Four of the fives games in the opening round of the Ultra Football Central League were settled by one goal or fewer in a tantalising taste of the season ahead.

It may have been expected that the two-month delay to the start of the season due to Covid-19 might have left a few teams rusty, but the first weekend of results showed every team to be very competitive.

The season was kicked off at Hutt Park on Saturday, where Stop Out beat Wairarapa United 3-2.

Jared Cunniff scored two second-half goals that made the difference for the home side, but the visitors will take great heart from their first-up showing after only gaining three points in 2019.

The action moved to Petone Memorial Park where newly-promoted Petone took on perennial contenders Miramar Rangers.

It was the away side that took the spoils 2-0 thanks to first-half goals from Jorge Akers and Ollie Whyte.

Lower Hutt City got their campaign underway with a 1-1 draw against Waterside Karori at Fraser Park.

Karori led through Harry Fautley’s 19^th-minute goal, but Lower Hutt struck back in the 70^th minute via Riley Bidois.

Napier City Rovers made their first road trip a successful one, beating Wellington Olympic, who many are tipping as title contenders, 2-1.

Kenny Willox opened the scoring in the 7^th minute for Napier, before Karan Mandair put them 2-0 up 10 minutes before halftime. Gianni Bouzoukis hit back 15 minutes into the second half, but the home side were unable to find a way through to nab an equaliser.

The final match of the round on Sunday saw defending champions Western Suburbs defeat North Wellington 2-1.

North Wellington were up 1-0 after Nathan Simes’ 21st-minute goal, but goals from Xavier Green (37^th minute) and Marko Stamenic (57^th minute) earned Wests all three points.

In the Ultra Football W-League, defending champions Wellington United got their season off to a great start by defeating their closest rivals last season, Wairarapa United, 4-2.

Jemma Robertson, Kelsey Wilkinson, Emma Main and Danielle Ohlsson were in the goals for the home side as they led from the 15^th minute on, while Florence MacIntyre and Samantha Whyte got on the board for the visitors.

Petone started their season in impressive fashion with a 4-1 win over Seatoun. Libby Boobyer scored a hat-trick, including two goals in two minutes in the first half.

Waterside Karori were doing well to hold out Palmerston North Marist in their match at Karori Park until the 60^th-minute sending off of Samantha O’Callaghan for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity.

Five minutes later Kaitlyn Watts scored for PNM, before Zoe Perks completed the 2-0 win with a 93^rd-minute goal.

The final match of the round saw Western Suburbs edge North Wellington 1-0 thanks to a goal in the 30^th minute from Beth Whiteside.

Central League round 1 results

Stop Out 3 (Jared Cunniff 47’ 81’, Cameron MacKenzie 43’) Wairarapa United 2 (Joshua Rudland 22’ 68’). HT: 1-1

Miramar Rangers 2 (Jorge Akers 16’, Ollie Whyte 40’) Petone 0. HT: 2-0

Lower Hutt City 1 (Riley Bidois 70’) Waterside Karori 1 (Harry Fautley 19’). HT: 0-1

Napier City Rovers 2 (Kenny Willox 7’, Karan Mandair 70’) Wellington Olympic 1 (Gianni Bouzoukis 60’). HT: 1-0

Western Suburbs 2 (Xavier Green 37’, Marko Stamenic 57’) North Wellington 1 (Nathan Simes 21’). HT: 1-1

W-League round 1 results

Palmerston North Marist 2 (Kaitlyn Watts 65’, Zoe Perks 90+3’) Waterside Karori 0. HT: 0-0

Wellington United Diamonds 4 (Jemma Robertson 15’, Kelsey Wilkinson 23’ Emma Main 49’, Danielle Ohlsson 73’) Wairarapa United 2 (Tui Duggan 29’, Samantha Whyte 75’). HT: 2-1

Western Suburbs 1 (Beth Whiteside 30’) North Wellington 0. HT: 1-0

Petone 4 (Libby Boobyer 11’ 12’ 50’, Tallulah Nemet-Sargent 85’) Seatoun 1 (Hannah Wignall 20’). HT: 2-1

Article added: Monday 15 June 2020