A fresh, inexperienced, threadbare WaiBOP Football team have been defeated 3-0 by Auckland in their opening match of the 2019 National Women’s League season.

First half goals from Football Ferns Steph Skilton and Katie Duncan, gave the visitors a two goal half time lead, before the visitors completed their afternoon’s work in the second half when Britney-Lee Nicholson slipped in to net Auckland’s third.

WaiBOP coach Nico Girard admitted the match wasn’t one for the purists but felt his side put some promising aspects in place. 

“It probably wasn’t a game a spectator would enjoy and there actually wasn’t much created, for me the three goals they scored were quite random,” he said. 

“I thought it was a strong group effort and I was happy with the progress each individual made over the course of the game – I thought they became more comfortable with what we’re asking them to do.”

WaiBOP’s efforts were hampered by injury and late withdrawals. Further players, including OFC U-19 Golden Ball winner, Grace Wisnewski, along with a trio of Claudelands Rovers players, who were engaged in their club’s NRFL entry play-off on Sunday, will join the squad for the coming games.

“Our key aim for this match was to get no more injuries,” admitted Girard after the match. “So in that sense it was mission accomplished. We’re looking to build a squad of players who want to be here and want to play for each other at this level. Despite today’s thin playing roster I thought the players did well, given the circumstances. It’s a starting point and we’ll be looking to build from here.”   

Match images HERE.

WaiBOP Line-Up: 1. Georgia CANDY (GK), 3. Rachel MAJOR, 4. Caitlin BYRNE, 5. Lilly MUSPRATT, 6. Annaliese HEUVEL, 7. Olivia HOOPER, 8. Chloe HENDERSON, 9. Emma SIZER, 11. Adi-Grace MOOAR, 12. Shannon TREBES, 14. Maddison OLLINGTON. Sub (not used): Amy HARRISON (RGK).

Photo: Lawrence Gullery.