It’s a little hard to tell still whether Eastern Suburbs are a legit title contender or not still. The style with which they play their footy says hell yes, although given that recent history demands you have to beat Auckland City or Team Wellington on the way to any title, and their two defeats this season have come to both of them, perhaps they’re a half step off until they can prove they’re up to that task (to be fair, those two defeats were 1-0 and 2-1, hardly hidings).

They damn sure made light work of the WeeNix in Wellington though. As the curtain raiser to the Wellington Phoenix vs Central Coast Mariners game at Westpac Stadium, they even had the telly cameras there and everything (shame a few more hearty souls didn’t turn up earlier to catch this one – nothing like taking in some live National League, folks, gotta get out there and breathe it in and that goes for the whole country).

Suburbs made zero changes from the team that won 6-1 against Southern a week earlier. They even made the three same exact subs (at different times, thankfully, or else we might’ve been witnessing a glitch in the matrix). That meant still no Nando Pijnaker and Danny Hay reckons it’ll be a few more weeks before that ankle is up to the task again after he went over on it against Hawke’s Bay in December. Kelvin Kalua got another go at CB in his absence, although an early yellow card and a couple sketchy moments saw him withdrawn for Adam Thomas a fair bit sooner than would have been comfortable.

No matter. Suburbs did that thing they usually do and scored early, taking the lead on nine minutes thanks to Callum McCowatt. Slotting into an open net after yet another assist from Eli Just, the Assist King of the NZ Premiership. I mean, who can even keep up with the bloke when he’s setting up a goal or two every bloody week? Tell you what’s more is he’s started scoring them every week too. Thirteenth minute and Just made it 2-0. Played in by Owen Parker-Price, who also had a hand in the build-up for the first, and a quick shimmy saw Just slam it home despite the best attempts of Kurtis Mogg to clear it off the line. That’s four goals in the last three games for Just. Which would be amazing on its own were it not for Callum McCowatt doing even better.

Chances kept coming for Suburbs. It wasn’t that they were completely running the show out there, the WeeNix had some highlights of their own mostly thanks to the quick feet of Taci Kumsuz in midfield, but the WeeNix are always susceptible at the back and Suburbs’ main plan is the high press. Sorta a foregone conclusion when your biggest weakness coincides with their biggest strength like that. It also didn’t help that playing directly before the senior team, it was another week of no outside help for Paul Temple’s lot. Callan Elliot returned to the side but neither he nor Ben Waine were able to show what they’re capable of in attack. Well, Waine had a couple flashes, to be fair.

The game carried on in the same fashion with Harry Edge, Owen Parker-Price and Dom Woolridge all controlling proceedings in the middle there, before McCowatt finally scored the third for Suburbs after 63 mins. Andre De Jong, who didn’t get a goal here but worked tirelessly to keep creating for his mates, and Eli Just were both involved in the move, Zac Jones made two excellent saves but couldn’t deny CMcC on the third. And only a few rotations of the clock later McCowatt had his hatty. More wonderful work from ADJ in the build-up and a rasping finish from McCowatt. Six goals in three games for him now and he’s waltzing his way up the top scorer’s charts… which are looking bloody interesting about now:

1. Sam Mason Smith (HBU) – 9

2. Hamish Watson (TW) – 8

3. Andre De Jong (ES) – 8

4. Martin Bueno (HW) – 7

5. Stephen Hoyle (CU) – 7

6. Tommy Semmy (HW) – 7

7. Callum McCowatt (ES) – 7

8. Javier Lopez (AC) – 6

9. Garbhan Coughlan (SU) – 6

On another day we might be talking about five or six but 4-0 was more than enough for Eastern Suburbs, who barely ever looked bothered at the back. Remember when they were stunningly held to a 0-0 draw by Tasman a few weeks back? In three games since they’ve won 4-1, 6-1 and 4-0. No team has conceded fewer goals than their six (from 11 games) and no team has scored more than their 29 (their goal difference is six goals better than Auckland City’s). And after a couple other results going the way they did Suburbs now have a bit of a buffer in second place. With Canterbury (H), Auckland City (A), Hamilton (H) and Team Wellington (A) over the next month we might just find out the answer to that earlier question too.

Hamilton Wanders lost some ground last week, their loss to Team Welly coupled with a Canterbury Utd win over Tasman meaning that the Cantabs leapt over them into fourth place on the ladder. This week they hosted the very same Tasman side… although they hosted them in South Auckland, Porritt Stadium unavailable so they took the game to Centre Park in Mangere (where Manukau United play – there are a couple MU players in the HW squad, defender Tino Contratti and backup keeper Jonathan Mannes). Sort of like an away game for both teams… although at least the Tron Wands could catch the bus.

