If the rather small, bumpy and muddy pitch did not cause enough of a disruption to Waiuku’s regular playing style, then the strong wind they faced in the first half certainly did. Springs were clearly dominating, as the Waiuku defence battled to get the ball up into the opposition’s half for more than 10 seconds. Within the first 10 minutes the Blues were 1-0 down: a goal kick from the hands of Vickilee Watson was unexpectedly turned in its tracks by the wind and collected by a Springs striker, who shot a low volley from outside the 18 yard box, past a flummoxed Waiuku backline and into the back of the net. In typical fashion, the Blues gritted their teeth and saw out the half without conceding any more goals.

 

With the wind behind them in the second half, Waiuku began putting on the pressure. In 10 minutes, captain Sandie Ralph equalised off a corner kick by Gemma Gouwland. Soon after this, winger Jacqui David sent the ball skidding along the ground from out wide, for around 30 yards toward the goal, where no Springs defenders, nor even the keeper, could intercept it. The team did not relax after going 2-1 up. It was not long before Gouwland received a lofted ball from the backline and took it inside the 18 yard box, to slot cleanly along the ground into the goal. Unsatisfied with only one goal, however, Gouwland collected the ball again and took what was later described by some as her “most sweetly-struck shot of the season.” The only misfortune was the resulting ankle injury, which brought her to the ground before she could witness her superb ball dodge the keeper and hit the dead centre of the Springs net.

 

Five minutes from full time, Western Springs clawed back a second goal when a strong shot from inside the goal box hit the underside of the crossbar and curled over the line in midair before spinning out again. Despite the lapse at the end, coach Cody Ralph was pleased with the Blues’ work rate, even if the style of football was not always pretty. Player of the Day went to Shanelle Partridge for a solid performance in right back. To cap off the Premiers’ good result, news came in that the Women’s Reserves also had a win, 1-0 over Papakura at McLennan Park. Well done ladies.