Kerikeri's hopes for a decent 2012 Chatham Cup run were quickly dashed with a 3-2 defeat at Oratia United in Auckland.
The visiting side were starved of the ball for much of the game but still managed to score the only goal of the first half with Danny Spake finishing off some good work by Sam Green.
Oratia made use of their set piece to equalise early in the second spell and then went ahead, capitalising on their territorial advantage and wealth of possession. They continued to prosper and helped by some sloppy marking made it 3-1.
Kerikeri dug deep and scored another breakaway goal to get back in the game with striker Dwayne Beazley netting to set up an exciting finale. Although they were still under the gun, the visitors managed to break out and several attacks on Oratia's goal but in the end the home side were able to close out the game.
The other Northland team playing in the first round of the competition, Kaitaia United, were unsurprisingly humbled by Northern League opponents Hibiscus Coast.
