Football: Northland FC's survival chances in own hands after away win

A goal from Northland FC player Max Thomas earned the team a 1-0 win at he weekend and kept alive their hopes of avoiding relegation from the Lotto NRFL Division 2. Photo / File

Onehunga Mangere Utd 0 V 1 Northland FC (Thomas 26)
Onehunga Mangere Utd Reserves 1 v 2 Northland FC Reserves.

Northland FC held on to a one-goal lead for 70 or so minutes yesterday, and in doing so took a step towards Northern League survival in their Lotto NRFL Division 2 relegation battle at Mangere Domain.

Max Thomas popped up in the six-yard box to pounce on a rebound after the goalkeeper could only parry a Caleb Russ shot and score the only goal of the game, which saw the boys in blue on the back foot in the first 20 minutes.

Shane Stanners was in fine form between the sticks and made numerous saves from close range, while the central quartet of Dan Johnston, Jamie Blowers, Johnny Fletcher and Joel Crawford had to fight for dominance in the air and for the second phase on the ground.

The second half saw the game stretched a bit but the Northland back line held firm. Such was the Onehunga threat from set pieces that they sensed opportunity whenever they won one in their opponent's half, although they had little else in the way of a goal threat.

Kyran Winterburn nearly doubled the lead towards the end of the match, forcing the Onehunga keeper into a fine save, and Fletcher fired into the side netting from an acute angle but Northland could not land the killer blow which set up a tense finale.

The clean sheet and three points would be heading back up north though, leaving Northland FC's chances of survival in their own hands with two games left.

Head coach Dan Johnston said: "We were aware of the aerial threat they posed in the final third and at set-pieces so we talked about winning those headers and the second ball. All this means though is that we don't need to rely on favours from other clubs, if we are going to see this through we need to apply ourselves in the same manner over the next two games."

Northland have a rescheduled match against Bucklands Beach next week, who have already been promoted, before hosting Te Atatu, now in the bottom two, on the final day of the season.