PREVIEW: Catch-up fixture likely to have major bearing on Northern League title

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By David Larkin

Leading pair Birkenhead United and Auckland City play twice in the next week, in matches that may well decide who lifts the Northern League trophy next month.

Both have Saturday fixtures before going head-to-head under lights next Wednesday.

Leading the chase of the top two, Western Springs have faltered over the last couple of weeks, conceding second place to Auckland City after a surprise defeat to Bay Olympic.

This was only exacerbated after being knocked out of the Chatham Cup in excruciating fashion, losing on penalties to Birkenhead last week.

Springs will look for redemption on Saturday week when they travel to Auckland United’s Keith Hay Park.

If previous results are any indication, they could pick up the three points as they beat them at home 3-1 earlier this season.

Auckland United have had a week to reflect after being held to a 1-1 draw by bottom side Hamilton Wanderers at Porritt Stadium last time out.

They are yet to beat any of the top four sides this season and that needs to change if they are to qualify for another season in the Men’s National League.

*Auckland United … need a result against Western Springs this weekend. Photo: Shane Wenzlick / Phototek.*

Tauranga City’s string of good form has quickly vanished over the last few weeks, being knocked out of the cup by Melville United before losing two league games in a row in tough match-ups against Auckland United and Auckland City.

They never really got going in their latest loss against City, conceding two goals in the first 10 minutes and losing 5-0.

They host a Bay Olympic side who leapfrogged them on the table as they turned around their mid-season slump with victories against East Coast Bays and Western Springs.

However, they’ll need to improve on their last performance against Tauranga — they were overrun 5-1 in the reverse fixture in Tauranga in round nine.

Manurewa will be encouraged by recent performances, suffering a narrow loss to Auckland City before progressing in the Chatham cup after beating Lotto NRFL Men’s Championship club Onehunga Mangere United.

Rewa are yet to record a win in the league under new coach Dylan Burns though, with their most recent victory in their previous fixture against Hamilton Wanderers in round eight.

Wanderers will be boosted after securing a late point at home against Auckland United last weekend and are now unbeaten at home in their last two.

They’ll need to start picking up some wins if they are to avoid relegation though, as they remain six points away from safety with only one win all season.

Eastern Suburbs will rue their loss to East Coast Bays last round, especially after beating Auckland City in the game before.

Suburbs have the privilege of playing table toppers Birkenhead on Saturday, and losing that match could cast them adrift from the top three.

Mellville will be frustrated after exiting the Chatham Cup to Lotto NRFL Men’s Championship side Hibiscus Coast last week.

But they have a golden opportunity to pick up points when they host fellow relegation candidate West Coast Rangers on Saturday.

Melville lost to Rangers in this season’s reverse fixture.

Rangers won their third match of the season last time out with a late comeback, scoring two goals in added time to defeat Manurewa 2-1.

Bays have also hit some solid form recently, winning three of their last five, with their latest being an upset win over Suburbs.

They’ll also be counting on their decent away form when they travel to play City on Saturday as they are unbeaten in five of their last six away fixtures.

Auckland City’s Nathan Lobo shares his thoughts ahead of Saturday’s match with East Coast Bays:

Game of the week

Game of the round will be Wednesday’s top-of-the-table clash between defending champions Auckland City and Birkenhead United.

Auckland City trail Birkenhead United by one point and will host them in a midweek fixture at Croatian Culture Club on Wednesday in a match set to determine who will become league leaders.

The Navy Blues could go top sooner, however, if Birkenhead drop points on Saturday when they host fourth-placed Eastern Suburbs.

Auckland City closed the gap on Birkenhead after winning their game in hand against Manurewa last week, as well as recording a dominant 5-0 victory over Tauranga the week before.

It’s been a return to winning ways for them as they were also able to progress in the Chatham Cup after defeating Lotto NRFL Northern Conference club Cambridge 4-1.

Birkenhead survived a tough Chatham Cup tie last week when they played WesternSprings away at Seddon Field.

The match ended 2-2 in regular time and Birkenhead went behind in the 103rd minute of extra time before substitute Habris Zeb brought them level a couple minutes after coming off the bench.

Birkenhead won 6-5 on penalties and progressed to the cup quarter finals.

This will be the first time these teams will play each other this season but history is on the side of City as they have won four of their last five against Birkenhead.

Player to watch

East Coast Bays winger Ryusei Ishibashi scored a brace in their last match, helping them to a remarkable upset victory over Eastern Suburbs.

These were only his second and third goals for the season; his first came in a draw against West Coast Rangers in round 10.

Ishibashi (21) started his senior career in the Wellington Phoenix youth and reserve teams before joining Auckland United in 2021.

He spent last season with Bay Olympic but moved across the harbour bridge for the 2024 season, joining the newly-promoted East Coast Bays.

Goals are a precious resource for Bays, who are the second-lowest scorers in the league, and they will need players like Ishibashi to step up if they are to stay clear of the relegation zone.

Bold prediction

I predict Manurewa will end their winless streak and complete the league double over Hamilton Wanderers on Saturday.

I’ll also predict that Birkenhead will defeat Eastern Suburbs on Saturday to hold first place going into their midweek clash with Auckland City.

Last round, I predicted Birkenhead would win by three goals against Melville and that Tauranga would win or draw against Auckland City. Birkenhead won by a two-goal margin while Tauranga were smashed 5-0 by City.

Golden Boot

13 — Jake Mechell (Eastern Suburbs), Emiliano Tade (Western Springs)
12 — Jonty Bidois (Tauranga City)
10 — Eber Ramirez (Manurewa)
9 — Liam Gillion (Auckland City)
8 — Allan Pearce (West Coast Rangers)
7 — Corban Piper (Birkenhead United), Josh Tollervey (Auckland United, now Miramar Rangers), Monty Patterson (Birkenhead United), Reid Drake (Western Springs), Derek Tieku (Hamilton Wanderers, now Auckland City), Sam Philip (Birkenhead United)
6 — Jerson Lagos Giraldo (Manurewa), Ronaldo Munoz (Bay Olympic, now Hamilton Wanderers), Ibrahim Nadir (Bay Olympic), Ryan de Vries (Auckland City)