Waitakere United vs Canterbury United

The ISPS Handa Premiership might not be the pinnacle of world football but it’s ours and it’s beautiful and it can take any league on the planet for sheer unpredictable entertainment. This weekend’s fixtures had more than enough proof of that one, in fact you don’t even have to look further than the Saturday game where Waitakere United welcomed the Dragons to the pellet-ridden Seddon Fields turf.

Waitakere never name a consistent team, they chop and change more than anyone, and they didn’t have a choice but to mix it up here either with Sammy Khan suspended after his red card. Nic Milicich returned at the back (Andrew Cromb still out btw) while Dane Schnell also came back into the eleven... which to be fair is only two changes from the draw with the WeeNix and that’s the equal fewest alterations to their starting team all season. There’d been at least four changes in each of the last three weeks – pretty hard to get combinations going like that and it’s not a coincidence that teams like Hawke’s Bay and Canterbury who had trusted the same guys even as they made mistakes early one are coming good now.

Nice little contrast here then as the Cantabs made just a single injury-enforced change to the team that beat Eastern Suburbs as Luke Tongue came in at right back for Sean Liddicoat (who went off early in the Suburbs game so Tongue played most of that one anyway). That meant Garbhan Coughlan continuing in this deeper role he’s been featuring in lately. Yuya Taguchi also a little deeper thus there were maximum ballers out there on the park for the Dragons.

It was imprecise from Canterbury as things got underway, some great intentions but a few poor touches or missed passes holding them back while Coughlan was booked early on for leaving a foot in. Meanwhile Alex Greive – who missed out at the MLS Draft last week, though that wasn’t unexpected – picked out Alex Connor-McClean in the area and his near post shot was saved by Danny Knight. But the Dragons got it going before long. Andrew Storer’s powerful header off a free kick from the left was shrugged away by Nick Draper who might not have known a lot about it. Storer himself then stepped up at the back with a superb block against a Greive effort and then boom, 17th minute and Canterbury were in the lead. A corner kick whipped in by Lyle Matthysen and Cory Mitchell’s header was too good. Perfect cross, perfect header.

And it shoulda been 2-0 almost instantly as Coughlan got down the byline from the left. There was nobody attacking the cut-back but the ball found its way to Tongue catching up on the right whose shot was deflected by Ihaia Delaney but Draper got in the way. Still, the balance was really nice for CU now. With the ball in the Waitak half they were slickly linking between floating playmakers and rotating forwards. Garbhan Coughlan’s first touch was made of velvet. Collecting the ball deeper meant he was still holding it up, still turning and trying to attack... but now he had runners and support ahead of him too. And their set pieces were dominant as Storer headed another one straight at Draper, size and structure both in their favour. Delaney headed a George King cross over the top. Then, 38th minute of the match, it really was 2-0 after some sexy work from Delaney rolling the ball behind him into the path of a surging Lyle Matthysen who dashed through to score his first of the season. Coughlan involved earlier in the play, of course. But worrying for Waitakere how often these defensive lapses keep happening as nobody, no-one, not a soul tracked Matthysen’s run from midfield.

Although if you thought that was bad it got worse when Sam Burfoot was sent off for a second yellow soon after. Oh damn. Dangled a boot at Coughlan and honestly it was soft. As was his first one, two lower scale yellow cards for the bloke... but there you go. Waitakere made it to the half-time break without further damage and there Paul Hobson made two subs with Jack Duncan and Reggie Murati coming on within a change of formation that was looking something like a 4-2-3-0. Leon van den Hoven moved into the midfield as the back three was abandoned out of necessity.

The Dragons have held on to 1-0 wins against both Auckland City and Eastern Suburbs (albeit with much later goals) and there weren’t too many moments in that second half where it felt like they might let this one slip. Cory Mitchell was having a blinder. A super move down the left between Taguchi and King led to King being closed down by a rushing Nick Draper which probably saved a goal if King had been able to squad it. Taguchi fired one to the far post... Coughlan fired one off target which you’d probably expect him to score. Taguchi set up Mitchell whose shot was saved. Coughlan shot over. Frankly a Waitakere defence used to the coverage of a back three was leaving heaps of space across the line.

