Relegation closer for Wanderers

Hamilton Wanderers’ hopes of avoiding relegation from Northern Premier Women’s League football continued to fade yesterday, as they were beaten 4-0 by Forrest Hill Milford at their Porritt Stadium home.

The hosts began brightly, pressing the visitors from Auckland high up the pitch, but fell behind in the 19th minute, when confusion between keeper and defender allowed Jasmine Walden to sneak in and open the scoring.

Wanderers fought bravely to try to get back into the game, but their resistance finally broke in the 63rd minute, when Renee Mitau-Wasi was able to double the lead, and Arabella Maynard and Talisha Green both chipped in to run up the margin from there.

The loss leaves Wanderers four points behind eighthplaced Northland at the bottom of the table, with the ninthplaced team to be relegated, and the eighth-placed team likely to be involved in a playoff with those seeking promotion.

Wanderers have four games left while Northland have three. They also have a vastly superior goal difference, and while the two teams meet on August 20, Wanderers would need to win that game on the road, and also pick up at least one other point to avoid the drop, or draw it and pick up four other points.

Claudelands were also in action yesterday, beating Norwest United 2-0 on the road thanks to an early goal from Tiana Hill and a late one from Sarah Krystman.

Next Sunday, Wanderers have a bye, while Claudelands host Three Kings United.

Two northern league men’s teams were in action on Saturday, but neither got the result they wanted.

In the premier division, Hamilton Wanderers were beaten 5-0 by Central United in Auckland, conceding twice in the first half – to Dean Lausev and Emiliano Tade – and three times in the second half – twice to Armin Pasagic, and once to Josh Margetts.

Results elsewhere meant they slipped back into 11th place, and the relegation zone, with five games to play.

At Galloway Park, Claudelands Rovers picked up their fourth draw in a row, 1-1 against Takapuna, as Dean Shaw’s goal in the 74th minute cancelled out Tommy Miller’s on the stroke of halftime.

Melville United’s first division game against Oratia United was postponed, after a referee assessment deemed the Gower Park pitch unplayable.

Next Saturday, Melville are away to Ellerslie, Claudelands are at home against Papakura City, and Wanderers are home against Onehunga Sports.