Park Life: 2008

Lower Hutt looked better than the score, but goals count at this level.

What?!? Did you even watch the game? Rangers should have been up 5-0 after half an hour. Even McIntyre admitted it in his after match speech.

 

Hutt looked to have plenty of ability and speed going forward, but created next to nothing! Corrales disapeared from the game, although he did get a knock which may have affected him. They really should have done more, and were lucky to not get beat by a fistful.

 

Park Life is Fever's Naked News, giving you the facts on local football, but with a slightly perverted twist. We expose more local football talent than Miramar's team trip pictures on Facebook. Today we review a fascinating round in Big Cup and a couple of much less fascinating Big Travel League fixtures.

Olympic v Olympicless Wests

Lake Newtown was the venue for this much anticipated Wilson Suburbs vs Bubbles
Chatham Cup match.

The game kicked off to the familiar sound of tribal noises from the Greek elders in the crowd. However they were quickly silenced when, after ten minutes, Jon Rowe surged down the right flank and had his cross met by an unmarked Rupert "The Bear" Ryan at the far post. Ryan cooly slotted his header into the exposed Olympic net to give the Wilsons an early lead. Ryan "Air" Edwards should have done better with a chance falling to him in the 35th minute. Phil Imraaaaaay was forced to pull off a save after his bacon was saved by an Olympic player blocking his team mate's goal-bound shot.

The teams were fairly evenly matched in the first half on a very difficult surface and in horizontal rain. Darren Cheriton was having a fine game in the middle for Matt Calcott's team devoid of their NZ U23 employees.

Olympic bit back to level the scores in the 41st minute, Jimmy The Mouth toe-poking home a cross that was headed into his path to send the sides to half time at one each.

Half time gave the players an opportunity to thaw themselves out. Anthony Neonakis turned up late after having to take a push bike to the ground due to his enforced 6 month health kick.

Wests came out from the break rejuvinated and regained the lead on the 60th minute, Ginger Roddy Brown finding the back of the net from 10 yards after a couple of crosses floated back and forward across the box.

Controversy in the 75th minute when Jonny Harahap pulled at Mikey Halikias's shirt on the corner of the box and Jim Murphy blew for a penalty to the Bubbles. Raf's resulting spot kick was way off target however.

Wests sealed a deserved win with five minutes left on the clock. Ryan got a break away and had his shot blocked by an advancing Sasha Nathu. However, "The Bear" managed to keep his head and squeeze away another attempt that was goal bound until Barry "Blunt Scissors" Lewis met the ball on the line.

Now Barry either had an instinctive reaction, or he made a very quick complex calculation involving the current scoreline, the time left on the clock, the air temperature, and the size of the hot water tank in the changing rooms.  Either way the outcome was Bazza brilliantly parrying the ball over the crossbar with his hand. Whilst the Olympic crowd cheered (they thought it had been a miraculous header) Jim "The Toaster" Murphy popped a red card out of his pocket and pointed towards the spot. Ryan sent his kick straight down the middle to lock up the game 3-1.

Miramar Dispatch Lower Hutt at Centennial

Both sides came into this Big Cup tie with contrasting form from Saturday�s league matches. Miramar beat Napier 4-0 at Park Island while Lower Hutt lost 3-2 to Pope's Own Marist at Bell Park.

In Miramar�s last 7 games leading into this match they had scored 40 goals and conceded just 1 but that didn't stop Park Life from tipping a Lower Hutt boilover. Once again we were woefully incorrect.

This was the first time these sides had met in Chatham Cup action since 2002, when Miramar prevailed 5-1 in the Round 4 fixture. On the other 2 occasions they have drawn each other in the Chatham Cup, Lower Hutt won 2-1 in Round 1 in 1976, a year later in 1977 Miramar won 2-0 in Round 3. The sides had already met this year in a pre-season friendly which ended 1-1 with goals to Wayne Rooker for Lower Hutt and Graham Mulvey for Miramar.

