Six-goal thriller in Kaeo

THE FALLING LEAF: Kaeo Inter attack the Madhatters Black goal from a corner in a feisty affair from the Northland 2nd Division in Kaeo on Saturday which finished 3-all.

Saturday men
Kamo 2 Kerikeri 2 (half time 1-1): The champions forced to accept a draw from fellow title contenders Kamo in this top of the table clash from the Northland Premier Division at Kamo on Saturday.

The result allowed Kamo to go three points clear at the top of the standings, although Kerikeri, in second place, have a game in hand. Kerikeri Bay Builders spokesman Mark Roberts described the clash as a "really tough game", noting Kerikeri started really well and put together some of the best football they had produced this season in the best 25 minutes.

Keri's Timo Obrez nodded home the game's first goal before Kamo settled and equalised through a scrappy defensive error. Roberts noted Kerikeri came out after half time fired up but missed several chances before Kamo's Keegan Baddley finally escaped the otherwise great man-to-man marking of youngster Ricardo Gomez (the left back garnering his side's POTD award) to snatch the lead at the back post.

This inspired the visitors to respond and they controlled the game from this point on, with Robbie Kingman finishing off a great through ball from Rodrigo Sala to make it 2-all. Kerikeri were on for a late matchwinner but denied through a great save by the Kamo 'keeper.

Bream Bay United 2 Kaitaia United 5 (ht 1-0): Kaitaia Justa Plumber continuing to consolidate their prem div campaign with a comfortable win at Ruakaka although the Far North boys were trailing by two goals with only 20 minutes on the clock. Kaitaia player manager Riki Green said he was pleased to see his players retain their composure.

"[We] just kept playing football, and it just snapped for us," he said of the visitors' late burst.

Goals came from the Milne brothers, Bayley and young Kiarn (the latter celebrating his debut by scoring a brace, the elder picking up the POTD award), Dan De Waal ("a cracker") and veteran Pika McDonald, while also notable was the return of affable Englishman Sam Elliot for the rest of the season in the keeper's jersey.

Green said the side was finally starting to hint at its potential following some early season hiccups.

"It's getting hard to select a squad," he said, a welcome problem, as players returned from injury and other commitments and began making themselves available again.

- NMP STANDINGS: Kamo (played 6, for/against 35/6) 16 points, Kerikeri (5, 26/5) 13, Kaitaia (6, 13/9) 9, Central Brown (5, 5/5) 8, Onerahi (6, 10/17) 7, FC Whangarei (6, 6/36) 6, Bream Bay United (5, 12/17) 4, Tikipunga (6, 6/18) 3.

Tikipunga Orange 1 Kerikeri Reserves 2 (1-1): The Kerikeri Jerkovich Transport Reserves earned a hard-fought win away in round 6 of the Northland Men's 1st Division. Keri's Mark Roberts noted the Waipapa-based club's reserves (second) team delivered a pretty average performance against a hard working homeside, despite scoring first through Callum Paterson who followed up from a saved penalty. Tiki replied before half time before Kerikeri secured all three points with Paterson completing his brace, while Kane Webster was named POTD.

- NM1 STANDINGS: Kamo (6, 34/6) 18, Tikipunga Pet Essentials (6, 31/11) 15, Kerikeri (6, 23/8) 13, Madhatters Blue (5, 23/12) 12, Onerahi New (6, 14/14) 10, FC Whangarei (6, 14/15) 6, Bream Bay (6, 10/28) 4, Tikipunga Orange (6, 7/17) 3, Onerahi Reserves (6, 1/35) 0.

Kaeo Inter 3 Madhatters Black 3 (ht 2-1): Californian Ike Bailey to the rescue for the second week in a row as Kaeo Inter Jerkovich Transport kicked off its Northland 2nd Division campaign with a draw at home on Saturday afternoon.

