Tim Kautai stabs home his goal from a perfect cross by Federico Marquez. The hosts were excellent value for their 3-1 win over fellow promotion-chasers Eastern Suburbs at Centennial Park this afternoon to stay in second spot on the Northern League Division One table. While Glenfield Rovers have virtually wrapped up the title, coach Joel Pinto’s Ngaruawahia side are in a battle with North Shore United for the other promotion place after an intriguing round of results. Ngaruawahia now have 38 points from 19 games of the season’s 22 matches, six points behind Rovers, who also have a game in hand. Shore are on 36 points from 18 matches, with the two sides still to meet at Centennial Park in a possible promotion decider. Melville United’s chances of going up took another setback when they drew 0-0 away to Papatoetoe, while Takapuna’s hopes also received a blow as they went down to Mt Albert-Ponsonby. Andrew O’Donoghue put Suburbs ahead after 22 minutes but the visitors rarely fired for the rest of the match, happy to have 10 men behindthe ball. The hosts squandered a string of chances in the first half, with the usually deadly Federico Marquez strangely impotent in front of goal. But Ben Latham levelled the match early in the second spell and when dangerous Suburbs striker George Slefendorfas was sent off for a second yellow card offence in the 70th minute, the hosts swooped. Halftime substitute Tim Kautai put them ahead after fine work by Marquez and Kieren Frewen made it three soon after with an emphatic finish. There was even a chance to laugh off a bizarre penalty incident, which saw Marquez take three spot-kicks and still not get on the scoresheet. His first attempt was saved by Patrick George, but the linesman ruled the keeper had moved off his line too early. Marquez netted the re-take, but the referee had spotted Marcelo Sosa encroaching in the area. When Marquez had his third attempt, George again saved
Posted on: Sun, 18 Aug 2013 21:37:03 +0000
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