Northern Leagues

http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/rad...

The coach of the Samoan national soccer team has put out a Pacific-wide call for players with a Samoan heritage who might be interested in playing in World Cup qualifying matches later this year.

Central 3 Hamilton Wanderers 2 Vincent Pineau scores the winner deep into second half stoppage time.

Two perspectives on yesterday's Central v Wanderers game.

Rod de Lisle from a a Wanderers standpoint:

http://in-the-back-of-the.net/2015/07/05/balanced-views-hamilton-wanderers/

And John Palethorpe from a Central:

http://in-the-back-of-the.net/2015/07/05/balanced-views-central-united/

LOL. Sure it wasn't a "Balkan bunker?"

Congrats to Chadwick Coombes for a super second goal (and the team's third) in Birkenhead's 4-0 northern premier league win over Melville. 

Coombes was about 15m inside Melville's half, in possession in the middle of the park, looked up and dinked a long-range chip which Melville keeper Jason Mann could only parry onto the bar, from where it dropped over the line.

I was cheering for the other side, but credit where it is due - this was a Beckham-esque finish. I'd not previously seen Chad in this light as a finisher of such subtlety. So well done.

Sure he wasn't aiming for the sideline?

The result of the northern premier league round had to be Glenfield hanging on for a 1-1 draw with East Coast Bays despite having three players and the coach sent off.

Glenfield played the old 4-3-0 formation for the final 30 minutes but still managed to nick the lead - though Bays scrambled an equaliser in the 85th minute.

The words "referee" and "appalling" were heard from the Glenfield camp in the aftermath. 

You can't beat a good northern league soap opera.

I saw that match and 2 of the red cards (I missed the 3rd) Bruce. Suffice to say that even the most casual observer would not deny that they were deserved.

So  who were the players sent off. I assume Danny got sent off for dissent which is a four week ban

Don't know if anyone was at Western Springs vs Hamilton last night, but apart from it being a really good spectacle (5pm K/O) if anyone has video of potentially the greatest goal line headed clearence ever it needs to be shared with teh internet

go on the Wanderers webs

Go to near the end of this video clip

http://hamiltonwanderers.co.nz/?page_id=5223

It was a brilliant clearance alright!

IF there was a club-based National League, and let's say three divisions, how would you make it up:

(i understand this could be moved, but it's here because that's where the thought came to me...)

Off the top of the head, hopefully encouraging debate - 

...who have I glaringly missed?

Tawa wouldn't be welcome...

Raumati Hearts?
Mangere United?
AFC Fury?
Coastal Spirit?
Taupo AFC?

3 teams from the south? Your idea will get poo pooed by them

are there any others that are better than what's there?

North Force probably think they're quite good, and Melville are Northern Premier League...

But, I don't know the South Island. It's very pretty though!

Central United 3-1 winners over Glenfield Rovers today, Finn Cochran, Takuya Iwata and an Own Goal for Central whilst Matt Wallace scored for Rovers. 

In unrelated news Kiwitea Street copped it badly during today's mini tornado with a large part of the grandstand roof being torn off and blown onto the pitch, the street and the Sandringham Bowling Club over the road. 

Ecb Bays won 3-1 over springs. Rather dull game. Springs should feel unlucky that they did not at least get a draw. Burfoot the best for them!!

Sorry to see the damage at Kiwitea St. The main thing was no one was injuried. 

I'm sure the good people at Central and Auckland City will get things back to normal asap . 

All the best 

Umm ... wasn't bucket-man testing new flares?

Melville ......... really???

I was at FHM vs Metro today. Write-up and photos here for anyone interested:

http://in-the-back-of-the.net/2015/07/25/shooting-for-the-stars-and-missing/

What happened to the 3 point's to all the teams that T.KU PLAYED WITH AN UNREGISTERED Player ?

Surely you can't give them to Hamilton and not to  other team's

I think it's like a reward for being a squealer...

So Glenfield discovering that spending a whole lot of money on a bunch of mercenary has-beens is not much of an investment....

And Eastern Suburbs have discovered that if you are going to do that then make sure they are imports.....

Wonder how many of them are lined up already to play for Waitakery Utd?

Went to the Glenfield v East Subs game yesterday.

Pretty miserable conditions and ordinary game.

Glenfield 1-0 and could have gone to 2-0 but for some bad luck.

Suburbs equaliser was classy and then they dominated and could have won by more - they missed the penalty in the last couple of minutes.

Glenfield increasingly a rabble - bits don't fit together . Don't think that you can play Smith and Gwyther in the same team , and Bale a waste at CB.

For a top of the table side Suburbs were ordinary . Apart from Bowen who is lazy , don't know who the other imports are (first time I've seen them this season) , but no other players stood out as being a potential national league import.

Smith is a headcase so no one really works with him.

They were better when Holloway was starting. I saw a couple of games after Smith and Gwyther appeared and he was not on the team sheet. Could be an anomaly but he is a better footballer than Smith.

Unfortunately Joe Edwards is starting to look really slow for them. Needs to consider dropping down a level or two.

Think they're from Wales. Like Bowen?

Thought the rovers v suburbs game was a good watch.

Rovers had  lots of chances and played well..Suburbs were excellent up front and took chances ...

Nathan Bowen is American I believe.

Yes they won the league but so what? Surely that money can be spent better on coaching, juniors, facilities, gear, etc. I know they're not the only club doing it but it's an ongoing malaise in this country - in the long term is it better to develop players and create a great community club, or have a team win a league because you've got a big chequebook?

I think spenders are just after success, regardless of the level. And it usually works one season, then others catch up, then they do it again.

Not sure if the football environment's vast enough in New Zealand for a lasting structure to come through.

It almost seems like it's more of a perpetual popularity contest, in the winter leagues at least and NZFC (bar ACFC/Central) to an extent.

Does anyone that knows the background of Birkenhead have anything to say here?

I feel like they might be the one of the best examples of a 'developing' club - until they started to compete for Northern League, then the cheque-book came out...

Lower Hutt are another one. Struggling a bit at the moment though. Ever since CD left I think... ;)

Australian.

Canadian 

Unless Toronto has moved.....