23 SEP 1998 , Edition 2, Page 11.
Cambridge avoid dreaded drop
By: ANDERSON Ian
Cambridge’s storming late run in Northern League division two soccer saved them from relegation.
The club’s tremendous string of results in the second half of the season continued on Saturday when they hammered Waitemata 5-2 away from home to make their place safe for next season.
Cambridge have lost just once in their last 12 matches and clawed their way out of the cellar with excellent attacking football as Tony McIsaac, Tony Dikmans, Duncan Milne, Richie Hill and keeper Greg Hobson — from the penalty spot — were the scorers.
Claudelands Rovers lost 2-1 at home in division two to Bay Olympic.
A visiting side stacked with premier league players shocked Rovers with two goals in the first three minutes and despite dominating the majority of the match, the home team could only pull a goal back from Pat Conchie early in the second spell.
Ngaruawahia United coach Jeff Coulshed has a key task for summer “after I do my gardening” — signing a striker.
Ngaruawahia will finish fourth in division one should they beat an improved Melville United this Saturday and would have been a promotion contender had they possessed a regular scorer. United hit the woodwork three times, had two efforts cleared off the line and Roddy Rojas missed a sitter when they lost 1-0 away to third-placed Takapuna City.
Ngaruawahia have conceded only 17 goals in 21 league matches — the best defensive record in all four Northern leagues — but have netted just 35 times.
Matamata Swifts suffered a disappointing end to their division three season, losing 2-1 away to mid-table Huntly Thistle in a match abandoned seven minutes before time when Swifts fullback Bevan Shelley was sent off.