Ngaruawahia United increasingly look like title winners but the chasing pack continued to keep in touch with high-scoring wins in the latest round of Lotto NRFL second division games.
United won 3-0 while Hibiscus Coast (5-2) and West Auckland (3-0) all had emphatic victories.
Main photo: Anthony Lockton … scored twice for West Auckland in their win against Bucklands Beach. Photo: Shane Wenzlick / Phototek.
But at the other end of the table, Beachlands Maraetai dealt to Oratia United in a game that could leave the ‘Tia with the season’s wooden spoon.
Here’s our round-up of latest results:
Green Machine keeps rolling with Waikato derby win
Ngaruawahia United extended their unbeaten run to 14 games with a 3-0 win against Waikato rivals Cambridge at Centennial Park.
Liam Fellowes gave the league leaders the initiative with a goal midway through the first half.
Striker Mark Withers doubled the lead in the 33rd minute, enough to give Ngaruawahia a 2-0 lead at half-time.
In the second half, both teams worked their benches, bringing fresh legs into play, and Ngaruawahia substitute Daniel Ngungambili put the result out of reach scoring in the 76th minute to make it 3-0.
West Auckland move back to third with win against 10-man rivals
West Auckland put themselves back into the top three with a 3-0 win against Bucklands Beach at Brains Park.
Bucklands Beach hopes took a dive in the 28th minute when striker Sean Latimer was red carded by referee Riley Greenbury for an over-vigorous tackle. Coach Juan Roman went into the ref’s book straight after for dissent.
Anthony Lockton gave the home side a 1-0 lead at half-time, scoring just before the break.
He doubled the lead four minutes after the restart.
With the visitors down to 10 men, West Auckland had the game in control and they topped off the win with a Haylen West goal in the 78th minute.
Coast kill off Rovers with three-goal burst in five minute spell
Hibiscus Coast remain in second place after a 5-2 win at Claudelands Rovers’ Galloway Park.
Rovers took the lead after 15 minutes through captain Bailey Webster.
Coast came back through Mitchell Browne who levelled just before the half-hour.
The sides turned around at 1-1 but Coast came out all guns blazing in the second half.
Three minutes into the second spell, leading scorer Adam Dickinson gave the visitors a 2-1 lead.
A minute later, Conor Felstead made it 3-1, and then he scored again in the 53rd minute to stretch the margin to 4-1.
It was as good as game over, though Rovers pulled a goal back through Thomas Mouncher in the 83rd minute.
However substitute Jack Brown had the last say for Coast, scoring with a minute left to make the final score 5-2.
Oratia favoured for wooden spoon after losing to Beachlands Maraetai
Beachlands Maraetai may have destined Oratia United for the division’s wooden spoon after they came out 4-1 victors in a bottom-of-the-table clash at Te Puru Park.
The sides could not be separated in the first half, with each scoring once.
Oratia took the lead on the half-hour through substitute Thomas Jacobson.
Jamie Birch replied from the penalty spot as the half went into added time.
Beachlands Maraetai took control in the early stages of the second half.
Alexander Thurbon gave the home side the lead for the first time with his goal in the 57th minute.
A few minutes later, Aaron Parry stretched the lead to 3-1.
The final rites were performed by substitute Will Smith who grabbed a goal with three minutes left.
Oratia are now five points adrift at the foot of the ladder.
Richardson double fires Franklin to 2-1 win at Northland
Two goals from Tim Richardson fired Franklin United to a 2-1 win against Northland at Whangarei’s Trigg Arena.
The home side took the lead after only two minutes through Daniel Adams.
But Richardson struck back after 10 minutes with his 10th goal of the season.
The sides went into half-time locked at 1-1.
Richardson’s winner came in the 76th minute, ensuring United stay just above Northland in mid-table.
Results
Games played Saturday August 6, 2022
Beachlands Maraetai 4 (Jamie Birch 45’+4′ pen, Alexander Thurbon 57′, Aaron Parry 63′, Will South 87′)
Oratia United 1 (Thomas Jacobson 30′)
Ngaruawahia United 3 (Liam Fellowes 22′, Mark Withers 33′, Daniel Ngungambili 76′)
Cambridge 0
Northland 1 (Daniel Adams 2′)
Franklin United 2 (Tim Richardson 10′, 76′)
West Auckland 3 (Anthony Lockton 44′, 49′, Haylen West 78′)
Bucklands Beach 0
Claudelands Rovers 2 (Bailey Webster 15′, Thomas Mouncher 83′)
Hibiscus Coast 5 (Mitchell Browne 28′, Adam Dickinson 48′, Conor Felstead 49′, 53′, Jack Brown 89′)
Standings
Thanks
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