By Jonno Ross
Forty years after being crowned national champions, Manurewa are edging closer to regaining their status as a National League club.
Promoted to the Northern League this year, the South Auckland club are pushing for the fourth qualifying spot and can stake strong claims with a win this weekend over nearest challengers Western Springs.
Unbeaten leading pair Auckland City and Eastern Suburbs have already made sure of their Men’s National League spots, while only a major catastrophe would prevent third-placed Auckland United from joining them.
The fourth vacancy is tantalisingly close for Manurewa.
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Game of the week
Manurewa have refound their form at the perfect time.
After a flying start, they looked to be crumbling with mid-season form of one win in seven, and lacking in the goals apartment. They have since won back-to-back games against Takapuna and Hamilton Wanderers.
They comfortably won both, scoring four goals in both games and conceding one.
The return of Nico Bobadilla has been a boost — he’s found the net three times since his return from a 10-week suspension, making it 10 league goals for the season.
If Manurewa can pick up the three points like they did in the reverse fixture, where they beat Western Springs 3-1, they will move seven points clear in 4th position, and have one foot firmly in the National League with three games remaining.
A fairytale finish beckons for the South Auckland side, whose climb up the ranks from Lotto NRFL First Division has been impressive.
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For Western Springs, this weekend is do or die. They must win to retain any real shot at National League qualification.
A win would keep them very much in the mix, and just one point behind fourth spot. A loss would see them clutching at straws and praying for a miracle that Manurewa slip up in the remaining fixtures.
Springs missed a golden opportunity last weekend against West Coast Rangers, where they only managed a 1-1 draw — a game they were expected to win.
If Springs can perform like they did when they knocked Auckland City out of the Chatham Cup, they are in with a real chance for a top four finish.
Player to watch
Derek Tieku ended his five-game goal drought last weekend in Hamilton Wanderers’ 4-1 loss to Manurewa. He can add to his 17-goal tally for the season this week against a Manukau side struggling at the foot of the table.
Bold prediction
This week I predict the remaining Men’s National League places will be as good as done.
I think Manurewa will get the job done over Western Springs with a 3-2 win, sending them seven points clear in 4th spot with three games to go.
Fixtures
Games to be played on Saturday August 12, 2023
Takapuna v Auckland City
Taharoto Park, Takapuna, 3pm
Eastern Suburbs v Bay Olympic
Madills Farm, St Heliers, 3pm
Auckland United v West Coast Rangers
Keith Hay Park, Mt Roskill, 3pm
Hamilton Wanderers v Manukau United
Porritt Stadium, Hamilton, 3pm
Manurewa v Western Springs
War Memorial Park, Manurewa, 3pm
Birkenhead United v Melville United
Shepherds Park, Birkenhead, 5.30pm
Jonno Ross
Friends of Football writer Jonno Ross is a former New Zealand U-20 goalkeeper who is the first team manager for Mount Albert Ponsonby. He supports the All Whites, the Football Ferns, the Wellington Phoenix and Arsenal.
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