Football: Waikato teams fall short in opening weekend of the Northern League

Chelsea Elliot was the hero for Hamilton Wanderers as she grabbed two goals in the final minutes to level against Ellerslie AFC. Photo / Grant Stantiall

Late equalisers, a thrashing and a derby win were all the headlines for last weekend's action in the Northern League, as the Waikato's representatives started their campaigns.

In the women's premier league, Hamilton Wanderers managed to force a draw from Ellerslie AFC after falling 3-0 down.

Thanks to late heroics from Chelsea Elliot, who scored two headers in extra time, Hamilton Wanderers were able to pull themselves level against the newly promoted Auckland side, with Chloe Henderson grabbing the other goal.

Their cross town rivals, and also newly promoted side Claudelands Rovers had a rude awakening to life in the premier league, after being battered 12-0 by the current champions Eastern Suburbs.

Claudelands failed to wake up in the opening minutes of the game and found themselves 1-0 down in the opening seconds of the game. The reds survived another 30 minutes without conceding a goal, before it all unravelled over the rest of the 90 minutes.

This weekend the two Hamilton teams face off against each other in a Hamilton derby at Galloway Park on Sunday at 1pm.

In the premier men's league, Hamilton Wanderers and Melville United both suffered opening day defeats to Bay Olympic and Central United.

Tommy Semmy and Derek Tieku were both on target for Wanderers, but Bay Olympic managed to sneak away with a 5-4 win over the blue side of Hamilton.

Claudelands Rovers men team were the only Waikato team to pick up a win on the weekend. Photo / Grant Stantiall

Melville United were up against a strong Central United side and fell short at home to lose 3-4.

Kieran Richards, Campbell Brown, and Riku Soejima were all on the score sheet for Melville United.

Claudelands Rovers were the only Waikato side to pick up a victory in Northern League football, thanks to a 4-3 win over their rivals Cambridge FC.

Rovers fell behind early but hit back thanks to Bailey Webster, Jono Vivani and Jacob Robb.

Cambridge fought back after going 4-1 down, with the game finishing 4-3.

In the men's league this weekend Melville United are away to Eastern Suburbs, while Hamilton Wanderers will host Waitakere City.

Claudelands Rovers will travel to Northland while Cambridge are at home to Oratia United.

The highlight game of the weekend will be in the premier women's league where Hamilton Wanderers and Claudelands Rovers will face off in their first derby match since 2018.

-Tom Rowland is the team manager of Claudelands Rovers premier women's team.