A second-half field goal to Mangapai's Bryce Reid sealed a 2-0 win over 2010 champions Dempster and Hill Electrical Maungakaramea to give them hope of a successful centenary season in the Northland Premier Men's Hockey competition.
The goal was a satisfying one for captain Simon Craggs, who said they wanted to
be able to score goals from the deep after soaking up pressure in their solid defensive line.
"We're developing into quite a creative team and that's what we're looking for during the rest of the season, to be able to score goals on the break," he said.
Reid's goal started deep in their own half and featured good work by Calvin Codlin who broke forward, turning the Maungakaramea defence inside out before finding Reid unmarked on the edge of the circle.
The goal doubled the Mangapai side's lead after new boy Ben Quayle had converted a penalty corner 25m into the first spell - the difference between the two teams in a tight first-half battle.
Mangapai didn't have it all their own way, with Maungakaramea matching them in scoring chances if not possession, and keeper Adam Rafferty was forced to make saves in goal and was twice helped out by his post in the second spell.
"They pressured us more in the second half when they were chasing the game and although it was a bit more scrappy, we were happy to be able to hold on for the win," Craggs said.
The skipper was pleased with the way the team held possession for long intervals, an advantage that eventually paid dividends in the match.
Nick Bean was good for Mangapai while Quayle looks to be a good find. Sam Webb and Paul Snelling were standouts for Maungakaramea.
The win saw them close to within one point of top of the table Bream Bay United, after the leaders drew with Currie Electrical Springfield 1-1 on Saturday.
Ivo Rongan scored a field goal for Bream Bay, while Strachan McLeod struck back to equalise with a penalty corner for Springfield.
In the premier women's matches, Gilmore Brown Springfield A beat Hikurangi 1-0 and Maungakaramea also finished with a one goal advantage over Kamo High School, winning 1-0, while ChillTech Old Girls thrashed Whangarei Girls' High School 9-1.
