Kerikeri prems lose coach but keep the clean sheet

FINE TOUCH: Brazilian Vander Dos Santis continued his impressive season with both Kaitaia United senior sides, giving another man of the match performance in the prem div derby at Waipapa on Sunday.

Kerikeri Bay Builders 5 Kaitaia United Justa Plumber 0 (ht 0-0): While this result from round 10 of the Northland Men's Premier Division at Waipapa on Sunday was widely regarded as a foregone conclusion, the main talking point was the departure of the Keri prems' longstanding coach Jim Brooks for reasons which remain unclear.

Brooks has done some exemplary work with the side, which has been untouchable in domestic competition this season. His departure doesn't appear to have slowed the runaway prem div leaders down, if Sunday's result was anything to go by, but it did raise eyebrows in Far North football circles.

Of the game, Kaitaia captain Andy Booth admitted he had never been confident going in with so many first-choice players unavailable (the injury count for the two Kaitaia senior teams is nearing the double-figure mark). And while the plan to be the first side to force the Keri prems to concede a goal this season fell well short, although much credit there was due to some excellent saves from Keri 'keeper Chris White, Boothy was impressed with the underdogs' all-round effort.

"The whole side played awesomely," said Boothy, awarding POTD to centre-back Vander Dos Santos, while left-back Dylan Rogers was also praised, playing his second full senior game in two days. Afterwards, the Kaitaia players were a tad bemused to receive an apology on behalf of the Kerikeri players who were late for the aftermatch because of a heated dispute in the changing sheds.

NB: Keri FC asked for this match to be transferred from Saturday to Sunday to allow several Kerikeri players to travel to Auckland to watch the Fifa U-20 World Cup final between Brazil and Serbia in Auckland on Saturday (which Serbia won 2-1 in extra time). The Keri prems now turn their attention to contesting the quarter-final of the NFF Federation One Cup at home against Albany Africans this Saturday; while Kaitaia continue their Northland Men's Premier Division campaign with a home match against Central Brown.

- NMP standings: Kerikeri (played 7, for/ against 44/0) 21 points, Bream Bay (9, 13/24) 13, Tikipunga (8, 14/22) 12, Kamo (7, 14/10) 11, Kaitaia (8, 11/17) 9, Onerahi (7, 14/13) 8, Central Brown (8, 10/16) 8, FC (8, 8/26) 5.

Kerikeri Reserves vs Madhatters Blue POSTPONED: One of two matches from round 10 of the Northland Men's 1st Division which ended up being postponed on Saturday with players involved in varying capacities with the Fifa U-20 World Cup final. The other two games played didn't affect the Keri reserves' position at the top of the standings, although the Waipapa-based side's lead has been reduced.

- NM1 standings: Kerikeri (9, 36/15) 21 points, Kamo (8, 47/14) 19, FC (7, 31/13) 18, Tikipunga (8, 20/18) 12, Bream Bay (9, 19/34) 10, Central (8, 13/14) 9, Madhatters Blue (8, 13/35) 3, Onerahi (7, 6/42) 3.

FC Whangarei 2 Kaitaia United Top Roofer 2 (ht 2-1): An exciting and entertaining match between the two archrivals in round 10 of the Northland 2nd/3rd Divisions Grading match in spite of the stormy weather at Morningside Park.

Kaitaia had the better of the first half but went behind through a defensive slip-up, FC making no mistake with the only decent chance they were given in the opening 40 minutes. The homeside equalised from the penalty spot, then went ahead following a raft of decent opportunities (the majority of which were denied by fine performance from the FC 'keeper) but also blasting a sitter high over the crossbar when hitting the back of the net seemed far easier.

The homeside came on far more aggressively in the second half as conditions deteriorated and they cleverly took advantage of the increasingly greasy, muddy conditions by peppering the Kaitaia goal with long-range shots. The equaliser eventually came via a gust-assisted scorching drive from 25 yards out which caught the veteran Kaitaia 'keeper flat-footed. FC then won a free kick from a dangerous position just outside the area and did get the ball across the line following a goalmouth scramble but were dismayed to have the goal disallowed for offside by the ref - a visitor from Auckland - who then promptly blew for full time. The draw at least allowed Kaitaia to slink into fourth on the standings.

Kaitaia goals by Rob Covich (his first touch after coming on), and James van Englen (the penalty), while standout was inside-back Dylan Rogers.

There are only two more rounds before the top six and bottom six teams will be separated and begin battling for the 2015 Northland 2nd and 3rd division titles respectively.

Kerikeri Harcourts Masters 4 Tikipunga Development 1 (ht 1-1): In wet and blustery conditions, the Keri Masters went ahead in this N2/3DG clash at Waipapa. However, as conditions worsened, general play became scrappy and a short pass in defence allowed Tikipunga to equalise before the break, but Keri secured the result in the second spell. Goals by Anthony Chalder Royle 2, Graham Sharp and Paddy Bohane, with attacking midfielder Stevie Gardner named as the homeside's standout.

Madhatters Black 5 Bay Cosmos Mixed 1 (ht 0-2): The Bay Cosmos Mixed side clearly struggling away in Saturday's miserable weather conditions. The visitors' sole goal was knocked in by Aubrey Harrison, while 'keeper Owen Cookson was named the side's standout, mostly for being amongst a notably small crew representing Cosmos who could be bothered turning up for the aftermatch of this cold, wet and windy affair at William Fraser Park on Saturday.

- N2/3DG standings: Kerikeri (9, 32/9) 25, Madhatters Green (8, 36/16) 19, Mad Black (9, 33/11) 19, Kaitaia (9, 23/15) 16, Onerahi (9, 17/15) 16, North Wairoa (9, 23/18) 15; Tiki' Coastline (10, 19/22) 14, FC (9, 14/20) 11, Central (10, 22/33) 9, Kamo WA (9, 16/20) 7, Bay Cosmos (9, 11/41) 4, Tiki' Development (8, 11/36) 1.

Kerikeri Siteworx 3 Hora Hora 0 (by default): Hora Hora defaulting the road trip to take on the Keri FC women's team in the Northland Women's Premier Division at Waipapa on Sunday.

Northern Wairoa v Kerikeri High School POSTPONED: This round 10 clash from the NWP turning out to be another casualty of the Fifa U-20 World Cup; the Dargaville club crying off as a good number of players supported the grand final on Saturday but earning a postponement rather than a default.

- NWP standings: Kamo (7, 40/8) 21, Keri Siteworx (8, 34/9) 18, Keri High (8, 35/18) 15, Central (8, 27/27) 12, Hora Hora (9, 21/36) 7, Northern Wairoa (6, 10/26) 6, Onerahi (8, 3/46) 1.

NB: All standings given above were incomplete, with a number of results from weekend games still to be filed as this edition went to press.