Narrow loss for Kaitaia in women’s derby

SUNDAY WOMEN

Kaitaia United 2 Bay Cosmos 3 (half time 0-2): The Kaitaia women’s team wrapped up their 2019 Northland Women’s Premier Division campaign with a narrow away loss in the Far North derby at Taipa on Sunday afternoon.

It was an entertaining, sometimes bolshie affair with both sides giving their all. Cosmos had more experience and held superior possession and passing statistics but Kaitaia’s pressing game paid off with strikers Toria Walters Price, Jayde Florian and Tara Jones constantly threatening the visitors goal.

Cosmos drew first blood with Jazmine Beazley converting from the spot following a handball in the area, then putting her side 2-nil up when a miss-hit cross spun off her boot and under the crossbar.

Kaitaia started the second half as the better team and the pressure paid off when Toria Walters Price — who gave the opposition defence headaches all day — beat the keeper in a one-on-one. The Kaitaia forwards grew in confidence and constructed a number of other decent opportunities but were denied by a sequence of remarkable saves from goalie Trisha Joyce (in her first go in the position) only for Cosmos to strike again before Kaitaia had the last say when Walters Price smashed home a penalty.

The homeside may have felt a draw (which would given them their second point of the year!) was deserved after a controversial decision allowed the third Cosmos goals to stand: keeper Renee Walters Price had a hand on the ball following a goalbox muddle only for it to be poked into the net by Alecia Norman.

The away win lifted Cosmos to 6th place on the ladder, albeit still 9 points below 5th placed Kamo. Cosmos have one more game to play to complete the season, away to Central Brown this Friday night under lights at Otaika.

The Kaitaia players were still happy with the way they signed off for the season, to the extent of even having reserve on hand.

Kamo 0 Kerikeri Fairview 3 BY DEFAULT: Kerikeri won the other NWP fixture on Sunday thanks to a no-show from Kamo.

■ NWP standings: Onerahi (played 16, 82/12) 45, Kerikeri (15, 76/9) 40, Bream Bay (16, 52/24) 31, Madhatters (16, 43/20) 29, Kamo (15, 38/28) 23, Bay Cosmos (15, 13/37) 14, Central Brown (15, 20/38) 13, Tikipunga (16, 18/63) 8, Kaitaia (16, 9/120) 1.

aSATURDAY MEN

Kerikeri Bay Builders 0 Onerahi Duder Construction 3: Onerahi claimed the spoils in what was the final game of the Northland Men’s Premier Division campaign for 2019. The loss at home left the Keri prem divvers sitting in fourth place on the league table, one of the more forgettable seasons in recent years.

■ NMP final standings, all played 15: Kaeo-Inter (goals for/ against 57/ 23) 42 points, Onerahi (45/18) 31, Madhatters (39/40) 19, Kerikeri (22/24) 19, Tikipunga (21/50) 11, FC Whangarei (19/48) 6.