Park Life: 2008

 

I can claim ownership of that dog.

 

Park Life's high hopes of a Big Cup upset this weekend were dashed as every single tie went the way the bookies called it in a weekend of Big Cup action that wasn't without some excitement.

Island Invitational Eleven Leave Centennial With Nowt

Three-time champions Miramar Rangers hosted Wairarapa United at Centennial Park this round. Both sides came into the tie with contrasting form: Miramar fresh off pole axing Stop Out 7-0 while Wairarapa came into the match off an upset 2-1 loss at the hands of Upper Hutt.

Miramar was without the services of recent signings Jacob Spoonley and Cole Tinkler, and regulars The Colonel and Deputy Dilbert were forced to sit this one out as they hadn�t played the necessary games to qualify to start a Chatham Cup match. This meant a return for Simon Shone in goal and Tony Wall in midfield.

Wairarapa sent out the regular superstars including Peter Rabo and goal scoring machine Seule Soromon.

In an interesting but meaningless trainspotting moment Park Life can tell you that both these sides went out of the Big Cup last year at the hands of eventual final-losers Wests in extra-time battles (Miramar 1-0 and Wairarapa 3-2).

A decent crowd was in attendance, with the balcony, outside the clubrooms full as usual with supporters eager to offer advice to the players and officials below. Notable spectators included in the crowd were ex-national league maestros Tim Butterfield, David Batty and Andy Hedge.

Miramar opened the scoring in the 17th minute when Gerard Brown volleyed home a pinpoint Jamie Farrington cross from the left after some good lead up work by Jeremy Brockie.

Just two minutes later Mirimar cleared from a corner, playing the ball down the right flank to Gerard Brown whose cross was headed in at the near post by Tommy Smith.

Wairapapa were struggling to maintain possession but had a few chances through their speedy forward Seule Soromon. He was managing to get himself offside often however after good lead up work by Peter Rabo and winger Anton Ross.

Following a scrappy clearance Gerard Brown was denied a second goal in the 33rd minute when his rocketing volley was deflected away for a corner. An expertly taken free kick by Miramar big man Graham Mulvey was tipped over the bar by keeper Matt Borren.

But the pressure was kept up and Miramar went 3-0 through a Jeremy Brockie strike in the 35th minute, who slotted the ball past the keeper from just inside the right side of the box.

Just a minute later, Farrington produced a carbon copy with this time Brockie heading the ball past the despairing keeper.

Wairarapa finally opened their account in the 40th minute when a through ball from Giuseppe Cugliari found Seule Soromon one on one with keeper Simon Shone, who he rounded to slotted into an open net to make the score 4-1 just before half time.

That�s how it ended at the break.

The second half started with Miramar bringing on A Chote for Graham Mulvey, which saw Jeremy Brockie move up front. Chote made an immediate impact with his shot from the right side of the goal deflected away for a corner.

Wairarapa made their first substitution with Aaron Spierling being replaced by Miriek Tuaroh.

Following this the game became somewhat scrappy with a few rash challenges flying in here or there. Miramar centre back Craig Alderdice had his header saved from a free kick which was the result of the umpteenth foul on Brockie.

Seule Soromon was continuing to show his pace upfront and after a decent run shot wide of Simon Shone�s goal.

Miramar made another sub with Nik Tromp replacing Tony Wall. The first card of the day was produced when Miramar centre back Jamie Farrington possibly retaliating to a previous foul seconds before crunched Giuseppe Cugliari in a tackle in front of the dugout, much to the disgust of the Wairarapa coaching staff.

The victim of the foul G Cugliari stayed on the ground while he received attention. Miramar coach Graham Little decided to replace Farrington with the returning Keiichi Nuygen, with A Chote slotting in at left back.

The only other notable event of the day was referee Jim Murphy showing Shane "The Shanesaw" Medland a red card when he was ruled to have been the last man and fouled goal bound striker Seule Soromon. From the resulting free kick Peter Rabo�s shot dipped over the wall and was superbly parried away one-handed by Shone.