And yet they held on. Alex Greive gave them their closest flash of the second half when he struck a free kick narrowly wide in the 67th minute and although there’d been very few other Waitakere chances since they went down to ten men they also hadn’t let the game get away from them which allowed for a final fifteen minutes of unprecedented drama beginning when Dan Schnell, out of nothing, blasted in from outside the area for his first goal since week one (he scored eleven last season but it’s been tougher this time). Then bloody hell two minutes later Gerard Garriga Gibert scored as well and all of a sudden what looked like a comfortable Canterbury win was now an even game. Milicich long throw flicked on by Rob Dymond, Sam Field then deflected it onwards and Storer didn’t attack the ball while allowed GGG to pounce. The ten men on the comeback and we weren’t done there either.

A Delaney cross in from the right wing in the 81st min. Draper came out and got a hand in to break it up as he collided with Eddie Wilkinson. The referee pointed to the spot, penalty to the Cantabs. But then the linesman talked him out of it which was fair enough given Draper had gotten the ball and everything. Instead the game resumed and we went down the other end and some pinball in the box after another long throw led to the ball striking Storer on the hand and this time there was no penalty... until the lino had a word on the walkie talkies and up stepped Alex Greive who made no mistake from the spot and amazing the ten men of Waitakere were now leading 3-2!

At which point Garbhan Coughlan said: nope, not having that. He got himself on the ball in range, put the spin on Rob Dymond, and it looked like his shot took a slight deflection on the way past Draper to make it three-apiece. Incredible. Outrageous yarns. There was still time for Delaney to go close from a corner kick too but anything else and heads would have exploded all over that already compromised Seddon Fields turf. 3-3 was the way it ended... just to recap here:

• 40th min: Canterbury already 2-0 up as Burfoot is sent off

• 75th min: Still 2-0 and the Dragons seem to be cruising

• 77th min: Dane Schnell scores a beauty out of seemingly nothing

• 79th min: GGG slips in a sudden equaliser

• 81st min: Canterbury awarded a penalty which is overturned

• 85th min: Waitakere appeal for a penalty which is initially declined, then given on second opinion

• 87th min: Alex Greive puts the ten men of Waitakere up 3-2 from the penalty spot

• 89th min: Garbhan Coughlan booms in an equaliser for 3-3

Jeez, that’s exhausting even in recap form. With these bonkers games it’s hard to even draw conclusions... like do Waitakere feel emboldened by the comeback or do they feel like they blew the win late on? Still haven’t won since week one after all and they’re now bottom of the ladder. Do Canterbury feel like they blew what looked like a comfortable win or are they just relieved by the late equaliser? A bit of everything perhaps? Big old gumbo of conflicting feelings?

Maybe it’s not a coincidence that on a wild afternoon such as this one the Waitakere comeback happened after the talismanic appearance of this insane person dancing about on the sideline...

Yeah, righto. Anyway lots of players who impressed. Coughlan was wonderful in his new role, Mitchell was also wonderful in his old role. Both of them got goals. This was one of Ihaia Delaney’s best games as well. Garriga held down the fort nicely after Burfoot was sent off while Dane Schnell will take a huge boost from getting back on the scoresheet and Alex Greive continues to have his bootprints over most of WU’s best moves.

Hamilton Wanderers vs Hawke’s Bay United

Not sure how any game is supposed to live up to the standard set by that Waitakere vs Canterbury one but believe it or not this one almost did. Let that one marinate for ya as we do the team lists. Hamilton Wanderers had the fantastic news of Tommy Semmy being back on the bench, granted with some hefty strapping on that right knee, however there was a further chink in the armour as Brock Messenger was absent from the line-up having gone off injured very late in last week’s game. As always the fear with HW has been whether they have the depth to cover for key players and this would be a test of that with Joe Harris sliding into CB next to Tino Contratti and Paul Clout coming in at right back. Otherwise it was as it’s been for the last few weeks.

