A familiar face snatched victory from Southern United yesterday.
Britney-Lee Nicholson had only been on for 10 minutes when she grabbed the equaliser.
Twelve minutes later she put Canterbury United ahead 3-2 and that was how it ended at English Park yesterday.
The host completed the long weekend double over Southern, following Saturday's 2-0 win in Dunedin, and
remained atop the national women's league table in the process.
Nicholson, who played for Southern last year, struck in both the 65th and 77th minutes.
That helped Canterbury come from behind for the first time this season.
Indeed, it was only the second time it had been behind at all and only the second game in which it had conceded a goal.
Southern coach Ignacio Sande said the team started well and it took just 10 minutes to open the score.
A Shontelle Smith corner curled in over everyone as she gave Southern the lead.
It doubled that lead in the 33rd minute as Amy Hislop began to make her threat known.
Twice in two minutes she had shots saved by Canterbury goalkeeper Una Foyle.
But Foyle was unable to hold the second one and Renee Bacon tapped in for her first goal of the season.
Canterbury hit back five minutes before halftime through Gabi Rennie.
She got on the end of a Macey Fraser pass to peg back one.
It was the host that came out stronger after halftime as the intensity went out of the Southern game.
Nicholson replaced Rennie in the 55th minute and quickly sparked the attack.
She finished after a nice ball through from Dominikovich, before a one-two between the pair gave Nicholson her second not long after.
It was the decisive blow and while it created a handful of chances, Southern was unable to respond.
Sande was pleased with how the team played against a quality Canterbury side.
"To be honest, so proud of the team now.
"How they played two competitive games - they performed in both of them. We were very close today to getting something from the game.
"But at the end of the day the result is what matters and we couldn't take any points today.''
The loss leaves Southern in fourth place on 10 points, although it is the only team to play what looks to be the league's top team twice.
Meanwhile, Capital beat WaiBOP 8-0 yesterday to follow Saturday's 5-0 win.
That lifted Capital to fifth on seven points.
The Northern Lights (14 points) play Auckland (11) tomorrow night.
National women’s league
The scores
Canterbury United: 3
- Gabi Rennie 40’, Britney-Lee Nicholson 65’ 77’
Southern United: 2
- Shontelle Smith 10’, Renee Bacon 33’
- Halftime: 2-1 Southern
