The Premmy Files – Men’s Premiership Semi-Finals
Team Wellington vs Hamilton Wanderers
It was longer between drinks than expected but Team Wellington and Hamilton Wanderers each got a good look at each other in the last game of the regular season, Team Welly on the winning end of a pretty thrilling 3-2 result. That game didn’t massively matter other than for home field advantage... but it did offer an ideal scouting opportunity. So what changes did each manager make?
For Team Welly, fewer than expected. Zac Jones was persisted with for a fourth consecutive start as Scotty Hales basically hasn’t had any reason to drop him. Two clean sheets in his first two starts after coming in as a bit of an emergency optino. Scott Basalaj is back fit but Jones has made the spot his own in the meantime. Damn, son. Respect. Elsewhere Justin Gulley returned for his first appearance since playing off the bench in defeat to Waitakere in week ten. Gulls hadn’t started since week six. That allowed Rory McKeown to move back to LWB, while Mario Barcia came in alongside Ollie Whyte in midfield having been rested last time. No Ben Mata in the squad. He had a slight injury... though the biggest injury news was that the gaffer was on crutches after a lil procedure on the ol’ knee during the week.
Then for Hamilton Wanderers, well they were without Tino Contratti thanks to suspension but there was some fantastic news as Brock Messenger returned from injury at an ideal time. Hadn’t played in the second half of the season since getting injured late against Auckland City. Xavier Pratt also returned from a minor knock though Jordan Lamb didn’t recover in time. Liam Fellowes held onto the right back spot after a promising first up start against Team Welly last match, Tommy Semmy also good to go from the beginning which was maybe the most important bit of news of all for either team.
This was Wanderers’ first ever semi-final while Team Welly are old hands at this scene... and it was Team Wellington who were instantly on the attack with Sam Mason-Smith on the run and Rory McKeown overlapping in the very first minute. Didn’t lead to anything, granted. Elsewhere Josh Signey earned a free kick on the edge of the box which Joe Harris curled over the top. Then Signey had to do his defensive duties in deflecting an Ollie Whyte volley wide. A rapid start for both sides but it was the TeeDubs with more of the ball and thus creating more of the chances. McKeown backheeled Andy Bevin through but there was nobody there for his cut-back to find. Then Hamish Watson drove a shot off target. Already without their top defender, Wanderers were beginning to get wobbly. They had to find a way to hold on through this period. They didn’t.
Nope, Hamish Watson wasn’t pissing around. He won a free kick then as Rory McKeown spent the whole time placing the ball and flattening the grass around it and lining up his run-up... Watson took a couple steps and boomed it into the top corner. Matt Oliver barely even flinched in goal. In off the post with a kiss, a thunderous strike. By the Hammer of Thor.
Wanderers responded admirably by getting straight back on the horse, Semmy shooting wide then Semmy combining with Xavier Pratt on the break which led to a Derek Tieku effort that was deflected wide. Nice work but nothing definitive. Nothing that stuck. All the while tackles were flying in like mad – Wanderers would earn four yellows in the first half – and that led to a hilarious moment when the ref called everyone in as if the Principal’s Office was beckoning to settle everybody down...
Hamilton Wands are always pretty aggressive. That’s how they play. Team Wellington make a point of matching that aggression. It was a semi-final with obvious high stakes. These were the natural ramifications of that... and to be fair it was a very well refereed game. It’s delicate balance when the tackles are flying in and it was handled really well. Back into the swing of things, Andy Bevin clipped the heels of Signey a step outside the penalty area for a free kick on Harris’ better side... and he stroked it into the top corner. Oh no wait he didn’t. Looked like he had but then Zac Jones actually got a stretching hand out to tip it onto the post. Justin Gulley then cleared it away. Well, he kicked it into Jones’ back... but away to safety nonetheless.
Good footy. Lots of fouls but also lots of end to end action. Defences on their toes but managing to cling on. Then Team Welly scored again. Jack-Henry Sinclair with the razzle dazzle on the right wing, showing persistence to keep the ball in play against Adam Davidson then showing some sizzle before he chipped it over for Hamish Watson who gently bundled it in. 36 minutes gone and the home side were leading 2-0. Wanderers had cooked up a few chances but Team Welly were the Clinical Clarences and it’s a long way back from two goals down away from home in a semi-final.
Harris managed to get an important nudge on Watson before he could unleash a shot with his hat-trick beckoning... but Wanderers now seemed to be operating with a palpable panic beneath the surface, Brock Messenger going into the book for yapping away late in the half. An eventual red card feeling kinda inevitable. That suppressed but palpable panic led to a more direct approach with ball hoofed straight into the penalty area at little to no prompting even though they were at their best when they could get Tommy Semmy in transition. But that’s not a scenario they can manufacture. Hmm. Problems in need of solutions. Anyway it was 2-0 at the break.
Assistant coach Joe Hinds was on the telly at HT suggesting imminent “tweaks” for HW. It turned out to be more than just a tweak. Paul Clout replaced Adam Davidson at LB, with Fellowes sliding into a back three and Mark Jones to RB. It’s a shape that we have seen before from this team but only really when they’re chasing the game. Well, that was the deal here so fair enough. However the ambition was admirable but the new shape caused some disjointedness at the back and it caught up with them as Bevin had a shot blocked that then looped and dropped for Mason-Smith who volleyed it in. Firmly and accurately. When you make a significant change to the shape at the half, chasing the game, it usually pays not to concede again within five minutes. 3-0 to Team Welly.
This now had the potential to get ugly. Xavier Pratt’s set piece deliveries kept hitting the first man over and over. The HW bench were told to calm the farm by the match officials. Owen Comber came on but didn’t really affect things. Tommy Semmy did have a good spot but he took one touch too many before shooting and that ruined his angle and he fired into the side-netting. But never fear because just as things were looking tragic the Tron Wands went and scored. Tommy Semmy bursting through the line soon after and the man wasn’t gonna miss out twice. 3-1 on 60 minutes... if Wanderers could only get another one...
