Steve Schimmel hit a late equaliser for Northland FC but it wasn't enough for them to defeat Papakura City. Photo / Michael Cunningham
Steve Schimmel hit a late equaliser for Northland FC but it wasn't enough for them to defeat Papakura City. Photo / Michael Cunningham
A 92nd-minute winner from Charlie Heather sealed Northland FC's fate as they went down to Papakura City 4-3.
In a rare home defeat at Morningside Park during their Lotto NRFL Division Two campaign, Northland FC fell just short in a match that had everything - goals, penalties, thunderbolts, a last-minutewinner and enthralling team play.
Northland were behind the eight-ball early as Peter Wild sent a sublime free kick that evaded Josh Apeldoorn at the back before getting past a wrong-footed Geoff Bigwood.
Kyle Levell scored his second goal of the season to restore parity with a great effort from the right edge but the score wouldn't remain even for long.
Wild added to his tally as he hit a screamer from 30 yards out. Goalkeeper Bigwood could only get a flailing hand to it before it crashed into the back of the net.
Northland tied things up just before the break through Finn Diamond to set up an interesting second stanza.
It was a cagey affair in the last 45 minutes however Papakura broke the deadlock once again through Heather nailing the penalty kick.
Northland hadn't lost a game at home this season and weren't going to let Papakura break that streak as captain Steve Schimmel looked to have secured at least a draw with a strike with 10 minutes left.
Papakura had other ideas and Heather clinched the victory deep into injury time.
Northland coach Dan Johnston said they were disappointed but he's happy with how the team has progressed throughout the season.
"We're gutted. I don't feel we were at our best today, but the fact that we took them all the way shows how far we have come this season," he said.
"It's still up to us in terms of our final league position, but we know we are going to have to be at our best if we are going to get anything from Fencibles next week."
Northland head away to Riverhills Park for their final league game next week.
