Record win for dominant Southern Utd

Southern United defender Mackenzie Rastatter (right) tussles with Canterbury United’s Darsha Keogan at Logan Park on Saturday. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH

Southern United’s dominance became evident early and the game was effectively won by halftime.

Three first-half goals propelled Southern to a record 4-0 win over Canterbury United at Logan Park on Saturday.

It was their biggest winning margin over Canterbury, and the second week in a row Southern have scored four goals.

However, unlike the week before, this time Southern did their damage early.

They controlled the first half through the midfield, defending with intensity to limit Canterbury’s possession and providing supply chances for their own attackers.

And it was that midfield defence that initiated Southern’s first goal.

Georgia Keen pressed up to dispossess Claudia Wilkinson, knocking the ball free for Emma Vane to pounce down the left wing.

Vane played it forward to Amy Hislop in space behind a scrambling defence, leaving her to connect with her attacking partner, Nieve Collin, who made it 1-0.

Collin turned provider for the second goal, receiving a throw-in and delivering a tight cross at the byline for Georgia Nixon to finish off the back post.

It was 2-0 and Southern were beginning to show all their class.

The defence — when it needed to be — was assured at the back.

But it was aggressive higher up to win back possession, and more and more the attack began pepper the Canterbury defence.

Canterbury keeper Amy Simmers denied Southern from a corner then a dangerous free kick from Keen.

But the third goal felt inevitable, and it came just before halftime.

Hislop turned to evade two defenders, beat a third coming across in cover, and slotted a stunner from the edge of the box.

Canterbury came out more lively after halftime.

But the Southern defence hung tough and, aided by a couple of pieces of sublime goalkeeping from Lauren Paterson, they kept Canterbury goalless.

Hislop looked to add another on the hour, putting a long-range effort off the crossbar.

Twenty minutes later, she delivered the ball that would make it four, a free kick swung in from the right for Collin to latch on to and score her second.

The win leaves Southern tied with Western Springs in second on the table, both on 10 points, and trailing Auckland United, who are on 12 points with a game in hand.

Canterbury remain winless with two draws.

In other games, Auckland United beat West Coast Rangers 1-0, Eastern Suburbs edged Western Springs 2-1, Wellington United accounted for Phoenix Reserves 4-1, and Petone downed Central 3-0.