This was the last game of the round, against a fired up Birkenhead. It is fair to say that Birkenhead play a very “physical” style of football (some say they lack style and are just physical) which would prove a challenge for the younger Te Atatu squad.

Birkenhead started very strong, looking to “muscle” possession and dominate in the midfield. But Te Atatu kept their composure and played a quick passing game. Birkenhead created a number of shooting opportunities, but Cilla in goals was more than up to the task, with some athletic saves.

However Te Atatu has one of the best defences in the league. The combination of Clara (Shorts) in the centre (an absolute rock), Tracey on the right and Wendy (of left wing fame last week) on the left. No matter how much pressure Birkenhead created, (and there was a lot) Clara and co kept tackling and laid the foundation for a true “defensive win”.

At the other end, Helena, Bronwyn and Tracey appeared to have left their goal scoring boots at home, with nothing really looking to trouble the Birkenhead keeper. However late in the second half a long range shot from Helena towards the top left saw the Birkenhead keeper off balance. With one eye on Bronwyn following the shot in, she got a hand to the ball, but fumbled it into the next.

A 1 nil win, created on the defensive prowess of player of the day Clara. That ended the first round with the girls placed first equal with East Coast bays having played 7 and won 6.

Building on their impressive win over top of the table East Coast Bays last week, Te Atatu had a new confidence on Sunday against West Auckland.

With a measured start, Te Atau start building its share of possession and control of the game, but was lacking the final touch to finish and West Auckland looked capable of a upset win. However in a brilliant “Alex Fergusson” move Ajan substituted Wendy on the left wing, changing the Te Atau attack.

Wendy quickly took complete control of her flank, and started to pepper the West Auckland box with crosses and shots. When she wasn’t out wide, she was proving to be a target at the back post for Helena on the opposite flank.

In a lethal combination, Helena attacked down the right flank, sent a cross into Wendy at the back post, only to see it intercepted by the West Auckland sweeper, whose clearance went straight back to Helena feet. With the West Auckland defence now split wide open, Helena drilled the ball into the net.

Half time saw the score 1 – nil to Te Atau with West Auckland best chance being a breakout, that had seen a one on one with keeper Cilla, but Cilla was too fast on her line, and took the ball from the West Auckland’s centre forwards feet.

The second half saw increased pressure and possession see-sawing from end to end. However with 15 minutes to go Bronwyn put it beyond a doubt curling a corner into the top right corner of the goal. Player of the day went to “CK” who had covered miles of ground in the midfield.

After a loss last week, the prospect of playing top of the table, East Coast Bays, was to say the least, daunting. With an impressive 18 goals already, East Coast had shown they were a formable attacking side, and would test both the Te Atatue keeper and defence.

Sunday was wet, very wet, with conditions poor and the first half being played in an almost torrential downpour. Both sides struggled in the conditions, both creating opportunities but unable to get their shots on target. But late in the half saw a poor clearance by East Coast fall to Helena, who with a first time volley sent the ball crashing into the top corner of the net, and Te Atatu 1-nil up at the break.

East Coast Bays was in unfamiliar territory, being 1-nil down, started the second half with a real vengeance, and caught the Te Atatu girls napping. At 1 all, the game ebbed and flowed, with strong defensive effort from joint players of the day Julie and keeper Cilla ensuring no more goals for East Coast.

Sunday saw the Debtworks sponsored Ta Atatu Women’s team have their first loss of the season in what was a close fought encounter against Takapuna W1.

Takapuna started very strongly, with a powerful shot in the first 20 minutes, in spite of keeper Cilla getting a hand to it finding the back of the net. The second was of equal quality with Takapuna playing good football and controlling the pace of the game.

Te Atatu’s lack of experience started to show, with no real answer to Takapuna more aggressive approach, with even the 70/30’s not being won.

At 2 nil down at half time the game looked beyond Te Atatu’s grasp, but a player of the day Tracey showed that not only was she a star defender at left back, but she was also capable of playing striker as well. Finding herself on the edge of the circle, she collected a Takapuna clearance and hit it first time, in what was a perfect strike, leaving the Takapuna keeper stranded and the ball in the net.

At 2.-1 Te Atatu found some confidence, and managed to launch some attacks, but could not find the equaliser.

The Debtworks sponsored ladies played the home derby against the Te Atatu Sociabelles on Sunday. Even with competition points on the line, both teams played the game in a great spirit, and it was a fine display of the quality of football that the Te Atatu club can produce.

But the combination of youth, speed and skill of the Te Atatu W1 was too much for the Sociabelles who after the first 30 minutes found themselves 3-nil down.

Helena was simply at her lethal best, seemingly able to score at will, picking up her hat-trick with 3 perfect goals. The first was a great individual effort, which saw Helena latch onto a through ball, pull the defender and keeper, then turned the remaining two defenders, and placed the ball in the far side. The other two were as equally classy.