Football: Hughes unable to lift WaiBOP game

Jerahl Hughes

A fit again Jerahl Hughes has been unable to spur the WaiBOP youth side to a victory over its Team Wellington counterparts in Petone.

The hosts improved to fifth spot with a 2-1 win thanks to a Taban Makoii double.

The gifted attacking player struck either side of half-time, providing the home side with the buffer they needed. WaiBOP substitute Paul Clout pulled a goal back for the visitors with three minutes to go.

WaiBOP senior coach Peter Smith was looking forward to getting Hughes back into the mix for top side selection alongside Tauranga City United teammate Sam O'Regan and a number of other players who now base themselves around Tauranga.

Elsewhere, the Nelson Marlborough Falcons and Waitakere United continued to match each other on points atop the ASB Youth League over the weekend's fifth round.

League leaders on goal difference, Nelson Marlborough maintained their top placing with a home 2-0 victory over Wanderers SC at Trafalgar Park on Sunday.

A goal in each half from Atkin Kaua and Nathaniel Payne was enough for the win.

Waitakere maintained their perfect record with a 2-0 result over Canterbury United at Fred Taylor Park - Josh Armitt and substitute Jake Porter scoring.

Manawatu United emphatically moved into fourth position with a 7-0 triumph over Hawke's Bay United at Memorial Park in Palmerston North, while Southern United recovered from a one goal deficit at Forrester Park to earn a point from a 1-1 draw with Heartland Wairarapa.

Auckland United moved up to seventh place with a come-from-behind win over cross-town rivals Auckland City.

-ASB Youth League

Round 5, November 8-9

Manawatu Utd 7 Hawke's Bay Utd 0 (Halftime: 3-0). MU: Jordan Martens 14', 68', 85', Rhys Galyer 18', 45', Rhys Janes 77', Tom Viles 89'.

Waitakere Utd 2 Canterbury Utd 0 (Halftime: 1-0). WU: Josh Armitt 25', Jake Porter 57'.

Southern Utd 1 Heartland Wairarapa 1 (Halftime: 0-1). SU: Mathew Mitchell 84'; HW: Stephen Thomas 29'.

Auckland City FC 1 Auckland Utd 2 (Halftime: 1-0). AC: Thomas Konusi 42'; AU: Wisawayot Kochasira 60', 63'.

Nelson Marlborough Falcons 2 Wanderers SC 0 (Halftime: 1-0). NM: Atkin Kaua 26', Nathaniel Payne 79'.

Team Wellington 2 WaiBOP Utd 1 (Halftime: 1-0). TW: Taban Makoii 40', 61'; WB: Paul Clout 87'.