Waiuku Prems End Losing Streak

 Waiuku AFC ended their losing streak with a 2 2 draw against Tauranga at Links Ave on Saturday.

The long trip down to the Bay of Plenty was an apprehensive one with the rain gods doing their best to have the game cancelled and the added plight of having 5 first team regulars unavailable, including Darren Woolnough with the David Beckham curse of a broken Metatarsal, coaches Jim Evans and Jason Heather had plenty to ponder on.

With the sun finally breaking through the clouds doing it’s best to dry out the almost waterlogged pitch Waiuku had the dream start they needed. Making his first start at right midfield after signing from overseas, debutant Arthur Hislop delivered a text book cross in behind the Tauranga defense to find the resurgent Danny Baldwin who fired home with devastating precision. Waiuku enjoyed the better possession for the rest of the half until just before the break when Tauranga striker Jordan Culpepper was given too much time on the ball and the resulting shot was cruelly deflected past the outstretched hand of keeper Stu Ruddell. All square at the break.

Tauranga were keen to put the game out of Waiuku’s reach early in the second half and pushed the away side’s defensive unit to their limits but the stalwart back four were enjoying the opportunity to prove that recent poor results were behind them and stood firm. The only shots that did get through were more of a danger to the low flying aircraft from the nearby Tauranga Airport than the Waiuku goal. It was Waiuku who finally broke the deadlock when defensive warrior Sam Van Pomeren played his famous “in the mixer” pass long and high into the Tauranga danger zone. The ball found Derek Sinclair who with a first touch which would’ve had Ricky Herbert reaching for his chequebook, he powered the ball across the floundering keeper and into the net. Spurned into action the home side managed to get a shot on target, a bullet from outside the box, but the deftest of touches from keeper Ruddell helped it onto the crossbar to keep his side ahead. Not long after the young man proved himself to be a future talent of the gloved art when he once again pulled off a brilliant save down low to deny the equalizer. Unfortunately the three points were not in the bag when ten minutes from time a scramble in the Waiuku goalmouth resulted in Blair Cooper popping up to finally pull his side even. In the dying minutes chances from substitute Jesse Smyth-Kirk could’ve sealed it but were denied by some clumsy but effective Tauranga defending. 2 2 the final result leaving both teams wondering what could have been.

After the game a reticent Jim Evans said, “we’ve been through a hard patch but we’re keeping ourselves honest and working hard to get out of it. Young Stu Ruddell in goal gets man of the match today”.

Waiuku are back in action next week away to Western Springs at Seddon Fields. Kick off 2:45.

Team – Stu Ruddell, Dom Winter, Jerry Hubbard, Sam Van Pomeren, Elliot Crean, Arthur Hislop (Evan Crean 65), Derek Sinclair, Phil Donovan, Danny Baldwin (Jesse Smyth-Kirk 65), Charlie Heather, Robbie Leonard.

Subs not used – Justin Baldwin, Rob Hatton, Dave McCullagh