Waiuku travel to Ngarawahia

Waiuku travelled to Ngarawahia with four first team players injured and giving their extended squad the chance to shine. Ngarawahia who are coached by the Waikato FC coach, is home to some of the best young players in the Waikato region who are looking for promotion into the top division.

Ken Nicoll, Robert Thornton and Charlie Heather came into the team this week with injuries ripping apart the right hand side of Waiuku's team. Ngarawahia strength is their attacking pace and they started with a hiss and a roar. Englishman Alex Barlow gave Dale Oliver a stern challenge on the left with the pacy Tim Kautai on the right. Sam Margetts stung goalkeeper Justin Baldwin into action with a fierce drive which was tipped over the bar. Barlow got free on the left but could only find Baldwin with his shot. However Waiuku were getting forward as well with Sam van Pomeron and Wayne Trout starting to get some possession in the midfield. Some great work by Trout sent Heather free on the right but his shot went narrowly wide. Danny Baldwin got free on the left but his shot was tipped round the post and van Pomeron hit the cross bar from a corner.

Ngarawahia then went straight down the other end and scored. Kautai took on the defence which all stopped as the ball went over the goal line. However Kautai kept going and the ref waved play on and he crossed the ball to Barlow who sidefooted into the goal. Stung by the decision Waiuku went on the attack again and Ralph nearly equalised with a shot on the turn.

Vaughan Banfield came on for Robert Thornton who was still struggling with a knee injury at halftime. Waiuku started stronger in the second half with the Ngarawahia supporters starting to fire up. Abuse from the supporters only spurred Waiuku on and Baldwin took on his marker but his cross could not find anyone in the Ngarawahia penalty area. Again Heather was sent clear but his 25 yard shot was snapped up by the Ngarawahia keeper. Ralph was sent clear and he beat his first marker and then went round the second marker to find himself one on one with the goalkeeper. However the keeper got down and Ralph shot was tipped narrowly wide. Ngarawahia ended the last twenty minutes with the ball and finished the game off in the 80th minute. A Mark Christensen shot had too much pace for Justin Baldwin and spilled over the line for a 2-0 win.

Coach Jim Evans "We have come to one of the hardest places to play with a weakened team but am delighted with the way Ken Nicoll and Scott Petersen filled in. We are having a tough time at the moment but the spirit and the teamwork from the boys is superb and I know our luck will turn. Waiuku had as many chances as Ngarawahia today but we didnt take them and then let two soft goals in. We cant afford to do that and we have paid the price. Sam van Pomeron was superb today with this effort in the midfield and so was Danny Baldwin and Cody Ralph"

Ngarawahia coach Dave Edmondson was happy with the points but dissapointed by this young team "I disagree with Jim, I thought we dominated the game today. We have seen one of our players Mako signed by the Wellington Pheonix and this is because he does not take his ability for granted. He works hard, has a positive attitude and is keen to learn. I wonder about the attitude of the rest of our players. You have the ability but we seem to be in cruise mode and you wont always have things handed on a plate. I hate playing Waiuku as they are honest side who work hard and always keep going. Some of our players could learn something from that"

Team: Justin Baldwin, Dale Oliver, Jerry Hubbard (vc), Grant Muckle, Ken Nicoll, Charlie Heather (Scott Petersen 65), Wayne Trout, Sam van Pomeron, Danny Baldwin, Cody Ralph (c), Robert Thornton (Vaughan Banfield 45)

Subs not used: Jason Heather