Northern continued their 100% league record, winning 10 games on the trot.
But they were made to work very hard for their 1-0 victory over a resilient Roslyn Wakari at Ellis Park in the men’s Southern Premier League on Saturday.
Northern had the majority of possession and attempted to speed up the game early, taking a more direct route. However, Roslyn’s defensive pairing of Joe Woods and Angus Mackay dealt with things well.
Both teams were cancelling each other out in the first half, being limited to half chances with Northern’s Cam McPhail winning a lot of ball and Sam Cosgrove looking dangerous on his attacking forays.
Rory Hibbert had the best chance of the first half with a shot from the left-hand edge of the 6-yard box, forcing Roslyn keeper Tom Stevens to save with an outstretched foot.
The second half was equally tight with chances at a premium.
Roslyn had a chance to take the lead when Jack McFarlane worked his way to the edge of the box and, having a clear sight at goal as well as striker Nathan Wilkie free on his inside, he opted to shoot and put it over the bar.
Northern were not ready to give up their 100% record and got the winner in the 83rd minute. With Roslyn’s defence stretched, Hibbert found space inside the box and shot from 10 yards, across Stevens into the top left-hand corner.
University are in second spot following a 5-0 win away to Old Boys. Mosgiel overcame Queens Park 4-2 at Memorial Park, while the Northern Hearts secured a valuable point in a 2-2 draw with the Dunedin City Royals.
In the Women’s Southern Premier League Sofia Zame scored a hat-trick and Naomi Jutel added one more for Otago University to beat Northern 4-0 at the Caledonian Ground.
Green Island beat Roslyn Wakari 4-2 at Sunnyvale, while Queens Park upset the Dunedin City Royals 2-0 in Invercargill.
— Neville Watson