Having secured a share of the points in the last round of grading at Dargaville the previous week, Bailey scored the equaliser in the dying minutes of an enthralling six-goal thriller at Whangaroa College. Kaeo-Inter went into the break a goal behind despite dominating the first half with a full squad of 14 against a Madhatters unit who arrived with the bare minimum of 11. Madhatters proceeded to go out to a 3-1 lead early on in the second half before Kaeo began its fight-back, Rewa Parsonson - playing alongside brothers Jarra and Miro - finishing well to add to his fine first half strike before Bailey saved the day from a sustained spell of offence.

The result could generally be regarded as a deserved one but a mutual air of disappointment prevailed as both camps felt a win had been there for the taking, Madhatters squandering a wealth of opportunities, while the homeside kept themselves on the back foot via a series of unforced defensive howlers.

Otherwise, a fine day for football at Whangaroa College, the match played in overcast conditions without any hint of rain and very, mild, the picturesque strand of liquid amber doing their autumn fall thing on the road leading into town. Kaeo gaffer Virgili - relegated to a spectator role following his red card the previous week - again presented one of the best looking pitches in the province, replete with white line markings and blue goalnets professionally secured.

Particularly notable were the number of former Kaitaia players in action: Rewa Parsonson, Brendon Wynford, Vander dos Santos, Mauro Ferreira and Dean Scaum with Kaeo; and father and son, Dave and Braden Armistead, now with Madhatters.

Northern Wairoa 2 Kerikeri Masters 0 (ht 2-0): The Kerikeri Siteworx Masters unable to maintain their impeccable record from the grading round by getting their defence of the Northland 2nd Division title off to a poor start at Dargaville. A report from the visiting camp noted it was a less than memorable day for the champions, going down to an own goal and a miss-kick in a tough and physical encounter.

Tikipunga Coastline 1 Kaikohe 3 (ht 1-1): As the only side in the Northland 3rd Division, Kaikohe got its campaign serious off to a great start with a comprehensive away win.

Standouts for the visitors included father and daughter, Steve and Mickaela Moselen (Mikaela one of five women who plays for the men's team on Saturday and the women's side on Sunday), playing together which Kaikohe goalie, Sean White, noted was an "awesome" sight to see. Player of the day was presented to the Moselen duo who both got on the score sheet along with Dwayne Beazley.

- No NM2 or NM3 standings as both competitions kicked off on Saturday.

Sunday womenKerikeri High School 11 Kaitaia United 0 (ht 6-0): Kaitaia given a rude awakening in the Far North derby from round 6 of the Northland Women's Premier Division championship at Kerikeri High School on a windless Sunday afternoon.

Kaitaia coach Paul Ryan said Kerikeri were a class act, and a class above, although it didn't help his side were certainly far from their best.

"They taught us a lesson in passing, communication and goal scoring," he said of the rout, "We were half a yard off all day." Despite this, the players remained in good spirits. Standout was Casey Mannell in central defence, with Ryan also impressed at the transformation of ex-Kaitaia United FC player Tara Jackson from keeper to attacking midfield playmaker.

Keri High coach Russell McCabe admitted the result spoke for itself.

"We just outplayed them with our passing game and patience, I think," he said, noting that Jackson claimed a hat-trick to earn her side's POTD award.

Central Brown 5 Bay Cosmos 2 (ht 2-2): Central beat Bay Cosmos at home, coincidentally by the same scoreline they recorded over Kaitaia the previous week in Kaitaia. Cosmos coach Jeff May said Central Brown simply proved "too slick", particularly on the counter attack.

"We played all right, girls gave it heaps, [our girls] just weren't fit enough." Standouts included goalie Valmae Mackie while (daughter) Caylah Willoughby and Cherie Williams scored the two Cosmos goals.

Bye Kaikohe (thanks to the withdrawal of Northern Wairoa earlier this season).

- NWP STANDINGS (incomplete): Kamo (played 5, 45/3) 15, Bay Cosmos (5, 22/12) 12, Kerikeri (5, 23/10) 10, Kaikohe (5, 17/11) 10, Central (5, 18/9) 10, Kaitaia (5, 17/21) 7, Bream Bay (5, 11/29) 3, Hora Hora (5, 7/29) 0, Onerahi (5, 6/42) 0.