The rest of the half played out uneventfully, the score remaining the same. Brockie continued to show his class by running around defenders at will. A comical moment occurred when keeper Borren just about punched his giant fridge-like defender Waisake Sabutu instead of the ball and a few minutes later referee Jim Murphy blew for full time.

Standout players for each side. Miramar was well served by wingers Brockie and Brown while Eager Michael controlled the middle. Their back four was as solid as usual, marshalled by Alderdice. For Wairarapa, their much maligned foreigners played well, lead by Peter Rabo with Seule Soromon dangerous up front and the massive Waisake "The Westinghouse" Sabutu strong at the back.

Aside from the action points to note were the appearance of a gorilla at half time displaying his talents as a keeper (the same gorilla also made an appearance at Kilbirnie Park � Ed) and a mysterious man filming the game from the Miramar media tower. Who are ya?

The Wharf Roll Out of Vegas With the Winnings

A spirited Stokes Valley took on Capital Premier heavy hitters Waterside Karori at Delaney Park in a game that Wharfies won comfortably 4-1.

SV went close to a goal on several occasions early on but they slowly got worn down as the game went on.

Karori opened the scoring with a classic goal from big centre back Mike McKinlay. McKinlay burst forward from the back with ball at foot and proceeded to beat two players before placing the ball into the bottom corner from outside the edge of the area.

It was then the turn of defender Jono Sole to get on the scoresheet for the first of his two goals when he latched on to a cross and lashed home the volley.

Valley did not do themselves, or their bank balance, any favours by having two players shown red, including a substitute who had not even taken the field. The SV men played with passion, perhaps too much at times, and showed they have some useful ball players that should see them as title contenders for Cap 1.

Boys Against Men at Kilbirnie Park

Is there anything good to say about Kilbirnie Park? It's rough, it's muddy, it's windy and it's never ever warm.

Little surprise then that the game played out there between Wellington College and Marist was dire.

Marist kicked this one off clearly expecting a fairly straightforward win but they hadn't counted on the enthusiasm that eleven virgins can muster when given a sniff.

And a sniff is what they got when College goalie Jamie McKay launched one of his many 50 yard speculators straight into the heart of the Marist defence early on. They didn't quite have the measure of it and Chris Tromp was there to latch on to the second ball and place a fabulous side foot dink over the advancing Marist keeper to give the schoolboys an early lead.

It didn't last long though. Before the boys could even finish giggling about their lead it was gone. Marist exploiting the fact that the College were playing a sweeper a full thirty yards behind the other defenders by knocking a sneaky ball into the edge of the box leaving the striker an easy near post finish.

No doubt College coach Charlie Howe had intended his young charges to implement a World Cup '86 Argentina-style 3-5-2 but with long balls down the middle his team's favourite outlet it wasn't long before those wide boys gave up getting forward and it was a World Cup '90 Germany-style 5-3-2 that spectators were forced to watch for most of the day.

Early in the second half though those parents lost their loads again when Egypt '97 keeper turned referee Jamie Cross awarded the Kids a penalty. Chris Tromp stepped up to pump it wide but generous Jamie gave him another chance after a Marist player reached the goal line before the ball did and he made no mistake with his second attempt to send 16 pimply children and assorted parents, step-parents, grand-parents and pets into the sort of euphoria generally reserved for drug-taking 20-somethings.

It didn't last.

Absent the penalty and the early lucky bounce Wellington College struggled to create chances. Marist weren't pretty but they were stronger and smarter and more effective and as the game wore on that told on the youngsters.

Marist popped up for an unexciting equaliser, making it 2-2, and from there on out it was one way traffic with Marist forcing the Kids to do a lot of defending and the Kids doing what all children do when things aren't going their way: moaning and whinging.

Every tackle was a foul and every decision was the wrong one � at least in the eyes of the boys and their parents. The ref dished out a few cards and it was all a bit embarrassing.

The inevitable occurred with around 10 minutes to go when the penalty-conceding number 9 for Marist popped up at the near post to head in a well taken corner.

