Central in mid-table tussle
Central United are keeping their Lotto Northern Premier Football League title hopes alive after another win at Kiwitea St on Sunday.
United’s 4-2 victory over Bay Olympic ended the title quest of the reigning champions in the central Auckland derby.
The home team got off to a flying start thanks to the efforts of duo Ivan Vicelich and Riki Van Steeden inside the first 15 minutes.
Kyosuke Kitano pulled one back for Bay Olympic 10 minutes later but Central restored their two-goal advantage eight minutes into the second half when Emiliano Tade struck.
That lead was back to one goal three minutes later when Maksim Manko struck to set up a thrilling final half-hour, with Central only confirming the win in stoppage time courtesy of an Adam Dickinson penalty. The win fires Central into third place, four points off the lead held by Birkenhead United.
Bay Olympic now find themselves in a mid-table tussle with Three Kings United and Onehunga Sports.
Onehunga lost
4-0
at the home of the table-toppers, with all four goals coming in the second half.
Three Kings trounced Manurewa 6-1 at Keith Hay Park, led by a brace of goals apiece to new signing Allan Pearce and the league’s leading marksman Mikhail Bredeveldt. Marshall Gurney and Dylan Stansfield also struck for United.
This Saturday, Central visit Hamilton Wanderers, and Bay Olympic entertain Ellerslie.
Three Kings head to Waitakere City, and Onehunga Sports host East Coast Bays at Waikaraka Park.
Lotto Northern Premier Women’s League action this Sunday is the start of the championship and plate phases in the competition.
Three Kings United are in the higher-ranked division and head to Forrest Hill-Milford United.