By Jack Sharp
Leaders Waitemata remain 10 points clear of their nearest rivals in the Lotto NRFL Men’s Northern Conference, and they might increase that lead this weekend.
On form, Waitemata are expected to win at home against mid-table Bucklands Beach, while the three teams trying to catch them all have tricky fixtures.
Northland (3rd) travel to Beachlands Maraetai who are after their third win in a row, after pushing Waitemata close in a 3-2 match three rounds back.
Beachlands Maraetai will be no pushover, and Northland will have to work for the win.
Albany United and Waiheke United face each other, so one or both are bound to drop points.
And at the foot of the ladder, west Auckland rivals Te Atatu and Oratia United get to contest bragging rights.
Game of the week
Albany United (4th) host Waiheke United (2nd) in a game that could easily shake one of them out of the pack chasing leaders Waitemata.
The teams are only a point apart, and if Waitemata and Northland win their games, the loser could quickly drop away.
So which is the most likely to slip up?
Albany lost 2-1 to Northland last weekend, their first loss since June 28.
They beat Oratia United 2-1 in midweek to keep within a point of their nearest two rivals.
Waiheke United have been patchy, just doing enough to win some games, and dropping points when least expected.
For all that, they continue to have the division’s tightest defence, with only 14 goals conceded in 15 rounds.
Saturday’s winner stays in the chase. The loser drops away. And the draw suits neither team.
It should be a cracking game.
Bold prediction
Surely, Oratia United can’t go through the entire season without a win.
They’ve endured the odd drubbing but in many games, they’ve been competitive.
Last weekend, they lost 2-0 to competition leaders Waitemata — no shame in that — and in midweek, they made Albany United work for a 2-1 win.
On the back of those encouraging results, and back at Parrs Park, I’m tipping they’ll finally break through with a win against Te Atatu who haven’t won since early June.
Last week, I predicted Bucklands Beach would find it difficult to breach the Waiheke rearguard who would win, and keep a clean sheet. Waiheke United won 2-1, conceding the goal in the 79th minute.
Golden Boot
11 — Sander Waterland (Bucklands Beach)
9 — James Chamberlain-Barlow (Albany United), Mark Giles (Beachlands Maraetai)
8 — Adam Hargood (Waitemata)
7 — Fumiya Ito (Northland)
6 — Alexander Thurbon (Beachlands Maraetai), Kyle Levell (Northland), Josh Smith (Bucklands Beach)
5 — Lyle Jones (Bucklands Beach), Ramon Lindner (Waiheke United), Nico Vanina (Waiheke United), Shane Tanner (Waitemata)
4 — Ali Ryou Zeyni (Beachlands Maraetai), Andy Kapteyn (Oratia United), Arnold Kochasira (Waitemata), Daniel Peak (Te Atatu), Ethan Carter (Northland), Gian Krauer (Albany United), Harry Murphy (Waitemata), Jared Colligan (Te Atatu), Lukas Webster (Waitemata), Milan Clarke (Northland), Oliver Peters (Beachlands Maraetai), Roy van Leeuwen (Waitemata), Sergio Lindner (Waiheke United)
Fixtures
Games to be played on Saturday August 3 2024
Oratia United v Te Atatu
Parrs Park, Oratia, 3pm
Albany United v Waiheke United
Rosedale Park, Albany, 3pm
Beachlands Maraetai v Northland
Te Puru Park, Beachlands, 3pm
Waitemata v Bucklands Beach
McLeod Park, Waitemata, 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.
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