Hawke’s Bay United didn’t have Gavin Hoy up front so it fell to Mr Fix It Karan Mandair to play as a secondary striker, adding to his toolbox of positions, alongside Jorge Akers while Manny Achol got a starting debut in an attacking midfield role following his impressive bow off the bench last week. Also Jim Hoyle finally returned from injury at the back which dropped Fergus Neil to the bench. Pretty interesting how often the Greatholder/Robertson duo seem to be able to get strong performances out of players playing out of their most familiar positions – they had a lot more structure to them at the start of the campaign but now seem to be leaning more on just getting the best players out there are once and it’s working.

Three weeks into the season Wanderers had nine points and Hawke’s Bay had zero points but recent form has been the near opposite of that. Wands needed to get back on the horse at Porritt Stadium and they started sharply, Jordan Lamb putting his dancing shoes on before bashing a shot off the outside of the post (with a slight touch from keeper Scott Morris though not sure it would have gone in) while Xavier Pratt had an early sighter as well as a free kick that evaded a touch at the back post. Then suddenly they conceded. Quarter of an hour gone and Sam Pickering fed Manny Achol, who could have shot but instead cleverly squared it to Jorge Akers for the easy finish. Very much against the run of play but then ‘run of play’ are meaningless words to HBU. Have been all season.

These were two sturdy teams who love the rough stuff and that was showing. Wanderers looked freaky any time that Lamb found room to stretch his legs and Derek Tieku was starting to get a few touches as well. Contratti headed over from a corner. Joe Harris hit a free kick over the top. Wanderers were swarming in midfield as HBU struggled to hold possession. Then Hawke’s Bay went and scored again. 30 minutes gone this time and again Manny Achol was involved as he was slipped the ball from Akers and played it on to Ahmed Othman and get in there that’s 2-0. Just like the first goal except in a mirror. And if that wasn’t confusing enough for the home crowd, in the middle of HBU’s celebrations the ref went back to an earlier foul which he’d allowed advantage for and booked Josh Signey... which was his second yellow in three minutes and he was off. They’d had most of the chances but now were two goals and a man down with an hour left in the match.

Of course they only had to look as far as the last game in this same competition to find inspiration and they got onto the comeback trail a whole lot earlier than Waitakere did. Four minutes after the red card, Joe Harris had another attacking free kick to line up and he scored from here...

Stunning goal. He was bound to score one eventually after rattling the goal frame a couple times in other games. Soon after Sam Pickering clattered Jordan Lamb and now tempers were really flaring on both sides. Pickering got a yellow which appeased citizens of the HW technical area but the other side were still chirping and goalkeeping coach Jonathan Gould copped the brunt of that as he was sent off... which lead to this hilariously disrespectful bit of camerawork catching him walking away in the carpark...

Lamb had one more close call after cutting past Kaeden Atkins but Scott Morris got a foot to it and 2-1 was the scoreline at the break. Absolutely no idea which way this was gonna go in the second spell. On came Tommy Semmy as the teams came back out, Paul Clout sacrificed for a 3-2-1-3 formation that was brow-raisingly attacking and pretty soon a Contratti header landed in the grateful hands of Morris after Xavier Pratt’s free kick. Even despite the man disadvantage Wanderers were looking dangerous with the second point of attack with Tommy Semmy out there (even though Semmy clearly didn’t look 100%).

Yet it was Hawke’s Bay getting all the best chances. Mandair struck a grass-cutter wide. Othman lobbed over to Pickering who crunched a volley that Oliver saved superbly with one hand. Akers went close with his head from a corner kick. Then 60 minutes in that decisive next goal came and it was Akers breaking to the near post to nod in from Hugo Delhommelle’s corner delivery and that was when things got silly. Xavier Pratt hadn’t tracked Akers’ run and that was symptomatic of some disastrous set piece defending from Wanderers. Surely it can’t just be Brock Messenger’s absence. Fifteen minutes later Matt Oliver made a great save off another corner kick attempt but then that led to a further pesky corner where James Hoyle out-jumped Mark Jones to score. It’s rare you see two otherwise evenly matched teams where there’s one drastic weakness which gets so ruthlessly exploited like that.

