Close race to be Marist’s bridesmaid

The battle for runner-up honours in the Federation League is down to the wire after the weekend’s round of games.

Massey University’s 2-1 defeat at

New Plymouth Rangers knocked the students out of contention, leaving only North End and Wanganui Athletic still in the hunt.

But to finish second on goal difference, Athletic need to beat North End twice in the two sides’ last remaining games because the Whanganui team are six points adrift of second-placed North End. A draw in either game will be enough for North End to sew it up.

North End at the weekend dented any hopes mid-table Hokowhitu had of a late surge up the ladder with a comprehensive 5-1 derby victory. A feature of the clash was Nathan Cooksley’s hat-trick, which propelled the North End sharpshooter to the head of the Golden Boot competition field, with 15 league goals.

Brynn Cleaver also netted for North End and an own goal brought their final game-tally to five in what coach Garry Hodge rated their best performance this season.

North End led 2-1 at halftime when, Hodge said, the result could have gone either way, but the second spell belonged to his side.

Drew Gaskin scored his second goal in two weeks for Hokowhitu, ‘‘but it wasn’t our day’’, their coach Crag Smither said.

They now have two games to play against Massey to wrap up the league season for both clubs.

At New Plymouth, Blair Lankshear scored his seventh goal for Massey in a game of two halves, said coach Donald Piper.

After Rangers led by two at the break, Massey made changes, especially to their formation, which saw the students dominate the second 45.

‘‘The only thing we didn’t do is score,’’ said Piper – apart from Lankshear’s effort. ‘‘We put in one heck of a shift.’’

Two second-half goals, by Adam Cowan and a penalty from Jean-marie Hmaloko, were enough for unbeaten

Palmerston North Marist to keep their record intact against second-bottom

Wanganui City, a side Marist coach Shane Rufer called ‘‘solid and aggressive’’.

Last-placed Red Sox conceded seven goals at Wanganui Athletic in the other game of the round.

Palmerston North Boys’ High School have now slipped to second place in the Horizons Premiership after drawing 1-1 against Feilding United.