Football: Athletic claim victory in dead rubber clash

BROUGHT DOWN: Wanganui City's double goalscorer Luke Lambe is tackled on this occasion by the Levin defence at Wembley Park. Photo/Sharon Francis

Devon Homes Wanganui Athletic claimed the three points in a messy match against North End AFC, walking away 3-0 victors in their catch-up game to complete the Lotto Federation League at Wembley Park on Saturday afternoon.

Meanwhile Wanganui City battled out a 4-1 victory over a physical HRV Levin AFC 1sts in the Western Premiership.

With the title already in the bag for Athletic, there was little up for grabs for either team, and it certainly wasn't the best performance for the home side as they took the park for a dead rubber against North End.

Anthony Bell opened up the scoring for the Reds with a right foot stroke beating North End keeper David Luke on his near post, giving Athletic an early lead.

It was doubled shortly before the break with Liam Roberts delivering in a corner off an unlucky North End defender, beating his own keeper and helping the Reds walk into the break at 2-0.

The game offered little entertainment as both teams muddled their way through the second half, until young Kelvin Hove took an opportunity when he received the ball about 30m out from goal.

Hove let loose a bullet that found the top left corner, leaving the keeper stunned and Athletic 3-0 at the final whistle.

"Bottom-line was that it wasn't our best performance by far, but we got the job done," said player-coach Troy Smith.

"Chances were missed by both teams, but overall it was another good team effort."

Wanganui City continued their winning ways as they hosted Levin AFC in their Western Premiership fixture.

The last time these two teams met, it was a bitterly fought 3-0 victory to City on Levin's home ground, and this time out Levin were no less vigorous in their attempt to steal points off the league leaders.

First half goals to Luke Lambe and Dylan Howells, who appears to be starting to get a taste for finding the back of the net, put City 2-0 up at halftime.

The home team came out on the attack in the second half, with Lambe adding another goal to his game tally while Chris Annabell also found the back of the net to give City four goals for the day.

Jason Fergusson again had his goal breached through an unlucky break against the run of play, closing the match out at 4-1, with the result keeping City nine points clear at the top of the table.

In the men's local league, the end of the first round of play was reached, with the Total Automotive Wanganui City Hammers finishing an undefeated round with an 8-1 victory over the City Thirsties, while Castlecliff United took a 2-0 victory home against the Marist Casuals.

The Wanganui Athletic Reserves beat their clubmates, the Athletic Cosmos 6-1, while the Castlecliff Braves secured their position in the top half of the league with a resounding 5-3 win over the Marist Boys.

Athletic Weekenders bowed out to the St John Castlecliff 1sts 5-2, while Marist Celtic and Castlecliff St Anthony's finished at level pegging with a 1-1 draw.

The women's league see the battle for the top position continue with the Castlecliff Scrappers moving into second position after beating the Wanganui City Women, while Girls College earned a 5-0 win over the Castlecliff Saints.