Champs Premier League

Champs Premier League

from Wairarapa Times-Age

Feverish2007-04-23 22:29:12

Wairarapa United furious with referee

 

01.05.2007

BY CHRISTIAN BONNEVIE

A refereeing call has left Wairarapa United fuming after they went down 2-3 at the hands of Tawa in a Wellington premier soccer clash on the weekend.

 

With the match in the balance midway through the second spell and the scores locked at 2-2, Wairarapa pushed forward and looked certain to score when Lai Gatarua surged into the box only to be cut down by the defence.

 

The referee then turned what was seemed to be an unquestionable penalty into a free kick against Gatarua, leaving the players and manager Phil Keinzley absolutely livid.

 

Salt was then rubbed into the wound moments later when Sakeo Valevou attempted to run the ball out from deep inside his half and was dispossessed in the tackle leaving Tawa with a one on one that they sent home for the match winner.

 

To make matters worse, Keinzley was 'sent-off' from the sideline for "expressing his opinion" on the state of the refereeing.

"It's been happening all season with the referee, we've only had one good one and the rest have been pretty shoddy to say the least," Keinzley said.

 

"After the match the Tawa players came up and apologised saying they deliberately brought Gatarua down and couldn't believe he (the ref) called him for diving.

 

"It's pretty bloody infuriating, but there's nothing we can do really."

 

Wairarapa looked to have the match in the bag as they dominated the first half after conceding the first goal in the opening minute.

 

With player/coach Pita Rabo recovered sufficiently from his knee injury, the side produced two brilliant goals to hit the sheds 2-1 up. Rabo found the net first when he nodded home an Aaron Spierling cross but then came Valevou's sensational long-range strike that put his side ahead.

 

Hot on attack Wairarapa were handed a corner that looked to have been comfortably cleared until the centre-back came forward and met the ball on the volley to send a screamer thundering into the net from 10 metres inside Tawa's half.

 

Unfortunately that was the last smile cast as the side allowed errors to creep into their game, giving the home side a chance to hit back from another defensive mistake.

 

This time goalkeeper Tony Jamieson was embarrassed as he chased a ball from a corner and was caught off his line.

 

"It's disappointing because we haven't conceded a goal from a corner for three years, and they got two," Keinzley said.

 

"At this point I still believe we are the best team in the league, we just need to cut out the errors because that's the only reason the opposition are scoring goals.

 

"They're winning off our mistakes rather than making the play themselves and we need to fix that.

 

"We face Kapiti Coast this weekend so there'll be plenty of work put in at training because they're a pretty physical side."

Wai United back on track with win

 

07.05.2007

BY CHRISTIAN BONNEVIE

 

The win halted their slide down the leader table, after consecutive losses ruined their promising start, and lifted them to fifth place only four points adrift of leaders Petone, who drew at home with second placed Island Bay.

 

However, the match again highlighted the frailties in Wairarapa's defence that have seen them concede eight goals in three weeks.

 

On both occasions the visitors found the back net the defensive line was caught off-guard or out of position, handing their opponents an attacking invitation.

But to the home sides credit, they showed enough composure to reverse the recent trend and move passed the mistakes to nail home a match winner with less than 20 minutes to go.

 

Wairarapa looked the best team for most of the match and certainly created the better chances with Andy Robertson producing his best performance of the season up front.

 

And it was he who opened the scoring following some brilliant lead-up work by Sakeo Valevou who put Mireck Tvaroh in space behind the defence.

 

Tvaroh in turn found Pita Rabo looming on the inside who slipped a pass to Robertson to finish off from close range.

 

Kapiti struck back within minutes from a quickly taken free kick to send the teams to the sheds locked up at 1-1.

 

After the break the pattern continued when Valevou sent a ball through for player/coach Rabo to incisively slot home only for the visitors to again immediately equalise, this time from a bungled corner clearance.

 

Moments later young midfielder Anton Ross completed a match-winning sweeping movement as the side regained its composure to finally close out a match.

 

"For a while it was like here we go again, but the guys showed a lot of character to keep their heads and hold onto the ball and play until then end," team spokesman Phil Keinzley said.

 

"Kapiti were a good team, they were much better than I'd expected so it was a good confidence booster for the boys.

 

"It was very physical out there, but both teams produced some pretty high quality football at times and the goals were as good as you'll see really."

 

However, while the attacking aspect is in good stead, there is still plenty to fix at the back, Keinzley said.