Cue more toy throwing and dummy spitting than a toddlers' tea party. Amusing really, if it wasn't so silly.

In the end Marist will be satisfied winners. Stand outs for them were their two central midfielders: Futsal rep Victor Zaia and the other one (sorry, there wasn't a programme).

The schoolboys meanwhile will head back to dominate the woeful schoolboy league when they travel to Upper Hutt College tomorrow to dish out a double figured spanking (this was written Saturday afternoon! �Ed). Stand outs for them were goal keeper Jamie McKay, busy defender Ben Wierenga, almost-chipped-the-keeper winger Corey Larsen and centre forward Chris Tromp.

Whitehead Windfall Completes Capital Coffers

Newtown Park was in great condition today for the banner Chatham Cup match of the weekend. A crowd measuring in their dozens turned up to see a display of cards worthy of a World Championship of Poker final table.

The sides lined up as expected with Naenae sporting an injury-battling Paul Wheeler despite suggestions he may miss out and the only real surprise in the Olympic line-up was the return of Tony Jamieson in goal. Park Life is lead to believe that this is the start of a 7th grade-style keeper rotation policy that next week will see Sacha Nathu starting as a right winger and Mikey Halikias in goal.

The game started with Naenae causing Olympic some heart-stopping moments and to everyone's surprise Naenae scored early with Jamie Farrington look-alike and the first Scouser to use a Brazilian style single name 'Hendo' popping up to give the car-stealers an early lead.

For the next ten to fifteen minutes the game was a pretty even battle with breaks and chances both ways but the finishing touch missing. Around 25 minutes though parity was restored when a Best and Fairest de Gregorio free kick on the edge of the area dropped perfectly to set up the equaliser.

This was followed by a stunning array of card tricks as one of the Naenae's Sudanese players received his second yellow and got his marching orders. With the additional space and Wheeler visibly struggling the all action Olympic midfield started to take charge.

Best and Fairest and Si George pulled all the strings in the midfield. Olympic's flying (in more ways than one) wingers Halikias and Mouthy Jimmy did great work up and down the flanks and the 'wrong Easthope brother'* provided the legs in the hole as Olympic dominated the game completely. By the end of the match this all star ensemble had knocked in another 5 as well as hitting both uprights and the crossbar.

(* Two out of three Easthope brother polled agreed that Park Life's "wrong Easthope brother" call is correct.)

In among this goalfest young referee Mark Whitehead managed to put his own stamp on the game with a red for both sides' right backs, one for a second yellow and one a straight Red.

A Referees representative near Park Life at the match was heard to say: "Och aye, there are no quotas for referees, but if he doesn't get another 5 yellows in he's in trouble."

Park Life reserves special mention for hard man Barry Lewis who, after putting the slipper in to a Naenae player legged it sneakily to the centre circle before he could possibly be identified and booked and then spent the next couple of minutes masquerading as an incognito central midfielder. Hilarious work. We loved it.

In the end Olympic just too good for their lower league opposition; putting on a coaching clinic with their passing and movement.

In other news Capital Football are now said to be in the market for a money bin to hold all the cash being raised by their card campaign. Rumour has it Jamie Cross and Keith Palmer spent this morning doing backstroke though a sea of notes and coins while humming the tune to We're In the Money from the musical 42nd Street.

And In Other News

Stop Out managed their first win of the season � just � knocking over Capital 3 heavyweights Eastbourne with a solitary goal and casting Park Life's hopes of a giggle-fest-inducing upset down the toilet.

University gave us a brief snigger however when they took a 1-0 lead at Bell Park though. They couldn't hold on however and eventually got tonked.

At Endeavour Park Wests had another home Chatham Cup tie to fuel the rumour that gang-land boss Dave Wilson throws some money into Palmer's Cash Paddling Pool to secure the draw each round. They knocked Brooklyn Northern United for six by scoring nine to BNU's lonely one. BNU still claimed something from the match though with Fever's own Marius Lacatus dining out all night on his goal-creating artistry.

Other results too numerous to mention all followed the boring form guide. A bit like next round's draw!

