2018 NZ Football Foundation Kate Sheppard Cup

Get along to Newtown Park on Saturday to see Capital W-League Champions take on Football South Champions

Entry is gold coin donation

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Ahead of the Kate Shepherd Cup semi final Wellington United v Dunedin Technical, KO 2pm Saturday 25th August @ Newtown Park

I spoke to Wellington United's Dutch imports read it here

Semi Final time

Wellington United v Dunedin Technical Saturday 25th August, Newtown Park, Wellington, KO 2pm

Wellington United's first appearance in the semi final, their best before this was the Quarter Final in 2015

Dunedin Technical got to the semi final last year, going down 2-0 to Glenfield Rovers

It will be the first time these teams have met - get along to Newtown Park for a 2pm KO

Glenfield Rovers v Forest Hill Milford United Sunday 26th August, McFetteridge Park, Auckland KO 2pm

4 time winners Glenfield Rovers (2011, 14, 15, 17) up against close rivals with one of the longest and possibly more confusing names in NZ Football (I always thought Milford was in Fiordland!), one time winner Forest Hill Milford United

7th meeting of these teams in the Cup, Glenfield Rovers winning 6 and 1 being a draw, but as it was the final and FHMU won 4-3 on pens

2009 Glenfield Rovers 7 FHMU 0

2010 Glenfield Rovers 13 FHMU 0

2014 Glenfield Rovers 3 FHMU 2 (FINAL)

2015 Glenfield Rovers 2 FHMU 0

2016 Glenfield Rovers 2 FHMU 2, FHMU won 4-3 on Pens (Final)

2017 Glenfield Rovers 3 FHMU 1

My Picks

Well I'm always going to pick Wellington United and I think Northern League Champions, Glenfield Rovers will prevail over FHMU again

FHM 3 Glenfield 1. Not sure if that should be considered an upset but certainly well deserved. FHM outplayed Rovers all over the pitch and it could have been more. reasonable crowd and good conditions.

Well thats me on the ball with my picks again!

Dunedin Tech 4 FHM 2 in final. Dunedin well worth their win and it could have been more . MVP was the Dunedin no 7 Shontelle Smith who is a classy playmaker. seemed to have oodles of time on the ball and was everywhere on the park. Her audacious chip from 35 m that rattled the crossbar was exceptional - you could almost see her sizing it up . The othrer player to impress was the Tech no 17 Mikayla Gray - a little buzz bomb on the right flank. Not sure of the average age of the Tech team but a lot of youngsters. Certainly outshone their more iillustrious opponents (3 Junior Football Ferns) which asks a few questions of national selection policies ? remember seeing Tech win the ACFC Under 17 tourney 3 years ago but unsure of how many players on show today were in that team .Enjoyable game which hopefully came through on TV. Wonder what Jeremy Ruane will make of his illustrious NWPL playing second fiddle.

I have to wonder how many of FHM played for their respective college teams for college sport week?

Agree Technical def deserved their win

I have to wonder how many of Tech played for their respective college teams for college sport week?

Agree Technical def deserved their win

expected FHM to be heaps better. A lot of aimless passing, lack of composure, and no plan.

Smith was decent

Agreed they didn't seem to have much of a plan and looked very disjointed. Dunedin looked very well coached and worked incredibly hard as a team - thoroughly deserved winners

I really enjoyed watching this one compared to the mens game, didn't FHMU have 5 at the back? Dunedin were full of energy from the start. Was good seeing a team outside of Auckland play like that and win, I wonder if players from the south would get better recognition when it comes to national selections after this game.

FHM were meant to be playing with attacking wing backs, but Tech's two wide forwards got them pinned back for so long they barely got out of their half. Some good snap and crackle in midfield from them too.

I doubt very many from Tech? Most of them are university aged... (except from what I saw) the youngin who came on for the last 10min for them.

Think there were 9-10 players from FHMU involved in the schools tournament 

Dunedin Technical didn't have as many as most of their players are Uni students

On they day they fully deserved their win, easily wanted it more, I think FHMU may have underestimated Tech a bit, but it was one of those days everything went right. Shontelle Smith deserved the Maia Jackman trophy but it could easily have gone to Mikayla Gray, Mikaela Hunt, Chelsea Whittaker or Emily Morison

was easily the better game of the two on the day

I think it's  not giving Dunedin enough credit by suggesting that secondary school football participation affected the result. They were by far the more skillful side and played a brand of football most NZ fans would like to see more of. Agree that MVP could have come from any of those players but for me Mikaela Hunt was outstanding. Best centre back on the park and made some NZ players with big reputations look very ordinary. Hope there were some NZ selectors taking notice.

sorry, it wasn't meant to come over that way, it was just replying to the comments above

I don't think the schools thing was an issue, certainly wasn't raised at all by the FHMU fans I spoke to

It was a great and well deserved win for Dunedin Tech

For the record, not that it matters at all, two starters (Wall and Gray up front), one who came off the bench (Anderson) and one unused sub (Thomas) as well as the skipper Coral who was coaching a team in Taupo. 

Highlights of the Final

I never said Tech didn’t deserve it! The certainly did and I was going for them! 

I was just curious as to how many FHM players were involved in the NZSS week... you gotta be realistic - these players are generally gone after playing for a week... I’ve seen it with our own players. Maybe just raises a question about the scheduling or highlights an issue for potential finalists to try and mitigate in future.

https://twitter.com/Birbkamp/status/1039427012220182528

Lara Wall's goal isn't too bad for someone who spent the week playing NZSS

... But admit scheduling obviously not ideal

The number I saw was 5 FHM starters at NZSS.  That doesn't tell you what minutes they played.  

I had seen FHM play a few weeks ago and was impressed with the #14, her pace and the amount of ground she covered, but in the final she didn't stand out, I suspect tired legs.

I think NZF have to look at the scheduling as a similar thing happened last year.  They won't be able to get tournament week shifted, so NZF will have to move.