Dramatic round of Football

By Grant Stephen

Another dramatic round of men’s and women’s regional football played out over the weekend (12 and 13 August) and with two games still to play, the men’s championship has already been decided.

Wellington Olympic wrapped up the men’s Central League in convincing fashion with a 6 – 3 win over Stop Out.

Stop Out had a golden patch with three goals before half time but Olympic scored two of their own before going into the sheds and added another four throughout the second spell.

Stop Out losing their keeper to a red card with 15 minutes still to play didn’t help matters and it was after this incident that the final two goals were conceded. It was close but no cigar at Karori Park.

Stefan Cordwell’s goal 10 minutes into the game was the only scoring shot of the match for the home team.

Miramar Rangers responded with two goals of their own in the first half to take the game 2-1. After a lean couple of weeks, Rangers leaped up the table to a more respectable sixth place, leaving Karori in eighth spot.

Eighth place is certainly better than ninth and that’s where TFS North Wellington remain marooned after a 3-0 away loss to Petone.

Norths could not clear their line quickly enough for the first goal, with Petone being first to the drop and seizing the advantage.

The remaining two goals came from sustained pressure and Norths will need to take their chances when presented if they wish to avoid relegation and keep Whanganui Athletic at bay.

Whanganui are still last but salvaged a 1 all draw at home, hosting Western Suburbs. For the second game in a row, they have picked up a point and are only two points behind Norths with a massive six points still up for grabs.

After conceding a draw to Whanganui the week before and failing to cement a top four spot, Napier City Rovers had a convincing 4-1 win on the road against the Wellington Phoenix Reserves.

Olympic are well in front on the league table with 40 points followed by the Nix Reserves on 31, Napier on 30, Petone on 29 and Wests on 28.

The national summer league is out of reach for any other club and the Nix already have automatic entry to the summer competition.

It’s musical chairs ahead for Napier, Petone and Wests as they chase the two remaining spots in the tightest of battles.

In the women’s Central League, the weekly competition between Wellington United and Waterside Karori for leaderboard honours, was put on hold. Wellington United had a prior booking and travelled to Auckland to play Eastern Suburbs in the Kate Sheppard Cup.

United prevailed with a 1-0 win while Western Springs was too strong for Coastal Spirit of Christchurch, winning 5-1. Waterside Karori did play though and very much enjoyed their 4-0 win over Victoria University. Nikki Furukawa, Renee Bacon, Kennedy Bryant and Kaley Ward had their