Melville women completed their remarkable 2025 northern league championship-winning season on a high note with a 3-1 away win over third-placed Onehunga Sports, one of just two clubs which had taken points off them this season.

It means Melville finished 11 points clear at the top, with the best goal difference in the league and an impressive tally of just 19 goals conceded in 21 matches.

Laura Bennett, 16, scored two goal to take her season tally in the championship to 24, and second place in the golden boot standings. It was also an improvement on her 18 goals at this level last year as a 15-year-old, though both tallies were recorded at better than a goal a game.

And Mia Humphrey, 15, added a 41st minute goal to finish with 10 for the season and finish a respectable fifth equal in the golden boot standings, doubling her tally from 2024.

Melville women used just 25 players, compared with 34 last year, but Hayley Bennett and Emily Johnson were the only players to start in all matches. Melville had 12 different scorers in total and seven goals scored by subs.

Melville used three keepers throughout the season (Emma Meadows, Elin Gainsford, Denirae Piripiri) with none of them older than 16. 

# It was the 14-year-olds who starred as as Melville finished their girls U18 national youth league qualification with a 7-1 away win over Birkenhead United. Six of Melville's goals were scored by 14-year-olds in Makenzy McDonald (hat trick) Sienna Casson (2), and Alexis McNae. The other Melville goal came from 15-year-old Skylar Mearns. Melville finished top of the table.

Article added: Monday 08 September 2025