Wellington Sunday Football League

On another brilliant sunny windless day in Upper Hutt, the once great Wallaceville Utd took on the newly formed Wellington Cambodia. 

With Ron Ung marshalling his troops from the back, and Wallaceville at  their disorganised best, it was a surprise that it took 15 mins before the first goal was scored. The impressive non-Cambodian Paul got the rout under way and it was the same player who doubled the lead 5 mins later. Cambodia added a third before the evergreen, always positive Andy Cochrane turned his man at the top of the penalty area and toe poked a reply right on half time.

After a stirring team  talk at the interval, Wallaceville did exactly the opposite to what was discussed and conceded 4 goals in 10 minutes, 2 to Ron and 2 to Sian. At 7.1 down Wallaceville lost all shape, cohesion and spirit and were lucky to  concede only 3 more goals before the end.
In between the gluttony of goals, Andy Cochrane managed to  miss Wallaceville's 6th consecutive penalty, and No13 of Cambodia was booked for twice kicking the ball away after the whistle had blown.

Steve Cochrane had an outstanding game for Walllaceville, while Ron and Sian controlled the Cambodian play well.

After a referee muck around the first preliminary cup game got under way on a wet and windy Heretaunga College pitch. The 10 man Wallaceville United played with spirit and gusto throughout and one does wonder if the ongoing absent Jason Stone would have made a difference.

In fact Wallaceville scored first, although technically Shamrocks scored it with an impressive 25 yard shot that skidded past an out of position Bart. Now behind, Rusty took the first half by the scruff of the neck and had a hand in two goals and headed in a fine third.

3.1 at the break meant Wallaceville weren`t out of it but 60 seconds into the second half they were. A soft goal that Wallaceville had three goes at clearing, put the result beyond doubt. A steady stream of  goals followed before Wallaceville changed a few personnel in positions and finished with a flurry.

First captain Phil, who never gave up, chased a hopeless cause, caused a defender error, and calmly rounded the keeper to slot home. The last hurrah fell to the evergreen Andy Cochrane who got onto a beautiful Phil cross to shoot firstly against the post, then smashed the rebound past the hapless David in the Shamrocks goal.

The games only sour point came on the hour mark where the impressive Brian of Shamrocks took offence at the line of running of Jess of Wallaceville and lashed out. Jess pushed back before Brian started getting verbal as well. This nearly started an all in melee. After calming everybody down Brian and Jess were both yellow carded with Brian coming within a whisker of being sent off.

For the second week in a row I had the pleasure of reffing an eclectic game of football with Wallaceville United. In fact every game with Wallaceville has a touch of eccentricity about it, I think its their playing staff.  However, they always turn up, this bunch of bogans, metalheads, musicians and Cochranes and give their all to the final  whistle. For that they deserve credit.

It took 35mins before Porirua  forced their first goal, a looping header after a goalmouth scramble after a corner. Ox added a thunderous second after a well worked 1-2 move but the goal of the game was the third right on halftime. Colin for Porirua (55) strode forward from the back, played two 1-2s and then sent in a superb cross for Rodney to power a header past Cochrane number 5 in the Wallies goal.

With only 10 men Wallaceville were always going to be up against it, but the addition of extra player after the break did even up the game. Unfortunately Porirua's Rodney was on fire and collected himself a hattrick so the result  was never in any real doubt. A cameo striker role for Mike out of Poriruas goal was entertaining and he himself was unlucky not to notch a goal,  firstly being denied by colourful goalkeeping and later denied by the crossbar.

Jordan Cochrane played strongly for Wallaceville as did father Steve, and Con was excellent for Porirua and Shane's defence steadfast. A game played in excellent spirit was a joy to ref. Football the winner.

Another brilliant calm day met Trentham United and Sunday Blazers at Memorial Park only for them  to have to wait an extra fifteen minutes for the ref to arrive because no one in organisation control thought to inform the referee of the kick off time change. Ironic seeing as though just two weeks ago we got an email enforcing the fact that games have to kick off on time.

Once the game got under way it was a hugely competitive fixture, to the point that the first yellow card was handed out to Chris of Blazers within five minutes for a scything foul on Matt Henderson. There was a flurry of niggly fouls  in the  next ten minutes which made the ref have to stop the game and warn all players to calm down and play football.

This  warning seemed to work, well for Blazers anyway, for they started the  scoring with a thundering 25yard shot from veteran left back Con which nearly went through the Trentham net. Trentham were not their usual self and conceded a second to Lucas, and then a third to a rampaging Fraser who was allowed to carry the ball from near half way before beating Trenthams replacement keeper Tom at the near post.

This fired Trentham up and for the next ten minutes dominated Blazers. Their blonde dreaded import dictated play in the midfield and was causing trouble for Blazers regularly. Trentham got on the scoreboard just before halftime through hard working Adam in midfield. A well struck corner from Paul Bates was only half cleared and when it fell to Adam, off  balance he managed to skilfully volley the ball home.

The second half didn�t start well for Trentham, and due to a couple of silly errors allowed John of Blazers to run through, jink past the keeper and slot home to take them out to 4.1. For the next twenty minutes there  were half chances for both sides but it wasn�t until mid way through the half that another goal was scored.

A great cross field ball found Rick Cussin at the far post and he skillfully  turned inside his marker and slotted home. Trentham then had a penalty awarded for a high boot but Paul Bates blotted his all round good game by clipping his penalty on top of the cross bar. There was just enough time left for Patricio of Blazers to get himself booked for repeated late infringing while tackling. From the resulting free kick, Trentham worked a good move ending with a Bates drive straight at the keeper.

Tuskan Raiders

V

Porirua Club

Anderson Pk

Plate Game 1

Porirua Cry

V

Arakura

Kura

Plate Game 2

Wallaceville

V

Blazers

Here Col

What teams are playing this year?