes from time, when Victoria substitute Millie Lynskey levelled the scores. It looked like the students would maintain their unbeaten start to the season as the game headed into stoppage time, but the ace in "The Diamonds"' pack stepped up to the mark, Pilley maintaining her goal-a-game record to propel the title-holders to the top of the table. Waterside Karori moved into third place with a 4-1 mauling of Moturoa at Onuku Taipari Domain, where Sherize Concessio's goal five minutes before half-time for "The Magpies" broke the deadlock. Quickfire strikes from Taylor Cooper and Nicola Ross in as many minutes inside the first ten minutes of the second spell put the destiny of the points beyond doubt, and while Tia Christiansen pulled one back for the locals, substitute Kate Mills restored Karori's three-goal advantage in stoppage time. In a round which saw Sophie Campbell's late equaliser for Miramar Rangers cancel out Amber Mahoney's eighteenth minute striker for Marist Palmerston North at Dave Farrington Park, Taradale emerged from their visit to Memorial Park with a 2-1 win over bottom-of-the-table Palmerston North United. The home team's goalkeeper, Natalee Mellish, had the misfortune to put through her own net inside the opening minute of play, an advantage Taradale maintained until Liz Dombroski levelled the scores four minutes into the second spell. But straight from the kick-off, Maddi Hughes restored the visitors' lead, and this time they maintained it until the final whistle. In the lone Kate Sheppard Cup tie scheduled in the central region, Seatoun overcame Wairarapa United 3-2 at Solway Showgrounds, with United's Kelsi Rutene and the visitors' Alissa Corbett both bagging a brace of goals, including one apiece from the penalty spot. "The Diamonds" take on Miramar at Newtown Park on Wednesday evening in a rearranged first round fixture, while Saturday's sixth round schedule sees the league leaders heading to Petone Memorial Park, where the home team will want to build on this week's impressive result. Marist welcome Wellington Phoenix to Arena Manawatu, while Miramar also face a road trip north, Moturoa's Onuku Taipari Domain their destination. Two teams are travelling to the capital, with Taradale checking in at Karori Park, home of "The Magpies", while the students will look to school Palmerston North United at Boyd Wilson Park as they look to get back to winning ways.

Details: Miramar Rangers 1 (S. Campbell (84)), Marist Palmerston North 1 (A. Mahoney (18))  HT 0-1 Moturoa 1 (T. Christiansen (83)), Waterside Karori 4 (S. Concessio (40), T. Cooper (52), N. Ross (54), K. Mills (90))  HT 0-1 Palmerston North United 1 (L. Dombroski (49)), Taradale 2 ("oggie" (1), M. Hughes (50))  HT 0-1 Wellington Phoenix 0, Petone 0 Wellington United 2 (F. Anchico (23), H. Pilley (90)), Victoria University 1 (M. Lynskey (82))  HT 1-0 Kate Sheppard Cup details: Wairarapa United 2 (K. Rutene (42, 89 pen)), Seatoun 3 (E. Cortez Guerrero (25), A. Corbett (57 pen, 61))  HT 1-1 There's a three-way tie at the top of the South Island Women's League, with Raegan Potter's double-strike inside the first fifteen minutes of the game of the round at Logan Park propelling Dunedin City Royals to the top of the table over Otago University, who had the bye. "The Royals" overcame Coastal Spirit 2-0, a result which ended the visitors' unbeaten start to the season, and allowed Cashmere Technical to take over as the flagbearers from Christchurch in the competition. Fred Simpson's charges rolled over Roslyn Wakari 5-1 at Garrick Memorial Park, where the goals were spread around among Rafaela Da Costa Canal, Petra Buyck, Kate Loye, substitute Katie Harris - from the penalty spot - and Emma Kench on a day Zara Pratley gave "The Ponies" brief hopes of a comeback soon after the interval. Across town at Halswell Domain, "The Hawks" scored their first win of the campaign, coming from behind to upset Nomads-Waimakariri United 2-1 thanks to an Ella Hartel double, her goals bettering Jemma Creed' opener for the visitors five minutes after half-time. It was a good day for Canterbury Universities, too, their 2-0 win over Nelson Suburbs at English Park earning them their first win of the season. Kyra Lazor's fifth minute goal put the students on their way to victory, with player-assistant coach Gillian Morgan's "oggie" eighteen minutes from time leaving Nelson anchored at the bottom of the table. With Cashmere having the bye this week, there'll be plenty of attention on Spirit's response to this week's reversal, seeing they're hosting Otago University at Tane Norton Park on Sunday. The kick-off time remains to be seen, however, as the Mainland Federation have made a right royal stuff-up, and booked the Dettol Southern League clash between Spirit and Nelson Suburbs for the same pitch at the same time … how on earth did this mix-up occur? Sunday's other South Island Women's League fixtures see Nelson and Nomads-Waimakariri drawing swords at Saxton Fields, while Canterbury Universities take on "The Royals" at English Park. "The Ponies" and "The Hawks" meet at Ellis Park in the only Saturday encounter. Details: Canterbury Universities 2 (K. Lazor (5), "oggie" (72)), Nelson Suburbs 0  HT 1-0 Cashmere Technical 5 (R. Da Costa Canal (22), P. Buyck (36), K. Loye (41), K. Harris (61 pen), E. Kench (66)), Roslyn Wakari 1 (Z. Pratley (50))  HT 3-0 Dunedin City Royals 2 (R. Potter (4, 13)), Coastal Spirit 0  HT 2-0 Halswell United 2 (E. Hartel (58, 72)), Nomads-Waimakariri United 1 (J. Creed (50))  HT 0-0