Changes in the Miramar line-up from the side that beat Napier 4-0 included injured keeper Jacob Spoonley being replaced by Simon Shone. Jeremy Brockie and Cole Tinkler were unavailable due to their New Zealand Under 23 Olympic commitments. This saw Brook Tozer and Nik Tromp coming in to replace them. This would also be Peter Halstead�s last game before departing for overseas.

Lower Hutt would look to Central League leading goal scorer Pedro 5 Goals to provide a threat upfront. Pedro 5 Goals had 10 goals to his credit in the first 11 rounds. They were without their New Zealand Under 23 player Joel Matthews and an injured Wayne Rooker. Team Wellington players Antonio Banderas and Peter Howe would look to threaten Miramar along with veteran Phil Paterson. Nic Van Hattum returned in goal for a farewell match in place of James McPeake.

The game started in sunny conditions on a soft Centennial Park surface. Miramar controlled the opening exchanges producing attacking raids down the right flank through Alan Chote and Gerard Brown who were creating openings for Rowe and Halstead up front.

In the 3rd minute Nik Tromp gained possession on halfway and delivered a long ball out to the left which found Halstead in space. Halstead surged toward the left of the box and he cut inside his defender and delivered a low pinpoint cross, which was tucked away by Rowe into the right hand corner of the net past a despairing Van Hattum to make it 1-0. Miramar continued to control in the early exchanges, on 10 minutes a beautiful exchange of passes between Halstead and Rowe, saw Rowe miss a close chance and in the follow-up Halstead, faced with an open goal, shot wide as well.

As the half went on Lower Hutt began to come back into the match, with Phil Paterson and Peter Howe starting to gain possession and look threatening in the middle. On 24 minutes, Pedro 5 Goals gained the ball 30 metres out, turned his defender and then delivered a curling right-footed shot towards the top right hand corner forcing Shone to produce a magnificent one handed save.

Miramar added a second in the 31st minute. Brown was given space just outside the box. He cut inside his defender and launched a right foot shot which was deflected up and over the defence which in turn was met by on coming Jamie Farrington who delivered a strong right foot finish to the right of Van Hattum to make it 2-0.

Miramar made their first substitution in the 34th minute when Dominic Rowe came off for Tommy Smith With An I.

Right on half time Paterson delivered a ball over the Miramar defence which found Ginger Ronaldo open 40 metres out from goal. He raced towards goal, into the box, and produced a strong right foot strike to the left of Shone who parried it away at the near post.

Half time came, the Mar holding a comfortable 2-0 lead.

The second half began with both sides pressing for a goal, with Halstead for Miramar and Howe both putting close chances wide. Miramar coach Graham Little made another change in the 53rd minute bringing Tony Wall on for Brook Tozer. The wing men for each side, Brown and Chote for Miramar and Banderas and Ronaldo continued to threaten but couldn�t produce a goal.

Miramar concluded the scoring in the 82nd minute though Tommy Smith With An I. Eagar Mike, who was by now dominating the middle, pounced on a loose Lower Hutt pass and delivered a ball towards the edge of the right hand side of the box. This put Tommy Smith and Van Hattum into a foot race for the the ball. Smith won, and slotted his low right shot just inside the left hand post to make it 3-0 and ensure Miramar�s continuation in the cup.

Meanwhile, in Big Travel League...

Petone were undone by a resurgent Pope's Own Marist at Memorial Park in Palmy.

In very wet conditions the irony was that the best thing about the game was the pitch. At 1.2 million it's been money well spent. Perhaps Wellington City Council should take an educational visit after they bollocksed up Karori Park!

Marist started the sharper, better adapting to the wet and greasy conditions, and picked up an opportunisitic goal with a defensive mix up between Big Jim Bannatyne and young Petone centre back Tihou Messenger-Weepu. Gustavo Saralegui latched onto the loose ball in the confusion and knocked into an empty net for 1-0 leaving Bannatyne and Messenger-Weepu to bollock each other angrily in the pouring rain.

Conditions were the winner in the first half until predictably the officials again had a major part to play in this match.

