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Jason Heather posted on August 21, 2011 15:51
Waiuku AFC will regret not taking their chances at Stanmore Bay Park on Saturday when they could only scrape a one all draw against 10 man Hibiscus Coast FC.
Waiuku had the better start when after only 10 minutes they could’ve been three goals up. Charlie Heather had a shot cleared off the line, Robbie Leonard shot narrowly wide and Derek Sinclair was denied a penalty after being cynically brought down in the box by the Coast keeper. These chances and others to come would haunt the visitors at the final whistle.
Hibiscus Coast began to dominate proceedings from then on with Waiuku struggling to find the form of recent games – the accurate passing and movement of the home side keeping Waiuku from getting into any rhythm. Then with four minutes of the half remaining and against the run of play Waiuku took the lead. Sinclair released fellow striker Grant Duncan on a goal scoring chance but he was fouled before he could get a shot away. The referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and dismissing the offending Hibiscus coast defender. Left back Darren Woolnough stepped up and made no mistake in sending Waiuku into the break a goal ahead.
Even with the one man deficit Hibiscus Coast came out in the second half and took charge of things again with keeper Stu Ruddell and the Waiuku defense having to deal with numerous attempts at an equalizer. It was Waiuku, however who should’ve scored next. A jinking run into the box by right back Elliot Crean was halted when he was chopped down and the referee again pointed to the spot. Darren Woolnough stepped up again but this time blasted the ball over the crossbar to the dismay of the traveling Waiuku fans. Hibiscus Coast took strength from this and five minutes later found the goal they were looking for. An uncharacteristic loss of shape from the Waiuku defense allowed a Coast striker to break on goal and finish comfortably. Both teams could’ve sealed things in the dying minutes, a Charlie Heather shot was parried by the keeper into the path of Grant Duncan who fired wide and then a Hibiscus Coast header was cleared by Heather on the Waiuku goal line. One all at full time with Waiuku wondering how they never came away with three points.
After the game Waiuku coach Jim Evans said, “We didn’t have the heart or the passion today and many players let themselves down. We really didn’t look like we wanted to be there. I thought Sam Van Pomeren played well and Neil Holyoake had a great game and gets man of the match”.
Waiuku play their final game of the 2011 campaign at Massey Park next Saturday against Ngaruawahia United FC. Kick off 2:45.
Team – Stu Ruddell, Jerry Hubbard, Sam Van Pomeren, Elliot Crean, Darren Woolnough (Phil Donovan 55), Charlie Heather, Neil Holyoake, Robbie Leonard (Evan Crean 75), Dom Winter, Derek Sinclair, Grant Duncan (Luke Sutton 75).
Subs Not Used – Ryan Lunjenberg and Mitch Thomasen.