HAMMERING AT THE DOOR: The Kerikeri Masters lay siege to the Kaitaia Top Roofer goal in the late stages of this Northland 2nd Division Championship match at Waipapa on Saturday.
Saturday men
Kerikeri Bay Builders 1 Kamo Reserves 2 (ht 1-1): The visitors recording the upset of the domestic season after handing the Keri Prems what is only their second loss of the year (the other was the 10-1 thrashing away to Forrest Hill Milford in round 1 of the Chatham Cup back in May) at Waipapa on Saturday afternoon.
But this will likely be considered their worst, with the runaway prem div champions expected to give the 1st divvers a good old-fashioned hiding going into the game. Some noted Kamo featured several players who should have been in that club's NMP team this season and wondered if they had played down to try and secure some silverware for the club; once it had become apparent weeks ago that no one was going to catch Keri in the chase for the prem div title.
The hosts were given a chance to equalise 10 minutes from the end and force the match into extra time when a penalty was awarded and taken by the ever reliable Robbie Kingman, but the Kamo keeper guessed right and made a good save. Kerikeri's Mark Roberts described the result as a "bad day at the office", noting the first half-hour was pretty even with Kamo sneaking ahead via a great finish by Keegan Baddley, before Keri kicked into gear and dominated the final 15 minutes of the half when the equaliser was scored. Kamo came out refreshed after the break and Baddley got his second at the 70-minute mark, "though the Keri defence won't like to see the replay", admitted Roberts.
"Yeah, the Kamo reserves were very committed and really got stuck in and took it to us. We were missing a full defensive line but credit to Kamo, they deserved their win after taking their two chances well," said Roberts.
Kamo now progress to the cup semi-final on August 29. The Keri Prems, meanwhile, will now focus on facing Glen Eden Rangers in the semi-final of the Federation One Cup at Waipapa at 2pm this Saturday (with the winner progressing to the finals at Toll Stadium on September 5).
Keri's Far North stablemates, Kaitaia Just Plumber, are meanwhile expected to complete their NMP campaign when they host Onerahi at Taipa this Saturday, which will be their first game in three weeks.
Kerikeri Masters 4 Kaitaia Top Roofer United 0 (ht 2-0): The Keri third team taking a comfortable win in the Far North derby from round 4 of the Northland 2nd Division Championship in the earlier game of a double header which took place in cool and windy conditions under bleak skies at Waipapa on Saturday.
Keri's goals by Felix Drew, Graham Sharp and Pat Bohane, with the latter named his side's player of the day. Also notable for the hosts were Anthony Chalder Royale in the midfield, Steve Thomas with a colossal performance also in the midfield and Nick Blake in the heart of the defence.
While the result left Kaitaia anchoring the bottom of the standings, the highlight for Kerikeri referee Sean White was the attitude shown by the visiting team throughout the 90 minutes, and the good sportsmanship displayed by both teams made this match an absolute pleasure to be involved in.
"It was really great seeing the Kaitaia boys coming to play good football," said White, noting the visitors' standouts from his perspective were Dylan Rogers in defence and captain James Van Engelen in the attacking midfield role.
The result saw Keri Masters protecting their unbeaten record of the past three seasons and stay on track to defend their 2nd div title (which will making it three consecutive titles in the side's three years in existence including the now defunct 0-35 championship won in 2013), which could be secured at Onerahi this coming Saturday. The Waipapa-based side is also hoping to complete a double by taking out the Stafford Choat Cup Bowl with their next match away to Central Brown in the semi-final on August 29.
- NM2 standings: Kerikeri (played 3, for/ against 19/3) 9 points, FC Whangarei (3, 8/5) 5, Onerahi (3, 6/6) 4, Madhatters Green (3, 8/11) 4, Madhatters Black (3, 5/14) 3, Kaitaia (3, 3/10) 0.
Bay Cosmos Mixed 3 Tikipunga Development 1: The men and women of the Bay Cosmos Mixed side celebrating their first win of the Northland 3rd Division championship in this bottom-of-the-table clash at Kawakawa in fine but cool conditions on Sunday.
Goals by James Bower, finishing off some nice passing sequence involving forwards and midfielders, and Cree Davis, adding to an own goal after a powerful drive from Amon Jury ricocheted off a Tiki player back into his own net. Elsewhere, standouts included goalie Ben Brown who saved a penalty, and a man called Jeff who cleared a Tiki' shot off the goalline.
Cosmos spokesperson Jen Crowther said the result was long overdue and noted the homeside enjoyed its best turnout in ages, with two subs. Also singled out for praise was injured Keegan Harrison who reffed the match.
- NM3 standings: Kamo (2, 7/3) 6, Central (2, 6/2) 4, Tikipunga Coastline (2, 5/3) 4, Northern Wairoa (3, 7/10) 3, Bay Cosmos (2, 3/4) 3, Tikipunga Development (3, 3/10) 0.
Sunday womenKerikeri Siteworx 0 Kamo 2: Kerikeri completing their 2015 campaign by hosting the NWP champions in the Northland Women's Knockout Cup semi-final at Waipapa on Sunday afternoon.
Keri spokesperson Kate Liddington said this was as good performance from her side to complete their 2015 campaign as any she had seen this season, even though it finished in defeat. She said the girls played out of their skins, with seven key players unavailable (including herself and sister Ellie with injury), in their first game in four weeks as the NWP and its accompanying knockout cup event once again stuttered towards its denouement in traditional snail-like fashion.
"The girls played awesome, [considering we had] no reserves," said Liddington. "Maybe when you're down, you just suck it up and get on with it. Still, a good way to finish the season."
While coach Paul Cubitt gave his POTD to everyone, Liddington noted the backline of Chelsea Downey, Katie Ralph, Amy Walden and Rona Lawson were particularly impressive. She said everyone pleased that NFF had brought the game forward from September 6 to allow Siteworx put closure on the season sooner rather than be kept in limbo.
Central Brown 0 Kerikeri High School 5 (ht 0-1): The 2015 Northland Women's Premier Division runners-up progressing to the Northland Women's Knockout Cup final via a comfortable victory in this semi-final at William Fraser Park on Sunday. Keri High coach Russell McCabe noted the match had been transferred from Otaika Domain (following torrential downpours across the region the day prior) on Sunday afternoon.
"We were a bit shaky in the first half, but the team got their act together in the second half, knocked the ball around [and the goals came]," said McCabe. Goal-scorers were Finella O'Leary 2, with Priscilla Hornsby, Natalie Pickery and Olivia Walden scoring one each.
McCabe gave the POTD award to the whole team, but said he was particularly impressed with several players who crawled out of their sickbeds on Sunday to play, albeit in short bursts. The side now prepare to take part the week-long Satellites tournament campaign in Auckland at the end of the month, before facing NWP champions Kamo in the KO Cup final at Toll Stadium on September 13.