Third place up for grabs
Palmerston North Marist finished the Federation League season unbeaten and North End wrapped up second place, but the battle to finish third won’t be decided until next weekend.
Marist beat New Plymouth Rangers 4-2 for the second time at home on Saturday, while North End eased past Wanganui Athletic 3-2 in Whanganui to make sure of a runner-up spot.
For Athletic, the loss means they are now in a three-way scrap with Hokowhitu and Massey University over who finishes third.
Athletic play North End again next weekend, while Hokowhitu and Massey also meet again after Hokowhitu beat the students 1-0 – striker Aaron Toki scoring the only goal, just before halftime.
In the North End-athletic clash, Willie Hodge scored the winner in injury time after Brynn Cleaver and Cameron Dearlove had earlier netted for the Palmerston North side.
Coach Garry Hodge said both sides played plenty of quality football, creating numerous chances.
He singled out man-of-thematch Dearlove for special mention, saying it was a winning performance up front for someone who was usually at the back and who hadn’t played for four weeks.
Overall, the result capped off a triumphant return to the league for North End, who last played at federation level in 2015.
Now, Athletic and Hokowhitu are both on 19 points with identical 6-1-6 records, but Athletic has the superior goal difference. The students are on 18.
In the Marist game, Ludwig Zeoula scored a brace for the home side. Jean-marie Hmaloko and Lee Rufer also scored.
In the other game of the round, between the two bottom sides, Wanganui City kept Red Sox winless for the season with a comfortable 5-1 win, to finish the season in second-last place.
In the Horizons Premiership, Palmerston North Boys’ High School returned to the top of the table after Hokowhitu reserves defaulted. The schoolboys are now two points ahead of Massey, who lost on Saturday.
Midweek, in the annual exchange with Wellington College, the Boys’ High firsts won 5-3, but the juniors stood out with their 7-0 victory.