Football: Leaders hand United 19-goal mauling

Eighty-seven goals were scored in 15 WaiBOP Federation League games at the weekend, rewarding those fans hardy enough to head out in the first proper winter weekend of the 2016 season.

As has often been the case so far this season, it was Loaded WaiBOP Premiership leaders, Ngongotaha, who led the way, but even they wouldn't have expected to score 19 goals against Tauranga City United.

The Villagers have made no secret of their desire to win the Premiership this season, after falling narrowly short in 2015, and they're going about it the right way. This victory, by some way the largest of the 2016 season, was their seventh on the trot and sees them five points clear at the top of the table with virtually a third of the season complete.

It was the second time this season that Tauranga City United premiership team has conceded a double figure score.

Waikato Stud Matamata Swifts, who sit second, and third-placed Cambridge had contrasting results over the weekend.

The Swifts were battered 4-0 at Otumoetai First Credit Union, with the hosts being allowed to win the physical contest during the first half, before piling the goals on during the second half. Matt Collins, David Wright, and a late Tom Livesey double, including a penalty, did for the Swifts after the break. Otumoetai were thankful to veteran keeper, Graeme Blissett, for pulling off a superb point blank save when leading 1-0 with just over 20 minutes left. Within seconds of the save, his side had scored their second to effectively seal the match and put themselves right in the race for second.

Despite the result, Matamata still hold second, but will have to be much stronger this Saturday when they host Ngongotaha.

Cambridge moved into third, a point behind Matamata and with two games in hand, after dismantling Rotorua United 4-1 at Neil Hunt Park. After such a promising start to the season, this was Rotorua's third defeat in a row, and by far their largest.

In the other games, Melville United easily dealt with Old Blues, 3-0 at Gower Park to record another home win, while Katikati FC Ambria picked up their second win of the season after dispatching SGS Papamoa 3-1 at home.

Rich James, Josh Boyse and Casey Jowers scored the goals that moved Katikati out of the bottom two, while a reply from Scott Higgins after the break was the visitors' sole consolation.

Waikato Unicol built a two goal half time lead at Tauranga Boys' College thanks to goals from Gavin Gilbert and Stu Jones, but threw it away in the second half when an Alex Elliot double ensured the match would finish at 2-2.