A refreshed Jama Boss (pictured above) returned from a cruel 3-match suspension refreshed and marked the occasion with two goals as Melville beat Mt Albert Ponsonby 3-0 in the northern league championship at home.

For 31-year-old Boss, a former Somalia international, it was his first brace for Melville in the northern league since scoring both goals in a 2-0 home win over East Coast Bays on August 24 last year, and came some 12 years after first scoring for Melville against Mt Albert Ponsonby.

The result thrust Melville back to third on the table, two points ahead of fourth-placed Cambridge, and just one point behind second-placed Wanderers.

It had been a potentially tricky match for Melville, not just because The Alberts had beaten them 2-1 back in March, but because a host of first team squad members were away all week as Hamilton Boys' High won their Super 8 competition.

While Melville were generally always comfortable, they didn't open the scoring until the 39th minute, while Boss grabbed his second four minutes into the second half.

And deal ball specialist Josh Galletly added the third from a deceptive free kick on the right in the 51st minute.

The match featured the debut of 23-year-old Ellis Rowland, a pre-deadline transfer from Ngaruawahia United. 

Mildfielder Rowland, a friend of Connor Austin, played 11 northern league matches for Ngaruawahia after arriving from Ash United, in Surrey in the Wessex League division one.

But this was just the second time he had finished on the winning team in New Zealand.

Meanwhile a 44th-minute goal to Riley Binnie earned Melville Reserves a 1-0 win over bottom-placed Ngaruawahia to leave them fifth on the table. 

Melville are away to Auckland United in the Chatham Cup on Saturday (July 5, 2pm) and in the league next face Ngaruawahia United, with the fixture brought forward from July 19 to Tuesday July 8 under lights (7pm) at Gower.

Article added: Wednesday 02 July 2025