West Coast Rangers have all but mathematically secured promotion back to the Northern League with a 1-0 win against Northern Rovers, achieved through a goal in added time.
To make sure of promotion from the Lotto NRFL first division, Rangers still require a point from their last three games but only a colossal slump in form and a crazy set of other results would now deny them their step up.
Meanwhile, Manurewa, East Coast Bays and Tauranga City all continued their chase after Rangers, all winning their latest games.
Main photo: West Coast Rangers … almost certain to be hosting Northern League games again next year.
Here’s our round-up of the latest games:
Last gasp goal by Banks gets Rangers home
West Coast Rangers held their nerve — and their defensive line — for a full 90 minutes before inflicting a 1-0 win on Northern Rovers with a goal in added time.
The result was typical Rangers; keep the opposition at bay with the tightest defence in the competition (only 11 goals conceded in 19 games), and then be clinical with the finishing.
So it proved, with the teams failing to find a way through in two halves of football at Fred Taylor Park.
The game-turner was Matthew Banks, brought off the subs’ bench in the second half, who scored the winner two minutes into stoppage time.
The only thing that didn’t go Rangers way was team discipline with four players going into referee Ashley Wilson’s book, all for reckless fouls.
The league leaders are only fourth-equal in terms of goalscoring but they are proof of the maxim that you only need to score once if you keep a clean sheet.
Manurewa one step closer to promotion
Manurewa took a step closer to joining West Coast Rangers as promotion candidates with a 2-1 win at Onehunga Mangere United.
The South Aucklanders took the initiative in the first half, taking a 2-0 lead.
The opening goal came from Brazilian import Marco Morgon in the 12th minute.
Mohammed Shah doubled Rewa’s lead as the first half went into added time.
The teams couldn’t find another goal until the third minute of stoppage time when the home side were awarded a penalty.
Gilberto Souza slotted the goal from the spot but it was too late for a comeback.
To make sure of promotion, Manurewa need to win two of their last three fixtures.
Kelly’s late winner keeps Bay in promotion race
A late winner from teenager Keegan Kelly kept East Coast Bays firmly in the race for promotion when they beat Metro 2-1 at Bay City Park.
With all the other top sides winning, Bays badly needed the win to keep their promotion hopes alive.
They appeared to be on the right track when Samuel Wilson put Bays ahead a minute before half-time, enabling the home side to go into the break with the 1-0 lead.
However, Metro’s top goalscorer, Jaydyn Englefield, is hard to contain and he levelled for the visitors in the 77th minute with his 13th goal of the season.
That took him to the top of the division’s Golden Boot table, a goal ahead of Bays’ striker Kelly.
As the game entered stoppage time, Kelly joined Englefield on 13 goals when he grabbed the winner for the home side, keeping them hard on the heels of second-placed Manurewa.
Bays host Manurewa next Saturday (August 20).
Tauranga come from behind to beat Waitemata
Lowly Waitemata made Tauranga work hard for half an hour before the Bay of Plenty side gradually took control of this fixture at McLeod Park, winning 3-1.
The home side took the lead in the 12th minute through captain Shane Tanner.
But Lewis Reid levelled in the 32nd minute and then put his side ahead two minutes into added time for the half.
Turning round with the 2-1 advantage, Tauranga stretched the lead to 3-1 in the 66th minute when Braxton Fisher-Vanderveen found the net.
The win keeps Tauranga’s still in with a faint chance of promotion — they need to win their remaining three fixtures, starting with a tough game against Mount Albert Ponsonby, and see their rivals’ form slump badly.
In-form Mount Albert Ponsonby see off bottom side Albany
Mount Albert Ponsonby continued their strong run of form with a 3-1 win against Albany United at Anderson Park.
The club’s leading scorer Jared Colligan put MAP ahead in the 18th minute, giving the home side a 1-0 lead at half-time.
Joshua Moody doubled MAP’s lead when he scored in the 58th minute.
Albany’s Aidan Davey pulled back a goal in the 68th minute, making it 2-1 and giving the visitors a potential revival.
But Nicholas Hindson put the result beyond doubt with MAP’s third goal in the 78th minute.
It’s the late late show at Ellerslie as Ponies win 2-1
Ellerslie beat Fencibles United 2-1 at Michaels Avenue Reserve, with two goals coming late in stoppage time.
After a scoreless first half, Rowan Corbett broke the deadlock with a goal for Ellerslie in the 77th minute.
That appeared to be enough for the Ponies to win the game but four minutes into referee’s time, Patrick Grey found the net putting his side 2-0 up.
However, Fencibles substitute Brennen Priestley managed to pull back a goal with a minute of the restart, reducing the deficit to 2-1.
Results
Games played Saturday August 13, 2022
West Coast Rangers 1 (Matthew Banks 90’+2′)
Northern Rovers 0
East Coast Bays 2 (Samuel Wilson 44′, Keegan Kelly 90’+1′)
Metro 1 (Jaydyn Englefield 77′)
Onehunga Mangere United 1 (Gilberto Souza 90’+3′)
Manurewa 2 (Marco Morgon 12′, Mohammed Shah 45’+1′)
Mount Albert Ponsonby 3 (Jared Colligan 18′, Joshua Moody 58′, Nicholas Hindson 78′)
Albany United 1 (Aidan Davey 68′)
Waitemata 1 (Shane Tanner 12′)
Tauranga City 3 (Lewis Reid 32′, 45’+2′, Braxton Fisher-Vanderveen 66′)
Ellerslie 2 (Rowan Corbett 77′, Patrick Grey 90’+4′)
Fencibles United 1 (Brennen Priestley 90’+5′)
Standings
Thanks
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