Grip tightens for soccer league leader

Press, 15 July 1985, Page 44

Grip tightens for soccer league leader

Hanimex-North Shore tightened its grip on the Rothmans Soccer League competition, as the five teams immediately below it all suffered defeats in the seventeenth round of matches yesterday. A 2-1 victory over Landbase Papatoetoe put North Shore three points clear of McKee Nelson United, and with a game in hand. The internationals, Kevin Hagan and Allan Boath, scored the goals for North Shore. Nelson’s 3-0 loss to University Cowan in Auckland put it in the remarkable position of having conceded more goals than it has scored, in spite of lying second on the points table.

Five of the six teams in the bottom half of the table had wins yesterday, the ex-

ception being Christchurch Brother United, whose woeful league form continued with a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Southmall Manurewa. It was United’s fourth consecutive league loss.

The last nine matches have produced a miserable two wins and seven losses as United has plummeted to tenth position. Peter Ritchie and Steve Sumner scored the goals for Manurewa. In Dunedin, 4XO Dunedin City held on to beat DB Wellington, 3-2, after spending most of the second half without the defender, Stu Dunbar, who was sent off.

Andy Deeley’s sixth goal of *he competition ensured the win. Billy Harris scored his tenth league goal for Wellington, leaving him a

goal behind the leading pair, Simon Dwyer (Nelson) and Colin Walker (NZ Permanent Gisborne).

Walker was unable to help Gisborne’s cause yesterday, however, as the defending champion suffered yet another loss. The bottom team, Napier City Rovers, beat Gisborne, 3-1, in Gisborne.

Remarkably, Gisborne has not won a match, league or cup tie, since May 26. Results: Southmall Manurewa 2 (Peter Ritchie, Steve Sumner), Christchurch Brother United 0. Half-time 2-0. University Cowan 3 (Frank van Hattum penalty, Alastair Elder, Gary Hampson), McKee Nelson United 0. Half-time 2-0. NZ Permanent Gisborne 1 (Ken Cresswell), Napier City Rovers 3 (Greg Brown, Harry

Clarke, Dean Irvine). Half-time 0-1. Hanimex-North Shore 2 (Kevin Hagan, Allan Boath), Landbase Papatoetoe 1 (Mark Slane). Half-time 1-1. 4XO Dunedin City 3 (Michael Irvine 2, Andy Deeley), DB Wellington 2 (Neil Cave, Bill Harris). Half-time 2-1. National Mutual Miramar 3 (Costa Leonidas, Phil Alexander, Andy van den Ende), Masport Mount Wellington 1 (Grant Lightbown). Half-time 1-1.

ROTHMANS LEAGUE P W D L F A Pts Nth Shore 16 10 2 4 37 23 32 Nelson 17 9 2 6 28 30 29 Well. 17 8 4 5 40 30 28 Gisborne 16 7 4 5 32 21 25 Dun. City 17 7 4 6 28 25 25 Mt Wgtn 17 6 6 5 25 21 24 Papa toe. 17 7 1 9 29 28 22 Manurewa 16 5 6 5 22 30 21 Miramar 16 5 5 6 23 23 20 Chch Utd 17 6 2 9 16 22 20 Univ. 16 6 2 8 22 35 20 Napier 16 2 4 10 21 35 10