Northern Leagues

Odd game today. Birko were the better side and look really controlled without JHM playing a short passing game. I thought Chad Coombes played a very good game and Suburbs were just so so. 0-0 at half time and we thought that Birko would come out and play them off the park but they imploded and then blamed the ref. I thought the ref had to make the calls and on the face of it, they seemed legit but his two linos really dropped him in it. One signalled for a pen when the ball clearly hit the player in the nuts. It was not given but that was one example. We could not see it from the bank but there was some talk about the last goal coming from a corner that was clearly not out? Had to laugh at Ethan Galbraith cause he certainly got full value for being sent off giving the ref an absolute verbal spray. He won't be seen before QB again. Suburbs being 2 up then went 2-2 against 10 and the run of play pinched it with the last kick/header.

The ball was never out. It was a good metre inside the line. Fair enough ref's and lino's get calls wrong, but this time it definitely cost Birko a point, and handed Suburbs two. You cannot even begin to argue it either, because the call made was not a matter of opinion or interpretation of the laws of the game by the ref or his assistants. It was a black and white call, the ball is either in or out. It was in, yet called out, and Suburbs won.

Tbf there is nothing you can do about it, cause you're never gonna get goal line technology introduced into the Northern leagues. And in all honesty Birko would have been fortunate to get a point out of that anyway.

Hamilton away will be tough next week.

Also i went to watch Ellerslie-Shore afterwards. I remember hearing from a few mates at Taka that the young Ellerslie keeper was quality and off for trials in England soon (QPR?). Going on his performance today i can see why, looked very commanding and made some top draw saves. Do you know anything about these trials Chopah?

I was at Waitakere v Wanderers today. The Tron juggernaut rolls on!! :-)

http://in-the-back-of-the.net/2015/04/27/saint-freddys-day/

yeah we didn't expect to have him this year as he had signed a 2 year deal with QPR and lucky for us and extremely unlucky for him he failed his medical - so he is back here for the season working on fixing his "medical" issue and getting his form back before he heads back overseas.

Went to Western Springs Vs Central at Seddon Fields tonight 1-1 draw goals to Maro Bonsu-Maro for Central and Patch Bowen for Western Springs scrappy game Jake Matthews stretchered off in the second half according to the Springs twitter account he broke his ankle and requires surgery.

Did my ankle on the same turf two months ago! Feel for him, it's not nice particularly early in the season

Was he playing? I thought he retired cause his back was stuffed. He was coaching the crazy gang at Metro last year. I feel for the kid.

Yep he transferred at the close of last season

Went to watch Taka yesterday. They are awful. Going down at a rate of knots. Hago has really done a number on them this season.

Its because they have taken all the ECB reserves.

Watched Wanderers Sports Club v Birkenhead United as a neutral this arvo.

3-3, entertaining game. Wanderers probably should have shaded it. In my view they were unlucky to have a penalty shout turned down in first half, and a couple of times strikers (Jama Boss, looking at you) butchered great chances when clean through a ramshackle defence.

Wanderers had coach Mark Cossey sent off midway through the second half for verbals. I could sense his frustration with some decisions quite lottery-like.

But Birkenhead had centre back Christian Gray sent off for a second bookable after about 70 min.

Birkenhead are a useful team, but they do have a big problem in central defence, where they lack an authority figure who you feel would have halped them avoid all three Wanderers goals, with a bit of physical presence, communication and positional sense. last 2 Wanderers goals particularly soft.

Felt sorry for youngster Gray, bit out of his depth against nimble characters like Mark Jones, and Freddy Marquez, and was caught out time and again when isolated one on one. Asking a lot of a kid, but he young and will grow.

Nice free kick from Hobson-McVeigh to bring Birko back into it after trailing 3-1, and tidy work from Dickinson to set up the equaliser.

Wanderers be kicking themselves they didn't win this with the chances they had.

EDIT: Just noted the earlier narrative about Birkenhead & Gray.... Yes, he's certainly a good prospect for the future - but far from the finished article at the moment. Oh, and he also got on the scoresheet for Birkenhead in the 1st half, I should add.

