The gap at the top of the Lotto NRFL first division has closed to two points as leaders West Coast Rangers lost while challengers Manurewa won.
And not far behind the leading pair, Tauranga City’s win at Metro shows they are keen to turn it into a three-way fight for the title.
Here’s our round-up of latest results:
League leaders Rangers fail at MAP’s Anderson Park
Mount Albert Ponsonby put it together at last for a top drawer performance that sank league leaders West Coast Rangers 2-0 at Anderson Park.
After a scoreless first half, the first hero for MAP was goalkeeper Fernando Orduna who saved a penalty in the 65th minute.
Four minutes later, Jared Colligan became the second hero, scoring his fifth goal of the season and sparking belief they could upset the leaders.
Rangers brought on their entire bench of five subs in an effort to recover but one of the replacements, Kieran Deegan own-goaled in the 80th minute to give MAP some comfort.
Goalkeeper Orduna (32) has given MAP a huge boost since his move from Manurewa in late May, conceding only once in four games.
For MAP, it was the best performance of their season. For Rangers, the heat goes on …
Patterson double extends Manurewa’s unbeaten run to nine games
Former All White Monty Patteson took a while to find his scoring touch but he’s delivering now for Manurewa who extended their unbeaten run to nine games with a 3-0 win against Fencibles United.
Agustin Contratti had given Rewa the lead in the 38th minute, and the sides went into half-time with that 1-0 scoreline at Jellicoe Park.
As soon as the second half started, Patterson started to turn the game.
He scored a minute after the restart; he added another in the 73rd minute to stretch the lead to 3-0 and all but sew up the result.
Job done, he was subbed off with ten minutes to go.
The win — and the loss by leaders West Coast Rangers — has set up a thrilling finish to the competition.
But Rewa have the advantage of momentum.
Main photo: Monty Patterson … scored a double for Manurewa. Photo: Shane Wenzlick / Phototek.
Tauranga stay in title hunt with 3-1 win at Metro
Tauranga City won’t easily surrender their crack at the title and they kept up their pressure on the two leaders with a 3-1 win at Metro’s Phllis St Reserve.
But they had to come from behind to achieve the win, falling behind to a Metro penalty in the 17th minute.
The division’s top scorer, Jaydyn Englefield, was brought down by Tauranga ‘keeper Ben Pamment. From the spot, Englefield sent Pamment the wrong way for his 12th goal of the year.
Tauranga turned the game around midway through the second half when they broke through for the equaliser, scored by Adam Davidson in the 67th minute.
Then followed goals by Braxton Fisher-Vanderveen and Lewis Reid.
Subs strike as Bays beat lowly Albany United
East Coast Bays beat struggling Albany United 3-1 at Bay City Park.
Nicolai Berry put Bays ahead on the half-hour, a lead they took into the interval.
Straight after half-time, Bays doubled their advantage when Samuel Wilson scored.
Both coaches went to the bench, utilising four outfield players each.
It paid off first for Bays when substitute Joshua Coe scored in the 80th minute, after being on the park a mere three minutes.
His effort was then matched by Albany substitute Harry Bartlett who scored in the 81st minute.
(The Albany goal was incorrectly credited to Finn Smith in official records for the match).
Mountain Men climb all over Waitemata
Onehunga Mangere United beat bottom side Waitemata 3-1 at McLeod Park.
Abraham Khalil gave United the lead in the 34th minute but Shane Tanner quickly levelled for Waitemata.
The sides turned around at 1-1.
The game changed in a four-minute spell when Usaamah Hakim and Gilberto Souza scored midway through the second half.
Ponies share points with Northern Rovers in scoreless draw
Neither Ellerslie nor Northern Rovers could find a goal between them as they played out a scoreless draw at Michaels Ave.
Four Ellerslie players collected yellow cards, as did Rovers coach Paul Gothard, cautioned in the final minute for showing dissent.
Results
Games played Saturday July 16, 2022
Manurewa 3 (Agustin Nicholas Contratti 38′, Monty Patterson 46′, 73′)
Fencibles United 0
Metro 1 (Jaydyn Englefield 17′ pen)
Tauranga City 3 (Adam Davidson 67′, Braxton Fisher-Vanderveen 72′, Lewis Reid 77′)
Ellerslie 0
Northern Rovers 0
Waitemata 1 (Shane Tanner 38′)
Onehunga Mangere United 3 (Abraham Khalil 34′, Usaamah Hakim 67′, Gilberto Souza 71′)
Mount Albert Ponsonby 2 (Jared Colligan 69′, own goal 80′)
West Coast Rangers 0
East Coast Bays 3 (Nicolai Berry 29′, Samuel Wilson 48′, Joshua Coe 80′)
Albany United 1 (Harry Bartlett 81′)
Standings
Thanks
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