Easter fixtures go ahead as Northern Conference awaits revised schedule

By Jack Sharp

The newly-formed Lotto NRFL Northern Conference faces disruption after the late addition of Central United, making it a nine-team competition.

After a hearing before the Sports Tribunal, Central have overturned a decision by Northern Region Football that prevented them from taking their place in the competition.

READ MORE: Tribunal rules Central United can take its place in Lotto NRFL Northern Conference >>>>

The Conference has already played two rounds of competition and Central are expected to be added to the fixture schedule from mid-April.

In the meantime, four games will go ahead over Easter.

Game of the week

Northland and Waitemata have had lousy starts to the season, and are winless.

They play each other at Whangarei’s Trigg Arena on Saturday afternoon, giving both the chance to get clear of the competition’s lower reaches.

Both sides have scored only once this year; why tip this as the weekend’s best game?

Nothing inspires competitive football more than teams eager to dig themselves out of trouble.

For a game so early in the schedule, this game has ‘must-win’ all over it.

Player to watch

Goalkeeper David Koloamatangi was ever-present last season when West Auckland had the best defensive record in the Lotto NRFL Second Division, conceding only 22 goals.

The side missed promotion by the barest of margins but signs are that Koloamatangi and his fellow defenders are going to be tight at the back again.

They are yet to concede a goal in 2023, and there’s every chance Koloamatangi will claim his third clean sheet at Pukekohe on Saturday.

Bold prediction

High-scoring draw between Bucklands Beach and Beachlands Maraetai — 3-3, in fact.

Last week, I tipped a comfortable win for Bucklands Beach against Waitemata. They drew 1-1.

Fixtures

Game to be played on Friday April 7, 2023

Albany United v Oratia United
Rosedale Park, Albany, 3pm

Games to be played on Saturday April 8, 2023

Franklin United v West Auckland
Bledisloe Park, Pukekhoe, 3pm

Bucklands Beach v Beachlands Maraetai
MacLeans College, Bucklands Beach, 3pm

Northland v Waitemata
Trigg Arena, Whangarei, 3pm

Standings

Jack Sharp

Jack Sharp is a long-time follower of club football in New Zealand and is a volunteer writer for Friends of Football.

More football stories