FOOTBALL
Northland men's second division, week 10
Bay Cosmos 0 FC Whangarei Legends 0: Having this round 10 game at home against the sixth-placed Legends initially seemed a perfect opportunity for Bay Cosmos to secure their spot atop the Northland men's second division standings.
FC had other plans, bringing their notorious hard game to Kawakawa on Saturday in clear conditions but with a bitingly cold wind present. Cosmos became unsettled as each ball was fiercely contested for by the visitors and eventually, referee Alan Beckman (who played the first half for the homeside) had little choice but to issue a red card to one FC player for continuously arriving to the tackle late or lashing out dangerously with his foot.
Yet even against only 10, Cosmos still struggled, rarely threatened and were lucky to finish with a share of the points after 'keeper Owen 'Birthday Boy' Cookson pulled off a crucial diving save in the final five minutes to keep the visitors scoreless. Coach Jeff May conceded this wasn't the same Cosmos side which had banged in eight goals last week.
"We got rattled, didn't play our normal game," he said, adding right back Philip Bristow was the standout for the homeside.
Despite proving very competitive this year, May said Cosmos was still well suited for the second division, regarded by many as the social league in Northland men's football. He noted priority still went to those who have played with the team over the past two seasons rather than taking advantage of fallout from the first division Cosmos squad which disappeared into the abyss after last season.
"All the guys get on well, still go to the pub after the game, some even go before ..."
NM2 standings: Madhatters Black 21 points, Bay Cosmos 20, Kamo Whangarei Aluminium 20, Onerahi 14, Central Brown 14, FC Legends 12, Madhatters Marist 7, Tikipunga Coastline 3.
Northland men's first division
Kaitaia United Wayfarer Motel 5 Tikipunga 1: A convincing performance from Kaitaia on a beautiful winter's day on Sunray Park kept them near the top of the standings after week 3 of the Northland men's first division was completed. Coach Dave Armistead admitted an overall pleasing performance was tainted by some wasteful finishing, a defensive blunder gifting the visitors a goal "they did not deserve", and selfish play.
Ryan Beard scored a hat-trick, adding to goals by Reece Thompson and Shane Pika McDonald, while centre back AJ Kumar earned the POTD award for distributing the ball well and generating forward movement from deep.
FC Whangarei Reserves 2 Keri Palmco 5 (ht 0-2): A strong away result for Palmco reserves team at Morningside Park on Saturday; the only Kerikeri men's side to win on Saturday.
Coach James Coleman was pleased with the five-goal display from his young guns.
He noted they soaked up the early pressure and intimidation from the older and more physical home side before playing their way back into the game with some trademark slick passing and tireless running off-the-ball.
The standout was Josh McGowan: "Probably one of our most versatile players in covering three different positions and doing an outstanding job in every one of them!"
NM1 standings: Onerahi 7 points, Kaitaia 7, Keri Palmco 6, Bream Bay 6, FC Whangarei 4*, FC Reserves 4, Kamo Reserves 3*, Kerikeri 3, Tiki Reserves 0, Tikipunga 0. *e.g. no result from week 3.
Northland men's premier
Central Brown 3 Kerikeri Bay Builders 1 (ht 0-0): Kerikeri Premiers coach Jim Brooks said this upset by a "very physical" Central at Otaika Domain in week three of the premier division was pretty disappointing, and the visitors' second defeat in two weeks. "... but we gave them some silly mistakes."
Kerikeri goal by Max Coleman, standout was Rupert Mark. NMP standings: Kamo 9 points, FC Whangarei 6 Tikipunga 3, Kerikeri 3, Central 3, Green 0. See page 11 for results from the Northland women's premier division.