Paul Whitmarsh was red carded 25 minutes in after a late and high challenge on the Pope's Own Goalkeeper. Certainly a foul but certainly not a red card and the referee's overreaction would have a major bearing on the rest of the match.

The ref was in the action again when he awarded a questionable penalty to Marist. It was Petone's prayers who were answered though when Big Jim got down to save it and make up for the earlier give-away goal

Half time came with Marist ahead 1-0.

Petone came out a much better side in the second half and put Marist under a lot of pressure despite their one man disadvantage.

They managed an equaliser and for a spell looked every bit the table-topping team they would be if they took home a win.

But Marist scored a sucker punch when a cross to the far post found an unmarked Pablo Jackson whose loopy header got up and over the unnaturally massive Big Jim to make it 2-1.

Petone's best endeavours with ten men couldn't find an opening. Scott Clayton late one forced a fantastic one on one save out of Marist's keeper to preserve the score line and give them the three points.
And in the other game of the day Napier City Rovers found their form again to knock over competition easy-beats Stop Out 4-2.

Park Life couldn't pay a man to go and watch this one so all we can tell you is that Napier City's 4 goals were scored by 3 men, two of whom scored a brace - at least according to Capital Football - so some combination of Andy Pickering (2), Stu Wilson (2) and Greg Hensley put 4 goals in to cancel out Gary McDermott's 2 for Stop Out.

And that's it from a hot, sweaty, hung over and knackered Park Life.

Join us later this week for a preview of exciting Big Travel League action and maybe even a preview of Super Stu's U23s as they get ready to take on Chile for the second time at Porirua Park on Friday.

Until then.

Park Life

Marist coach Steve Green was so excited with his side's impressive, 2-1 win over Petone at Memorial Park yesterday, that he could remember little of the game.

Marist has flattered to deceive in most of its games this season when, after dominating, it has gone on to make poor defensive mistakes and concede soft goals.

On Saturday, though, in semi- darkness, torrential rain and on a slippery surface, Marist played its best game of the season to beat the Central League's second-placed side. It also drew nil-all in the opening round and the win makes Marist safe from threat of the bottom relegation spot.

"With the euphoria of the game I can't remember much about what happened on the field at all," Green said afterwards.

A lot of work had gone into intensity and keeping players focussed.

"Yesterday we played with a bit of mongrel in us and didn't let them settle on the ball at all, especially up front where Fin Milne made some telling tackles for us," Green said.

Marist and possibly YoungHeart Manawatu, when the national league start up again, might finally be getting the best out of the Uruguayan imports.

On Saturday Gustavo Sarelegui continued his impressive recent form, scoring one stunning goal and chasing down every long ball the Marist defence put through.

Marist's's second goal came when, with 15 minutes remaining, another Uruguayan, Pablo Yackson, latched on to a loose ball from a corner.

Molne and Yackson had outstanding games in the centre of the defence, while Scott Robson, Tim Richardson and Daniel Aliaga all had strong games.

Green paid special mention to goal-keeper Yutaro Takahashi, who pulled off two blinding saves, one in the final minutes. Takahashi had been felled just before halftime by Petone striker Paul Whitmarsh, who was sent off, and despite struggling to walk he managed to keep going for the full game.

There was a major boilover in the Western Premiership with North End being dumped, 3-2, by Red Sox Manawatu at Skoglund Park.

After being 1-0 down at the break, Red Sox scored twice from corners through Bob Johnston and Gareth Toland, before North End's Chris Monk levelled the scores again.

The Red sox winner couldn't have been any more spectacular when Toland chipped over the North End keeper from 35 metres.

Coach Dave Harris conceded it was the best the side had played and a change in tactics at halftime had paid off. Down 1-0, Harris substituted Michael Glass for Dwayne Blackett and the two put the North end defence under a lot of pressure.

"We needed more pace up front and I wanted us to pressure their back four when they had the ball, especially Dave Boyack," Harris said. "It was by far the best we've played all season and our increased levels of fitness was a difference for us."

In other games Wanganui City beat Wanganui Athletic, 4-3. The sides had been level 3-all before City player Alex Crossley had his leg broken in a collision. The sides opted to continue on another pitch while the ambulance came.

