Drama-filled round
Shock results aplenty marked round 10 of the national men’s football league, starting on Saturday in Blenheim.
Tasman United had only scored five onfield goals prior to Christmas, but have now added seven in the last two weeks, thumping Southern United 5-0 on the back of last weekend’s 2-0 win over Eastern Suburbs.
Southern had to make an arduous trip from Dunedin to Blenheim, flying first to Christchurch, then to Nelson, before taking a bus over the Whangamoa Saddle to their final destination, Lansdowne Park.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, they arrived at the venue just half an hour before the scheduled kickoff at 4pm, and the start was delayed by half an hour as a result.
Once they did get underway, it was oneway traffic, with Jean-Phillipe Saiko, Fox Slotemaker, Benjamin Watson, Jesse Randall and Cory Vickers all scoring.
Tasman moved up to third overnight with the win, but finished the weekend in fourth, passed by Hamilton Wanderers who pulled of an upset of their own on Sunday, beating second-placed Team Wellington.
Derek Tieku scored the lone goal in their 1-0 win at their Porritt Stadium home just 11 minutes in, with Wellington unable to come back and avoid their second loss of the season. Defending champions Suburbs had their most impressive outing of the season, beating Canterbury United 6-1, and sit fifth, behind Tasman only on goal difference.
New signing Adam Thurston made his Suburbs debut and scored a brace against one of his former clubs, with Martin Bueno also scoring two, and Christian Gray and Reid Drake joining in, after Calum Ferguson put the hosts up inside the opening minute at English Park.
Waitakere United edged the Wellington Phoenix reserves in a seven-goal thriller at Jerry Collins Stadium in Porirua, Alex Connor-McClean scoring the winner after Byron Heath looked to have secured the WeeNix a fifth draw on the trot.
Heath had earlier cancelled out Jake Porter’s opener, with Dane Schnell then putting Waitakere 2-1 up at halftime.
Riley Bidois then brought the Phoenix level, but Nic Zambrano restored Waitakere’s lead almost immediately.
Auckland City beat Hawke’s Bay United 4-2 at Kiwitea St to remain unbeaten and at the top of the table, now six points clear of Team Wellington.
Hawke’s Bay took the lead midway through the first half thanks to a Bill Robertson header, but were quickly behind as Myer Bevan replied from the penalty spot and Angel Berlanga poked home inside the area.
New signing Angus Kilkolly levelled the scores in the second half, but Bevan put City back in front with a well-taken shot, before Cam Howieson put the game to bed with Hawke’s Bay pushing hard for an equaliser.