By David Larkin
A midweek draw between leading pair Auckland City and Birkenhead United has kept the Northern League a four-way race.
Only four points separate the top four clubs, meaning every fixture has consequences for their hopes of taking the title.
City had to fight back from a 2-0 half-time deficient to finish Wednesday’s match level 2-2 with Birkenhead.
This weekend, the Navy Blues head to Seddon Fields for an important match with third-placed Western Springs.
Birkenhead go to Manurewa, where the south Aucklanders have stretched their winless streak to seven games after failing to close out bottom-of-the-table dwellers Hamilton Wanderers last Saturday.
It’s hard to see Manurewa’s streak coming to an end anytime soon as they host Birkenhead and fourth-placed Eastern Suburbs next.
Bay Olympic are on the rise, having won three straight under new head coach Peter Smith, who took over the role from overseas-bound Rudy Mozr in May.
Olympic host Hamilton Wanderers on Saturday, having won the away fixture comfortably 5-1.
Wanderers have shown recent resilience, stealing points against Auckland United and Manurewa with late goals.
They still sit last on the table and face a tough run-in to their season, playing the top four teams in their last five matches.
If they are to stay up, it’s crucial they pick up points in their next two, against Bay Olympic and East Coast Bays.
Eastern Suburbs turned around their disappointing loss to Bays by beating Birkenhead last week.
Midfielder Joshua Gallety’s second-half strike proved the difference as they held a 2-1 lead into full time.
They host Melville United at Madill’s Farm this week, after recording their biggest win of the season against them in the reverse fixture, a 4-0 away victory.
Melville failed to pick up any points against West Coast Rangers in a tightly contested match at home last week, with the loss further increasing the gap to safety.
Isaac Bates scored a cracking goal for Melville, recognised by NZ Football as their Goal of the Week.
Auckland United have been unable to record wins against any of the top four this season, losing to Springs for the second time this season.
This defeat increases the gap to the top four — and national league qualification — to seven points.
They play at West Coast Rangers on Saturday, having recorded a 6-1 victory in the reverse fixture.
Rangers have recorded back-to-back wins for the first time this season, following up their dramatic late win over ‘Rewa with an away victory over Melville.
This win means they have, for now, escaped the relegation play-off spot and are 9th.
They can’t get complacent, however, as their next three matches are against teams from the top five.
East Coast Bays host Tauranga at Bay City Park this weekend. The reverse fixture ended in a 2-2 draw after Bays scored a 93rd-minute equaliser.
Tauranga City sit firmly in mid-table after three consecutive defeats, the latest against fellow mid-table rivals Olympic.
Game of the week
Western Springs proved they deserved their placing on the table when they defeated Auckland United last weekend.
The win further entrenches their spot in the top four, and opens the gap to United to seven points
Another win on Saturday, against league leaders Auckland City, would further boost their title aspirations.
Springs lost the return fixture 2-1 earlier this season after a late goal from City’s Ryan De Vries sealed the points.
Before drawing with Birkenhead, City had won their last three, though their two most recent two victories were far from convincing, managing single-goal margins against bottom-half teams Manurewa and East Coast Bays.
Springs’ home record and City’s away record are almost identical this season — both have five wins and a loss.
The last time these sides faced each other at Springs’ home ground of Seddon Field, the home side came away the victors 3-2 when they scored a goal in extra time, which saw them through to the fifth round of last year’s edition of the Chatham Cup.
Springs’ form this season owes much to former Auckland City players Reid Drake and Emiliano Tade, and they’ll relish facing their old team.
Player to watch
Wanderer’s striker Aston Hurd has saved his side from defeat two weeks in a row now, scoring late on in both their draw against United, and last week’s draw against Manurewa.
In last week’s match against Rewa they were trailing 2-0 and 3-1 at different points in the match but Ashton Hurd completed the comeback when he slotted home an equaliser in the 85th minute.
He’s made his way back into the team after returning from a spell at Central League club Miramar Rangers.
Hurd (20) started his career at Cambridge before joining Melville back in 2022 before joining Wanderers shortly after.
His club will certainly be counting on him to keep them up as they remain last on the table and have some tough matchups to contend with in their run home.
Bold prediction
Manurewa have stretched their winless streak to seven now as they failed to close out bottom-of-the-table dwellers Wanderers in Hamilton on Saturday.
I predict they’ll lose again this weekend, giving Birkenhead a chance to rebound after a loss and a draw in their last two outings.
Last round, I predicted Manurewa and Birkenhead would pick up wins in their Saturday fixtures. Manurewa drew 3-3, and Birkenhead lost 2-1.
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), Monty Patterson (Birkenhead United)
8 — Allan Pearce (West Coast Rangers)
7 — Corban Piper (Birkenhead United), Josh Tollervey (Auckland United, now Miramar Rangers), Reid Drake (Western Springs), Derek Tieku (Hamilton Wanderers, now Auckland City), Sam Philip (Birkenhead United)
6 — Jerson Lagos Giraldo (Manurewa, now Auckland City), Ronaldo Munoz (Bay Olympic, now Hamilton Wanderers), Ibrahim Nadir (Bay Olympic), Ryan de Vries (Auckland City)
Fixtures
Games to be played on Saturday July 20, 2024
Northern League
Bay Olympic v Hamilton Wanderers
Olympic Park, New Lynn, 2.30pm
East Coast Bays v Tauranga City
Bay City Park, Browns Bay, 3pm
Eastern Suburbs v Melville United
Madills Farm, St Heliers, 3pm
Manurewa v Birkenhead United
War Memorial Park, Manurewa, 3pm
Western Springs v Auckland City
Seddon Fields, Westmere, 5.30pm
West Coast Rangers v Auckland United
Fred Taylor Park, Whenuapai, 6pm
David Larkin
Friends of Football writer David Larkin plays community football for Auckland club Manurewa.
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