The fixture schedulers have conjured up a decent menu of football action for Northern fans this weekend with tasty games set for Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
For the neutrals
If you’re looking for the games we’re picking to be the most entertaining, we suggest the following for football fans in the North:
Friday
Get the weekend off to a footy start when Metro FC host Waitemata under the floodlights of Phyllis St (7.30pm).
Both clubs are loitering in the lower half of the Lotto NRFL first division and this game gives the winner chance to reboot the second half of their campaign.
Meanwhile, Friday’s other big game is the Lotto NRFL women’s premier division clash between Western Springs and Auckland United.
It kicks off under lights at Seddon Fields at 7.30pm.
Saturday
In the Northern League, Auckland City have charged to a 10-point lead ahead of Auckland United, Eastern Suburbs, Hamilton Wanderers and Birkenhead United.
Already it looks like a scramble for which three clubs can join City as the four qualifiers for the end-of-winter national league competition.
One game this weekend that will have a bearing will be Hamilton Wanderers’ match against Birkenhead United at Porritt Stadium (3pm).
For Aucklanders, we are picking the Bay Olympic – Auckland United match to be a tense affair at Olympic Park (3pm).
Pick of the games from Lotto NRFL division one sees leaders Albany United host Takapuna at Rosedale Park (3pm).
Our match of the day belongs to Lotto NRFL second division where the two clear leaders, Onehunga Mangere United and Fencibles United, meet at Riverhills Park (3pm).
An Onehunga win will seem them pull six points clear – a Fencibles victory will see them leap frog their rivals into top spot.
It’s the classic six-pointer, with the division’s two best attacks ready to trade blows.
Sunday
There’s only two games on Sunday, both from the Lotto NRFL women’s premier division.
In Auckland, Northern Rovers host Eastern Suburbs at McFetridge Park (1pm).
In Hamilton, bottom-placed Hamilton Wanderers play Ellerslie at Porritt Stadium (1pm).
Photo: Players from Ellerslie and Auckland City prepare for their recent ISPS Handa Chatham Cup tie. Image courtesy of Shane Wenzlick / Phototek.
