Bubble bursts for Marist men
Palmerston North Marist’s bubble burst when they slumped to their first loss in the men’s Federation League this season, going down 2-0 against titleholders Havelock North Wanderers.
The result on Saturday gives unbeaten Whanganui Athletic the edge in the title race after five rounds, after they put six unanswered goals past Massey University at the weekend.
Marist and Wanderers have both had one loss so far, as have New Plymouth Rangers and Napier Marist, who drew 2-2 at the weekend. It was Napier’s third draw from four games this season.
In Saturday’s clash at the Arena in Palmerston North, two first-half goals from Wanderers’ Bjorn Christensen were enough to sink Marist, who were outmuscled by opponents who didn’t seem too worried by the yellow cards they were collecting through rugged challenges and tackles.
Marist coach Kenny Santy said that was an aspect of their game they would have to work on before they met Wanderers again.
He added he was ‘‘really disappointed’’ to see his side concede identical goals from high balls into the area.
‘‘I think we had 80 per cent of the possession, but if you don’t score goals you can’t win,’’ he said.
‘‘We weren’t creative up front.’’
Marist stopper Liam Outtrim did well to keep Wanderers restricted to two goals, which meant Marist were always in with a chance, but Wanderers’ tall timber gobbled up anything high and the Marist attack up the middle failed to make headway.
The old adage about strikers being as good as the possession they receive seemed true for Marist because whenever the likes of Troye Aitken or Nick Carrick looked threatening, they were quickly shut down by the Wanderers defence, and so rarely worried the opposition goal.
In the derby game on Memorial Park, Palmerston North, North End and Red Sox battled to a 2-2 stalemate, a result that didn’t do anything for either side’s lowly position on the league ladder and leaves both still winless. North End had a 2-0 lead going late into the game, with goals from Nathan Cooksley and Willie Hodge.
But Lee Rufer’s brace for Red Sox evened things up before the final whistle.
North End coach Garry Hodge said he was ‘‘pretty disappointed’’ the side didn’t come away with maximum points after leading by two.
‘‘We just froze.’’
Red Sox coach Shane Rufer said he was ‘‘very pleased’’ to secure the draw.
‘‘We needed to score when we did.’’
But Rufer said the side was still guilty of not taking chances that might have got a better result.
Massey coach Donald Piper said of the students’ 6-0 drubbing by visitors Athletic: ‘‘We played against ourselves and made it easy for them. Athletic got everything they deserved.’’
■ Unbeaten Wanganui City have opened up a five-point lead in the
Horizons Premiership after they edged past Feilding United 4-3 on Saturday.
Next are Palmerston North Boys’ High School, 4-3 winners over Whanganui Athletic reserves on Saturday, and Marist reserves, who lost their first game of the season, 2-1 against Hokowhitu.
In other games at the weekend, Massey University reserves beat Red Sox reserves 2-0 and Takaro came out on top of North End reserves 3-2.