Northern Premier League

Robertson's call came after his side were nudged off top spot on the second division ladder, going down 3-2 to new leaders Te Atatu on Saturday.

With the second division being canned at the end of the season, 2007 is all about promotion for Cambridge, to keep their northern league future alive.

While Robertson said his side was the best in the league, second place (which would still earn promotion) would be gratefully accepted.

"Don't get me wrong, we want to win this league and we know we're clearly the best team, but if second place is what it takes then so be it . . . there is only one purpose this season and that's going up."

Robertson said his side had a slow start and created too many mistakes in going down 3-0.

With the introduction of new signing Gerard Pambuai and Keiren Frewen they won some ascendancy, with goals to Piero Dipheko and Matt Hastings, but couldn't find the back of the net again despite their chances.

Meanwhile, Ngaruawahia will be without two experienced players when they travel to Mangere United this weekend after being reduced to nine men in their 2-0 loss to Mt Albert in the first division.

Until he was given an straight red card for a dangerous two-footed tackle on the stroke of halftime, Sean Sullivan had been inspirational in midfield.

Wanderers trailed 2-0 at the time and his departure spelled the end for a spirited Ngaruawahia.

Troy Lochead was the second to pick up a suspension after he was given a second yellow card in the 89th minute.

The Green remain third to last on the ladder. They were full of emotion and committed to the cause but in some areas they lacked the skills to back it up.

Melville will also be down a man this weekend after Nathan Rule was sent off early in the second half in their 1-0 away loss to first division leaders Lynn Avon.

Melville had the opportunity to

go equal with the Aucklanders had they taken maximum points but, despite having their chances to score, have now slipped to third on the

ladder while Lynn Avon are five

points clear of second-placed Three Kings.

Meanwhile, Hamilton Wanderers slipped to eighth place on the premier league table after going down 6-1 to North Shore at Porritt Stadium yesterday.

The result was more a reflection of North Shore's attacking prowess than Wanderers' deficiencies.

Featuring four Waitakere United players, including outstanding striker Michael Gwyther, the visitors scored on most advances while Wanderers lacked the X factor to convert more of their many chances.

For the first half especially, Wanderers played equally as attractive football as North Shore and the 2-1 scoreline at the break was a fair representation of the match.

In his first game of the season, goalscorer Cole Peverley was lovely to watch with ball at foot, and had numerous strikes sail just over the bar.

While he can understand it to some degree, Hamilton Wanderers' coach Mark Cossey is upset at New Zealand Football's poor communication over making their international players unavailable for northern league selection.

Wanderers head into their premier league away clash today against East Coast Bays with the news that star teenage striker Chris Wood has been ordered to sit out the match by the national under-17 coach. He is to attend a training camp in Auckland in the coming days, ahead of August's youth World Cup.

Wanderers' other international � under-20 player Cole Peverley � has only just been released back to the squad after All Whites coach Ricki Herbert wanted him kept in cotton wool ahead of that side's World Cup this year.

Cossey said on both occasions he felt NZF had acted dictatorially and hurt his side's competition chances.

"They (NZF) are barely even ringing us and are doing what they want to do. We end up hearing from the players," Cossey said.

"I can understand why they want these players taken care of but it's hurting. Chris has been scoring well for us."

Cossey said the international-laden Auckland sides were complaining of the same treatment by the national body.

To cover Wood's absence Stu Watene will be put in a striking role after recent weeks in the midfield. As long as he's recovered from the flu, regular forward Daryl Gibbes will join Watene in the front line.

Cossey said the arrival of a Welsh under-21 international �- which was meant to happen weeks ago �- had been delayed but with assistant coach Roger Wilkinson in the UK the team were hoping for more news on him soon.

Wanderers are expecting Luke Findley � their import from last season � to arrive in a fortnight with a goal-scoring teammate from England in tow.

Wanderers are yet to win on the road this season and today's opposition are second on the ladder and have lost just once at home this year.

Meanwhile, Melville United are at home to Metro of Auckland today, looking to bounce back after going down 1-0 to league leaders Lynn Avon last week.

Third-placed Melville are now six points off top spot and will be leapfrogged by Metro today at Gower Park (2.45pm) if they drop the points.

Metro are unbeaten this season, with three wins and four draws and the teams had two epic encounters last season �- a 4-3 win to Melville and a 0-0 draw.

Ngaruawahia will hope their depth of squad passes the test away to Mangere in the first division.

Already down Phil Stables and Gerard Pambuai due to transfers to other clubs, Ngaruawahia lost Sean Sullivan and Troy Lochead last week with suspensions.

Mangere were relegated from the premier league last season.

In the second division Cambridge should have no worries dispatching last placed Onehunga at home today.