By David Larkin
The race to come second is heating up in the Lotto NRFL Men’s Championship, as three clubs scramble in the wake of runaway leaders Fencibles United.
United have increased their lead to nine points, but the chasing trio of Ngaruawahia United, Manukau United and Northern Rovers are separated by only two points.
Ngaruawahia United couldn’t repel Rovers last weekend, letting in two goals in stoppage time to concede a 2-1 defeat to the North Auckland side.
The loss means Manukau United have now caught up to them after they soundly defeated Takapuna 4-1 at Walter Massey Park.
Manukau also have a game in hand on the Waikato side and the battle for second place between these sides could come down to the wire as Manukau plays both Ngaruawahia and Fencibles in the last two rounds.
Now Rovers have caught the leading group, they travel to North Shore United on Saturday having held on for a tight 4-3 win in the earlier reverse fixture.
Fencibles despatched the hapless Franklin United by a score of 13-2.
They have another matchup against a bottom-half team in the form of Takapuna on Saturday. They beaten them 5-1 in the reverse fixture
Takapuna have impressed recently with their only loss in their last four matches coming against the rising Manukau side last weekend.
Ngaruawahia again have suspensions to contend with after two of their players were sent off in their loss to Rovers.
Midfielder Jack Marden was removed early in the first half after receiving a second yellow card, before defender Roman Yair Perez was shown a straight red card deep into stoppage time.
They’ll need to tidy up their discipline if they are to hold onto second-place as they have picked up six red cards this season.
The battle at the bottom end of the table is heating up as both North Shore and Metro were both able to pick up a crucial point last week.
Metro will be disappointed to not have taken all three points after leading 2-0 early in the match.
They now have a tough run of fixtures, playing six of the top eight in their final six matches, starting with Ngaruwahia this weekend.
North Shore still sit in a relegation spot after last weekend’s draw and have a tough assignment on Saturday when they host a Rovers side that have only lost one in their last 12 matches.
Mt Albert Ponsonby have been struggling for consistency, failing to back up their upset win over Rovers last week when they could only manage a point against North Shore.
They travel to play Franklin this weekend, having recorded their biggest win of the season in the reverse fixture (6-2).
The Hibiscus Coast match against Ellerslie this week has been postponed as Coast compete in the quarter-finals of the Chatham Cup. They’re hosting Central League side Coastal Spirit at Stanmore Bay Park on Saturday.
That also means the Ponies are left without a match for the second week in a row.
Game of the week
Manukau have the chance to go into second place when they take on Onehunga Mangere United at Mangere Mountain.
Though their confidence will be boosted from three wins from their last three matches, they were all against teams from the bottom four.
This will be the first time the sides face each other this season, as this fixture has been postponed previously.
Onehunga Mangere desperately need a win after losing their last three, and slipping down to sixth on the table.
They do, however, have two games in hand as their match against Ellerslie was postponed due to field closures.
Player to watch
North Shore United midfielder Nick Petherick helped his side snatch a point last week after scoring a hattrick in their 3-3 draw against Mt Albert Ponsonby.
That takes his goal tally to four for the season and puts him in second place on his club’s top scorer list behind talisman Brodie Putt.
Petherick (19) transferred from Birkenhead’s U-23’s team last season and broke into the starting line-up after his club made a disappointing start to the season.
His side will surely be counting on the youngster to provide further magic if they are to avoid relegation to the conference.
Bold prediction
I predict Fencibles United will continue their dominance and grab another victory when they take on Takapuna on Saturday.
I’ll also predict Manukau United will beat Onehunga Mangere United.
Last week, I predicted Ellerslie and Manukau would pick up wins. The Ellerslie match was postponed but Manukau recorded a 4-1 victory over Takapuna.
Golden Boot
18 — Darius Palma (Ngaruawahia United)
14 — Daniel Bunch (Fencibles United)
13 — Kodie Nicol (Fencibles United)
10 — Aston Burns (Fencibles United), Dylan Horgan (Manukau United), Joao Moreira (Takapuna)
9 — Adam Creaney (Metro)
8 — Reuben Henderson (Ngaruawahia United)
7 — Sam Freeman (Metro)
6 — Brodie Putt (North Shore United), Hamsa Moosvi (Manukau United), Levi Clark (Ngaruawahia United), Tinotenda Mupemhena (Franklin United)
5 — Daniel Cyra (Hibiscus Coast), Max Adamson (Fencibles United), Nick Petherick (North Shore United), Sam Tutton (Mt Albert Ponsonby), Rowan Corbett (Ellerslie), Scott Sellar (Mt Albert Ponsonby), Will Litchfield (Ellerslie)
Fixtures
Games to be played on Saturday July 27, 2024
Takapuna v Fencibles United
Taharoto Park, Takapuna, 3pm
North Shore United v Northern Rovers
Allen Hill Stadium, Devonport, 3pm
Metro v Ngaruawahia United
Phyllis St, Mt Albert, 3pm
Onehunga Mangere United v Manukau United
Mangere Domain, Mangere, 3pm
Franklin United v Mt Albert Ponsonby
Drury Sports Complex, Drury, 5pm
David Larkin
Friends of Football writer David Larkin plays community football for Auckland club Manurewa.
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