With two or three regular competition games left for the season, the two 1st Division leagues are still yet to decide a winner, while the 2nd Division has been decided by the dominant team.

Nelson Pine Industries Men's 1st Division

Sitting in first place and desperate to create some space between themselves and the chasing teams, Blenheim Rangers travelled to Tahuna to take on the boys in blue. And after being given a choice to abandon the game on a water-logged No 1 field and to play it at a later date or move to a much smaller No 2 field, the two teams agreed to play. Rangers created a flood of chances throughout the first half only to be denied by the excellent Tahuna goalie or the woodwork. The home defence was also solid, throwing bodies and legs into every shot, and neither side was able to gain any advantage. In a moment of inspiration and frustration (upon hearing that the French had lost the Olympic basketball final), a Tahuna player spotted the Rangers keeper off his line and launched the ball forward from the halfway line. The wind carried the shot sweetly, but the scrambling keeper managed to tip the ball aside for a corner. After that, Rangers were probably the more frustrated of the two sides and had to settle for a 0 – 0 draw. Tahuna, on the other hand, was happy with a solid result against the league leaders.

Fresh Choice Richmond found themselves in a tough battle and must have felt their league title aspirations slipping away after quickly going down 2 – 0 to Motueka in the first half of their game at Jubilee Park. The home team struggled to find any consistency and were guilty of giving the ball away too often or being second into any challenge. However, after regrouping, the young side played some great football in the second half to entertain the home crowd and found themselves scoring three times to take a hard-fought 3 – 2 win. Their title chase remains alive for now.

FC Nelson was too strong for the young Nelson Suburbs development side and showed some class taking the win 5 – 2 and now see themselves within reach of the title. 

And the FC Locomotive side happily secured 3 points against Golden Bay, eventually winning their game 3 – 2.

With the weekend's results, Rangers and Richmond are now locked on 28 points at the top of the table, with FC Nelson one point behind on 27. There are two regular competition games left, so this title is still very much open for any of the leading three teams!

Blenheim Rangers 0 v Tahuna 0

Fresh Choice Richmond 3 v Motueka 2

FC Nelson 5 v Nelson Suburbs Development 2

FC Nelson Locomotive 3 v Golden Bay 2

Nelson Pine Industries Women's 1st Division

Windy conditions at A&P Park in Blenheim added unpredictability to the game on Saturday as BV Bullets faced FC Nelson. An early shot on goal from Abby Owen was blown to the left of goal by a gust and wasn't the last of the game's attempts on goal to be misdirected by the wind. The home side looked dominant for most of the first half, with the first 20 minutes deep in FC territory, barring two brief forays by FC attacking into the BV half. BV was, however, able to translate the territory and possession into scores on the board - the first being a smart cross from Tiana Williams to Lauren Sloan, who passed it to Riley Preece for the finish. Then in the final ten minutes of the half came a flurry of successful finishes. A high shot from Lea Poletti from over 20 metres out zipped over FC keeper Hannah Bibby's fingers - to delight from the sidelines. Then two more opportunities came through for Preece - to secure her hat trick just before half-time and extend BV's lead to 4 – 0 at the break. 

If the first half belonged to BV, the opening quarter of the second half was solidly FC's, pushing deeper into the BV half and testing the defenders. Early in the second spell came the first real scoring chance for FC when a sharp, high ball from Marijke Ransom bounced away off the crossbar. BV bounced back, though, and after an excellent attacking run through the field, it was tantalisingly loose in the box, but they were unable to capitalise on this occasion. With BV reinvigorated, several shots followed from Tessa Hyland, Williams & Sloan, but each was valiantly saved. A dangerous shot from Preece also looked all on until an FC defender bundled it away at the last second. Despite a good-looking corner from Hyland, the keeper secured it again. The home side was then reduced to 10 when Maggie Lane was injured with 15 minutes to play. 

Dramatic moments followed when a disputed penalty was awarded for FC and quickly taken and scored - but disallowed as the attempt was taken before the referee's whistle. The reset penalty was saved by Riley Preece (who was in the keeper's shirt for Lane by this point). A strong run and shot on goal from Maddy Rowe was ruled offside but, with a sense of déjà vu, she repeated the exact same manoeuvre barely two minutes later, and this time was not to be denied. Rowe attacked again shortly after, but this one struck harmlessly off the crossbar. After several more shots on goal from a number of the BV forwards, the final whistle blew on a 5 – 0 scoreline favouring the home side.  

In the other game, league leaders Hothouse Richmond Foxes hosted Nelson Suburbs at Jubilee Park. In a scrappy and end to end game, however, the visitors went away with a 2 – 1 win, leaving the Foxes wondering what had happened. They still sit in first place but are very aware there are only 4 points in it and still have three league games to play!

Blenheim Valley Bullets 5 v FC Nelson 0

Nelson Suburbs 2 v Hothouse Richmond Foxes 1

Nelson Pine Industries Men's 2nd Division

Tahuna stepped up against FC Nelson Karenni on Saturday and held them to a 1 – 1 draw. The young Fresh Choice Richmond team couldn't keep up their great recent form, going down 2 – 1 to FC Nelson Development. Wakefield fought hard for a 0 – 0 draw against Nelson Suburbs Miki's Mob. And Nelson Suburbs Seals continue their dominance with a 4 – 2 win over FC Nelson Reserves.

The win hands the Seals the 2021 2nd Division title with two games to play after extending their lead over Karenni to 8 points. And in a division that has seen some big score lines, several upsets, and the odd result that at times was confusing to the neutral spectator, it is fair to say the Seals have controlled the season. They must have been disappointed with FC Karenni's fall of form over recent weeks and not having a tight title race in the end, but they must also be satisfied with their own performances on the field. The only one able to be tracked down for comment on their season was veteran Seals striker Wesley O'lea, who often has plenty to say. However, uncharacteristically he was quoted as only saying "Bullet." A strange but perhaps somewhat accurate reflection on the 60 goals they've scored already this season!

Tahuna 1 v FC Nelson Karenni 1

FC Nelson Development 2 v Fresh Choice Richmond 1

Wakefield 0 v Nelson Suburbs Miki's Mob 0

Nelson Suburbs Seals 4 v FC Nelson Reserves 2

Written by Stu Reid.
Article added: Tuesday 10 August 2021