Some other things happened but seriously after the fourth goal there was no steam left in this match. Probably gotta say that Wanderers took too much of a risk with how they shaped up for that second half – although if they’d sparked a comeback then we’d be praising them. Hypotheticals aside... this was a comprehensive win for HBU. Immense performances from guys like Delhommelle, Achol, and Othman, alongside plenty others. Kinda crazy that they’re right back in the playoff hunt now. Check out how they’ve turned this campaign around...

HBU first five games: 0 W | 0 D | 5 L | 2 GF | 13 GA | -11 GD | 0 PTS

HBU last four games: 3 W | 1 D | 0 L | 10 GF | 4 GA | +6 GD | 10 PTS

Meanwhile Wanderers have lost three of their last four and gone winless in six. This game was clearly a low point for them but all three of Hamilton’s defeats have had some self-inflicted silliness to them. Xavier Pratt missed a penalty in their 2-1 loss to Eastern Suburbs. The Auckland City 2-1 defeat last week included a vaguely comical own goal. Now this week they get pumped 4-1 having had to play an hour with ten men. Contratti, Lamb, and Pratt did have strong overall performances but this team just capitulated in the second half and you can’t blame the ten men thing for how awful they were defending corner kicks. Ah well, at least Tommy Semmy’s back now. He’ll probably score a hatty next week.

Eastern Suburbs vs Auckland City

Hefty news for ACFC during the midweek, not only had they look magnificent over the past three gameweeks in surging back to the top of the table but they’re not taking any chances in trying to stay there either. Last season in existence and they’re going all out for the title with a couple midweek additions to the squad on their way back from the pro ranks overseas...

Sam Brotherton had been playing first XI minutes with North Carolina FC in the USL, the second tier in America, but NCFC made the oddly unambitious decision in recent weeks to drop down a tier in order to better be able to develop young players... even though they’re a stand-alone club and not a feeder team. Had been wondering what that might mean for Brotherton and now we know. As for Kayne Vincent, the one-cap All White had been playing in South Asia for several years, most recently bouncing around Thailand. Not actually sure either of these two players improve ACFC’s upside but they do fill out their depth. Brotherton allows them to better revert to a back three if they want, while his presence also means Alfie Rogers won’t have to play CB again which is beneficial. And Kayne Vincent gives them another attacking option with Emiliano Tade’s injury troubles still lingering.

No need for changes from Jose Figuiera for the trip to Madills Farm. Just Mario Ilich who was obviously suspended after his red card last week, with Albert Riera coming into the line-up as a direct swap. First game Ilich has missed all season while the other ten fellas out there had all started each portion of the three-game win streak. Eastern Suburbs sprung a few surprises though. Coming off some contrasting form with consecutive single-goal upsets going against them, they were planning on giving Josh Rogerson another stint in defensive midfield but he was injured in the warm-ups so Adam Thomas, the captain returning from suspension, slid into DM from the right back role he’d otherwise been playing this campaign – Stafford Dowling stepping in off the bench at late notice to play RB instead. No Stephen Hoyle, with Jake Mechell starting. Adam Thurston still out hurt. And Tyler Lissette was missing too with Jaiden van der Heijden getting a debut. Van der Heijden being an Onehunga College old boy who’s back in Aotearoa after doing four years in the States at Bethany College and Oklahoma Christian University. A new addition to the squad.

Suburbs began by knocking the ball around confidently, not really looking like a team on a losing streak as Kingsley Sinclair got in behind on the left. That move led to nothing but Dan Edwards had a pop soon after which dirtied Cam Brown’s gloves. You got the instant feeling that ACFC were missing Ilich’s controlling presence in the midfield however the Navy Blues did soon grow into things with Cam Howieson striking wide and then some super work down the left got Alfie Rogers into space to cross but Dylan Manickum’s strike from six yards out was too close to Danyon Drake who dealt with it. City for sure looking more purposeful and playing at a quicker tempo with their early spell of dominance compared to the home side.