 

"It's about the mental concentration and just knowing when the right time take-off up the field and when to stay back, especially when you have a goal up your sleeve already.

 

"We'll be putting a lot more work in that area because you can't expect to win many games if you keeping handing goals over like we seem to be doing."

 

Wairarapa are at home to bottom of the table Brooklyn next week in what shapes as a must win match ahead of a tricky three-week away schedule.

Nothing on the Mighty Wharfies then Feverish?

Another great win, 3-1, for Petone against Warfies to take a three point lead over their next league opponents Tawa who only managed a draw. Two goals to Manny and one to Stick (he chipped that loud mouth, over rated t**ser in the pink keepers shirt). Petone's young keeper made a great one-on-one save and also saved a penalty in the second half. Top draw first half display by the boys in blue and fully deserved of their 3-1 win. They must surely make the step up next season to the Central League. Potentially a couple of new old Petone players to come back mid-season that will strenghten their already strong squad.

Wairarapa United�s defence to the fore

 

14.05.2007

BY GARY CAFFELL

 

Wairarapa United moved into third place in the Capital premier division soccer competition after their 1-0 win over Brooklyn Northern United at the Colin Pugh Sports Bowl in Masterton on Saturday.

 

The final scoreline was closer than most would have predicted with BNU sitting at the very bottom of the points table but it was greeted with satisfaction by the Wairarapa United camp, whose primary objectives were to win the game and keep a clean sheet on the scoreboard.

 

"We had let a few soft goals in recently and so the onus was on keeping them (BNU) scoreless," Wairarapa United manager Phil Keinzley said.

 

"The soundness of the defence was very encouraging�.just what we wanted."

Keinzley conceded, however, that the second half goal scored by Pita Rabo was not good value for his team's dominance of the match from a territorial viewpoint.

 

Several other prime scoring chances had been created but a combination of BNU stacking their defence and Wairarapa United lacking finish meant Rabo's goal was the only scoring action in the game.

 

Keinzley said Wairarapa United had suffered in the first half, especially, from being too predicatble in their attacking play but after "getting the message" at the break they had switched the direction of the attack quite effectively in the second spell.

 

In fact, the Rabo goal had come directly from such a switch with fullback Sakeo Valevou the main instigator in that instance.

 

Both Valevou and his fullback partner Petero Dauniseka had big games for Wairarapa United and while goalkeeper Tony Jamieson was called on to make few saves he impressed with the accuracy, length and direction of his clearances.

For clarity, what I meant was that some players who played for Petone is the past (old players) are going to be coming back (new players) after resting from other football. Does that help?

Can you devulge any names Toffeman?

Banners and Barron.  How's that for a guess Toffeeman ?

I can't divulge my sources and sorry Hard News, close but not quite right. Getting Barron back would be good and I thought Big Jim had retired and was coaching and selling Puma gear.

Good guess Hard News, that was the word going around a couple of months back. Ive heard a few other rumours also. nightz2007-05-17 14:13:42

c'mon toffeeman - it's hardly earth shattering news and no one likes it when people say:

yeah cmon man at least make up a name. Won't be Barron now he is heading to Wales. I think Karlos Whalen is the name you are about to spit out..

Barry Pickering was spotted buying new gloves in Rebel yesterday. Still in good shape.

Barry Picks, now that would be great to see considering he had back surgery early this season and cant even train the keepers there. Karlos was a name that was being thrown around and so was Jimmy B but both have "denied" it. Would be good to se them give there time to help Petone get in to the Central League. Now that Noah Hickey has signed with Gizzy the level will be getting up a bit in that league. Its good to see that the top 4 teams are from Wellers though. Hopefully bodes well for TW next season with Stu J in charge.

Bannatyne, Whalen and Dawson....surely,...

Dawson does play for them

Stop Out bow out of cup Da Selekta2007-05-21 08:22:04

Another solid 3-1 win for Petone over Tawa. 2 goals to little Picks and one to John Mackay. The Tawa goal came from a rare defensive error otherwise Petone were on top from start to finish. Manny could have had a hatrick in the last 10 minutes. Wairarapa also looking strong but they seem to drop silly ponts here and there which will cost them at the end of the season. Petone now 4 points clear and my bet to win the league and get promotion to the Central League next season (hopefully).

United move into second

 

28.05.2007

BY GARY CAFFELL

Wairarapa United moved into second place in the Capital Soccer premier division competition when they scored a comfortable 4-1 win over Lower Hutt City in Lower Hutt on Saturday.

