The cream appears to be rising to the top as The Soccer Shop WaiBOP Premiership moved beyond the halfway stage at the weekend. The top four sides all picked up victories of varying levels of comfort and now seem set to contest an exciting title race that could run until the final weeks of the season.

Leaders ninetyblack Taupo FC did enough to fend off the challenge of Comag Matamata Swifts at Crown Park. The usual suspects got amongst it as Jordan Lamb’s added time goal at the end of the match, following first half strikes from Joe O’Donoghue and Fin Smith, eased Taupo to a 3-1 victory. Jamie Baxter had halved the deficit from the spot midway through the second half for a Swifts side that ended the match with ten players after Bjorn Vossen was sent from the field following a disagreement over an earlier penalty claim.

Flying Mullet Papamoa kept their good run going as two second half goals got them home 2-0 at Melville United. Colm Kenny put Papamoa in front from the penalty spot just after the hour mark, then Callum Glover doubled the visitors’ lead minutes later.

Papamoa was the last side to take points off Taupo and they get the chance to try to do it again this weekend when they host the Lakesiders at Gordon Spratt Reserve. Sitting two points behind Taupo and having played a game more than their rivals means it’s imperative Papamoa match their result from the season’s opening weeks if they plan on featuring at the business end of the season.

Otumoetai were forced to recover from a half time deficit before edging Tauranga Boys’ College 4-3 in an entertaining encounter at Fergusson Park. An Alfie Cole double inside the first twenty minutes had Otumoetai rocking, but Mitch Evans pulled one back midway through the first half before Ryan Peddle equalised three minutes into the second half. Trey Stewart appeared to have secured the result for the hosts when he scored with little more than ten minutes remaining, but Boys’ College substitute, Jack Pateman, levelled things up as the match entered its final minutes. Otumoetai wouldn’t be denied, however, and captain Scott Reid was the match winner with two minutes left on the clock.

Waikato Unicol stayed in fourth after a 2-0 win at bottom side Safer Team Te Puke United. Reuben Henderson scored inside the first twenty minutes before Krishaant Singh added the coup de gras a minute from the end for a Unicol side with games in hand over the top three. They have the chance to make up further ground midweek when they travel across town to play Melville United.

West Hamilton United picked up their third win of the season at fifth-placed Tauranga Blue Rovers. Wes Green put Rovers ahead but an Aaron Dass penalty and a goal from player-coach Glenn Brown gave the passionate Hamiltonians a valuable three points.

Gisler Architects Te Awamutu also picked up their third win of 2019 after defeating Ngaruawahia United 3-0 at home. Waikato Ball scored early, then just after the hour mark before substitute Jamie Bell made the result safe four minutes from time.

Tauranga City remain at the summit of The Soccer Shop WaiBOP W-League, despite being held to a surprise draw at Melville United. Unfortunately no further details were available at the time of writing, but it would be safe to say this result has spiced up a title race that Tauranga appeared set to motor away in.

Tilemax Papamoa are tucked a point behind Tauranga after striking twice early on before easing to a 3-1 victory at Whakatane Town. Monique Lowry and Briana Osbourne gave Papamoa that two goal lead before Alex Bentley-Dalgity halved the deficit leading into half time. A second half own goal ensured Papamoa headed home with all the spoils.

Claudelands Rovers didn’t get going until the second half of their match at Otumoetai, but when they did they did so in style. Rhiannon Jones scored twice inside the first eight minutes of the second half after a goalless first 45 minutes. Stacey Palmer made it three on the hour, before Stella Neems and Jones again helped run the score up to a comfortable 5-0 margin. Rovers’ victory jumped them into third, ahead of Whakatane.

The Soccer Shop WaiBOP Championship’s long time leaders, Waikato Unicol, are now in real peril of being knocked off top spot after losing 3-1 at Cambridge. They still maintain a two point lead after the six sides below them all won at the weekend, but have played a game more than their closest challengers and have a significantly inferior goal difference.

Bulk Lines Otorohanga and Claudelands Rovers appear to be the sides most likely to heap immediate pressure on Unicol and they both won handsomely. Jack Connor’s hat trick helped Otorohanga to another huge win, 7-0 at home to Flying Mullet Papamoa reserves, while Ash Gower-Rudman was similarly prolific as Rovers won 5-1 at Tauranga Blue Rovers’ reserves.

Tauranga City slapped Hamilton Wanderers 6-1 at home while Otumoetai’s reserves beat Tokoroa 2-0. Taupo’s reserves took three points and three goals after Waharoa Transport Matamata reserves defaulted their match.   

Match details HERE.