By David Larkin
A midweek draw between leaders Auckland City and Birkenhead United has ensured the Northern League remains a four-team battle.
There are just four points separating the top four clubs, meaning every match has implications for their title chances.
City had to fight back from being 2-0 down at half-time and ended Wednesday’s match in a 2-2 draw against Birkenhead.
This weekend the Navy Blues head to Seddon Fields for an important match against third placed Western Springs.
Birkenhead travel to Manurewa, where the South Aucklanders extended their seven-game unbeaten run after failing to beat bottom side Hamilton Wanderers last Saturday.
Manurewa’s winning streak is unlikely to end anytime soon as they now host Birkenhead and fourth-placed Eastern Suburbs.
Birkenhead United’s Dino Botica in full force against Auckland City in midweek. Photo: Shane Wenzlick / Phototek.
Bay Olympic is on the rise, winning three straight games under new head coach Peter Smith, who took over from expatriate Rudy Mozr in May.
On Saturday, Hamilton Wanderers hosted the Olympic Games after comfortably winning the away match 5-1.
Wanderers have shown their resilience in recent times, scoring points against Auckland United and Manurewa with late goals.
They are still bottom of the table and face a tough season, playing against the top four teams in their last five games.
If they want to stay in the competition, it is vital that they pick up points in their next two games, against Bay Olympic and East Coast Bays.
Eastern Suburbs made up for a disappointing loss to Bays last week by beating Birkenhead.
Midfielder Joshua Gallety made the difference in the second half and maintained a 2-1 lead at half-time.
This week they host Melville United at Madill’s Farm, having recorded their biggest win of the season against them in the reverse fixture – a 4-0 away victory.
Melville failed to score in a thrilling home game against West Coast Rangers last week, with the loss widening the gap to safety even further.
Isaac Bates scored a stunning goal for Melville which was voted Goal of the Week by NZ Football.
Auckland United are yet to record a win against any of the top four clubs this season and lost to Springs for the second time this season.
This defeat widens the gap to the top four and qualification for the national competition to seven points.
On Saturday they play at West Coast Rangers, after winning the other match 6-1.
Rangers have won back-to-back games for the first time this season, following their dramatic win over ‘Rewa with an away win over Melville.
The win means they have temporarily escaped the relegation play-offs and are in ninth place.
However, they cannot rest on their laurels, as the next three matches are against teams from the top five.
East Coast Bays host Tauranga at Bay City Park this weekend. The reverse fixture ended in a 2-2 draw after Bays scored an equaliser in the 93rd minute.
Tauranga City sit firmly in mid-table after three straight defeats, the latest against fellow mid-table rivals Olympic.
Western Springs’ Reid Drake … to meet his former club. Photo: Regan Dewar/Phototek.
Game of the week
Western Springs proved they deserved their place in the table by beating Auckland United last weekend.
The victory further cements their place in the top four and increases the gap to United to seven points.
Another win on Saturday against leaders Auckland City would further boost their title ambitions.
Springs lost the return leg 2-1 earlier this season after a late goal from City’s Ryan De Vries secured the points.
Before drawing with Birkenhead, City had won their last three games. However, their last two wins were unconvincing, with only one goal difference against bottom-half Manurewa and East Coast Bays.
Springs’ home and City’s away records this season are virtually identical, with both having won five and lost one.
The last time these teams faced each other at Springs’ home ground, Seddon Field, the home side won 3-2 after scoring a goal in extra time to qualify for the fifth round of last year’s Chatham Cup.
Springs’ form this season has been largely down to former Auckland City players Reid Drake and Emiliano Tade and they will be looking forward to the match against their old team.
Aston Hurd … striker in form. Photo: Shane Wenzlick / Phototek.
Player to watch
Wanderers striker Aston Hurd has now saved his side from defeat for two weeks in a row, scoring in the closing stages of the draw against United and last week’s draw against Manurewa.
In last week’s match against Rewa they were 2-0 and 3-1 down at various points in the game, but Ashton Hurd made a comeback by firing in the equaliser in the 85th minute.
He is back in the team after a stint with Central League club Miramar Rangers.
Hurd (20) started his career at Cambridge before joining Melville in 2022 and Wanderers shortly afterwards.
His club are certainly counting on him to keep them in the competition, as they are bottom of the table and face some tough games at home.
Bold prediction
Manurewa have now extended their seven-game winning streak as they failed to beat bottom side Wanderers in Hamilton on Saturday.
I predict they will lose again this weekend, giving Birkenhead a chance to bounce back after a loss and a draw in their last two games.
Last round I predicted Manurewa and Birkenhead to win their Saturday games. Manurewa drew 3-3 and Birkenhead lost 2-1.
golden boot
13 — Jake Mechell (Eastern Suburbs), Emiliano Tade (Western Springs)
12 — Jonty Bidois (Tauranga City)
10 — Eber Ramirez (Manurewa)
9 — Liam Gillion (Auckland City), Monty Patterson (Birkenhead United)
8 — Allan Pearce (West Coast Rangers)
7 — Corban Piper (Birkenhead United), Josh Tollervey (Auckland United, now Miramar Rangers), Reid Drake (Western Springs), Derek Tieku (Hamilton Wanderers, now Auckland City), Sam Philip (Birkenhead United)
6 — Jerson Lagos Giraldo (Manurewa, now Auckland City), Ronaldo Munoz (Bay Olympic, now Hamilton Wanderers), Ibrahim Nadir (Bay Olympic), Ryan de Vries (Auckland City)
Matches
Matches to be played on Saturday, July 20, 2024
Northern League
Bay Olympic vs Hamilton Wanderers
Olympic Park, New Lynn, 2.30pm
East Coast Bays v Tauranga City
Bay City Park, Browns Bay, 3pm
Eastern Suburbs v Melville United
Madills Farm, St Heliers, 3pm
Manurewa v Birkenhead United
War Memorial Park, Manurewa, 3pm
Western Springs v Auckland City
Seddon Fields, Westmere, 5.30pm
West Coast Rangers v Auckland United
Fred Taylor Park, Whenuapai, 6pm
David Larkin
David Larkin, a writer for Friends of Football, plays football for Auckland club Manurewa.
