Marist grab five to top table
Palmerston North Marist rules the Federation League roost in the men’s game after the weekend, when they comfortably beat Levin while fellow frontrunners Whanganui Athletic had the bye.
Marist’s 5-1 home win gives them a three-point break ahead of a group of three: Athletic, and New Plymouth Rangers and Havelock North Wanderers, both winners at the weekend.
The next best placed Manawatu¯ side are Massey University, in seventh spot on the league ladder after they drew 2-2 at home against Napier Marist.
Palmerston North Marist
conceded their first goal of the season in the 82nd minute of Saturday’s clash when Levin
netted during a goalmouth melee at the Arena, Palmerston North.
But by then Marist had the game under control.
In the first half Levin looked far from league easybeats as they combined well to stretch Marist, but failed to convert their pressure into goals. Instead it was Marist who scored, striker Nick Carrick netting the first of a hat-trick after 31 minutes following a burst upfield by midfield general Adam Cowan.
Carrick scored again just on halftime for Marist to go in to the second half 2-0 up.
Just after the resumption, midfielder Josh Cremen finished off a passing raid to score Marist’s third, then an own goal gave Marist a decisive four-goal lead as Levin began to wilt.
Carrick finished Marist’s scoring in the final few minutes with the cleanest strike of the game after he was put in the clear by a long ball that he then thumped into the back of the Levin goal.
Marist coach Kenny Santy said he was pleased to finish with a four-goal winning margin and to be able to put on players who had not had much game time, such as Che Boag and Melvin Rumere.
At Massey, two penalties gave the students a 2-2 draw with Napier Marist, and their first point of the season. Striker Rhys Galyer did the business for Massey, said coach Donald Piper.
‘‘It was frustrating to see the opportunities we created that we didn’t take, though,’’ Piper said. ‘‘We’re our own worst enemy. We createdmore than enough to win.’’
Red Sox’s goal-scoring woes continued at Wanderers on Saturday, the Shane Rufer-coached side going down 4-0.
Rufer said having a player sinbinned near the end ‘‘killed us’’, but lack of goals was the side’s underlying problem.
‘‘We’ve only scored one this year. We’re creating chances, but not taking them.’’
North End coach Gary Hodge declared himself ‘‘incredibly disappointed’’ when, after going into the break at 1-1, his side fell apart during the second spell at New Plymouth on Sunday and Rangers ran away with it to the tune of 5-1.
Hodge said two keeper errors and three soft goals from corners explained the scoreline in a game where North End had ‘‘complete control’’ early, with Ismael Mimbi netting during the first half, before his side caved in.
The result boosted Rangers’ goal tally to 16 from three games and left North End bottom of the league ladder, without a point.
■ In the Horizons Premiership, unbeaten Wanganui City stayed on top with a crushing 6-1 win over Takaro. Marist reserves also remained unbeaten, winning 2-0 over Red Sox reserves. They are second on the ladder, ahead of Palmerston North Boys’ High, who drew 3-3 with Hokowhitu.
North End reserves drew 1-1 against Massey reserves, and Feilding United won their first of the season, edging Whanganui Athletic reserves 4-3.