Havelock North thump Massey
If Havelock North Wanderers go on to win the Federation League, then Massey may not feel so bad about their loss to the Hawke’s Bay club at Memorial Park.
An understrengthed Massey University were thumped 7-2 on Saturday by Havelock North, who have their sights set on winning the league and being promoted to the Central League.
The game was shifted to Memorial Park because the Massey University grounds were closed.
Massey had about eight players away on university holidays, but were still undone by the sharp Havelock North team.
Massey didn’t defend well and Havelock North took full advantage. Havelock North led 3-0 at halftime and were leading 5-0 before Massey got on the scoresheet.
Izzy Mimbi came off the bench at striker and made an impact, scoring the first of his brace when he got a shot away on the edge of the goalbox, then found himself in the right position to finish off a ball coming into the box.
Massey conceded a couple of soft goals and Havelock North scored one from the penalty spot.
Massey had a player sent off at the end of the game for his second yellow card, then they had an injury, so had to play the final 10 minutes with nine players because they had already used all their reserves.
Midfielder Angus Preston was tireless throughout the game in his first outing of the season, while centrebacks Mitch Evans and Grayson Cook stopped Havelock North scoring even more goals.
In the other games, the Palmerston North Marist reserves were beaten 2-0 by Gisborne Thistle at Gisborne and New Plymouth Rangers beat Wanganui Athletic2-1. Red Sox-manawatuhad the bye.
The Palmerston North Marist women’s Capital W league team won their Kelly Cup match, the Wellington knockout competition, 9-0 against Upper Hutt.
The Palmerston North Marist Central League team are away against Stop Out in Wellington today, the second game of the weekend after they were beaten 4-2 by Napier City Rovers on Friday.