PREVIEW: Stop Out upset win breathes life into Central League relegation battle

By Luke Austin

Stop Out’s surprise win against Waterside Karori has thrown them a relegation lifeline.

Down 2-1 and seemingly heading for a 12th defeat in 14 games, Stop Out scored two late goals to finally secure their first win of the season in Round 14.

They remain in 10th place but are now only three points behind North Wellington and four behind Island Bay United, who have played one more game.

Stop Out can now turn their attention to their remaining four games, the first of which is on Saturday at Hutt Park, where they host third-placed Western Suburbs.

Wests are six points ahead of Miramar Rangers, but have played one more game and will be aware that any dropped points could be detrimental to their National League aspirations.

The Wellington Phoenix reserves are assured of a National League spot, and the three best-performing clubs will take the remaining spots.

Defending champions Wellington Olympic and neighbours Island Bay United play a Wakefield Park derby in the 3.45 pm match.

The Greeks recently advanced to the semi-finals of the Chatham Cup with a 4-0 win against Northern League side Manurewa, and they currently hold the O’Brien Shield, which they took off Waterside Karori in Round 12 of the Central League.

In eighth place, Island Bay will have to pull off the unlikeliest of upsets to come away with anything from this game.

Olympic striker Hamish Watson is on a run of form, and was judged by NZ Football to have scored the latest Goal of the Week. Here it is …

The final Saturday game sees Petone travel to Alex Moore Park to take on North Wellington.

Both sides have been on the wrong end of thrashings at the hands of Miramar Rangers in recent weeks and could do with points on the board to get things back on track.

North Wellington, in particular, are in need of a result to ease relegation fears.

Game of the week

Miramar know they likely have to win their remaining four games to have a chance of climbing into the top three.

They have been in red-hot form, scoring 17 goals in huge wins against Petone (9-0) and North Wellington (8-1).

Their opponents this Sunday, Napier City Rovers, have lost only to Wellington Olympic in the league this season and will be tough to beat at home.

The stage is set for an entertaining clash with plenty at stake for two of the Central League’s best sides.

The match will be live-streamed by FIFA+, providing home viewers with an afternoon’s entertainment.

*Napier City Rovers goalkeeper William Tønning … will do well to get a clean sheet against in-form Miramar Rangers.*

Player to watch

The player tasked with stopping the goal-hungry Miramar attack is Napier goalkeeper William Tønning.

Signed from Danish club Hobro IK, Tønning (25) has also played alongside close friend Oscar Faulds for the Swedish club IFK Lulea.

The ‘keeper has been catching the eye with several impressive performances for Napier this season and will need to be at his very best in Sunday’s big game.

Bold prediction

I’m backing the in-form Miramar side to come away from the Hawkes Bay with all three points this weekend.

Bluewater Stadium is usually somewhat of a fortress for Napier City Rovers, however some nerves may be creeping in at the thought of facing the Miramar attack following their recent goalscoring exploits.

Miramar, on the other hand, will be full of confidence and belief that they can overcome their higher-ranked opponents.

Golden Boot

21 — Oscar Faulds (Napier City Rovers)
15 — Lucas Meek (Western Suburbs)
12 — Hamish Watson (Wellington Olympic), Sam Mason-Smith (Miramar Rangers)
10 — Jack O’Connor (Petone),
9 — Tomas Alvarado (Waterside Karori)
8 — Martin Bueno (Miramar Rangers)
7 — Jesse Randall (Wellington Olympic), Connor Wilson (Western Suburbs)
6 — Tor Davenport Petersen (Wellington Olympic), Nicolas Bobadilla (Miramar Rangers), Connor Gaul (Stop Out)
5 — Ben Mata (Wellington Olympic), Miles Green (Western Suburbs), Luke Supyk (Wellington Phoenix), Stefan Ashby (Island Bay United, now Wellington Olympic), Josh Tollervey (Miramar Rangers)