Wanganui victories roll on

TIMES THREE: An outstanding performance by Hishi Lama, who bagged himself a hat-trick, led the way for Wanganui Athletic over Red Sox Manawatu Rovers on Saturday. PHOTO/FILE A_160515WCBRCSOC02X

A BIG weekend of football dished up a loving helping of Wanganui victories.

Devon Homes Wanganui Athletic and the Wanganui City Renovators notched up wins. They was a solitary stain on the region's record by the Wanganui City Reserves as they tumbled to defeat in a high-scoring match in the Western Premiership.

Devon Homes Wanganui Athletic managed to hammer a home a decisive 5-1 victory over the league's current cellar dwellers Red Sox Manawatu Rovers at Skoglund Park on Saturday, gaining a crucial win to keep them at the top end of the table, but with other results favouring the top two sides in the competition, it was not enough to allow them to climb a rung higher on the ladder.

An outstanding performance by Hishi Lama, who bagged himself a hattrick, led the way for the reds, with Richard Saunders and Scott Burney chipping in with goals in what was mostly a one-sided match.

The result would have been more dominant if Athletic were able o convert more of their opportunities in front of goal, and if not for a solitary defensive blunder in the dying minutes which gave the hosts a solitary goal for their dogged determination, the visitors would have finished out the match with a clean sheet.

While the result should have been a bit of a given for Athletic, who are clearly one of the top teams in the competition this season, it was a valuable boost at the right time of the season, as they into the homeward stretch with plenty to do if they are to be crowned champions at the end of the season.

It was a day of redemption for the Wanganui City Renovators as they claimed a hard-fought victory over the Linton 1sts at Wembley Park on Saturday.

While the final result swung in their favour, it was a nervous start for the Renovators when Linton earned themselves a penalty when their striker targeted his run at a stationery Ben Toyne, drawing contact and flinging himself to the turf inside the area, forcing the match official to award a penalty to the visitors, to the bemusement of Toyne and his teammates.

But the lead was not to sit in Linton's hands for long, with the Renovators finally able to string together some composed phases of play and put the ball into the back of the net.

The Renovators were bolstered by the presence of first team members Anthony Bell and James Satherly, who both alongside the experienced Toyne, added a strong spine for the Renovators to work with.

With the final whistle sounding, the Renovators walked off the pitch 3-1 victors, replaying the result of their last matchup against the same opposition, and keeping themselves firmly placed in the middle of the ladder for another week.

The wheels fell off for the Wanganui City Reserves this weekend as 10-goal game had the result not swaying in the resurgent teams favour.

Levin had the measure of the Reserves in their last fixture, and the with the Reserves tails up after a win over their development squad, they were heading into the match ready for a battle.

However, Levin again threw a spanner in the works and foiled the best-laid plans of the visitors.

True to previous form, the game was a physical encounter with both sides wrestling for dominance.

However it was the hosts who ultimately came out on top with a 7-3 massive scoreline sitting in their favour at the final whistle.