Football: Kerikeri clinch semi spot after 3-2 win

The Kaikohe goalie and his team mates leave the field after beating Tikipunga in the first round of the Stafford Choat Knockout Cup. Photo / John Stone

Kerikeri will fly the Northland flag in the semifinals of the Federation Cup after a 3-2 win over East Coast Bays at Waipapa.

The home side didn't have it all their own way and had to overcome an early deficit with Timo Obrez equalising just before the break. However they dominated the second spell and Jeremy Rintoul and then Zdenek Rosa gave them a handy lead until East Coast Bays grabbed a late consolation goal.

"We were all over them particularly in the second spell when they tired and we might have won by four or five but our finishing let us down," Kerikeri's Mark Roberts said.

Fellow Northland frontrunners Kamo were knocked out of their quarterfinal with a heavy 5-1 defeat at Warkworth. Their reserves had a more memorable day winning the corresponding reserves' fixture with goalkeeper Geoff Bigwood the hero in a penalty shootout after the match had reached a 2-2 stalemate.

Onerahi also required a penalty shootout to progress through to the semifinals of the Federation Cup Plate Competition against Takapuna Boca Seniors.

The Onerahi side featured a few ring-ins with the squad hit by injuries and suspensions travelling south with only 12 players.

They led 2-0 at the break but without substitutes tired in the second spell and Takapuna equalised in the 90th minute to force extra time. Both sides had their chances to win but it was a fine save by Onerahi keeper Dan Draissy that made the difference in the 4-2 shootout win.

Tikipunga benefited from Northland FC's bye with Mark Ruddle dropping down to score a hat-trick in their 6-2 win over FC Whangarei in Saturday's only Northern Premier League action.

Unlike the last few rounds Tikipunga finished their chances to lead 3-1 at halftime with another northern league player, Ben Mortimer, scoring a double playing out wide while centre back Luke Morunga was the other scorer in the comfortable win.

Coach Bill Gibson said the match's quality was improved with both teams featuring Northland FC players.

"We played very good football and finished our chances - they played like we have been recently, penetrating the defence but then hitting the post or missing their scoring chances ... in the end the finishing was the difference," he said.

In Northland Division One Tikipunga Pet Essentials increased their lead on the table over second-placed Kamo Reserves with a 3-2 win at home over fourth-placed Kerikeri Jerkovich. The visitors were left ruing a missed penalty while they were 2-0 up when the final whistle blew.

The weekend also featured the first round of the Stafford Choat Knockout Cup with the province's lower grades getting their chance to progress through to the second round and test themselves against higher ranked teams.