Big victory for Karori

By Grant Stephen

Waterside Karori continued their slow but steady progress up the Men’s Central League Football ladder with a 4-1 away win against Stop Out.

Skipper Harry Fautley got the first goal for Wharfies before half time with Stefan Cordwell also getting on the sheet just before the break.

Jorge Akers made it three on the hour mark and the final goal came from Seth Ward, 10 minutes from full time.

The win puts Waterside into sixth spot and they have eclipsed Miramar Rangers who are now a spot below after faltering again, this time at home, 3-1 at the hands of Napier City Rovers who have now eased into the top four sides.

Petone are in fifth spot thanks to a 1-0 win over third placed Western Suburbs.

Wellington Olympic held off their nearest rivals Wellington Phoenix Reserves 3-2 and now sit 4 points clear at the top of the table on 34 points.

The game between TFS North Wellington and Whanganui Athletic at Alex Moore Park was live streamed by New Zealand Football.

It would be fair to say that the only requests for a highlights reel would be coming from the visiting Whanganui fans as they enjoyed a 3-2 win over Norths with two goals late into stoppage time.

Norths will be cursing the surrender of a two-goal lead which came about from a Whanganui own goal 20 minutes into the match and a lovely tap in by Henry Sinclair at the 42-minute mark.

Whanganui nabbed one back just before half time to make it 2-1 at the break. And that’s where it stayed until the 96-minute mark when Charlie Meredith grabbed a brace in quick succession, the winner coming off a poorly defended corner.

The goals were quality without doubt, and it will be a long time before Charlie will need to pay for a beer at Wembley Park.

The win broke the duck for Athletic who now sit on 3 points, with Norths on 4. With one team to be relegated, it will be a very uncomfortable five weeks for these two sides.

It was not so hectic in the Women’s Central League where the two-horse race between Wellington United and Waterside Karori continues for another week.

United chalked up a 3-0 win over Palmerston North Marist while Waterside did enough for 1-0 win over Seatoun thanks to an eighth minute goal to Wharfies captain, Sarah Morton.

Petone and Victoria University had to settle for a 0-0 draw.

It was a seven-goal slug fest between Taradale and Mana Coach Services North Wellington in Napier. When the music stopped, the score read 4-3 in Taradale’s favour.