By Jack Sharp
Important games go ahead at both ends of the Lotto NRFL Men’s Northern Conference table this weekend.
Leaders Waitemata will host nearest challengers Waiheke United, while the league’s bottom sides, Beachlands Maraetai and Oratia United, go head to head.
Oratia have managed to scramble four points from four draws but are yet to win this season.
A win against Beachlands Maraetai would put them level on points.
Northland host Bucklands Beach and must regain winning form to stay in sight of the leading pair, while Albany United get the chance to stay with the leading pack if they can win at Te Atatu.
Game of the week
You can’t look past the top-of-the-table clash between Waitemata and Waiheke United.
Though they have a seven-point gap on Waiheke, Waitemata won’t want to let their lead be cut to only four.
Waitemata have been strong in pressure games this season, with their only loss being a 3-0 blip at Northland’s Trigg Arena.
Since then, they’ve drawn 2-2 with Northland and 1-1 with Waiheke United.
Last week, they did enough to beat Beachlands Maraetai 3-2.
Waiheke won an important game last week, seeing off Northland with a 2-0 win at Onetangi.
The win followed two uninspiring draws with Oratia United and Te Atatu, and might signal a return to better form.
Bold prediction
I think Waitemata will make sure Waiheke United don’t close the gap on them.
The draw, or a narrow win for Waitemata, looks the likely outcome.
Last week, I predicted a close game, even a draw, between Albany United and Oratia United. Unfortunately, the game was abandoned midway through the first half due to a serious leg injury.
Golden Boot
11 — Sander Waterland (Bucklands Beach)
9 — James Chamberlain-Barlow (Albany United), Mark Giles (Beachlands Maraetai)
7 — Fumiya Ito (Northland)
6 — Adam Hargood (Waitemata), Kyle Levell (Northland), Josh Smith (Bucklands Beach)
5 — Lyle Jones (Bucklands Beach), Ramon Lindner (Waiheke United), Nico Vanina (Waiheke United)
4 — Alexander Thurbon (Beachlands Maraetai), Arnold Kochasira (Waitemata), Daniel Peak (Te Atatu), Ethan Carter (Northland), Sergio Lindner (Waiheke United), Shane Tanner (Waitemata), Andy Kapteyn (Oratia United), Jared Colligan (Te Atatu), Harry Murphy (Waitemata), Milan Clarke (Northland), Lukas Webster (Waitemata), Roy van Leeuwen (Waitemata)
Fixtures
Games to be played on Saturday July 20, 2024
Waitemata v Waiheke United
McLeod Park, Te Atatu, 3pm
Northland v Bucklands Beach
MATCH POSTPONED
Te Atatu v Albany United
Te Atatu Peninsula Park, Te Atatu, 3pm
Oratia United v Beachlands Maraetai
Parrs Park, Oratia, 3pm
Jack Sharp
Jack Sharp is a long-time follower of club football in New Zealand and is a volunteer writer for Friends of Football. You can show your appreciation for his work by buying him a coffee.
More football stories
