The ladies in blue are still sitting pretty in second-place-equal on points, after a 3-1 win over Bay Olympic, at Olympic Park on Sunday. The victory was achieved, all the more impressively, amidst a spell of injury and sickness in the Waiuku side.

The Blues gained a very early lead with a spectacular goal by striker Gemma Gouwland, in the first two minutes. A while later the opposition equalised, only to be put back in their place again by Gouwland a few minutes later.

Unfortunately, centre back Josie Plant sustained a severe knee injury 20 minutes in, which not only rendered her unable to walk without support, but also left Waiuku to play out the remaining 70 minutes with no substitutions. Left back Sally Berridge moved into the central slot with sweeper Kathryn Oliver, while recovering-from-injury right winger Ashley Raines dutifully took Sally's usual place on the other side of the pitch. Also-injured right back Shanelle Partridge made up the team's four-player defence. To ease this pressure, before the end of the half Waiuku's single goal-scorer Gouwland claimed her first hat trick.

In the second half the spectators were treated to a highly entertaining see-saw match of great football, but neither team succeeded in changing the scoreline. Coach Cody Ralph was very happy with the Waiuku efforts, right across the park, and felt it made a strong statement that the team was able to hold out Bay Olympic's speedy strike force even while bound by the curse of multiple injuries. He awarded Player of the Day to Kathryn Oliver for her part in achieving this.

Although the Waiuku Premiers currently trail 2 points behind top-of-the-table Onehunga, they have a game in hand over Western Springs, who are ahead only on goal difference. Rather fittingly, the Blues will not encounter Onehunga until the last match of the round. Bring on the final showdown!