Logan Rogerson seemed to be playing through the middle with Manickum on the left, which was notable. Rogerson nearly scored as Rogers whipped in a deep cross but LR’s header was blazed across goal – Rogerson’s finishing in those kinda situations is the one thing that holds him back, tbh. But for the most part all the nice passing on display from both sides was not enough to overcome some dominant centre-back play from Adam Mitchell and Brian Kaltack as well as Christian Gray and Jaiden van der Heijden. Next thing you know it was half-time.

By the way, anybody got the tune of Greensleeves stuck in their head all of a sudden?

Dan Edwards was living in that Ilich-abandoned space behind the midfield and he brought a spark or two to Suburbs’ attacks. Early second half he drilled a cross to the near post where Sinclair was lurking which looked dangerous, then soon after he popped up on the edge of the area to shoot off a cut-back which he put over the top. A quick throw in the 61st min put him in behind as well but he struck the dropping ball wide off his left foot, albeit with a touch by Cam Brown to earn a corner.

Another positive start to a half but just like the first stanza it was tough to maintain as ACFC began stretching the field with their passing range and launching into a few hard tackles in midfield to set a tone. A good example of that being Yousif Ali Al-Kalisy going in hard to win the ball, then instantly launching it down the right wing to Rogerson whose low cross met Mo Awad in the middle... but Danyon Drake saved MA’s side-footer. A flicked header from Rogerson at the near post off a free kick caused a scare too. Dan Edwards had another couple useful shots for Suburbs... then the deadlock was finally broken with thirteen minutes remaining. Dylan Manickum had been really good all arvo for City running at defenders from those wider areas. Here he picked up the ball on the right, carried it across the perimeter, worked a one-two with Rogerson to break the line and then dinked it past the keeper for a ripper of a goal. He deserved that as much as anyone else on the park. Fourth of the season for he of the particularly long locks.

That didn’t leave much time for Suburbs to get back into it. They’d had a few chances along the way, enough to keep the hope lamp burning, but add in a couple more scares at the back involving Rogerson and Maro Bonsu-Maro (making his first appearance since week three) and an injury break and there were only a few more minutes remaining. Actually nah, that was plenty of time. Suburbs won a free kick in an attacking area, with Brian Kaltack booked for the foul (not even sure what he did other than being much stronger than Kingsley Sinclair), and Reid Drake swung a wicked ball towards the far post where Adam Mitchell just sorta nodded it through his own keeper’s hands. Brown could have come out and punched it but didn’t. Mitchell presumably was trying to head it across goal to safety and lost his bearings. Whatever the intention was, City had blown a late lead and we were all tied at ones.

Late debut for Dylan Laing-McConnell up front for Suburbs - he’s a tall unit that fella. Added to their squad at the mid-season cut-off earlier in the week from their youth set-up. Aidan Carey got his second official ACFC cameo off the bench too. But five mins of stoppage time provided no real openings for either side and 1-1 was the way it ended. One that got away from Auckland City as far as that lot are concerned, though Suburbs will feel it smooth justice after losing 1-0 in a very tight game in week one to these same fellas. Really gutsy effort from them when you consider the players they’re still missing and most importantly it halts the losing streak from reaching three matches and keeps their points tally ticking over at a time when those final two playoff spots are looking a whole lot more competitive than they were a month ago.

Strong performances from all four centrebacks here (aside from Mitchell’s oggie). Edwards was also sharp for Subs while City got big quality out of Yousif Ali and Dylan Manickum. Rogerson and Awad were in amongst a whole lot too. Don’t think this does anything to knock Auckland City out of their recent run of form, however the late draw should give Eastern Suburbs a nice boost at a time when they needed it.

Team Wellington vs Wellington Phoenix

Bringing us to game number four: Wel Classico. Second edition of the season and the last one we’ll ever get. Team Welly scored a late winner in that previous week one 1-0 result and the man who scored that goal for the TeeDubs was Jack-Henry Sinclair. One of the highlights of this teamsheet was seeing JHS back on the bench for Team Welly, slightly ahead of schedule, after recovering from that shoulder injury sustained in the second game. Kailan Gould was also amongst the subs after signing from Hawke’s Bay while Joao Moreira returned from suspension... he was on the bench too. Heaps of interest in that subs unit but not a hair was altered from the starting team after the draw with HBU in the previous game. To be fair they started supremely in that one, it was just a sloppy second half that let them down. Also don’t think Team Welly were gonna let ACFC get away with all the transfers. Ollie Whyte and Max Batchelor both rejoining the crew.