I was at the HBC v Taka game too.

Taka were woeful  and it was pretty much one way traffic.

Can't work out that NL1 league.

See that MAP held Ellerslie to a draw after some severe pantsings earlier on.

North Shore are top (bear Ngara by default ?!!!). Saw them comfortably beat HBC who are now third the other week at Devonport.

Always find it sad to go and see Shore who were a powerhouse until the old Nat League was scrapped. They seem to make a similar decision to Uni Mount at the time  that club football was no longer important and are finding it a long hard road back.

Both Birkenhead's  centre backs are 18.... Don't think out of.there depth but was a tough game against a well drilled team 

Barring Shore, who are easily the best, most organised team we've played against, I think any team can just about beat any team on the day. We battered Tauranga on the opening day and they came away with the 1-0 win and we were pretty bad against Waiuku and the conditions there were terrible so I think they can take points off anyone at home if the opposition don't turn up. Shore are the only team we've played so far who were by far and away a better side than us. Thats not to say FHM and Ellerslie aren't on par with Shore, but the results so far don't suggest that they are.

I'd say two thirds of the games will be won simply by the team that wants it more on the day. Consistency from week to week isn't exactly a hallmark at this level

drama brewing in NRFL Div 1
http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/sport/6824145...

Hmmm, who's kidding who? Not sure what the basis for the statement that Birko 'already have the best defensive record' is!? Wanderers have been pretty tight so far, if not tightest until last weekend, and the league table now shows that Wanderers and Glenfield have jointly conceded the fewest number of 'goals against ' to date.   Onehunga is also ahead of Birko by that stat!? Are there some other 'facts' leading you to this position? Please  share! 

I have no idea what your point is because when i posted that Birko has the best defensive record in the league. They now have the 3rd equal best. Give it a few weeks and that could change again.

Or do you not grasp the dynamics of how football works?

I have a pretty decent relationship with the fixture staff at AFF - but out of interest I looked up the final draft sent to me by AFF and it had this particular game listed as a Saturday game.

That said i read on NL forum that Ngaruawahia when they got the first draft of the draw challenged North Shore's hosting of the game on a Sunday - I personally don't believe they have the right to do that so the reality is that this game was pretty much always going to be on a sunday - but the final version of the excel draw said Saturday - so yeah - bit of a cock up by someone at AFF.

Went down to Hamilton for Melville vs Central at Gower Park finished 3-0 to Central all 3 goals scored in the last 10 minutes. Pretty harsh for Melville as they competed well all game they deserve a lot of credit for giving Central a bit of a scare in the first 80 minutes today. 

Birko 1 v ECB 1 on Saturday. Some thoughts :

1. First half real local derby - frantic with most of the action in a 40 yard area of the pitch.

2. Birko looked to be missing a few (injury/suspension ) and had JHM off injured after about 25 mins.

3. Birko probably had best of first half although keeper may have been lucky to stay on after committing a foul outside the box (no card) on one of a couple of excursions out of the box that had Hobson in a fit of apoplexy.

4. Dying minutes of first half saw a well constructed headed goal by Windhurst for Birko.

5. Second half saw a lot more football played.

6. early in second half saw Pakinson sent off for 2nd yellow - soft card but certainly not the first Birko player to be sent this season. If you believe that discipline comes from the top then a casual observation of Hobsons behaviour on the touchline would shed some light on Birkos disciplinary record.

7. Game opened up a lot after that and Birko were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty mid way through the half when their striker was bundled over in the six yard box while lining up a free header. Cue more Hobson apoplexy.

8. Later in the half ECB awarded a penalty. I was a long way away but consensus was a foul by the keeper - if you're going to award those then you could probably award one at every corner - although may be a way of stopping all the pushing and shoving at corners which is a blight on the game ? Was converted by Bresnahan.

9. In the last 5 mins or so both sides could have won it . I suspect that Birko were probably the more disappointed with the result.

