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Jason Heather posted on July 31, 2011 20:57
Waiuku AFC conquered local rivals Papakura City with a cool 2 0 victory at McLennan Park on Saturday.
The rivalry between the two teams has become more intense over the past two seasons due to a number of Papakura players choosing to leave and join Waiuku.
Things got off to a scrappy start as most derbies tend to do – nerves and the build up getting the better of them – but soon enough the game started to flow and Papakura orchestrated the first chance. Top goal scorer Raj Sharma breaking away to force a great save from young Stu Ruddell. Waiuku then started making the most of a three man Papakura defense with wide men Arthur Hislop and Charlie Heather putting some effective crosses to pressure the home sides goal. It was Heather who broke the deadlock after 15 minutes when Derek Sinclair gave a sneaky back heel allowing him to fire the ball into the bottom right hand corner. The game then got messy again with both teams struggling to find their rhythm; this was partly due to some inconsistency from all three officials who never really had any grip on the game at all. One nil to the visitors at half time.
The game got off to a physical start in the second half with the home side trying to stamp some authority on things but the Waiuku centre mid-field pairing of Robbie Leonard and Phil Donovan were equal to the task and kept things under control. Donovan then foiled another Papakura attack and sent Sinclair away – running at goal, he turned his marker right, then left and then right again before smashing the ball into the roof of the net to double the lead. Papakura’s frustration began to show and weaknesses were appearing in their defense. Sinclair who once again set Charlie Heather up for a shot on goal exploited one of these; the keeper managed to pull of a great save but only pushed it onto the head of the advancing Grant Duncan who neatly headed home. To the dismay of the striker he was adjudged to have been offside and the goal was ruled out. This sparked a frustrated outburst to the referee’s assistant that resulted in him being red carded and sent off for abusive language. Down to ten men, Waiuku defended the game out well to claim another three points in their quest for a top three place in the league.
After the game coach Jim Evans said “the game was a little scrappy as derby days usually are. We never really got going today and after the first goal I expected the game to go up a notch but it never eventuated. Ruddell in goal played well but Sam Van Pomeren gets man of the match.”
Waiuku host Mangere Utd at Massey Park Next Saturday. Kick Off 2:45.
Team – Stu Ruddell, Jerry Hubbard, Sam Van Pomeren, Elloit Crean, Arthur Hislop (Scott Petersen 55), Charlie Heather (Luke Sutton 80), Phil Donovan, Robbie Leonard, Dom Winter (Shane Godden 70), Derek Sinclair, Grant Duncan.
Subs not used – Phil Van Den Broek and Neil Holyoake.