Football: Ngongotahā AFC dominate Bucklands Beach

Ngongotaha's Luke Barker scored a hatrick against Bucklands Beach. Photo/File

A Luke Barker hatrick led Ngongotahā AFC to a 4-1 win over second-placed Bucklands Beach and safety in NRFL Division 2.

The win, at home on Saturday, moved them into seventh place on the table and means they are safely outside the relegation zone with the season winding down.

Coach Andrew Gibbs said, while Barker had an outstanding game, his goals came on the back of a quality performance from the whole team.

"To be honest, without being cocky, Bucklands were lucky it was only four. Their keeper made some phenomenal saves, we were all over them, we ran riot really.

"Their goal came in the 90th minute and was against the run of play. It was probably a little bit soft by our guys, they might've already been in celebration mode by that point."

He said everyone stepped up in the absence of two of the side's best goal scorers Yamil Casas and Jason Walker.

"Having two big names out like that, there was some pressure on the younger guys, but it was very pleasing, we're very happy.

"It was probably a little bit hard on Luke not to get man of the match after scoring a hatrick, but it was probably the nature of the team performance, everyone left it out there. Luke played central striker and he does have pace to burn - he got a lot of good opportunities based on the good work in midfield."

Man of the match went to centre back Cormac Waller.

"He threw himself whole-heartedly into everything and worked his butt off the whole game. That was after playing a full match in goal for the reserves. He created a lot of our go-forward, he has a really on-point long ball and set us up for a couple of the goals with some nice passes."

Gibbs' mission during the next week is to keep the players focused and ready to produce another good performance in their final match against Franklin United next week.

"It could go one of two ways. I'm hoping I can keep them focused and up for the last trip. It has that danger, because we know we're safe - we treated yesterday like a cup final, so we could either go up there focused but relaxed, or we'll go the other way and be a bit too relaxed and get a snap back to reality. We need to put in the hard yards for one more week."

Since taking over the coaching role midway through the season, Gibbs has been eager to improve the culture of the Ngongotahā side. After the game the team, led by their senior players, held a quiz night, which attracted 75 entries, to help raise money and improve the financial prospects of the club.

"The club has always struggled and financially has to run a tight ship. I think it's important that the players are involved in that and help prepare for the future."

In other NRFL Division 2 games, Takapuna beat Franklin United beat 3-0 to claim the title.

NRFL Division Two Results

Takapuna AFC 3 (Jono Lewis 2', Matt Hawke 65' 78')
Franklin United 0
HT 1-0

Onehunga Mangere United 0
Northland FC 1 (Max Thomas 26')
HT 0-1

Te Atatu AFC 0
Cambridge FC 5 (Callum MacLeod 24' 44' 48', Marcelo Sosa 61', Jamie Woodlock 81' [PEN])
HT 0-2

Ngongotahā AFC 4 (Luke Barker 16', 39', 70', Mitch Miller 60')
Bucklands Beach AFC 1 (Charlie Hoyle 90')
HT 2-0

Claudelands Rovers 4 (Jono Viviani 5' 86', Lewis Donald 67', Bailey Webster 70')
Albany United 1 (Herve Kadiya 45')
HT 1-1

Papakura City 0
Metro FC 1 (Josh Dayal 73')
HT 0-0