 

The three-goal margin illustrated Wairarapa United's dominance of the game with Lower Hutt City creating very few scoring opportunities and spending long periods on defence.

 

So dominant were Wairarapa United in the early stages, in fact, that Lower Hutt City hardly got a touch of the ball inside the first 10 minutes and it was just reward for effort when Wairarapa United went to the halftime break 2-0 up.

 

Both first half goals were scored by star striker Pita Rabo with the first of them, in particular, a spectactular effort. It came after a movement which involved as many as seven Wairarapa United players with Rabo finishing off a fine style.

Wairarapa United increased their advantage to 3-0 when Andy Robertson scored early in the second spell after some good work by Merrick Tvaroh and then Lower Hutt City had their moment of glory, scoring their only goal after Wairarapa United had failed to clear the ball from a corner.

 

Fittingly, however, it was Wairarapa United who had the final say, youngster Anton Ross completing another strong attack to give them a decisive 4-1 win.

 

Manager Phil Keinzley said the most pleasing aspect of the Wairarapa United performance was that they had produced a similar brand of soccer to that which had seen them upset central league side Stop Out in a Chatham Cup fixture seven days beforehand

 

"The whole aim was to maintain that standard and we managed to do that," Keinzley said. "The bar has been set and we want to play at that level week after week.".

 

Player of the match for Wairarapa United was Aaron Spierling, who highlighted an outstanding game by twice making robbing the opposition off possession in tight defensive situations. Tvaroh was also very impressive in midfield and Rabo was his usual dangerous self up front.

 

The depth in the Wairarapa United team was also evidenced by the fine displays by substitutes Anton Ross and Lai Gataurua when they entered the fray.

 

Queen's Birthday weekend will be a busy one for Wairarapa United with a premier division game against Island Bay scheduled for Saturday at Island Bay and then on Monday they will take on another central league side, Wellington United, in a third round Chatham Cup game at the Pugh Sportsbowl in Masterton.

I've heard that Grant Turner might be making a comeback for Petone !!!

that would be crazy - he hasn't done much to help Stop Out.

Don't you just love mindless rumours. I'm pretty confident that Petone would beat Stop Out at this point in the season. And I'm certain they'll beat them in the play-offs too.

Like Taranaki Utd last season  - Unfortunately when it comes to play-off games strange things happen.Petone batted Taranaki and lost !!!

Can anyone catch Petone?

After playing two games on the new Karori Park - is there a better place to play football? There might be parks equally as good - but not with multiple grounds that allow for a great atmosphere in the new clubrooms afterwards. Good changing sheds too. I am biased - but would be good to hear the thoughts of teams that have visited.

Played on the main ground yesterday - great surface and a good crowd in too.  Certainly a vast improvement on the way it used to be around this time of the year - i.e. a bog.

Petone now 6 points clear after a 2-0 win over Kapiti. Wairarapa, Island Bay Tawa and Warfies all drawing. Petone out of the Cup so no need to worry about that anymore whereas Wairarapa are still in it after a great result against Wgtn Utd. Also, well doe to Marist, tripping up Lower Hutt. Petone look set to win the league again and at least get a play off.

Another win for Petone, 1-0 over a vastly improved Brooklyn Northern. Pickers getting the only goal. Wairarapa's inability to so score past the tight defensive unit at Wests reserves means Petone take an 8 point lead over them, Tawa and Warfies. Toffeeman2007-06-11 09:58:30

My apologies. He has managed to abuse just about every player in the team and had a massive blue on the side line with the ex first team keeper on Saturday.

dairyflat2007-06-11 10:48:26

Petone 9 Lower Hutt 0 how bloody wonderful....YEEEEEE HAH

The CL is important to NZ football.Some players this is what The football weekend is all about.Travling and playing away on a road trip.With the CL you have a choice of doing this or not.Petone and the rest could compete yes but its up to them if they dont.Its not a matter of money if a club wants to get some and is motivated to get some then go ahead and do it not complain about how small the hand out is.I have done this for the two clubs I have played for and yes it makes all the difference amd yes both clubs have been succesful.Its about if you want to do it and if you can actually get of your butts and do something tghen yes petone,tawa,Island bay can win the CL and the Cup!!

How good are Lower Hutt's reserves? Would their first team have beaten them 9 nil?

For the good of football in the lower North Island as a whole we need a Central League. Without it standards will drop in the regional centres which will affect the depth at NZFC level.

i agree