Hamilton made one change from the team that went down by a lone goal a week ago and it was the necessary one: Tommy Semmy back in for David Samson. Curiously Stafford Dowling began the game at right back, while Joe Nottage played as a defensive midfielder. It was the usual front three of Semmy, Derek Tieku and Marty Bueno though, and that’s usually all that matter. As for Tasman, they welcomed in new fella Joe Ellul, who played 45 minutes at centreback. Not a bloke you want to find yourself up against in an aerial challenge, that’s for sure. The Englishman looks like you’d need a bulldozer to move him. Tassie also had kiwi youth international Jake Williams making his second straight start at left back and, after a solid gig off the bench last time, Christian Benitez got the go up front, with Max Winterton behind him.

Poor old Tassie had only won once all season but they had a near perfect start as a big shout for handball was acknowledged and accepted by the ref and Ryan Worrall stepped up to bury the 13th minute spot kick. Both teams were happy to leave a boot in so of this one was soundtracked by the whistle but if Hamilton were feeling frisky before then it got worse when Ahmed Othman popped up in the 26th min to double the lead.

The thing with Hamilton Wanderers, however, is that they know their way around a comeback. Down 3-0 away to Canterbury earlier in the season they came back to draw 3-3 despite getting a couple red cards. Down 3-0 to Waitakere not so long ago they came back to win 4-3. Down 2-0 against Tasman they weren’t overawed and soon enough a brilliant passing move involving Bueno, Dowling and Semmy was put away by the latter and the “home” side were back in it.

Tasman brought on Sam Ayers for Joe Ellul at the break, while Ricki Herbert rated a tactical change soon enough himself with Jordan Shaw coming on at fullback to allow Stafford Dowling, who was already making things happen from deep, to push forwards. Sure enough, Derek Tieku tied us up only minutes after the resumption in the second half and the Wanderers kept on pressing for that winner, Marty Bueno and Tommy Semmy each going close. Tasman had Keegan Smith in goal this week after four games on the bench and he made a massive save to deny Semmy although the flag had already gone up. Fox Slotemaker did his best in defence for the Nelson side as well, a couple ravishing challenges doing the trick.

And it all worked out because with twenty minutes left and against the run of play Christian Benitez, who had had a torrid time of things marked by Tino Contratti, chipped in a brilliant ball over the top of the defence for Othman who himself lifted the ball gently and precisely over the top of Matt Oliver for what proved to be the winner. Hamilton threw all they had at their opponents but that only ended with substitute Adam Luque seeing a straight red for leaving the sprigs up on Williams. Guts to Hamilton, who are now five points behind fourth-placed Canterbury and their season could rest on getting max points against Southern (A) and Hawke’s Bay (H) over the next two weeks. A second win this season for Tasman and they did it the hard way, with backs against the wall. Big effort from them and no doubt the plane ride back to Sunny Nelson (trademark) was a joyous one.

Hamilton Wanderers losing that one was a surprise but the biggest upset of the weekend was Waitakere United toppling Team Wellington in the capital. The TeeDubs brought Mario Ilich back into the side but Andy Bevin missed another one. Justin Gulley played his 100th game for the club. On the other side, Chris Milicich showed last week that he’s all about the youth and building for next season now and he took that even further with six changes to his team from the lot that lost 2-0 to AK City last time. Nick Draper was recalled for Silvio Rodic (despite Rodic’s fantastic performance). Andrew Abba came in for the suspended Sanni Issa. There were starts for regulars Ben Gordon, Sam Burfoot and Ollie Bassett… and then it was pretty much just the kids.

Like for real, just the kids. Including the three subs who came on there were eight players still eligible for the NYL for Waitak. Ignacio Machuca Maturena started getting games in December. He came off the bench here and is 21 years old. Jake Mechell and Niko Steinmetz each made their starting debuts last week and were again in the first XI, they’re both 19 years old (I think), while fellow teenager Dane Schnell got the start here, his first, and he was in the U19 All Whites side that won the Oceania tournament last year (along with Matt Conroy, who didn’t play here but has been a regular face most of the season). Oscar Browne got his second start and he’s 19 years old. Same with Lachlan McIsaac, also getting his second start of the campaign. And we’re still not done because substitutes Alex Connor-McLean and Matt Wood (Woody on debut) are both in that age range too. Hard to find exact date of births but there are your eight fellas – let’s not forget that Northern Irish import Ollie Bassett doesn’t turn 21 until March either.

