Leaders Cape Physio Taradale are the undisputed champions with a comfortable nine-point lead on the table.
On Saturday, the Robbie Parker-coached Taradale beat Promotem Napier City Rovers 2-0 at Park Island, Napier, to remain undefeated this winter with just one draw and boasting the best defensive record in conceding only a dozen goals after 15 games.
"Rovers made it hard for us but if we'd taken one of the many chances we created earlier it might have been more comfortable," Parker said.
He was pleased, considering they were missing six players.
Rovers coach Matt Hastings said the Blues were effectively in blooding youth.
"They have been putting everything in but they haven't been getting what they deserve," Hastings said, adding the experience of playing the league champions was invaluable for his youngsters.
He felt the onus was on him and other Rovers coaches to give the players tough assignments to strengthen the club's foundation.
A fortnight ago, the Rovers lost 2-0 to Ericksen Honda Port Hill United but drew with second-placed Best Travel Havelock North Wanderers the previous Saturday.
Rovers 0 Taradale 2 (Dean Johnston 70th, Chris Bruin 85th). HT: 0-0.
Marist 2 Rangers 0
Stand-in Hot Shot Napier Marist coach Alan Dick was the first to admit the game against Western Rangers at Park Island was even with his men taking their chances.
Son Mitchell Dick drew first blood in the 17th minute but, while Rangers coach Ritchie Howard credited the 42nd-minute goal to Chris Malone, Alan Dick put the record in perspective.
"To be fair, the ref put that second goal down to an own goal. Let's say it was an unkind own goal," Dick clarified, after Marist crushed Cru Bar Maycenvale United 6-1 the previous Saturday.
Howard said both goals were deflected strikes.
"It was probably a little do with some naive defending from us," he lamented but not wanting to take anything away from the winners.
Rangers quickly learned that creating opportunities don't necessarily equate to goals or victories.
"It's the story of our season. We're missing hit men in the final third of the park," Howard said, after a 2-1 loss to Marist a fortnight ago and a 3-0 defeat to Port Hill the previous Saturday.
Marist 2 (Mitchell Dick 17th, own goal 42nd) Rangers 0. HT: 2-0.
Havelock 1 Gisborne 0
Having pipped Jennian Homes Team Gisborne 3-2 at Guthrie Park, Havelock North, a fortnight ago, the Wanderers emulated that feat on Saturday with a similar margin.
"We dominated for larger periods and deserved our 1-0 lead," the villagers' coach, Bruce Barclay, said, revealing the visitors upped the tempo in the second spell.
Barclay lauded his defenders who pressured Gisborne to revert to shots from deep.
In the 3-2 win, Havelock were 3-0 up within 15 minutes but that purple patch disappeared as they set back.
Havelock 1 (Che Jesson-Bentley 27th) Gisborne 0. HT: 1-0.
Maycenvale 3 Port Hill 6
Coach Tim Claudatos and his Port Hill troops had one mission - take three points and keep a clean sheet.
The visitors achieved one goal at Akina Park, Hastings, against Maycenvale.
"We were 5-nil up so I made two substitutions and they scored three goals," Claudatos said of Vale player Ethan Dent's hattrick.
He was loath to come down like a ton of bricks on his lads, who were disappointed.
Port Hill have now registered three wins on the trot.
"We want to finish on the top of the bottom-four teams on the table.
"Of course, we want to get them first and not count our chickens before they are hatched," Claudatos said.
Captain Nick Lucas was a notable omission for Maycenvale who are rooted last on the table on six points from two wins with Rangers above them on as many wins but on 10 points after eking out four stalemates.
Maycenvale 3 (Ethan Dent hattrick) Port Hill 6 (Shay Wall 2, Hayden Ericksen 2, Adam Glasspool, Matt Single). HT: 2-0 Vale.
Federation League
Taradale 4 Feilding 1
The first half offered few opportunities but the floodgates opened for Your Solutions Taradale in the second.
Goalkeepers retrieved the ball five times from the nets - Feilding United four of those times at Taradale Park 2.
Dale vice-captain Corey Charlton lauded their glove man, Graham Healey, for keeping the hosts in the game in a scoreless first 45 minutes.
"In the second half we took our chances a lot better," Charlton said of Taradale, who went into the game in fifth place on the table.
A fortnight ago, Taradale lost 2-1 to Team Taranaki in Palmerston North after having a bye the previous Saturday.
Taradale 4 (Keegan Bright, Simon Stallard, Jack Needes, Chris McIvor) Feilding 1 (Aaron Richardson). HT: 0-0.