The Wellington Phoenix meanwhile were different in both shape and personnel. Alex Clayton came in at right back and Ollie van Rijssel on the left with Jaylen Rodwell moving into a defensive midfield role – he can play anywhere, that fella. Unlike their usual 4-2-2-2 though, this was a distinct 4-3-3 with Luis Toomey and Ben Old in front of Rodwell while Thomas Raimbault performed false nine duties with Riley Bidois and Oskar van Hattum either side. David Farrington Park was looking a treat. Away we go.

Yeah so the front three tactic was instantly vindicated as it took a mere nine seconds – NINE SECONDS – before the WeeNix registered their first shot, Bidois shooting low at the near post with Scott Basalaj tipping it wide. Three fellas across the frontline, with the pace of Bidois in particular out wide, meant stretching that TeeDubs back three man for man and thus creating room between the CBs to exploit. Or pegging their wingbacks deep. It was a clear plan from Paul Temple and the lads were well drilled, playing with a speedy tempo. Hamish Watson did produce a few sharp moments as he dines out on his immense confidence at these days but then... oh wait the WeeNix scored!?

Riley Bidois put the shake on Haris Zeb down the left. He then dinked it back for Benjamin Old who was running into the box from his deeper position and Oldie side-foot stroked that bad boy into the net. Sweet as, only seven minutes gone and already we had ourselves a very interesting proposition and... oh wait the WeeNix scored again!?

Yup, fourteenth minute of the match and Ben Old again was heavily involved. Luis Toomey had picked Old out in a midfield pocket and then Old put in a stunner of a ball through for Van Hattum who subsequently buried it. Outstanding opening quarter of an hour in which the cat was well and truly amongst the pigeons... feathers flying everywhere. Third goals of the season for both Old and OVH. But how about the ball from Ben Old, mate?

(Astonishingly this game was broadcast by Sky Sport without the ability to show action replays... it would never happen for rugby)

Team Wellington struck back quickly. Hamish Watson held up the ball up on the perimeter and fired one in which Sam Mason-Smith then diverted goalwards. Easy as that, told ya Watto had been looking threatening but with SMS going hundies as well the tea leaves were casting an ominous image for the WeeNix defence. Rory McKeown set up Watson again soon after but this time Alex Paulsen was in the right place to deny him.

There was some lovely intricate footy from the WeeNix with Ben Old drifting into space to collect the ball and then turning and sparking the good stuff. He was winning a few challenges too. As was Luis Toomey – those two have been so impressive this season. Love the hustle. Rodwell was doing a very tidy job as the deeper midfielder as well. Some persistent work from Raimbault down the left led to Van Hattum having a crack that Big Bas pushed over the top and it was not hard to predict that there’d be more goals in this match.

Kurtis Mogg got his slide on to deny Andy Bevin. Bevin then won a free kick in decent range which McKeown put over the top. As always the rule remains: More Bevin, More Problems. And Ben Mata was getting up for it too, he flipped a header onto the crossbar – he “rose like a salmon” claimed Raf de Gregorio on commentary. 2-1 was the score as we went back into the sheds but undoubtedly there had been a swap in momentum towards the TeeDubs as the sand in the hourglass (three quarters of an hourglass) ran down for the first half.

Van Hattum and Bidois got a move going as the game resumed but come the 48th minute the game was all level as Rory McKeown swung one in after a short corner and Sam Mason-Smith had himself a second. A thumping header from the fella who was simply too big and too strong for Oskar van Hattum to defend. Two mins later Bevin flashed a lunging header across the goal from yet another McKeown cross while Paulsen had to get his big hands on the ball after Bevin gassed onto an SMS flick in behind. Rodwell blocked Bevin’s shot from the resulting corner. McKeown blasted a couple shots off target. Phew, weren’t the WeeNix leading this game by a couple goals earlier? This was now a drastically different game of football.

