Central League Review Round 7

Central League Review Round 7

Two of Wellington�s historical clubs played out an entertaining match at Newtown Park on Saturday.  Both Wellington United and Stop Out have illustrious histories at National League level but met with both sides needing three points to avoid the threat of relegation.  Former Stop Out player Jason Musgrove lined up for United against his old team.  Stop Out started strongly and were by far the better side in the first half.  Missed chances have been an unfortunately regular occurrence for Stop Out this season and Saturday was no different.  However, after several chances went begging, and some great goalkeeping from Nick Tarrant, Wayne Rooker beat two players at the top of the box and converted to make it 1-0.  Stop Out took that deserved lead into the break but the next forty five minutes were a different story as United came out fired up in the second period.

Playing with greater intensity and beginning to control the midfield, captain Andy Groom scored his second in as many weeks after beating the off-side trap to equalise.  That goal gave United the belief to push forward in search of a winner and they got it when Eddie Mason scored his first for the club.  Running strongly down the right he cut inside before burying his shot in the bottom corner.  Stop Out will rue their missed opportunities in the first half while Ross Durant�s Wellington United celebrated back-to-back victories for the first time this year.

At Endeavour Park Western Suburbs enjoyed a comfortable victory over Palmerston North Marist.  After beginning the season with a good defensive record, Marist have now conceded ten goals in two games which is serious cause for concern.

Tim Broadhurst opened the scoring for the home side from a corner in the 11th minute, closely followed by a fine strike by Matt Wilson 4 minutes later. Rupert Ryan made it 3-0 after half an hour to give Wests a commanding 3-0 lead at the break.

Marist fought back after the interval and Yuki Hasimori gave the visitors some hope on the hour before goals from Ryan (68th) and Marco Comparini (89th) made the game safe despite a missed penalty by Wests� goalkeeper Phil Imray.

Miramar beat an injury hit Team Taranaki by the same scoreline at Centennial Park.  Taranaki kept Rangers scoreless in the first period and could have gone ahead through some opportunistic play by Leighton Deardon.  However Miramar, clearly inspired by the hairdryer treatment at halftime from Craig Candy, were a different side after the break.  Keiichi Nguyen was pushed out to the right and was twice provider after tormenting his marker with his pace and trickery.  Dominic Rowe was the beneficiary, scoring his first two goals for the club, both with the head.  Tim Butterfield, David Batty and Nguyen scored the other goals, Matt Goodey replying for the visitors.  The Taranaki keeper, who apparently was playing his first game in goal, deserves mention for saving a late penalty from Butterfield and several top class stops which limited the damage.

Gisborne City came from behind to draw with Lower Hutt in another entertaining affair.  Despite dominating for much of the first spell, City were unable to convert and Steven Gulley took the chance to put the home side up 1-0 mid way through the half.  City had signed Hone Fowler fresh from success with Waitakere United and he slipped into the City back 4 with ease.  However, despite that defensive stability City couldn�t find the net at the attacking end and left it very late, Fero Mudrik heading home a Scott Hales corner with time up, to grab a share of the points.  City assistant Pedro Garcia was frustrated at his sides inability to take three points from a game against his former club.

Finally, at Napier, Olympic secured a priceless away win against a Napier City Rovers side who have been playing good football.  Napier started well and strung together some good passing moves without being able to penetrate Olympic�s back four.  Napier were dominating the game when the turning point in the match occurred early in the second half.  New Zealand under 20 player Sam Jenkins, playing his first game after the NZFC season, was red carded following a tackle from behind.  Olympic took advantage almost immediately, George Barbarouses volleying home at the back post.  Rovers pressed for an equaliser but were caught out again with ten to go, Anthony Neonakis tapping in after good cut back from the by line.  Napier responded immediately when Chris MvIvor finished neatly after a one on one with Andrew Toomath but couldn�t equalise, the three points heading back to the capital.

 

P

W

D

L

GF

GA

PTS

Western Suburbs

7

5

1

1

23

4

16

Olympic

7

4

2

1

16

11

14

Miramar

7

4

2

1

15

11

14

Lower Hutt City

7

3

3

1

13

9

12

Wellington United

7

3

1

3

9

12

10

Napier City Rovers

7

3

1

3

11

9

10

Gisborne City

7

2

2

3

15

13

8

Stop Out

7

0

4

3

8

15

4

Palmerston North Marist

7

1

1

5

5

15

4

Taranaki

7

0

3

4

6

22

3

 

Mint. Just wondering, how do you collect all your info?

Just starting to get contacts at the various clubs who give me their view on events.  I try to get comment from both sides to keep it fair as I'm unable to watch every game!  I've tried to mix up the teams that I watch live as well. 

Taranaki fought out a gutsy 1-1 draw with Palmerston North Marist at New Plymouth's Yarrow Stadium, in a game where both sides created plenty of scoring chances

The opening goal came after Taranaki, playing with a stiff southerly, had threatened to take control of the game after constructing a series of snappy attacking moves early in the second spell.

But it was Marist that took the lead 20 minutes into the second half when striker Cory Chettleburgh thumped the ball into the net from close in after Taranaki failed to clear a corner kick.

The equaliser came when replacement Taranaki midfielder Hiroshi Tomonari found himself in some space after a throw and slammed home a 20m shot that deflected from one of his own players.

Taranaki showed plenty of heart to hold out Manawatu when down to 10 men after Shane Kidby was red-carded - with five minutes left on the clock - for an alleged second dangerous tackle.

The game was an even battle and a draw was a true reflection.

Taranaki had goalie Jeff Yates to thank for not being 1-0 down at halftime.

The visitors failed to score from a penalty after Taranaki's Kasey Beckett felled a Marist player about to take a shot on goal.

With the horrors of the previous round's 5-1 thrashing by Wellington side Miramar Rangers still haunting Team Taranaki, coach Craig Graham asked his players for improvement.

"And that's what I got," Graham said.

He was hoping for a first win in the competition, but was reasonably happy to come away with a draw - the fourth for the amber and blacks this season.

"At times we played some nice football. I'm just glad the guys managed to get a goal," Graham said.

"One point is better than none."

Plenty of passes went astray and it was these mistakes - from both sides - that ruined the game as a spectacle.

Taranaki is on the road for the next two weekends - taking on Lower Hutt City on Saturday and Gisborne City on Sunday, June 10.

It will need to step up a level to be competitive against two of the higher ranked teams in the competition.

While defence will be a key to Taranaki's season, there were enough attacking options yesterday to suggest Mark Bland, Graham and Scott Smith, who was playing his first game since being sidelined with injury, will create opportunities.

The Thomson brothers, Andrew and Matt, were the best defenders on the park yesterday, while the standout player for Manawatu was centre back Dalin Wilson.

Taranaki is likely to have under-20 national squad member Mitch Snowden, who has had a hamstring problem, available for the next round.