Kaeo gaffer appalled at highly dangerous tackle

Premier Division

Tikipunga 1 Kaeo Inter 3 (halftime 0-1): Kaeo claimed another good win to make it four wins from four games in the new winter campaign and stay atop the Northland Premier Division standings. However, instead of leaving Tikipunga well pleased, manager Stefano Virgili expressed his disgust at a blatantly dangerous tackle which nearly crippled one of his players.

The offending challenge saw veteran Brazilian centreback Vander dos Santos taken to hospital by ambulance with a suspected leg fracture. Virgili was not only appalled at the callous and obvious deliberation behind the tackle but also the lack of response by the match officials; the culprit was only given a yellow card before being promptly substituted which added a cynical aspect to the incident.

“It was disgusting. Everyone involved was as guilty as the guy who did the tackle,” a distraught Virgili said.

Otherwise, the visitors’ standouts showed the international nature of Kaeo Inter: England’s Ollie Godden opening the scoring with a screamer. Tiki’ equalised early in the second spell to which Peruvian Luis Reina replied almost immediately, before Germany’s Timo Obrez scored the third, and Argentinian midfielder Frederico Minuto was impressive.

Kerikeri Bay Builders 1 Madhatters 1 (HT 0-0): A tensely contested game at Waipapa saw a well-drilled homeside take the lead on 65-minute mark with a great finish by Jack Waller before Madhatters’ equaliser came from a free kick which was headed in by the returning Jake Manaton.

Keri coach Mark Roberts noted the hosts dominated the game for long periods and had two great chances saved by the Madhatters keeper and just couldn’t finish the opposing team off.

The Keri Prems also won their preliminary round match in he ISPN Chatham Cup on Anzac Day by 3-1 at home over Manukau City with goals by Jack Waller, Alex Brandes and Jordan Roberts.

1st Division

Kerikeri Reserves 0 Kamo 0:A really hardfought affair in the Northland Men’s 1st Division with both teams coming close to grabbing a matchwinner. The nil-all deadlock — the second draw of the day in the triple header of senior men’s football at Harmony Lane on Saturday — was regarded as a fair result. Keri POTD was Adam Shields.

Other results by Kerikeri men’s teams saw the third team losing 4-2 away to Bream Bay in the Northland 2nd Division; with score not advised from Kerikeri D vs Tikipunga Tuskers in the Northland 3rd Division.

Bye: Kaikohe Phoenix NM1.

3rd Division

Paihia 2 Kaikohe Scorpions 1 (HT 2-0): In a brand new kit, Paihia won their first home game — at Bledisloe Domain — of their 2019 Northland Men’s 3rd Division (NM3) campaign.

It was a spirited derby with the homeside more dominant and scoring twice in the first half. Kaikohe replied with a James van Engelen penalty (a follow-on from an excellent save by the homeside keeper Johnie). Paihia goals by Lyric Thompson and Cameron Marshall and POTD Cameron Marshall; Kaikohe POTD Ruan Stevenson.

Onerahi 5 Stonecraft Kaitaia United 3: A respectable effort from the visitors in this NM3 clash at Onerahi Airport with Bayley Milne — playing his first game for Kaitaia this season having returned home for the holidays — scoring all three goals.

Sunday women

Bay Cosmos 3 Kaitaia United 1 (HT 1-0): Cosmos claimed all three points in a physical Far North derby of the Northland Women’s Premier Division at Kawakwa on Sunday. Kaitaia goal by Toria Walters Price, POTD Kim Hobson.

Bream Bay 0 Kerikeri Fairview 3 (HT 0-1): Kerikeri continued their strong start to the season with this conclusive away win at Ruakaka. Coach Russell McCabe: “First half we struggled to break their defensive line up, in the second half, worked out where to play the ball, moved it around and it paid off with another two goals.” Goals by Paige Corbett, Maaki Marks and Chelsey Alexander while standout was sweeper Ebony Roberts.

■ STANDINGS for all four Northland championships will be updated in Thursday’s edition.