In the only other game played, Marist Reserves as expected easily beat Linton, 5-0, to remain in second place with Wanganui City.

 

Park Life is the Fever�s Friday afternoon infusion of the following 48 hours� football. Fresh from fraternising with the Frenchie we foresee furious, frenzied, and frenetic, if not flash, football in July�s first weekend.

Lower Hutt vs Western Suburbs.

Well it�s the first weekend after the transfer window has closed but that doesn�t mean there aren�t a few surprises in store in Big Travel League this round.

Perhaps the biggest surprise is that more players have not left Lower Hutt, despite trying. Hutt has been evacuating players faster than you could say �Fire Drill� with a steady stream of discontented souls finding homes elsewhere in Big Travel League. First it was Stevie G, off to Stop Out, then Big Churchy pulled the pin and went to the Bubbles, and then came the shock news that keeper Van Hattum wanted away to rejoin Karori after mysteriously being demoted, like so many this season, to the second team.

Park Life had news that the deal had been done and Van Hattum was off and then, to our immense surprise, he turned up in goal in Lower Hutt�s convincing tonking by Miramar last weekend.

Turns out Hutt supremo Watson had pulled out all the stops to delay Van Hattum�s move past deadline day � Sunday last week � and Van Hattum is now stuck at Bell for the remainder of the season much to the frustration of Karori, the relief of The Herminator, the disbelief of want-away Van Hattum and the amusement of transfer-paper-shuffling blazer-wearers at Capital Football Towers. Van Hattum�s attempts to get Uncle Frank to push through the transfer were, apparently, laughed off the phone.

So it seems certain that it will be Van Hattum between the sticks for McIntyre�s Hutt. The glove man for Calcott�s Wests on the other hand might be more of a surprise than you�d think. Stand out keeper of the National League Imraaaaaaaaaay is heading offshore. His bags are packed and he�s ready to go. Whether he�ll be gone before or after this game is something Park Life cannot remember, despite having been told several times. If Imraaaaaaaaay is AWOL it�ll be beanpole almost-Evertonian Jake �The Muss� Gleeson filling the void for Wilson United.

At the risk of throwing our remaining credibility down the drain we�re going to say that he�s still here and it will be Outstanding Super-Keeper of National League Phil Imraaaaay lining up against Wish-I-Was-At-Adventure-Instead, He�s-Not-My-Dad-He�s-My-Uncle, Stand Out Keeper of Big Travel League Nick van Hattum. Uncle of Nick and handy keeper himself Chairman Frank will be there watching.

Elsewhere on the pitch Calcott will have to do without Craig Henderson who was getting chilly against Chile (wakka wakka) last night and showing the South Americans what flair really looks. Ian Hogg is unavailable but Kieren Purcell will fill the gap. Bryce Howard may come into a re-jigged back line. Mike �The Crown Prince� Wilson will play his last game for Wests in his truncated season as he heads overseas again. Rupe Ryan is still Calcott�s only real go-to man up front but Roddy Brown in the hole behind him is all quality and a real danger man.

In yellow, The Matthews brothers won�t be playing: Jacob is too young and Joel is in the U23s, or is it the other way round? (And are their parents Jack and Jenny?) Anyway none of them will be playing and that will leave McIntyre with a hole to fill in midfield. Blackburn must start after being the one bright (red) spot in an otherwise lacklustre display in Big Cup.

As a massive cat amongst the Bell Park pigeons Park Life has learned that Dane Rayner has recently returned from the UK where he was evidently named Weatherspoons� #1 customer for the 07/08 season. Hutt still hold his registration. Will he make an appearance?

McIntyre continues his policy of Claudio Ranieri-like tinkering with the first team by taking 18 players in a bus to the game only to name his game squad and starting line up just before kick off. Will it inspire, or just f*ck players off? Get down and see for yourself at Bell Park from 2.30pm where you can follow Wests� 4-1 smashing of Hutt in greasy conditions.

