Draw could cost Melville Utd promotion
A failure to finish off an opponent on the ropes could prove costly for Melville United at the end of the Northern League division one season.
The hosts at Gower Park had to settle for one point from a 3-3 draw against Mt Albert Ponsonby on Saturday, harming their chances of gaining promotion back to the premier division after last season’s relegation.
Steve Williams’ side led 3-1 at halftime and had a handful of chances soon after the break to net a fourth that surely would have settled the outcome, with MAP goalkeeper Robbie Graham struggling with an illness that saw him regularly dry-retching near his posts.
Among the guilty parties were Scott Hilliar, who robbed a visiting defender in the 53rd minute to set up a two-on-one with team-mate Jordan MacCarter but opted to go alone unsuccessfully, with MacCarter crying out for a pass.
Connor Taylor fired over the bar soon after and Jama Boss was wide with a left-foot strike in a 10-minute assault that MAP somehow weathered before getting back into the contest.
Melville looked shaky at set pieces, with stand-in goalie Stu Campbell not possessing the same authority as regular No 1 Ally Houston. That meant the Melville defence had to sit too deep at freekick time, and Zynal Sahib took advantage after 72 minutes by volleying home after a set piece was only half cleared.
The visitors were lifted and it wasn’t a surprise when new signing Jared Colligan ripped in a super free kick from 25 metres out to net the equaliser in the 86th minute. There was time for Dean Delany to tuck home what MAP thought was the winner, only to have their celebrations cut short by an offside flag.
Melville fell behind in the third minute, when Delany headed over Campbell following a free kick, but Taylor’s deflected strike in the 13th minute drew the hosts level before two sensational goals put them in the box seat.
Hilliar thumped home a volley from 25 metres when MAP failed to fully clear a free kick after 27 minutes and 10 minutes later MacCarter took advantage of teammates overlapping down the right flank to skip inside past his marker, beat another defender and fire past Graham with the outside of his right foot.
The draw left Melville in fourth spot, five points out of a promotion place, but with a game in hand and nine matches still to play.
Hamilton Wanderers also suffered a setback with a 2-0 loss to East Coast Bays that probably scuppered their premier division title hopes. Despite dominating for large spells in Auckland, Wanderers conceded two second-half goals and are third on the table, six points behind leaders Birkenhead United.
Ngaruawahia United were the only Waikato side to score a win on Saturday, with prolific marksman Federico Marquez sparking them to a 3-1 away win over Papatoetoe. Marquez scored twice and midfielder Steve Morrison netted the other to keep their side in the top half of the first division.
In division two, Claudelands Rovers couldn’t hold on to a 1-0 halftime lead at Galloway Park against promotionchasers Oratia United, going down 4-2. David Smith and Michael Spencer scored for the hosts, who are ninth in the 12-team league.
In the women’s premier competition, Claudelands Rovers returned to winning form yesterday with a 3-0 victory over Glenfield Rovers at Galloway Park. Rachel Porteous, Helen Collins and Olivia Chance netted the goals to keep their side in contention to defend their title.