THREADED: Ngongotaha's Dennis Essendam in action earlier this season. PHOTO/FILE
THREADED: Ngongotaha's Dennis Essendam in action earlier this season. PHOTO/FILE
On paper, Ngongotaha AFC and Papakura City are closer than Siamese twins.
So far in the Northern Regional Football League's second division the two teams, who play each other in Ngongotaha today,have each won six games, drawn five and sit on 23 competition points.
Remarkably they even have the exactsame goal difference of -5, however Papakura have played one extra game which they lost.
Whichever team wins today's game will finish the weekend in sixth place, providing Claudelands, who are also on 23 points with a -5 goal difference, don't win by a higher margin.
When the teams met in Papakura in round eight, Ngongotaha were 4-2 victors.
Ngongotaha coach Shane Davis said he expected a close game but was confident his side could pick up a win.
"Apparently they've brought in a striker since last time we played and that's a big reason they're where they are on the table. We'll have to close him down.
"Our defence has been playing pretty well and the players are all focused this week, they're up for it. I think they're starting to handle Northern League and we're picking up results at the moment which is really good.
"If we can keep getting results, especially at home, we have a chance of getting into the top four - that's what we're aiming for now," Davis said.
Last weekend Ngongotaha lost 4-1 to Waiheke, one of the strongest teams in the competition, but Davis was pleased with the effort his side put in against tough opponents.
He said playing Waiheke, who have a strong South American influence, was a valuable learning experience.
"One thing we can pick up from Waiheke is they seemed to be talking the whole time, Kiwi players tend to be a bit quiet but these guys were non-stop giving directions on and off the ball.
"We probably can learn from that, it would make the game a lot easier."
The game is being played at Tamarahi Reserve in Ngongotaha and kicks off at 2.45pm.
Meanwhile, in the Loaded WaiBOP Premiership ninth-placed Rotorua United take on 11th-placed Tauranga Boys' College first XI in Tauranga.
