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Massey University’s game against Havelock North Wanderers on Saturday saw them narrowly lose 2-1 (file photo). They’re now in fourth-equal place on the ladder with Athletic after the Whanganui side moved up after beating Napier 2-0. Piper said Massey’s defeat by Wanderers didn’t reflect the way the game went. “We played with the best intensity I’ve seen in any game we’ve been involved in. It was a hell of a game. “I’m proud of the performance but disappointed at the result. We gave it all we had because we knew we needed to win it to win the league.” ....
Marist’s Charlotte Noakes (left) goes up against Samantha Miller in Saturday’s match. The 10-man Massey side went ahead just before halftime through midfielder George Andrew, before North End striker Young-Jae Lee grabbed the equaliser after the break. North End co-coach Michael Sheridan scored the winner for the visitors about 10 minutes from the end during a goalmouth scramble. Massey coach Donald Piper said he was left with “an empty feeling” after the game. He said the third-placed students had the possession, opportunities and style to win the game. “I was gutted about the result because we turned in a performance that was above average. ....
By halftime at Gisborne on Sunday, Massey led 3-2, which completed the scoring. The students’ goals came through Cole Freeman, Zac Farmer and Michael Hilson. Coach Donald Piper said returning from Gisborne with three points was impressive. “We didn’t win it statistically in terms of chances created but we scored the goals.”. Five Massey players are in the leading group of the Golden Boot contenders: Rhys Galyer, Farmer, George Andrew and Cole and Joe Freeman. At Havelock North, Marist coach Juliano Schmeling said “individual mistakes” cost his side the game as Marist struggled to cope with Wanderers’ long ball game in a 3-1 loss. ....
Palmerston North Marist will be pleased to have Josh Cremen and Luke Palfreyman back from injury, although they will be missing dangerous winger Jordan Joblin-Hall, out with a work-related issue. But coach Juliano Schmeling says he will still have 16 players from whom to pick his run-on side for a game he is predicting will be a tough encounter. He said it was disappointing to concede a goal at Napier from a corner. “That’s something we need to fix. We have to be prepared to win those 50-50 balls.” Schmeling said the team that made the fewest mistakes would win the game, so they needed to be ready for loose possession in the goalmouth area and anticipate “the moment”. ....