From the Melville United website...
Waikato FC win
Waikato FC have made a promising start to the NZ
Football Championship with a 2-0 away win over Otago United at
Carisbrook.
Skipper and player of the day Rob Gill scored one
and made one as Waikato did something they couldn't manage last
season - win away from home.
Gill put Waikato ahead from the penalty spot after
31 minutes after he was himself brought down in the area. Three
minutes from time Gill played in JaKub Sinkora to go around the
keeper and seal the match.
Waikato coach Roger Wilkinson said on chances
created Waikato could have won 6-2.
"I think we can all do better but it was
a tremendous start," he said. "We didn't show our hand in
pre-season, and today the players were very dedicated and
excellent.
"I knew what we could do, we had worked very hard
in training, but we can't get carried away. This was just the first
game."
Otago had trouble breaking down a five-man Waikato
defence. Aaron Scott tucked in at sweeper, with David Samson and
Hone Fowler doing marking jobs. Paul Stewart started at left back
and Joe Simpkins at right back.
The midfield of Sinkora, Shaun Van Rooyen, Stanley
Waita and Luke Findley worked as a pack, with Gill tremendous
up front.
Dale Williams came on for Waita 20 minutes from
time.
Waikato are at home to Waitakere - beaten 2-1 by
Wellington - at Waikato Stadium at 2pm next
Sunday.
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Otago were absoulty shocking!!!!!!!!!
otagofan2007-11-03 20:17:38
The penalty was a 50/50 decision at best, Otago's
strikers were abysmal Chad Severs looks like a classic Otago import
- talked up big but absoulte crap did nothing up
front.
Centreback Taylor from Minnesota looked good but he
forgot a simple rule stay on your feet in your own
box.
When Petro Santos went off injured on 15 in the first
half our midfeild just flopped. Richard smith up couldn't do a
thing.
There last goal came as a result of us pushing forward
for an equilzer.
Waikato deserved to win but they weren't that good nad
neither team looks to have a chance of a crack at the
title.
For us the beginning of another trying season at the
foot of the table
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OTAGO LEFT GREEN AROUND THE GILL<!-- er: [end] --><!--
block: [begin] -->
Robert Gill
savours his opening goal from the spot. Picture: Rab Smith.
Robert Gill
savours his opening goal from the spot. Picture: Rab Smith.<!-- Text: [begin] -->
By Rab Smith at Carisbrook
nzfc.co.nz
The pendulum tipped Waikato FC's way at Carisbrook where Roger Wilkinson�s side notched a well merited 2-0 win over Otago United in Saturday's New Zealand Football Championship opener.
Pivotal happenings in the match were a 15th minute injury that sidelined Otago playmaker Pedro Santos, and a first half penalty that Rob Gill drilled in to give Waikato a 1-0 halftime lead.
Santos actually might have scored in the skirmish that saw a Waikato defender tread on his hand, producing a suspected broken bone which had the Brazilian writhing in agony.
Gill was worth his penalty, which came from a clumsy
challenge by Otago centreback Kevin Taylor. The goal capped a
impressive display bu the former Doncaster striker.
Otago passed the ball around well enough, but lacked �devil� in the Waikato goalmouth where Hone Fowler led a well organised defence. Otago's best efforts came from set-plays where the giant centreback Taylor twice went close from towering headers.
In contrast, Waikato�s Gill and Luke Findley produced cultured attacks with willing support from Shaun Van Rooyen and Jakub Sinkora.
Sinkora scored Waikato�s second goal in the game�s dying minutes as Otago pushed forward chasing an equaliser.
"We didn�t deserve to win," was Otago manager Andy Deeley's assessment afterwards.
"We didn�t really hurt them. But having said that, our keeper, big Liam [Little] did not have much to do � except pick the ball out the net."
Wilkinson reckoned his side was without some key players in Che Bunce, Steve Holloway and Sam Wilkinson.
Possibly giving his age away a wee bit, Wilkinson admitted that he has modelled his tactics this season on General Montgomery in the battle of Alemaine.
"He had his decoys, and kept reserves in hand," said Wilkinson, "which fooled the enemy and gave him a brilliant victory."
Possibly the only one at Carisbrook capable of remembering war time tactics was former All Whites coach Allan Jones sitting in the grandstand, but he was unavailable for military reminiscences since he had to dash away immediately after the match to catch Sunday's games between Canterbury United and Hawke's Bay United in Christchurch
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How many people showed up at carisbrook?
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My mate says 700 i reckon about 900-1000
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My mate says 700 i reckon about 900-1000
More than Otago can pull to is rugby matches! Not bad
turnout
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yeah, i reckin at least 1000 there.
I thought Otago played some nice football- kept it on the ground, played it out from the back, but lacked any real bite- and obviously got caught out badly twice.
Interesting to see Terry Phelan play- thought he was pretty good- other seasons when he has played, has failed to impress.
