Ngongotahā AFC's quest for survival has received a massive boost with an away win over fellow strugglers Te Atatu.
They away side did it the hard way though. At one point they led 3-1, but let their opponents back into the game. With the score locked at 3-all going intoinjury time, the match looked to be heading for a draw.
However, Ngongotahā midfielder Luke Barker had other ideas as he produced a superb long-range effort in the 91st minute to give his side the win.
Ngongotahā's Yamil Casas has been among the goals this season and scored two penalties in the first 30 minutes. Those goals sandwiched a Te Atatu goal to David Carmody in the 23rd minute and Ngongotahā led 2-1 at halftime.
Harlem Simiona scored early in the second half and Ngongotahā looked comfortable at 3-1. However, Rhys Caples and Robert Pike scored in the 61st and 67th minutes for Te Atatu, setting up the grandstand finish.
Ngongotahā coach Andrew Gibbs said it was disappointing to let Te Atatu back into the game, but he was pleased with the character his side showed to find the match winner.
"I think we made hard work of it for ourselves. Luke Barker hit an absolute screamer into the top corner for the winner. The really cool thing about yesterdaywas all the goals were scored by three of our senior players who have really stepped up for us this year.
"We were really pleased, especially away from home, those are big points away from home," Gibbs said.
The win moves Ngongotahā into 10th place, just one point out of the top eight and safety. Gibbs said defence would be a work-on in the coming weeks.
"Just suring up the defence, we made it hard on ourselves with some sloppy fouls and soft goals to let them back in it. The thing that made it really hard work was when they changed formation on us we struggled to adapt to that.
"We've spent the first part of the season trying to get used to one formation and we probably need to start looking at opportunities to shift to another formation to counter what the other team are doing," he said.
Next up for Ngongotahā is a home game against Takapuna AFC, who beat them 6-1 in the reverse fixture.
Ngongotahā AFC 4-3 Te Atatu (HT: 2-1) NGO: Yamil Casas 20' (PEN) 28' (PEN), Harlem Simiona 48', Luke Barker 90+1' TEA: David Carmody 23', Rhys Caples 61', Robert Pike 67'
