Waitakere youth continue high-scoring ways

Waitakere United’s academy remained atop the Lion Foundation Youth League standings with a resounding 7-1 win over Waikato FC at Fred Taylor Park on Saturday.

Golden boot leaders Ryan de Vries and Dakota Lucas helped Waitakere stay top in the Lion Foundation Youth League. Image: Photosport

February 7, 2010

AUCKLAND – Waitakere United’s academy remained atop the Lion Foundation Youth League standings with a resounding 7-1 win over Waikato FC at Fred Taylor Park on Saturday.

After 3-0 and 5-4 victories in their opening two encounters, Waitakere came into the match in sharp goal-scoring touch, and found an opening goal inside the first minute through Arash Sadeghi.

Ryan de Vries, who is already accumulating useful game time with the senior side in the NZFC, doubled the in the 29th minute, and fellow NZFC squad member Zane Sole unleashed a thunderous shot from the edge of the area for Waitakere’s third.

Jade Messias and Kelly Martin scored before the halftime whistle sounded and a Dakota Lucas double in the second half completed Waitakere’s scoring – and saw Lucas join de Vries at the top of the scoring charts wit hfour goals – before Tewi Te Pou, a regular in Waikato’s senior side, netted a late consolation goal for the visitors.

On Sunday at Kiwtea Street, Auckland City notched the first points of their Youth League title defence with a 3-0 win over Hawke’s Bay United.

Goals from Jacob Hall and Haider Jabir inside the first 15 minutes gave City control of the match early on and Rory Kelly put the result beyond doubt with Auckland’s third 11 minutes into the second half.

Second placed Auckland-Manukau, had the weekend off, but can have the chance to haul in leaders Waitakere when they two clash at Riverhills next Saturday, while Auckland City can make ground on at least one of the top two when they travel to Ngaruawahia to face Waikato FC on Sunday.

The four-team Southern Conference gets underway on February 21. 

Results
Northern Conference

Saturday
Waitakere United 7 (Arash Sadeghi 1, Ryan De Vries 29, Zane Sole 38, Jade Mesias 41, Kelly Martin 45, Dakota Lucas 57, 68)
Waikato FC 1 (Tewi Te Pou 82)
Halftime: 5-0

Sunday
Auckland City 3 (Jacob Hall 7, Haider Jabir 12, Rory Kelly 56)
Hawke's Bay United 0
Halftime: 2-0

Full standings available at the National Youth League section of www.nzfc.co.nz