Overall though, Otago a bit one dimensional- everything out to the flanks, and no one willing/able to beat their man and really test the waikato keeper.
Waikato deserved the win, but hopefully Otago will get some results at home and keep bringing a decent sized crowd to Carisbrooke.
I thought Otago played some nice football- kept it on the ground, played it out from the back, but lacked any real bite- and obviously got caught out badly twice.
Interesting to see Terry Phelan play- thought he was pretty good- other seasons when he has played, has failed to impress.
Overall though, Otago a bit one dimensional- everything out to the flanks, and no one willing/able to beat their man and really test the waikato keeper.
Waikato deserved the win, but hopefully Otago will get some results at home and keep bringing a decent sized crowd to Carisbrooke.
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4 of our lads are in the team of the week, great stuff keep goin ladss!!
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Interesting to see Terry Phelan play- thought he was pretty good-
other seasons when he has played, has failed to impress.
Is it just me or does the NZFC seem to be stacked with players
who should have retired by now:
Phelan, Emblen, Young, Bazeley, Utting, G. Little, Douglas,
Pamment, Gould, Halligan.
True a number of these boys are keepers but does anyone find
it a little strange that Douglas is co NZ U20s (or U17s can't
remember which) coach but is not Jacobs right hand man at
Welli?
Supporter world's best and worst football teams: Waikato/WaiBop, Kingz, Knights, Phoenix, The Argyle, The Whites & the All Whites
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My mate says 700 i reckon about 900-1000
More than Otago can pull to is rugby matches! Not bad
turnout
Actually it is a bit less about 1000 less
otagofan2007-11-07 07:55:59
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yeah, i reckin at least 1000 there.
I thought Otago played some nice football- kept it on the ground, played it out from the back, but lacked any real bite- and obviously got caught out badly twice.
Interesting to see Terry Phelan play- thought he was pretty good- other seasons when he has played, has failed to impress.
Overall though, Otago a bit one dimensional- everything out to the flanks, and no one willing/able to beat their man and really test the waikato keeper.
Waikato deserved the win, but hopefully Otago will get some results at home and keep bringing a decent sized crowd to Carisbrooke.
I thought Otago played some nice football- kept it on the ground, played it out from the back, but lacked any real bite- and obviously got caught out badly twice.
Interesting to see Terry Phelan play- thought he was pretty good- other seasons when he has played, has failed to impress.
Overall though, Otago a bit one dimensional- everything out to the flanks, and no one willing/able to beat their man and really test the waikato keeper.
Waikato deserved the win, but hopefully Otago will get some results at home and keep bringing a decent sized crowd to Carisbrooke.
Right on there
with Phelan he stayed wide and while at times this was
effective in creating space at other times we were playing with 10
men and the was lost. Last season he said he would be playing more
but he didn't i hope to see more of him this year he didn't look
out of his depth he could definetly compete at this level
We were playing with the ball a bit much at the back noone
wanting to have a crack
what i've noticed with past seasons our fans have the
knights disease a group of hardcore fans but if we don't win we
won't get crowds.
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Respect to Luke findley for making team of the week. Not just that,
but for a left winger to get selected on the right side, truly
shows this is Waikato's summer.
Does raise the obvious question though, of who selects the
team of the week. And what the criteria is.
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My friend whos at Uni in Dunedin was at the game on Saturday and he
said the Black lad on the wing for Waikato was the best player on
the pitch!!! He didn't know who he was, is this that Luke Findley?
If so, accordin my mate, well worth getting in the team of the
week.
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Tks Bob, was it the short black lad (Stanley waita, the Solomons
international) or Luke, (the taller of the two) onthe left.
Stanley was subbed abt 20 min from time to give dale williams
a run.
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There is a dislike from some quarters about Luke Findlay, doesnt
matter how well he plays. I think the problem is that he is from
Wanderers
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He says it was the skinny black lad if that helps, he doesn't think he got subbed but not sure.
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Bruce,
what does Luke Findley have to do to get some genuine praise
off you???
You seem determined to question his ability when ever you can.
Has something gone on between you two that the rest of us dont know
about??
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I'll put my hand up. I didn't see the game but many good
reports about Findley. Well done.
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I have praised him. I think he has done tremendously well to be
recognised in the team of the week. further, I think he's one of
the few real characters around the game here.
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soory to put you guys wrong i watched the replay of the game on
channel 9 (local channel) last night the crowd din't look much more
than 600
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if would be great for the league if waikato won - any sense that the NZFX will be a dull two horse auckland contest will be gone.
c'mon waikato (only in the best interests of the NZFC of
course)
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I think Waikato will do alright with the dodgy defence Waitak have.
This will be a serious indication of how well Waikato have
recruited over the past few weeks and let's hope they step up.
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Come on Waikato - I think that the Waikato players just have
to run in Cuneen's direction and they should be able to get past
him... should prove to be what wins Waikato's game
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