Only two teams still have unbeaten records in the National Youth League after leaders Auckland City and Eastern Suburbs fought out a scoreless stalemate while Canterbury United and Team Wellington fell to their first losses of the season over the weekend.

On a warm but windy afternoon at Michaels Ave Reserve, something was likely to give as City took a perfect record into the local derby while Suburbs were also yet to be defeated but trailed by two points after drawing one of their matches.

Keen to become the first side to defeat the Junior Navy Blues, Suburbs dominated the opening period and restricted the visitors to a handful of half chances. Auckland goalkeeper Cameron Brown was forced to make an outstanding save to keep the scores level mid-way through the half but the game changed in the second spell as City created several clear-cut opportunities.

Those fell to Justin Bailey and Thomas Drillien but neither could take full advantage as the top-of-the-table clash ended goalless.

There were plenty of goals elsewhere though, most notably as Canterbury and Wellington gave up their unbeaten records. In the capital, Henry Hamilton, Oskar Van Hattum and Blake Driehuis earned the Wellington Phoenix a 3-1 win over Canterbury, who could only muster one response through Declan Hickford.

In Dunedin, strikes from Alexander Cox and Erik Pekkari were enough to get Southern United over the line against Wellington, whose late effort from Oliver Stanish made the closing stages interesting but proved no more than a consolation goal.

It was the same scoreline in Napier, where Hawke’s Bay United edged out Hamilton Wanderers thanks to goals from Luke Palfreyman and Joshua Adams. Wanderers’ sole reply came from Jack Portegys as their search for a first win of the campaign continues.

Tasman United are also still without a victory after falling 2-0 at home in Nelson to Waitakere United, for whom Troy Christophers hit a double.

The National Youth League returns with another full round this coming weekend, for the table and other information please click here

National Youth League Match Week Four Results

Wellington Phoenix 3 (Henry Hamilton 57’, Oskar Van Hattum 59’, Blake Driehuis 90+3’)
Canterbury United 1 (Declan Hickford 72’)
HT: 0-0

Southern United 2 (Alexander Cox 9’, Erik Pekkari 23’)
Team Wellington 1 (Oliver Stanish 85’)
HT: 2-0

Eastern Suburbs 0
Auckland City 0
HT: 0-0

Hawke’s Bay United 2 (Luke Palfreyman 4’, Joshua Adams 18’)
Hamilton Wanderers 1 (Jack Portegys 36’)
HT: 2-1

Tasman United 0
Waitakere United 2 (Troy Christophers 28’, 48’)
HT: 0-1

Article added: Monday 12 November 2018