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Gaffer posted on April 26, 2009 16:23
Waiuku hosted fifth placed Tauranga on Saturday with both teams desperately wanting the three points to get their seasons going. The game was fast paced and entertaining with four goals but neither team got what they wanted after the game finished 2-2. Waiuku welcomed back Justin Baldwin in goal, Sam van Pomeron and Derek Sinclair who had been out of action all season with a back injury.
Tauranga had first use of the strong wind and scored as early as the sixth minute. Vice captain Jerry Hubbard was harshly adjudged to of fouled Tauranga striker Dion Bartosh when he clearly won the ball and Marcus Almeida curled the ball into the top right hand corner from 22 yards. Waiuku struggled to get their foot on the ball but managed a couple of half chances which tested the goalkeeper. However seconds before half time Tauranga extended their lead when Shane Robertson capitalised on a loose ball and smacked the ball into the top left hand corner from 30 yards.
The interval gave Waiuku an opportunity to get things right and came out strong in the second half. Captain Cody Ralph had a couple of chances but scored in the 55th minute when he raced onto a Sinclair through ball and slotted it into the net aided by the leg of a Tauranga defender. Ralph then chased a long ball from goalkeeper Baldwin and the keeper just touched the ball over the top of the goal as the Waiuku supporters were celebrating a goal. Waiuku started to dominate the midfield and in the 68th minute they scored the equaliser. David Johnson knocked a ball in from the right and the ball fell to Danny Baldwin who hooked the ball past the keeper for his first goal of the season. Both teams pressed for the winner but Waiuku came closest when first Van Pomeron shot narrowly wide and then Ralph was denied again by the keeper.
Coach Jim Evans thought that his team had all three points "We came close to winning today but just couldnt find the winner. Tauranga scored two great goals and we showed great character to not give up and come back fighting. We definitely gave the Waiuku supporters some entertainment. Derek Sinclair is man of the match today for his efforts on the pitch but the total team played well as we start to welcome back players from injury. Fingers crossed next week will be the first time we have all players available for selection"
The Waiuku reserves had their biggest ever win with a 16-0 scoreline over University Mt Wellington. First team striker Jesse Smyth Kirk netted 5 goals while Nick Ruygrok 3, Luke Sutton 2, Owen Hill 2, Matt Nugent 2, Jamie Pegg 1 and Mitch Thomasen 1 also scored.
Team: Justin Baldwin, David Johnson, Vaughan Banfield, Jerry Hubbard (vc), Robert Thornton, Sam van Pomeron, Wayne Trout, Derek Sinclair, Cody Ralph (c), Charlie Heather (Smyth Kirk 65)
Subs not used: Phil van den Broek, Kenny Nicoll, Matt Nugent, Luke Sutton