By David Larkin
Takapuna and Metro go into the final round knowing one of them will be relegated from the Lotto NRFL Men’s Championship.
Bottom-placed Franklin United are already heading to next year’s Lotto NRFL Men’s Northern Conference, but the club destined to join them depends on Saturday’s results.
North Shore United secured their survival in the league when they claimed a point in a crucial 0-0 draw against Takapuna on Wednesday.
Shore fans will be mightily relieved they’ll be able to support their side in the Championship again next year, as the club spent most of the season in the relegation zone.
Now it’s down to who can keep their nerve this weekend.
Metro won their fixture against Mt Albert Ponsonby last time out to keep in the fight for survival.
Midfielder Adam Creaney scored a whopping four goals in that match to give his side their 4-1 win and boost his side’s confidence heading into the final round.
Takapuna are three points above their relegation rivals.
The equation is straightforward for Metro — they have to beat Northern Rovers on Saturday, while they need Takapuna to lose to third-placed Ngaruawahia United.
Any other combination of results, and Metro will be relegated to the Conference.
At the top of the table, Fencibles United and Manukau United wrapped up first and second last weekend.
Fencibles held on for a 2-1 away win over Ellerslie lto clinch both the title and promotion to next year’s edition of the Northern League, subject to them meeting licence requirements.
The East Auckland side have hit their stride this season under coach Rhys Ruka. Their attack, in particular, has been firing, with a league-high of 72 goals this season.
READ MORE: Fencibles United clinch Championship title and promotion to Northern League >>>>
Manukau have peaked at the right time, making a late-season resurgence to overhaul Ngaruawahia and they secured second place with a win against the Waikato side last week.
They have earned a shot at promotion as they’ll now contest a two-legged play-off match against the 10th-placed team in the Northern League.
Their play-off opponents could be either Melville United, East Coast Bays or Manurewa, depending on Northern League results on Sunday.
Fencibles and Manukau meet this weekend in a game that has no jeopardy, though bragging rights will be on the line, as the reverse fixture ended in a draw.
Ngaruawahia will be disappointed with how their season has gone after spending much of the season locked in a battle for first and second.
They have repeated last year’s result of third place and again gone agonisingly close to a potential promotion.
Their last home match will be against a desperate Takapuna on Saturday and Ngaruawahi will be playing for pride as they failed to beat Takapuna in the reverse fixture.
Hibiscus Coast have gone up an extra gear in the latter stages of the season, their win over Rovers last week shooting them into fourth position.
A win over local rivals North Shore United on Saturday would confirm a top-four finish for the Whangaparaoa-based side.
It’s all congested in mid-table and the match between Ellerslie and Mt Albert Ponsonby at Anderson Park will have a significant bearing on the minor placings.
Both sides lost their matches in the last round, and they are level on points.
Franklin will want to end their season on a high as they play their last match in the league, before dropping back into the Northern Conference after only a year at the higher level.
They host Onehunga Mangere at Drury Sports Complex, and the visitors can secure a sixth-placed finish if they can claim all three points.
Game of the week
Metro have maintained some scorching end-of-season form as they attempt to stage a late escape from relegation, after finding themselves in the same precarious position as last season.
The Mount Albert-based side travel to Northern Rovers’ McFetridge Park, needing all three points to have any chance at remaining in the division.
If their form is anything to go by then Metro could be favourites heading into the match despite their lowly position on the table. Their recent string of results includes a draw against champions Fencibles United and a win over second-placed Manukau United.
Rovers will also be searching for redemption as their late-season slump has seen them completely drop out of the race for third, and after last week’s loss, they may now be resigned to a fifth-placed finish.
The possibility of snatching fourth, while slim, is still possible for the Glenfield-based side, and they’ll be doing everything in their power to grab all three points to give themselves the best chance at improving their placing.
Player to watch
Metro’s Adam Creaney has certainly made his contribution to his side’s quest to stay in the Championship.
His four-goal haul last weekend handed his side a crucial 4-1 victory, which gave them the necessary three points to remain in the fight for survival.
The star striker has jumped to fourth on top scorer list with an impressive 14 goals for the season, He also remains his club’s top scorer as he now has twice as many goals as teammate Sam Freeman.
Creaney (30) has made an impact on his first season for the club, since arriving in New Zealand this season, after playing for Rugby Borough in England.
but he could become a cult hero if he leads his side to another victory this Saturday and Metro stay up in the Championship as a result.
Bold prediction
I predict Metro will be able to beat Northern Rovers in their do-or-die away match at McFetridge Park on Saturday.
I’ll also predict Ellerslie will win their match against Mt Albert Ponsonby at Anderson Park this weekend.
Last week, I predicted Metro and Hibiscus Coast would grab wins. Metro won 4-1 against Mt Albert Ponsonby, while Coast beat Rovers 2-1.
Golden Boot
24 — Darius Palma (Ngaruawahia United)
16 — Daniel Bunch (Fencibles United)
15 — Kodie Nicol (Fencibles United)
14 — Adam Creaney (Metro)
12 — Reuben Henderson (Ngaruawahia United)
11 — Aston Burns (Fencibles United), Dylan Horgan (Manukau United), Nick Petherick (North Shore United), Meysum Shafahi (Manukau United)
10 — Joao Moreira (Takapuna), Brodie Putt (North Shore United)
9 — Sam Tutton (Mt Albert Ponsonby), Tinotenda Mupemhena (Franklin United)
7 — Aidan Price (Onehunga Mangere United), Sam Freeman (Metro), Scott Sellar (Mt Albert Ponsonby), Dan Cyra (Hibiscus Coast), Rowan Corbett (Ellerslie)
6 — Hamsa Moosvi (Manukau United), Levi Clark (Ngaruawahia United), Max Adamson (Fencibles United), Tom Durkin (Ellerslie)
5 — Ryan Cain (Northern Rovers), Will Litchfield (Ellerslie), Maksim Manko (Mt Albert Ponsonby), Max Sutton (Onehunga Mangere United),
Fixtures
Games to be played on Saturday August 31, 2024
Mt Albert Ponsonby v Ellerslie
Anderson Park, Mt Albert, 3pm
Fencibles United v Manukau United
Riverhills Park, Pakuranga, 3pm
Ngaruawahia United v Takapuna
Centennial Park, Ngaruawahia, 3pm
Hibiscus Coast v North Shore United
Stanmore Bay Park, Whangaparaoa, 3pm
Northern Rovers v Metro
McFetridge Park, Glenfield, 3pm
Franklin United v Onehunga Mangere United
Drury Sports Complex, Drury, 5pm
David Larkin
Friends of Football writer David Larkin plays community football for Auckland club Manurewa.
More football stories