Petone vs Wellington United

Could there be a more boring game to preview than this one?

It�s not that the football won�t be good � both teams are known for playing an open, attractive, on-the-deck, passing game (albeit Petone do it much better than United). Both teams also have their flare players. Global media interest in the Oranje has surged since Park Life�s expose of United�s French Connection Le Hugo. And in blue the electric viewing always on offer when Paul Whitmarsh takes the field just cannot be discounted (think: Dirk Kuyt meets I want to be banned I want to be banned).

Couple that with a half dozen Pickerings, a good pie in the clubrooms, a glossy programme (that regularly features Park Life extracts we�ll have you know) and the stage is set for a pleasant day out.

So why is it boring?

Because these teams have hardly changed since the league kicked off. Petone have been consistently good. United haven�t. Both teams play the same players almost every week � excepting the occasional hiccup when someone goes overseas or miraculously pops up in the lower leagues. They are both gossip-free zones.

What we�d love to be able to tell you is that Mike Pickering has divorced his family and transferred to cross-town rivals Stop Out and that the Pickering clan have traded up by adopting look-alike Richie McLay. We�d love to say that Jimbo� has demanded that the entire Number 1 pitch be painted in the image of Puma� and that, having been refused, has packed up and taken a big-money shock transfer-day move to Seatoun.

Sadly we have only one amusing, and true, anecdote to share, but it is a goody.

Last weekend the Oranje had a weekend off. When we shared crepes and caf� latte with Le Hugo he winked and nudged that he might play for his old team in Capital 14b in the weekend�s layoff.

He didn�t. But first team regular Sam Greene did.

Super Scout Rossco was none too impressed.

Greene�s punishment? Training with the women�s team instead of the boys.

Leading Park Life to dub him for the remainder of the season: Samantha Greene.

We have it on good authority that the girls were bigger, more aggressive in the tackle, and could be making first team appearances if United�s current run continues.

Go to Petone Memorial, not painted like a Puma�, and watch Fozzie�s Blues efficiently turn over Rossco�s Oranjes 3-1. Le Hugo to get the one by nutmegging Jimbo� when Jimbo� tries to Cruyff turn him seventeen times inside his own 6 yard box.

Napier vs Palmerston North Marist

Pope�s Own Marist have been resurgent since Adam Cowan and Finlay Milne returned from a stint in the Ole Refrigerator and Sickness Clinic at Under 20s camp. They knocked off Lower Hutt two weeks ago and then took three points off Petone � something not many have managed in this year�s Big Travel League.

As well as the young boys they�ve finally been getting their money�s worth out of Gustavo Saralegui, who has started banging in, and creating, goals.

They�re still an unknown though. Only a week before their recent run they lost unexpectedly to the Oranje at home courtesy of Le Hugo�s now-famous Little Action.

Napier have also been a bit of a mystery. They took a point off Miramar at Miramar in the first round of the league, and destroyed Western Suburbs at Western Suburbs three rounds ago, but they have found that form hard to find with any regularity.

Key to their success, or not, is goal-scoring demon Stu Wilson. When he plays he scores and without him Pope�s Own Marist will be celebrating a win.

With him it will be a tussle between young Finlay Milne at centre back, and Stuey up front.

Could be a great one to watch. Milne had the measure of Pedro 5 Goals at Bell Park against Lower Hutt two weeks ago but in the same game struggled with the fast footwork of Ginger Ronaldo. Stuey�s no Blackburn but he�s quick and deadly with a yard.

Wilson will have to do without his strike partner The Horse who was galloping around Porirua Park last night making Chile mince meat (what?).

At the other end from the Milne-Wilson fight there�ll be a battle between Marist�s resurgent strike force and Perry Cotton�s Oldest-Defence-In-The-League.

We know who we�re backing in that one so it�s got to be a Pope�s Own Marist win, 3-2. Get there if you�re in the Park Island neighbourhood.

Olympic vs Stop Out

The first of two games on Sunday is the Bubbles taking on Stop Out.

Park Life has some vague gossip that Olympic are having injury woes and a variety of players are calling in knacked ahead of this one.

