Soccer: United battle way to title

Dayne Willemson (left), of Ngongotaha, looks to round Andrew Gibbs, Rotorua United first-team keeper, during their clash at Stembridge Rd. Photo / Stephen Parker

With one game left to play in the season, Cafe Ephesus Rotorua United wrapped up the Bay Two League title at their home ground with a hard fought 5-3 victory over Papamoa.

To take the title they needed to win or draw against their closest rivals at Neil Hunt Park and they did it in style, coming back from 3-2 down midway through the second half.

The side remain unbeaten this season with one game to play, against bottom-of-the-table AFC Fury next weekend.

Skipper Alex Tague said it had been a great season and his lads were pleased to beat Papamoa at home to clinch the league title.

"There's some great team morale, every week the guys have given it everything," he said.

"We're not a young side, either, with a lot of guys in their mid to late 30s, but we get on well and enjoy our football."

Tague said even though some of their top players were dogged with colds and flu, they managed to battle back for the victory.

"It was not looking good there for a while but Steve [Rogers] and Laurie Scott scored when we needed them to get us back in the game." With the score at 1-1 at halftime, the match had been up for grabs in the second half, but when man of the match Steve Rogers scored early on, for United to make it 2-1, their defence went to sleep.

Two quick goals from Papamoa's young striker, Jack Chaney, changed the game completely and, with the score at 3-2, United needed to knuckle down.

Papamoa had a few more chances to put the game away but United were far too good on the break, with Rogers showing a clean pair of heels to the Papamoa back four on a number of occasions.

Rogers completed his hat-trick with about 15 minutes to play, to seal the win and the league title in style.

Next, they travel to AFC Fury, hoping to keep their unbeaten streak intact.

Meanwhile, Rotorua United's first team went down 5-2 to Ngongotaha at Stembridge Rd at the weekend, meaning they will have to win their final match next week to avoid relegation.