Some thoughts on the Waikato-Manawatu game.
Enjoyed the game, good entertainment value for $5, with the only curiosity being the match advertised for a 2pm start but kicking off at 2.30pm.
Even the programme said 2pm, though Manawatu keeper Ross Nicholson said it had always been 2.30pm, so there you go.
Manawatu had the sharper attack, with Takayuki Omi, the lad from Onehunga, Campbell Banks and golden boot leader Suele Soromon
But Waikato had the stronger defence, at least until Che Bunce got sent off, and the midfields were pretty even. (Former Wanderers player Matt Kennedy started for manawatu).
The teams were very even until this point. Waikato had some good scoring chances, mostly from well-worked set plays, and Nicholson made two superb saves.
Manawatu are a strange mix. Their good players are very good, and their ordinary players are very ordinary.
I�d have backed Waikato to have got at least a point had Bunce not been sent off. Bunce is easily Waikato�s most influential player (with daylight second).
His first booking was silly � gobbing off at the ref, and his second for a body check, was the sort of occupational hazard you get with such a physical players as Che.
Thought David Samson did well in nullifying the pacy threat down his flank, though he and Richard beard also copped bookings. Beard had to shirt pull Soromon to stop him racing through on goal in the first half.
Jason Chewins was superb going forward from left back. But in the second half it was he who finally got exposed when Taka raced past him and crossed for Banks to tap in for 1-0.
Shortly afterwards Chewins was replaced by Alex Barlow, getting his first run of the season. He played at left half, with Shaun Van Rooyen switching to left back, and made an immediate impact when he scooped a ball over the defence for Mauri Wasi to run onto and score. Barlow played another lovely ball shortly afterwards, and generally impressed. It was just a shame he�s had to wait until now to get a run in a midfield of modest ability in playing the ball forward. Sam Wilkinson also had his first start of the season � was this his 50th game? - and will be better for the experience.
Waikato did get the ball in the net on one other occasion, though it was (correctly) ruled out for a foul on Raf de Gregorio, who incidentally, only had a small impact on the game.
Dan Peat mostly hung wide on the right and only occasionally affected the game. He has a good turn of pace and a nice step-over, but Waikato really do need more out of 90 minutes (or about 70 minutes in his case).
The winning goal was a cracker. Manawatu�s most effective tactic was a long ball from the back and Nicholson smaked one forward which little Takayuki did brilliantly to head onto Soromon.
Soromon is one of those players who does nothing for 20 minutes at a time but then springs to life. He turned, beat three men and dribbled past Dowling for a super individual goal.
For Waikato, Mauri Wasi foraged hard up front, but like Peat, is at his best running towards goal rather than with his back to goal. Tewi te Pou gave a good late cameo for Waikato.
I thought Manawatu were there for the taking at the back. But in the end they deserved the win because of the brilliance of Soromon�s goal, though if Bunce had been on the park it may not have happened.
Referee Nick Waldren dished out eight yellow and one red card. Fans have a tendency to think this somehow indicates the ref had a shocker. You could argue with the odd one, but generally Waldren�s decisions were fair and well considered. In many cases he clocked what had happened in challenges and simply waited till the next stoppage to caution players.
Waikato will miss Bunce big time next outing (not sure when that is � Raffy could you please put at least upcoming fixtures in the programme?) though imagine that will allow Charlie Hoyle to start.
Barlow is worth starting and I imagine the unsuspended Michael Gwyther will challenge Peat for the role of popping up on the right flank every 20 minutes or so.
