Football: Mammoth effort by Rangers’ striker to claim title

New Plymouth Rangers’ striker Gracey Edgecombe kicked her side to victory in football’s Federation Cup final in Palmerston North on Saturday.

Edgecombe scored an unprecedented six goals in the 7-1 win against Napier City Rovers in the final played on neutral territory at Massey University.

The match was played at the university, which acted as a halfway point to reduce the travel for both teams.

The competition was contested among top clubs throughout the central North Island with teams from Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay, Manawatu, Whanganui and Horowhenua-Kapiti competing.

The win was Rangers’ second title of the season after they claimed the Manawatu women’s league two weeks earlier with a one-point lead over Palmerston North Marist.

Coach Andrew Moore said he was thrilled with the team’s performance, especially in the first half.

“It looked in the early stages that Napier City Rovers women were going to put up a really stern challenge with two really good chances early in the game,” he said. 

“But like other games recently the girls got into their work and our key striker Gracey Edgcombe was in menacing form and caused the Napier defence continuous problems with her off ball running into space.”

Edgecombe slotted her first two goals within a minute apart, first in the 14^th minute then in the 15^th.

Moore said the early lead meant the team began to move the ball more feely through their passing as they got out to a 5-0 lead at halftime. 

Zoe MacKenzie was the other goal scorer for Rangers, finding the back of the net in the 34th minute.

Napier scored a consolation goal through Scarlett McIvor in the 66th from a penalty kick, but it was too late for the Hawke’s Bay side to mount a comeback.

“Credit to our players, coaching staff and our parents throughout the season who have supported each other and really grown as a group to deliver some great results for the club,” Moore said. 

Despite the win, Rangers missed out on promotion into the Central League with a 4-1 loss to Seatoun in a qualifying match.

Rangers’ win was the second regional title of the season after FC Western claimed the men’s Central League 2 trophy.

Moturoa’s women’s team also claimed the Federation Cup title in 2022 along with the Federation League championship in 2023 and now play in the Central League.