Waiuku take on highly rated Ngarawahia

Waiuku managed to overcome their disappointing match versus Mangere last weekend by drawing with highly rated Ngarawahia at Massey Park on Saturday. There were negatives and positives during the week regarding personnel.First the news came through that goalkeeper Justin Baldwin has damaged his shoulder during a car racing event on the Sunday and was going to be out of action for 4 weeks. However the news was softened when defender Sam van Pomeron was transferred to Waiuku from Papakura to get more game time. Ngarawahia are one of the favourites to make the promotion playoffs this year and they had already dispatched Mangere 4-0 in the first week of the competition meaning that Waiuku were definite underdogs for this one but they also had a point to prove to their supporters and themselves.

Van Pomeron started in the centre of midfield alongside Wayne Trout as Waiuku tried a new formation that assistant coach Jason Heather had studied during the week. Phil van den Broek started his first game in goal as well and he was the first goalkeeper to be tested when Ngarawhia striker Glen Brown turned his marker and shot hard inside the six yard box. However van den Broek held firm and managed to palm the ball over the Waiuku crossbar. Waiuku were competing in the midfield and managed to break down the Ngarawahia game plan. Ngarawahia did take the lead however through Jordan Shaw. Waiuku took a short play from a goalkick and lost possession which put the defence under pressure. Grant Muckle was penalised for holding Glen Brown just to the right of the penalty box and when Shaw stepped up his cross was missed by everyone and nestled into the far corner of the net.

However Waiuku equalised straight away. David Johnson took a long throw in from the right which was flicked on across goal by Trout. Captain Cody Ralph was the first to reach the ball and gave the Ngarawahia goalkeeper no chance as he slotted it into the roof of the net. Waiuku nearly snatched all three points when first Trout saw his goal bound effort saved by the goalkeeper and second when Danny Baldwin got on the end of a Ralph cross only to see his shot sail wide of the target. Waiuku stood firm for the rest of the match with a much improved defensive effort by the entire team which did not allow the Ngarawahia attackers any room to move or space to shoot on goal. There was a bit of excitement near the end when Muckle and Ngarawahias Tim Kautai were sent off for wrestling on the ground in what seemed a soft dismissal for both players.

Ngarawahia coach Dave Edmonson, who is also the coach of Waikato FC in the national league was disappointed with the result "Full credit to Waiuku today as they proved a very hard unit to breakdown. We will need to play more effectively if we are to win promotion this year but I hope Waiuku will take points off other competing teams"

Waiuku coach Jim Evans wanted all three points "Most of the club are happy with the result today but I believe we could of won it. We are starting to work well as a squad now and with some good players coming back from injury shortly we are going to be very hard to beat. Unfortunately I dont think they will be back for the game against Three Kings next week which is going to be a huge challenge. But we will be ready with what is available as I have faith in the depth of our squad. Man of the match was shared today between van Pomeron and Johnson."

Team: Phil van den Broek, David Johnson, Vaughan Banfield, Grant Muckle, Jerry Hubbard (vc), Wayne Trout, Sam van Pomeron, Charlie Heather (Robert Thornton 60), Daniel Baldwin (Ken Nicoll 75), Cody Ralph (c), Jesse Smythe Kirk (Caine Robbie 86)

Subs not used: Matt Nugent, Scott Petersen