We suspect that has more to do with them being up against Stop Out than many actual play-preventing maladies.

Stop Out have lost crucial midfield man Peverly to the U23s (we�ve run out of Chile gags) and that will cost them dearly. Watson returns and Gary McDermott has been playing tremendously by all accounts � scoring two last week. Two players won�t be enough though.

Even without a few regulars � we�re picking Raf to be missing for sure � Olympic will be too strong. PJ Lupi has been superb for the Bubbles since being discarded by Graham Little�s Miramar and we�re picking him to get on the score sheet this weekend in a 3-0 run away win by the Greeks. Ding dong.

Team Taranaki vs Miramar Rangers

Miramar have been clocking up the Frequent Rider Miles in recent weekends. Trips to the Naki, Palmy, Napier and the Naki have made them the team in the league with the biggest carbon footprint. Honest.

They have perhaps been hurt the most by Oly-White removals, with Jeremy Brockie, Yellow Fever�s Own Jacob Spoonley, and Cole Tinkler all lost to them for the rest of this campaign.

Fortunately it looks like they already have the league sewn up. Also fortunately they have able replacements in Keiichi Nguyen, Brook Tozer, Tony Wall and Graham Mulvey.

Irishman Mulvey was a revelation in pre-season before becoming unavailable through Injury (1 week) and Drinking Trips (6 weeks). He has now returned to the fold, slightly hungover but still more than good enough to smack in goals against the Naki. Look for him to get a whisky-smelling run off the bench and score two.

The Naki shouldn�t be discounted however. They have had their share of results and near-results in recent times.

Park Life can reveal that a certain coach in Big Travel League (hint: designer mullet and the biggest playing roster of any team in the league) predicted to us after Round 2 that the Naki would �take points off the big boys and be massive improvers over the season.�

Matt Calcott, come on down.

That prediction was spot on and The Naki might just fancy themselves for a point at home against a travel-weary Miramar.

They won�t get it though and if any of you can be bothered you can watch Miramar win 3-0 at the Yarrow on Sunday.

And in Other News This Weekend�

Wellington City Council�s humiliation is complete after Waterside Karori have been forced to abandon their multi-million dollar home ground at Karori Park and move their first team�s home games to Adventure Park in Whitby. While it�s entertaining to take the p!ss out of Wharfies for this state of affairs it�s hardly their fault and what Park Life can�t work out is why more ratepayers aren�t more flabbergasted at the stupendous incompetence and money-wasting that the Council have managed to achieve at the Aquadrome. Muppets the lot of you.

Park Life gives our warm congratulations to Scottishbhoy, who won the first Puma competition we�ve run: Find Feverish. Scottishbhoy did indeed find Feverish who has now, for better or for worse, been returned to us here in Wellington. Good thing he was wearing that collar we got him before he left. Puma, you�ll no doubt have noticed, sponsor us here at Park Life by providing us with gear for prizes and giveaways. They are choice and we�d like everyone to take a moment to give Harry and Jim a big thumbs up for getting into bed with Park Life and the Fever. So few do. So so few.

And one last thing. Get your skates on and join the Fever at our 08/09 season AGM. Details are in the forums. It�s your chance to tell us what you think, have a beer, put a username to a face (maybe) and generally share the buzz about the upcoming A League season. Park Life will be there, somewhere�

And that�s it. Have a good �un.

Park Life

 

and Van Hattum is now stuck at Bell for the remainder of the season much to the frustration  relief of Karori

haha just joking fella - cheers for the beer last night.

 

You failed to mention the big Bay v Rapa clash today. The Islanders aren't gonna like the cold conditions - but I guess that impacts both teams.

 

Much to PL dismay, Hugo missed out on the score sheet today. Andy Johntsone picked up our goal.

 

Not the wettest or most flooded game Ive seen this year (quite) but probably the muddiest.

 

Two skilful sides and it was unfortunate that much of the action was 'get it forward as quick as possible' due to the sticky conditions.

