Reserves Continue to Shine

The game got off to a relatively slow start by both teams, but before long it became clear that North Shore had an agenda to use their lone attacker at every opportunity. A young solid player, with blistering pace, who was only matched in the early stages by some outstanding goalkeeping from Vincent Reibold in the Waiuku goal. Eventually the tactic of pumping the ball forward to the striker paid off. Beating an offside call from the Waiuku defense, he made no mistake and put North Shore one goal up. Waiuku countered and came close when Charlie Heather, paired up for the first time in midfield with Owen Hill, played a perfect ball to Luke Sutton. With only the keeper to beat Sutton put his shot wide. The first half was then marred by an absolutely terrible challenge by the North Shore left back. Danny Baldwin, returning from injury turned inside and was scythed down from behind. Quite rightly the Referee produced a straight red card and North Shore was down to ten men going into the half time break.

As the second half kicked off it was clear that the Waiuku centre back partnership of Dale Oliver and Scott Petersen had been given clear instructions to neutralize the threat from the North Shore striker. This was done expertly and the striker dropped into midfield to conjure something up, but to no avail. Waiuku went on the attack and after winning a ball at the byline, right mid Mitch Thomasen floated a cross in to be met by an Elliot Shine Crean header to equal the score. Sensing a win, Waiuku piled on the pressure and came close on a few occasions. First a long range shot from Charlie Heather went narrowly wide, then midfield ‘general’ Owen Hill tried his luck but was denied by the keeper. Defending desperately North Shore resorted to just hacking the ball away. One such clearance fell to right back Caine Robbie, he immediately delivered it back into the box and was once again met by the head of Elliot Shine Crean, putting it out of reach of the keeper and Waiuku were ahead. In the dying seconds of the game North Shore broke away and looked to equalize but keeper Vincent Reibold saved brilliantly down to his left and the game finished 2-1 to Waiuku.

After the game coach Jason Heather said, “I’m very happy with the result. We now have 7 points from the last 3 games and have only lost one this season. The team is playing some good football and has a very positive attitude on the pitch. Player of the day goes to Vincent Reibold for some first class saves and the last one definitely won it for us”.

Waiuku reserves have a bye next week due to the Chatham Cup and then travel to Fencibles on the 22^nd of May.