Villagers smash 11 goals in two games

HAT-TRICK: Ngongotaha's Mitch Miller scored three goals in the 6-2 win over Onehunga-Mangere AFC at Stembridge Rd on Saturday. PHOTO/FILE A_070517bf8.JPG

It's been a long time coming, but Ngongotaha AFC got their first Northern Region Football League Division 2 home win yesterday .

And they did it in some style, with a 6-2 victory over Onehunga-Mangere in their 11th game of the season.

The win has been coming - with two victories this season on the road - and ended a good week for the team that scored five to put Beachlands Maraetai out of the Chatham Cup last Monday.

After not finding the net in the cup game, prolific striker Mitch Miller - who had been the subject of a cheeky pre-season approach by Onehunga-Mangere - scored a hat-trick, with other goals coming from Cormac Waller on his debut, Alexi Pinto and Yamil Casas.

The Villagers were 4-0 up within 16 minutes, with Onehunga-Mangere pulling one back before the break.

With the visitors sitting two places and one point behind Ngongotaha before the game, manager Stephen Towers said a win was crucial.

"That's 11 goals in two home games, back-to-back victories - that gives me confidence. This was a six-pointer for us and I thought the gap - in terms of football - well there's a bit of a gulf between us and them.

This is Ngongotaha's first season in the Northern League second division, with the aim to secure their position in the league this season.

"I can't see [Onehunga Mangere] picking up many more points, but I can see us picking up a lot now.

"We were pretty dominant, but to their credit they gave it a go. Their two goals were against the run of play really, they didn't really hurt us, but we let in two goals which is disappointing."

Waller, playing at centre half, was named man of the match for the home side.

Next Saturday Ngongotaha travel to Auckland to take on Te Atatu, who lost to table-toppers Fencibles Utd 3-1 on Saturday. Te Atatu are two points and one place below Ngongotaha in ninth in the 12-team division.

Ngongotaha should be able to welcome back Luke Barker who missed Saturday's game with an ankle injury.

■ In the WaiBOP Premiership, Rotorua Utd drew 1-all with Melville in Hamilton.