Round three of the South Central Series saw your Canterbury United Pride host Central Football at the home of footy, English Park. Our ladies found themselves in an unfamiliar spot going into this fixture, having taken losses at the hands of both Capital Football and Southern United. However, the early Sunday morning cloud parted way for a burst of beautiful sunshine, and the Christchurch public gathered in the Steve Sumner Stand to rally on their home team. On the other hand, Central Football boasted a young, well-drilled side who was also keen to pick up their first points in the South Central Series. From the get-go, the Pride girls showed every ounce of class that they are so capable of. Having pinned the visitors in the attacking third, the chances began to flow. Pass after pass, shot after shot; the Pride kept asking questions of the Central defence. If it wasn’t for an impressive first half keeping display from Brooke Bennett, the Pride could have easily found themselves with a handful of goals within the first half-hour. Eventually, we broke through the shackles and grabbed first blood via captain Rebecca Lake’s header for her second goal of the season. 

Step up Football Ferns legend Annalie Longo. After drilling the Central backline for a good ten minutes, she finally bagged her first goal of the match. Taking a touch and turning her defender perfectly, she then thundered a first-time left-foot strike into the bottom bins. Now, if you thought Flea was done, think again. No more than three minutes later, and on the stroke of halftime, Longo chipped the keeper from what seemed to be about thirty yards out, finding the post on the way in. Three goals to nil, advantage Pride at the halftime break. 

Again, our ladies in red and black held the majority of the ball for most of the half. However, they couldn’t quite string together the perfect passes needed to see the whites of the keeper’s eyes. Meanwhile, Central would eventually make their way down our end of the field, taking their first shots of the game early on. Gaffer Alana Gunn decided some changes were needed and brought on number 9, Frankie Morrow, to make an impact. And make an impact is precisely what she did. Frankie’s first touch of the ball, mere minutes after coming on, was a perfectly taken volley that shook the back of the net. That, my friends, is how you grab an opportunity with both hands. Another session of hard work for the Pride saw them grab the elusive fifth in the 89th minute. Kiara Bercelli, what a day it turned into for her! Netting your first-ever National League goal is always a monumental milestone, but to do it in the last blowings of the game to help your side regain some lost momentum? Take a bow, Kiara! 

The final whistle blew, and English Park erupted in cheers. A complete performance by the Pride gave them their first points of the season. 

Written by Ash Wanasinghe. 
Article added: Monday 22 November 2021