Auckland United's preparations for their upcoming OFC Women's Champions League campaign continued unabated during the past week, with impressive victories in the two Lotto Northern Premier Women's League matches they played, both of which were earned in contrasting fashion. On Tuesday evening, Ben Bate's charges handed Fencibles United a 7-1 hiding at Riverhills Park, Talisha Green thundering home a thirty-yarder just ninety seconds into the contest. Ava Pritchard hit the post six minutes later before Danielle Canham doubled the lead with a subtle finish past Caelan Tremain in the sixteenth minute. Pritchard headed home number three on the half-hour before Jess Philpot unleashed a snorter from all of 45 yards into the top corner four minutes later - unquestionably one of the finest long-range strikes you'll see anywhere in this or any season. Tui Dugan came off the bench ten minutes into the second half and made it 5-0 five minutes later, to which "Fencies" responded via Alexandrea Ape-Paia, who headed home Taylah Byers' beautifully flighted corner to the far post, a delivery which Auckland's players were admiring as the home team's captain took full advantage of their inattention. Alexis Cook beat the offside trap to restore the visitors' five-goal advantage fifteen minutes from time, either side of close calls from Pia Vlok and debutant Vicky Neuefeind, while Dugan crowned a dynamic display off the bench with a second goal in the shadows of the full-time whistle. She carried on with that goalscoring form in Auckland's next encounter, a Central Auckland derby with Western Springs at Keith Hay Park which United have edged by a 1-0 scoreline in each of the last six clashes between the pair. History didn't repeat on this occasion, with Auckland prevailing 2-0 following a hard-fought battle in which Ella Findlay and Tiana Hill were in fine form for "The Hoops". But Maia Vink's charges were on the back foot from the eighth minute when Dugan produced a quite exquisite inch-perfect chipped finish into the top far corner from fifteen yards to assert Auckland's early authority on the scoreboard. Springs came back into the contest well, and gave the hosts an ideal pre-OFC examination in the latest chapter of this well-matched rivalry, this version witnessing few goalscoring opportunities. Alas for the visitors, after Amberley Hollis had produced a super save to deny Pritchard ten minutes from time, they were the architects of their own downfall, Rene Wasi forcing a defensive blunder which saw Charlotte Roche firing into an unguarded net four minutes from time. That win leaves Auckland three points clear of West Coast Rangers, having played a game more than their next opponents, who were made to work hard for their latest victory at Fred Taylor Park, where "Fencies" bounced back from their midweek hiding to restrict their hosts to a 2-1 win. Minji Yun capped off a flowing Rangers move with the opening goal in the eleventh minute, but it took until the hour mark for Andrew Clay's team to double their advantage, Sienna Higinbotham doing the honours from an Emily Lyon corner, a goal initially - and wrongly - credited to the corner-taker. Within three minutes, Alyssa Wong had halved the deficit to give the visitors hope of springing a surprise on Anzac Day night. But Rangers had no intention of squandering their perfect start to the campaign, and duly made it five wins from five, with the added bonus of Laney Strachan's return to the starting line-up after enduring another injury - she's had more than her fair share of such setbacks in recent times. Good to see her back on deck

Earlier on Anzac Day, the East Auckland derby at Michaels Avenue saw Ellerslie and Eastern Suburbs battle out a 2-2 draw, with "The Ponies" storming into the lead just 144 seconds into the contest, Lyric Davison on song from close range after Hollie Leona's pinpoint corner had been met by Kim Oosterbeek's thumping header. "The Lilywhites" dominated possession thereafter, but it was the home side which carved out the better openings, Davison squandering a glorious chance to double their lead on the quarter hour before Maddi Ollington opted not to lob Nikki Whyte when storming through from halfway ten minutes before half-time, with the goalkeeper in no man's land. Sammi Tawharu's unerring finish in the shadows of the half-time whistle punished the hosts for their profligacy, and when she struck again twelve minutes from time, after working a super one-two with Putri Ardana, the game appeared up for Ryan Shiffman's side. A second successive hat-trick beckoned for Tawharu in the 89th minute, but she shot straight at Suhee Kang, who pulled off a quite stunning save in stoppage time to prevent Amelia Hitchcock's top-corner-bound shot from reaching its intended destination and clinching a dramatic victory for Katie Duncan's team. For by this time, Ellerslie had drawn level, Whyte's blunder, from a Eunuk Jeong free-kick, gifting Anita Trudgen a 90th minute equaliser which few could begrudge the home team, the third year in a row Ellerslie has scored a noteworthy result at their near-neighbours' expense in their first duel of the year. Tauranga Moana and Hibiscus Coast continue to look for their first wins of the campaign after their clash at Gordon Spratt Reserve was called off minutes before the scheduled kick-off time on Sunday. "The Coasters" will make that trip again later in the season. All eyes will be on Fred Taylor Park on Wednesday evening when the top two play their rescheduled fixture, Auckland's last before departing for Tahiti and the OFC Women's Champions League tournament on Friday. Their first match is on May 6. While they're taking off from Jean Batten International - Auckland Airport's international terminal is named after the pioneering aviator, "The Coasters" and "The Ponies" will be locking horns on North Harbour Stadium's Tigerturf. Sunday's fare sees "The Lilywhites" welcoming Rangers to Madills Farm, while "The Hoops" entertain Tauranga at Seddon Fields. One final note - it's really pleasing to see clubs making the commitment to produce a multi-page full colour programme for their matches this season. The women's game has often been neglected in this aspect of promoting its activities over the years, and clubs could very easily put it in the "too expensive" and "too time-consuming" baskets. Well in, Auckland, Ellerslie and Western Springs, the three which I've seen to date. Your efforts are to be commended. Details: Fencibles United 1 (A. Ape-Paia (64)), Auckland United 7 (T. Green (2), D. Canham (16), A. Pritchard (29), J. Philpot (34), T. Dugan (60, 89), A. Cook (74))  HT 0-4 Auckland United 2 (T. Dugan (8), C. Roche (86)), Western Springs 0  HT 1-0 Ellerslie 2 (L. Davison (3), A. Trudgen (90)), Eastern Suburbs 2 (S. Tawharu (43, 78))  HT 1-1 Tauranga Moana v. Hibiscus Coast, postponed West Coast Rangers 2 (M. Yun (11), S. Higinbotham (60)), Fencibles United 1 (A. Wong (63))  HT 1-0