Back to Big Travel League later this week with a rousing Here Comes the Weekend.

Don�t forget to review your team's match in the Umbro Match of the Month competition. Trust us, it's fun.

In the meantime that's it from a bumper edition of Park Life.

Park Life

I thought Phil was about to make a startlingly honest confession about match fixing....

Goalie gets Inglewood into next cup round

A goal from Team Taranaki goalkeeper Michael Reive saw Inglewood progress to the next round of the Chatham Cup.

Reive, playing as a striker for his club side, scored the only goal of the game against Palmerston North Boys' High School in Palmerston North on Saturday.

With FC Western, Waitara and Hawera all losing on Saturday, Inglewood is the only Taranaki team alive in the Chatham Cup, New Zealand's top domestic knockout competition.

After taking an early lead, FC Western was beaten 3-1 by Hawke's Bay side Taradale at New Plymouth's Lynmouth Park in an entertaining fixture.   The New Plymouth side more than held its own against Taradale, with the visitors scoring two late goals to claim victory.

Waitara lost 3-1 to glamour club and former cup winner Napier City Rovers in Waitara. Taking advantage of the chance to rest some of its stars, Napier proved too good for a disjointed Waitara side which included several Team Taranaki players playing their first game for the club.

Not helped by conceding an own goal by Luke Roborgh, Waitara rarely troubled Napier, except when a defensive error gifted Josh Herlihy a goal by tapping the ball into an empty net to get Waitara on the score sheet.

In the remaining game, Hawera was well beaten by Maycenvale, losing 4-1 at Hastings.

 

 

I have a question on that Park Life, Righstr, Uncle steve Et al-

 

i've been to two recent Olympic Home games, both freezing cold affairs. I know that the greeks have their clubrooms on Adelaide road but surely someone could do worse than open up the Newtown park clubrooms for the fans to get a respite from the wind (and firecrackers!), even a toasty pie and a red wine would go down a treat-
Would United be interested? YF? or even the Greeks themselves, with a bottle of Ouzo and some baklava for the kiddies?

Not quite that easy as we are there all day Saturday as it is. To serve grog you also need someone with a license.  Open to suggestions and offers of help though. Or Olympic can rent the rooms on a Sunday just like anyone else if they want and run things themselves.

 

Your not serious

The massive slope of the pitch in the background, and no lines to be seen.

The older character wearing a fresh new pair of Skins, and blue wheels.

The football is one of those rubber ones that you used get at 10th grade holiday coaching clinics.

 

 

Would we even need to turn up to write the match report??

 

Knowing Capital Football there will be a charge for it ....

1. Your spies aren't good enough

2. Your parting comment was 'don't go'. You are clearly forgetting that 1/3 of YF management is due to play in the curtain raiser weather permitting. Why not tell the punters that such quality talent can be observed at 12.30 on a Saturday?

Watch out for my match review of the main game, it will set a new standard for the forum.

 

I just know we'll be transferred to bloody Melrose Park though. already v dark about that prospect. And, if so, i damn well hope someone has found or returned the goal posts from Melrose's western end - i can just about live with dodging hyenas after somebody lumps the ball over the fence, but having to lay down jackets or cones as a goal will definitely break my spirit

 

one ground - you've only got one ground,....

 

and..

Park Life is confidently predicting a massacre here that may reach double figures as a team laced with international experience takes on a team laced with (snip snippity snip snip snip � Ed

 

WTF?

Hmm. I see two of your teams have been transferred out to one of your home grounds...Adventure. Something tells me they were at KP as early games. A touch damp up there again is it? Newtown 1 today hosting 3 games including juniors.

 

probably - but some of our 700 juniors also use it.

 

When James Dean made the error of transferring to Utd for a season - his team ended up playing more at Cobham and Melrose than Newtown. Glad to hear you are happy with your lot. It might explain why you have so few teams though

 

Park Life's Editorial team decided that if their correspondent couldn't say something nice he shouldn't say anything at all...

 

 

enjoy the Euro Champs you lucky bugger.