10. Whilst the Birko supporters verge on the feral at times , it's always nice to visit shepherds Park and see all the Birko juniors there to see their heros. Takes me back to my days as a junior in the 60's when there was no saturday shopping , no live sports on Tv and 6 o'clock closing !

I know what your saying about Hobbo - but on the flip side of the coin his attitude makes everyone of his players battlers, they have a siege mentality and I think most of the time it gives them more points than it costs them - they are often winning games late after being goals down etc which for me is a result of this attitude across the squad.

Points dropped from late goals conceded this season: 5

Points gained from late goals scored this season: 4

So about even. Ill discipline is the killer right now. 0 wins in 5 where a Birko player has been sent.

Must win on Sat for a number of reasons.

'Must win on Saturday'! Glenfield away!!! There will be plenty of ill discipline at Mcfetridge that's for sure, probably from both sides.....

The New "Danny Donegan Stand" at McFetridge Park will be sold out for that one

I'm sure if you took a bigger sample that might point would be true - I accept that at times it gets out of hand but I guess what I am saying is you take out the aggression and you might dull your edge as well.

Well you will get to see Hobbo in full flight now thanks to the Chatham Cup!!

And if they win no doubt he'll be talking about it for years......

I'm honestly a bit disappointed by this draw - it's our third tie against Birko in the last 5 years (and 10th game in total over the past 6 years) and also since the two clubs are so close we have played plenty of pre-season games as well.  not to mention U19's in Napier etc.

Anyway the point is we would have really liked something a bit new - but familiarity doesn't breed contempt and we will look forward to this fixture and contesting an 11th fixture on the pitch.

Wow that's just an incredibly unlucky random draw Chopah........

1-1 in the derby today. Pretty dull match really. Bit of an edge and some cards early on but apart from that it wasn't very intense at all, definitely something missing from recent derbies anyway. Great goal from Bale for Rovers opener. Took a late Dan Morgan goal off Ryan Howlett's superb cross to get us a point. Even game where either side could have snatched it right up until the final whistle. 3 points taken from the last 15 available though for Birko. Concerning.

I went to the fearsome Glenfield Birkenhead derby and lived to tell the tale...

http://in-the-back-of-the.net/2015/05/17/the-derby-of-death/

Enzo your reputation in the field of University rights is well established. And you have published many great football photo/articles to boot - we salute you.  This latest article is simply stunning - great job, grats etc.  Now I hope for this.  That on your travels you will have time to take in a Miramar/Wellington Olympic derby (go the Greeks - I'm not biased!), a Cashmere Tech/Nelson match up, and a Caversham/Dunedin Tech tie.  These are the great 'other' derbys in NZ football in my opinion.  Not quite Real/Barca, Liverpool/Everton, or Inter/AC...but still tasty ties.

Thanks comrade the cheque's in the mail!! :-)

Lol! Best yet mate.

Great Work Enzo

My thoughts on the derby of death :

First half hour was usual frantic derby stuff with quite a number of bookings. After the all in melee towards the end of the first half I would have put money on the game not ending 11 a side , but it calmed down in the second half.

Bales goal was a screamer - if the net hadn't been there it would still be going.

Thought Glenfield looked comfortable at 1-0 and was surprised when Birko got an equaliser through a far post header from Morgan.

Birko looked to be struggling , but to be honest Glenfield didn't look to be a top of the table side - they were missing Holloway, Smith, and the English lad whose mane escapes me, so were a bit light up front.

After Buffys comments about Christain Gray in previous posts this was the first time I had seen him play. Looked to have a lot of time  which gave an air of casualness about his play. Didn't look to be as hard a bastard as his old man. May not be the best CB in NL , but would be up there.

New "grandstand" at McFetridge a useful addition. Many people critcise Glenfield for their spending on players but they do invest in their facilities (3 fully floodlit pitches ?)

This week it was women's premier for me! Eastern Suburbs v Norwest - which turned out to be the match of the round...

http://in-the-back-of-the.net/2015/05/24/the-divining-rod/

Three Kings men's have fielded  an unregistered player for every game so far this season..

Hamilton have had there loss overturned would expect the same for all the other teams they have beaten?