STUNNER: Ngongotaha's Harlem Simiona celebrates scoring a diving header against Mangere United on Saturday. PHOTO/PHOTOTEKNZ
STUNNER: Ngongotaha's Harlem Simiona celebrates scoring a diving header against Mangere United on Saturday. PHOTO/PHOTOTEKNZ
Ngongotaha AFC have put in a spirited performance to beat fourth-placed Mangere United away.
The win saw Ngongotaha leapfrog Claudelands into sixth place on the table.
YesterdayMangere scored the opening goal through Gilberto Souza in the 26th minute, but Ngongotaha hit straight back with a goal from midfielder Harlem Simiona.
Ngongotaha coach Shane Davis said Simiona's effort was one of the goals of the season.
"A cross came in from out wide on the right, the Mangere defender probably should've got to it but Harlem got in front of him and scored with a diving head," he said.
Davis said he was impressed with his side's performance, especially considering the state of the pitch.
"The field was actually drenched in water - I think the key to the win is we adapted to the conditions better than they did.
"They like to play a fancy one-two touch game in the middle of the field but it wasn't working for them because the ball just stopped in the water.
STRENGTH: Ngongotaha's Mitch Miller wins the ball against Mangere United on Saturday. PHOTO/PHOTOTEKNZ
"We just played a more direct games, we played a lot of balls longer than we usually do and we got the result. It was a great team effort," Davis said.
Man-of-the-match was Western Heights High School pupil Scott McKnight who filled the big boots of Alexis Pinto, who has returned to France, in midfield.
"Being a young fella filling Alexis' spot, I think he did really well."
Next week Ngongotaha play Waiheke United in Waiheke, which Davis expected to be a good challenge for his side.
Meanwhile, in the Loaded WaiBOP Premiership Rotorua United beat Papamoa 5-1 and sit ninth on the table.