 

Hutt were much better than last week against Miramar , competed better, and scored three quick goals in the first half. Wests didnt adapt as well to the conditions and have away silly goals.

 

Mike Smith, playing at centre half, made two mistakes to concede possession at the back, and was punished severely for them by Luis Corrales, who finished his two goals beautfiully. 

 

Phil Imray rather inexplicably missed a harmless looking ball (even though it was skidding) and left a tap-in.

 

Wests came back strongly in the second half and were probably the better side, and after converting a penalty and a goalmouth scramble (think Keystone Kops) they really looked like they would level, and went very close a couple of times.

 

But the fourth goal (Corrales' second) settled the result, and deservedly so.

This was a game where Olympic did not take there chances. Many crosses into the box in which either the ball went straight to the keeper or along the 6 yard box. Jimmys has played very well upfront scoring goals however Olympic is lacking that out and out striker like miky milivuk (however u spell his name).

Stop Out also were only playing with 10 men for the last 30 mins or so, however it looked like olympic were down to 9 men the way they were playing.

Raf missed a penalty (again) however I thought he played fairly well during the match at times.

Scored his first peno but when Olympic were up 3-2 decided to try hit it top corner but keeper saved it. I guarantee if it was 2-2 Raf would have slotted it bottom corner but hey wat can ya do.

All I gota say is put Simon George, Jamie or Baza penalty taker someone that possibly will take penalties seriously and actually cares about winning the game.

Now Olympic need to concentrate on 2nd team getting promotoed.

 

you did all right in the 1st 1/2

By MURRAY HILLS murray.hills@tnl.co.nz - Taranaki Daily News | Monday, 07 July 2008

 

Miramar Rangers were given a fright before bagging a 1-0 win over Team Taranaki in an entertaining Central League football match in New Plymouth yesterday.

It took the Wellington side 60 minutes to finally crack Taranaki at Yarrow Stadium and, only then, it was helped by a defensive blunder.

Miramar's Tommy Smith fired the ball at the Taranaki goal, with the home side's keeper, Mike Reive, diving to block the shot. The ball spilled free and, while Reive picked himself up and dived again, the ball eluded him.

It didn't escape Miramar's Tony Wall, however. With no angle to work with, Wall managed to get the ball past Reive and into the net.

Taranaki had a chance to steal a draw against the competition leader late in the game, only to be denied by a spectacular save by Miramar goalkeeper Dylan Hall.

Somehow Hall, formerly of New Plymouth, managed to throw himself into the air, high to the right and block Nathan Hill's driving shot.

"One lapse in concentration has done us again," Team Taranaki coach James Graham said.

"Mike had the ball covered, but couldn't control it. He watched the rebound and didn't react quick enough."

While disappointed with the loss, Graham was happy with the effort.

"Considering they (Miramar) are top of the table and unbeaten this season, we're not that far away. We just have to keep our concentration for the full 90 minutes. To be 0-0 at halftime was encouraging."

One area of concern, as it has been all season, was getting the ball in the opposition net.

"We're still struggling to get goals and it's hurting us," Graham said. "We're creating chances, but not putting teams under enough pressure."

Taranaki did create a handful of goal-scoring opportunities, but Miramar created three or four times as many. And that was the difference.

The visitors could easily have been two or three goals up at halftime.

Smith went desperately close with a header midway through the spell, and only a good save by Reive denied George Whiting from 25 metres.

Taranaki's defensive effort, led by man-of-the-match Jared McElhannan and livewire Hill, was superb at blunting the Miramar attack. Taranaki's other standout player was left back Andrew Thomson with a non-stop running game. Taranaki's next two games are away fixtures - against Stop Out in Wellington on Saturday and Palmerston North Marist in Palmerston North the following Saturday - with home fans having to wait until Sunday, July 27 to see their side in action again. That game is against Wellington United.

 

he knocked in 2 goals mate, 4 is a bit of an exageration

 

Good journalism though.

 

I'm not sure what game you were watching Craig, but Hugo scored two goals - played crap (compared to normal) and was subbed at the half.

 

opps, perhaps should have read that..