Marist holds share of lead
It’s neck-and-neck at the top of the men’s Federation League ladder after Palmerston North Marist and Whanganui Athletic both won again on Saturday.
The leading pair squeezed out 1-0 wins, Marist at Massey University and Athletic at Red Sox, to remain unbeaten after three rounds.
At the other end of the table, Massey and North End are bottom, both without a point yet.
Marist coach Kenny Santy declared himself ‘‘very satisfied’’ with his side’s narrow win over the students and especially the clean sheet they finished with, their third of the season.
Striker Nick Carrick scored the only goal of the clash shortly before halftime, with Marist’s game plan disrupted by the loss through injury of Adam Cowan, Jordan Joblin-hall and Jaeden Shaw.
Santy said both teams had their chances ‘‘but I thought we deserved to win’’.
Massey coach Donald Piper said he was ‘‘proud of the football we played and the attitude we showed’’.
‘‘It’s always tough to lose – I thought we deserved something out of the game.’’
Against Havelock North Wanderers, North End scored in the first 10 minutes but had coach Garry Hodge lamenting ‘‘soft’’ goals conceded and finished 3-1 losers to the visitors.
At 2-1 behind North End-was still in it, after Michael Sheridan scored for the home side, followed by a period of sustained pressure from Wanderers which saw them go into halftime in the lead after netting twice.
But then an error early in the second half by North End keeper David Luke gifted-wanderers a third goal.
Hodge said amix of inexperience and failure to close down Wanderers when they attacked going forward showed up problems North End had to keep working on for future games.
Red Sox coach Shane Rufer said he was ‘‘really pleased’’ with the side’s performance, losing to Whanganui Athletic by the only goal of the game in the second half.
The loss leaves Red Sox in sixth place in the nine-team league, without a win after two outings.
■ In the Horizons Premiership, unbeaten wanganui City surged to the top of the table after winning their derby clash against cross-town rivals Whanganui Athletic reserves, 4-1.
Close behind them in second spot are Marist reserves, also unbeaten, who drew with North End reserves 1-1.
Palmerston North Boys’ High lost their first game of the season, going down 3-1 to Red Sox reserves, and now lie in third place on the ladder.
In the other games, Massey and Takaro drew 2-2, and Hokowhitu beat bottom-of-the-table Feilding United 2-0.