Kamo squares ledger in league

What a difference a week makes.
Last week, Northland Premier Division league leaders Kamo were totally outclassed by FC Whangarei and were knocked out of the Premier League Cup 3-1.
On Saturday, the two teams lined up again in a vital league encounter at the same venue with Kamo prevailing 2-1.
Kamo's plan to pressure the ball carrier paid off and unsettled FC's passing game that had caused them so much trouble the previous week. There was no score in a tight first spell.
Both sides had periods of domination during the match and it looked like an odd goal might settle the game. Midway through the second spell however, Sammy Oso was put through one on one with the goalkeeper and made no mistake.
The goal saw FC chance their arm a little more in search of an equaliser and they were hit on the break, with Calvin Erick putting substitute Jacob Manaton through to score the second goal.
FC threw everything forward and were rewarded with a goal five minutes from time but a frenetic final period failed to alter the result.
The result leaves Kamo unbeaten in the league and 11 points clear of FC in third place and a big game looms against second-placed Tikipunga - 2-0 winners against Kerikeri on Saturday - this weekend.
"We're five points ahead of Tikipunga now and if we can win this weekend then the championship is ours to lose," Kamo coach Russell Baddeley said.
The third match saw newly promoted Bream Bay United finally break their duck in the premier league, beating Onerahi 3-0.
Coach Guy Buffey said the side were "ecstatic" after the match to earn their first win in such emphatic circumstances.
Despite the final scoreline the match was evenly contested throughout, with Steve Pether scoring from a free-kick to break the deadlock in the 60th minute. A great run down the wing by Thomas Malloy ended with a goal to Jordan Rudman 10 minutes later and Scott Walsh completed the win with the final goal.
In the reserve grade, Kamo defeated league leaders FC Whangarei 5-2 to close the gap between them to five points. Bream Bay and Onerahi drew 1-1, while Tikipunga beat Kerikeri 5-3.
In women's Northland Premier League football, Kamo maintained their perfect record at the top of the Northland Premier League with a 5-1 win over Hora Hora. FC Whangarei beat Bay Cosmos 3-0 to remain in the hunt for the title.
In the Northern Region Premier League, North Force had an off-day against bottom-placed West Auckland and managed only a 2-2 draw in Auckland. After going down to a controversial first goal, the team went ahead with second-half goals to Zoee Hoy and player-coach Dee Tunstall. An own goal summed up their day however and Tunstall said their failure to finish chances, particularly in the first half, cost them dearly.