Football: Miller hat-trick helps Ngongotaha top Blues

Ngongotaha have defeated Tauranga Old Blues 4-1 at home. Pictured is Ngongotaha player Josh Haua (right) in action on Saturday. Photo / Ben Fraser

Ngongotaha have won their first game in almost two months after comfortably defeating Tauranga Old Blues 4-1 at home.

Mitch Miller scored a hat-trick for Ngongotaha on Saturday while Van Ewert also hit the back of the net.

Despite registering their last victory on July 19, Ngongotaha have kept within touching distance of fourth place.

Their win on Saturday saw them leapfrog Old Blues into fourth spot on the Waibop Federation One ladder.

Ngongotaha still have two games left this season, against Taupo and Waikato Unicol. The local side cannot finish any higher than fourth but will be wary of Otumoetai and Taupo coming up behind them.

In the relegation battle, Melville are all but certain to face the drop after Matamata secured a big result against Cambridge. Matamata needed at least a draw to move out of the drop zone ahead of Melville.

They drew 1-1 with Cambridge at home.

That means, disregarding a miracle this weekend, Melville and Tauranga Boys' College will be relegated to the Federation Two competition next season.

Rotorua United and Katikati are the two sides coming up to Federation One next year.

Waikato Bay of Plenty Football results on Saturday:

Federation One: Matamata Swifts 1 Cambridge 1, Tauranga Boys' College 1 Otumoetai 4, Hukanui Rototuna 0 Taupo 1, Ngongotaha 4 Tauranga Old Blues 1.