It was another challenging weekend for Melville with men's and women's northern league teams losing away from home.

Fullback Soma Scott and striker Stafford Dowling (pictured above) scored their first goals of the season for Melville men but it was not enough as The Unicorns were beaten 3-2 by Auckland FC Reserves in a fixture brought forward to 12 noon at Fred Taylor Park, to accommodate the club's A-League semifinal fixture at Mt Smart.

Scott, who joined Melville after being top scorer at Ngaruawahia last season, gave Melville a 16th minute lead, but Auckland - who featured former Melville academy products Matt D'Hotman and skipper Carlos Ranui - levelled three minutes into the second spell and then snatched the lead through sub Harley Hill in the 68th minute.

Auckland went further ahead with a second goal to Nathan Martin in the 83rd minute before Dowling found the net six minutes into stoppage time.

Melville are at home to Manukau United at 3pm on Saturday.

Meanwhile in a match played at exactly the same time at Keith Hay Park in Mt Roskill, women's premier league leaders Auckland united beat Melville 6-0.

It was however an improvement from when Auckland beat Melville 10-0 on April 11.

Veteran Auckland women's football scribe Jeremy Ruane made the following observation: "Newly promoted Melville have improved significantly since their first sighting this season. Their play is much more sound, they're competitive, they're clearly enjoying their football and there are moments of quality punctuating their play - Auckland were made to work for their win, make no mistake."

Melville women's reserves were beaten 8-2, with their goals coming within a minute of each other in the second spell, through Skylar Mearns and Isabela Green Camargo.

Melville women are away to West Coast Rangers at 2pm on Sunday.

Article added: Wednesday 13 May 2026