Northern have all but wrapped up the men’s Southern Premiership title with a hard-fought win over the defending champions.
A 2-1 win over Mosgiel at the Caledonian Ground maintained their perfect record of nine wins from nine games, pushing them 11 points clear at the top of the table.
Mosgiel nearly took the lead in the opening two minutes when Morgan Day’s goal-bound header was blocked on the line.
Northern took the lead in the sixth minute when Rory Hibbert rifled home from close range, scoring his 11th goal of the season.
On the hour mark Northern doubled their lead when Nick Treadwell pounced on a loose pass in the midfield and, seeing keeper Kobe Watt off his line, lofted the ball home from 40 yards out.
Harvey Stephens reduced the deficit with 14 minutes to go, when he swept home a fine cross from Jack Walecki. However, Northern held on to preserve their 100% record.
Queen’s Park beat Otago University 4-3 after the students held a 3-2 halftime lead.
Queen’s Park’s win leaves five teams separated by only three points from second to sixth.
With Northern all but wrapping up the title, interest is at the bottom as to what team may be relegated.
Old Boys, from Invercargill, have dropped to the bottom of the table with a 3-1 loss at home to Dunedin City Royals.
Zachary Tull gave the home side a 20th-minute lead which they held until the first half stoppage time, when Samuel Hawke equalised.
Old Boys then conceded two penalties and George Barker scored both, in the 48th and 77th minute.
Timaru’s Northern Hearts and Green Island drew 2-2.
The game was locked up 1-1 at the break, as Finley Kruger canceled out the home side’s Bailey Chambers 29th-minute goal.
It looked like Hearts would drop to the bottom of the table when Kellan Crowe put Green Island ahead with nine minutes to go, however Hayden Teixeiras’ 87th minute equaliser meant the home side earned a point keeping them one point ahead of Old Boys.
In the women’s Southern Premiership Georgia Kennedy scored twice as the Dunedin City Royals beat top-of-the-table Otago University 2-1 at Culling Park.
Queen’s Park beat Roslyn-Wakari 3-0, while Green Island were 6-0 victors over Northern.
— Neville Watson
