Villagers no longer going in blind

NET FINDER: Ngongotaha AFC was on the scoresheet in Monday's Chatham Cup win over Beachlands Maraetai. PHOTO/BEN FRASER

Ngongotaha AFC's first season in the Northern League second division is at a watershed.

The season has reached the halfway stage with the club sitting in ninth place in the 12-team competition - and that is giving manager Stephen Towers cause for optimism.

"We've got a bit of insight into the league. We went in blind into the first round and we didn't have a clue about these teams."

Tomorrow, the Villagers host Onehunga-Mangere AFC, a team that sits next to bottom on the ladder. When the sides met in Auckland, the result was a 2-2 draw.

"We played enough football to win, but we didn't," said Towers.

Last Sunday, Ngongotaha beat Beachlands Maraetai 5-1 in the Chatham Cup after going a goal down, and Towers said while conceding the goal caused a bit of a wobble, his side recovered well and were comfortable.

"That's what happened last time we played Onehunga-Mangere. Within two minutes we were a goal down because we just didn't get off the bus and turn up.

''It seems we are always behind the eight ball and we've got to come from behind, or we make silly mistakes that cost us - once we can cut that out, we'll be fine I think.''

Ngongotaha will be missing Luke Barker, who went off with an ankle injury on Monday, and Andy O'Donoghue who has returned to the US, as well as long-term injury absentee Alan Ferguson.

Simon Te Kiri will cover centre back in place of O'Donoghue, and Towers is confident there is sufficient depth in the squad to cover elsewhere.

"The depth's there. It's not an unending pot of players, but we should have enough - I wouldn't want to be playing a top of the league side though."

The Ngongotaha reserve side take on Onehunga Mangere reserves at 12.30pm with the senior team's game starting at 2.45pm.