Fifteen-year-old wing-back Freya Douglas chimed in with a cracking 86th-minute winner as Melville premier women registered an important 2-1 home win over dangerous Franklin United to remain eight points clear in the northern league championship.

Douglas, still finding her feet in her new positional role, gained possession near the left-hand touchline, beat her marker and decisively cut into the penalty box adjacent to the goal line. 

Freya Douglas heading for goal

And she held her nerve under pressure to squeeze the ball home on the narrowest of angles to net her third goal of the season - and her best.

Earlier goal supremo Laura Bennett had earned Melville a 52nd minute lead with a tidy far-post header from a Tyler Webster cross. It was Bennett's 18th goal of the season.

A couple of frantic saves prevented Franklin from falling further behind and they then cast doubt on the outcome when Britney Cunningham-Lee, the league's leading goalscorer , netted her 20th of the season from close range.

Elin Gainsford was in goal for Melville, with Emma Meadows away with the New Zealand U16s.

Melville coach Tarena Ranui called it "a massive result".

Ranui recalled how in June last year Franklin had hammered Melville 11-2 and reflected on that being "a turning point" for her team, as they realised the standard that was required to compete at northern league level.

This season Melville have now beaten fourth-placed Franklin 5-2, 4-3 and 2-1.

Melville are away to Northern Rovers on Sunday.

Article added: Wednesday 30 July 2025