Waitakere had lost five in a row but they were competitive in most of them and they always start fast. No different here with a tenth minute feed from Abba setting up Burfoot to give the visitors the lead. They continued to go for it after that and their set piece proficiency led to the second with Jake Mechell getting the final touch on a free kick for his maiden National League goal.

Team Welly finally woke up after that and for the next hour they hassled and harried at the Waitakere goal. But they caught Nick Draper on the wrong day. It was save after save from him. The only one he couldn’t save was the one from Scott Hilliar that hit the crossbar. Team Welly brought on Angus Kilkolly at the break and kept at it. Then Ross Allen entered the arena, swapping in for Hamish Watson who after scoring in six of the first seven games has been held out three in a row. Eric Molloy was the final introduction and it was he who finally did get Team Welly on the board… but not until the 94th minute of the game and clearly that was too late.

So Team Welly loses for only the second time all season, the first coming in the opener against Auckland City. An eight game unbeaten streak comes to an end… but then they haven’t been at their best for a little while now, the buzz of the Club World Cup and then the hangover of it probably having a bit to do with all that. Still only two clean sheets all term and they drop to fourth now, albeit with a game in hand. Huge shout outs to Waitakere though, funny what a bunch of nothing-to-lose young fellas can achieve when given some responsibility. Snaps a run of five straight defeats and you cannot say they weren’t due. Or that they didn’t deserve it on the day.

At half-time of their game against Southern, it looked like Auckland City were headed for the upset wagon as well. A Garbhan Coughlan goal had given the Southerners the lead. City had left a couple too many folks forward and Danny Ledwith got to the ball quickest in the midfield with a raking switch of play that gave Abdullah Al-Kalisy all sorts of room to work with. He threw in a few fades and then drove the ball over to Coughlan for a thumping finish, get in there. Big drama at Kiwitea.

Both teams welcomed back injured goalkeepers, with Enaut Zubikarai and Liam Little good to go again, and both those keepers were called into action during a busy first half. Little made this one amazing double save. Also, David Browne ripped one off the post and Javi Lopez was close to getting on the end of a couple loose ones before Coughlan’s goal. A scrappy kind of game in some ways, with City definitely not at their best, but they also had their chances from start to finish.

It’s been tricky for Southern whose defensive qualities haven’t been as prominent lately. Only one clean sheet all season and they let in six to Eastern Suburbs last game. Not a lot of fun. But they were pretty good here. Sam Pickering got a go, his first start after a handful of subs appearances, and he was so close to making it 2-0 but for Zubi making a magical save. Both keepers might have been coming back from injury yet both keepers were in top form all the same.

But then a right old cock up at the back saw Erik Panzer wallop the ball into his own net after an awkward chest down from sub Rory Findlay. The goal was probably coming anyway yet this was a stink way to concede it. Then Fabrizio Tavano scored a free kick which caught a deflection off the top of the wall and City went on to win 2-1. An own goal and a deflected free kick. There really is no stopping Auckland City, is there? That’s ten wins outta ten and they’re five points clear at the top, meanwhile Southern United have dropped four in a row.

Real swift with the highlights package this week too, absolutely love it. Phototek always do a great job with these.

One last game and it was down in Canterbury where Hawke’s Bay dropped by to visit. No live stream this week, sadly, with the Dragons hitting some form recently and the Bay looking to prove their semi-final credentials. HBU with only one change from last week’s 4-1 win and that was Birhanu Taye coming back after serving a one-game suspension. Canterbury also recalling their captain after Gary Ogilvie had sat it out a week ago.

What we hadn’t seen from Canterbury yet was a comprehensive win. They’ve been churning them out lately but always by a single goal. Didn’t take much time for them to get that single goal here with Stephen Hoyle putting away the rebound after Maksym Kowal’s third minute effort was blocked. Heck of a way to kick it off for the home fans.

Hawke’s Bay began creating a few things in response and were level before half an hour was up with a screamer from Cory Chettleburgh, way outside the box. Both teams went hundies for the next goal and the Dragons did quite well to hang in there to be level at the break. The metronomic chances finally fizzed over when Kowal and Seth Clark both cracked at goal and then a penalty was awarded for handball. Ogilvie made no mistake from the spot.

He made no mistake completing his double in the 66th min either, whacking in for 3-1 after sub George King’s cross was dummied by Aaron Spain. Kowal then smashed in a fourth with quarter on an hour to go and that was about that. Ben Lack came off the bench and made it 4-2 before Ogilvie set up George King for Kingy’s first of the season and the Dragons won it 5-2. Only time they’ve won by more than one goal this season. How about that? They’re also now third on the ladder and have won four in a row. The game in Auckland against Eastern Suburbs next time out is going to be a cracker.

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