PREVIEW: Overdue Oratia win peps up Northern Conference relegation battle

By Jack Sharp

Bottom side Oratia United have thrown themselves a relegation lifeline with their first win of the Lotto NRFL Men’s Northern League season.

Last weekend’s 1-0 win to the ‘Tia against Te Atatu means they are now four points behind their neighbours and six behind Beachlands Maraetai with five rounds to go in the Lotto NRFL Men’s Northern Conference.

There are 15 competition points to fight for — and the run-in for the three strugglers is brutal.

Te Atatu have the worst possible finish to their season, scheduled to meet the league’s top five sides, and the leading three clubs over the next three gamedays.

Otatia United have to face title chasers Northland and Waiheke United over the next two rounds, but have potentially winnable games in their last three fixtures.

Beachlands Maraetai could be dragged to the bottom, with a run-in that includes away trips to league leaders Waitemata and high-flying Waiheke United.

With Beachlands Maraetai and Oratia United destined to meet in the last fixture of the season, the relegation scrap could go all the way.

The bottom two sides in the competition will drop into next year’s NRF Men’s League One.

Game of the week

Northland put paid to Beachlands Maraetai’s recent improved form, beating them 3-0 at Te Puru Park last weekend.

This Saturday, they host Oratia United who will be buoyed by their first win of the year and will sniff an opportunity to mount an improbable climb to safety.

In their last six games, Oratia have picked up a win, two draws and had two close losses. Their only blowout was a 5-1 drubbing by Beachlands Maraetai.

It’ll be a tense encounter at Trigg Arena, with both sides anxious for the points.

Northland will take heart from having won the reverse fixture 4-0.

Player to watch

Full marks to Beachlands Maraetai player/team manager Alex Thurbon who gave his teammates ample incentive to complete a hat-trick of wins before they faced Northland last weekend.

Thurbon (29) wrote in Beachland Maraetai’s match programme: “We haven’t had much luck in recent weeks, but two solid wins — 5-1 and 2-0 with a clean sheet — are a well-deserved boost .

“We’ve seen standout performances across the board, with players stepping up when needed.

“These two wins have lifted us out of the relegation zone but there’s still a long way to go and many points to pick up and stay in this league.

“I promised the boys if we get three wins in a row, I’d wear a suit to the game. Now, we have the opportunity for me to travel to Waiheke in a suit — let’s get those three points, lads!”

While Thurbon will catch the ferry to Waiheke without his suit this Saturday, his passion for the cause can’t be questioned.

Bold prediction

I’m picking last week’s 2-1 loss by Waitemata to Bucklands Beach was a blip, and they’ll return to winning form against Te Atatu.

Both have plenty to play for but Waitemata should find a way to win, and I think they’ll do so with a couple of goals to spare.

Last week I predicted Oratia United would finally break through for their first win of the season. They beat Te Atatu 1-0.

The relegation fight

Here’s who the bottom three sides play in the run-in to the end of the season:

Golden Boot

12 — Sander Waterland (Bucklands Beach)
10 — James Chamberlain-Barlow (Albany United)
9 — Mark Giles (Beachlands Maraetai)
8 — Adam Hargood (Waitemata)
7 — Fumiya Ito (Northland), Josh Smith (Bucklands Beach), Kyle Levell (Northland), Nico Vanina (Waiheke United)
6 — Alexander Thurbon (Beachlands Maraetai)
5 — Ethan Carter (Northland), Harry Murphy (Waitemata), Lyle Jones (Bucklands Beach), Ramon Lindner (Waiheke United), Shane Tanner (Waitemata)
4 — Ali Ryou Zeyni (Beachlands Maraetai), Andy Kapteyn (Oratia United), Arnold Kochasira (Waitemata), Daniel Peak (Te Atatu), Diego Carvajal (Waiheke United), Gian Krauer (Albany United), 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 10, 2024

Te Atatu v Waitemata
Te Atatu Peninsula Park, Te Atatu, 3pm

Northland v Oratia United
Trigg Arena, Whangarei, 3pm

Waiheke United v Beachlands Maraetai
Onetangi Sports Complex, Waiheke, 3pm

Bucklands Beach v Albany United
Lloyd Elsmore Park, Pakuranga, 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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