The main reason it changed was that Scotty Hales’ side made some necessary adjustments at the break, their midfield no longer giving Ben Old the space he’d been feasting in before and it was Wan Gatkek who deserves the majority of the credit for that. Could also be a case of fitness slipping from the Phoenix after some lung-busting yarns in the 1H. Woah then we had some crazy drama as Haris Zeb got down the byline and dished it to Bevin who fed Watto whose shot was blocked but made it to SMS who hit it on the volley only for it to be deflected onto the post where Paulsen got a touch on it as it zipped back past him and then finally it was hacked away as Hamish Watson appealed for a penalty and Raimbault was booked for an ugly foul on Mario Barcia. End scene.

Which meant it was still 2-2 as the subs started rolling out, including a Team Welly debut for Kailan Gould and an enthusiastic reception from the home crowd to welcome back Jack-Henry Sinclair from injury.

So that was awesome. Meanwhile the TeeDubs kept on knocking at the door with Finn Surman, a specialist in desperate goal-saving interventions, charging down a Mata attempt. Sinclair had a pair of half-chances including one he kind miss-hit just past the post. Then finally the go-ahead strike arrived in the 79th minute and it was Andrew Bevin who put the finishing touch on a Rory McKeown cross (of course) waxing Kurtis Mogg with his weaving movements to earn an open header.

And with that, quite frankly, things got out of control. Nobody followed Bevin in the 87th minute as he dropped back to the edge of the box and curled in a TW fourth off the leftie. Too good with the movement although it helps when you actually mark a bloke. Then in stoppage time he scored again... sort of. It was Bevin running in on goal with a shot that just squeezed by Paulsen and then Surman couldn’t hack it off the line. As far as I’m concerned I’m happy to award that to Bevin (for a hatty) as the shot was already on target. (Though not sure about the way it came off Paulsen what with no replays or anything). It was going in if Surman didn’t touch it but officially it’s been classified as an OG, oh well. Here’s a look a the movement for Bevin’s wonderful second goal... basically he starts deep on Mogg and then just peels off into a large oasis of room and nobody thinks to close him down until it’s too late...

Harsh on the WeeNix to end up losing this one 5-2 but boy were they outclassed in that second half. They’d been so good, so smart, so well set up to begin things with Old, Toomey & Rodwell in midfield all having excellent games but then that trio were all quietened in the second stanza as Mario Barcia and Wan Gatkek came to the party... not to mention the untouchable Andy Bevin. Both TeeDubs strikers were top class too. As were the back three but in particular Ben Mata.

Oddly the WeeNix have conceded 4+ goals on three occasions and 0-1 on six occasions with nothing in between. Ah but combine this with the Auckland City result and look who just went top? After five draws in their previous six games they were due a big, cathartic win and this was that. And of course this was a game in Wellington so we get to add to this stat...

TeeDubs in Wellywood: 4 W | 1 D | 0 L | 13 GF | 5 GA | +8 GD | 13 PTS

TeeDubs in Wider Aotearoa: 0 W | 4 D | 0 L | 6 GF | 6 GA | 0 GD | 4 PTS

Next week it’s top versus bottom as Team Wellington host Waitakere United and if the Waitaks get their first win since week one then it’ll be Team Welly’s first loss of the season, that’s on Saturday at 1pm. On Sunday then we’ve got another triple-banger starting at 1pm when Hamilton Wanderers try to end their winless run when Canterbury United come to town. Hawke’s Bay United host Auckland City at 2pm which will be the ultimate test of their 2021 resurgence. And finally in our telly game, which will hopefully have replays this time, it’s Eastern Suburbs vs Wellington Phoenix at 4pm in a scrap between the two teams with the biggest Ole Academy contingents in their squads. And as always sign up to our Substack email for the Premmy Files Team of the Week every Monday…

Have a go on our Patreon if you reckon we’re worthy of getting paid for what we do, also whack an ad to leave a cheeky tip

Sign up to our most excellent email newsletter too for those bonus yarns

Keep cool but care