Now both teams were getting tetchy as the TeeDubs spied trouble on the horizon. The physicality wasn’t easing up and the frazzled, rattled nature of the game was suiting Wanderers all of a sudden. Except that Team Welly once again responded to a pivotal spell in the game with pure class. Ollie Whyte doing superb stuff on the counter before Andy Bevin slipped the ball back for Hamish Watson. It wasn’t even that good of a pass but the defenders back in cover all went to the goal-line which allowed Watto the space to shoot unbothered and although Matt Oliver did get a foot to the shot he actually deflected it between his defenders on the line. A decisive and game-clinching moment. A hat-trick for Hamish Watson. 4-1 to Team Wellington.
Some other stuff happened in the last twenty mins but it was inconsequential. Jack-Henry Sinclair hit the crossbar after Watto had picked him out. Jones made a sharp stop after Tieku had let off a firecracker. Bevin had a shot blocked. Joao Moreira came on off the bench and put Liam Fellowes on the slippery slide but hit the post. Lewis Reid also came on as a sub and had a much sketchier influence as he dragged back Moreira and was sent off with a couple mins left. A typically debatable Premiership red as whether or not Moreira was through on goal was one that needed further deliberation. But it didn’t affect the game. Wanderers kept pushing right up until the very end but 4-1 was the final score.
A comfortable win in the end, even if it was up in the air there for a while. It surely didn’t deserve to be anything more. Kale Herbert’s team had a great season, especially early on, and they had their moments in here too with Tommy Semmy was a constant threat while Brock Messenger was huge on his return. But ultimately they didn’t have the experience at this stage of the competition. They conceded goals at poor times, Team Welly owning the major moments whereas Wanderers were unable to. At least the good news is that as a club/franchise hybrid they basically just merge straight into winter season now and can pick up where they left off with most of these players in tact and try qualify for the new National League later in the year. It’s all invaluable experience.
Team Wellington were so good though. This was their final ever game at Dave Farrington and they gave the fans a special day. Watson was unstoppable. Sinclair is right back to top form. The midfield duo of Whyte and Barcia were excellent. Andy Bevin and Zac Jones both impressed. Taylor Schrijvers was massive at the back. It’s pretty amazing when you can get to this stage of the campaign and players step up and take it to the next level. Embracing the spotlight. Now to see who they’ll play...
Auckland City vs Eastern Suburbs
Semi-final two was one versus four. It was Auckland City, minor premiers for the eighth year in a row with a playoff spot booked several weeks in advance, against Eastern Suburbs who only secured their top four status a few days earlier with a come-from-behind win over Hawke’s Bay United on Wednesday evening. A four day turnaround for Suburbs while City had fifteen days between games to ensure that everybody was in peak condition. Little bit awkward. Then again, some teams prefer that quick rhythm for games like these when you don’t have time to psych yourself out with all the waiting.
Either way, there were no excuses being offered as Hoani Edwards made two changes to the side that beat HBU: Dan Edwards slid into fullback with Robi Sabo out of the side and Josh Rogerson played as a holding midfielder. Stafford Dowling also came in for Stephen Hoyle up front, Hoyle on the bench instead. There was a bit of sneakiness as the team submitted suggested they’d line up in a back three but only Fred De Jong fell for that one. It was the standard 4-3-3, just with Rogerson playing quite deep in cover to allow the fullbacks to get up high and stretch the park. Ryan Feutz lined up at centre-forward though it was all nice and fluid up top.
Jose Figueira had a trick up his sleeve as Auckland City’s line-up emerged: Emiliano Tade in the starting team. He hadn’t started since week one so that’s four months between drinks but he didn’t come in to break up the in-form attacking trio, nope, instead he replaced Yousif Al-Kalisy as the central attacking midfielder. That meant plenty of time on the ball with pace and trickery ahead of him. Yikes. Elsewhere Mario Ilich and Cam Howieson returned after resting last game. Andrew Blake also started at right back. Bit of a surprise not to see Jordan Vale starting but Blake’s been really good when he’s gotten his chances. Al-Kalisy also really unlucky not to start this semi-final but, like... it’s Emiliano Tade. What are you gonna say?
It only took five minutes before the Kiwitea Street Faithful were up in celebration. Mohamed Awad kept a ball in down towards the right corner and mixed it up with Blake a bit. Stafford Dowling was able to poke the ball away from Awad as he angled into the box but the loosie fell for Dylan Manickum who then beat Danyon Drake with a slick finish and there was the early settler for ACFC. If Suburbs were gonna spring the upset then they’d have to come from behind just as they did in Napier four days earlier. At least there was plenty of time left.
To be fair, the Lilywhites were playing some decent footy. There’s always good movement with this side and they were getting passes to stick as well. Kingsley Sinclair had a shot deflected into Cam Brown’s hands. They were looking capable for sure. But so were Auckland City and in the 11th minute they served up a treat when Alfie Rogers worked it down the line to Logan Rogerson who got it to Tade and then continued his run. Tade hit Manickum who backheeled it into Rogerson’s path... but Rogerson chipped it past the post. Such sexy football though. So nice.
Suburbs were working hard and pressing for the ball. When that worked it worked well, leading to a few decent looks at goal and genuinely disrupting things for City. Mario Ilich was uncharacteristically flustered once or twice. But that press required a high defensive line which in turn left them vulnerable to the ball over the top with Rogerson/Manickum/Awad running onto it. Especially Rogerson who is the quickest of the trio. And of course Emiliano Tade who was whipping that ball deep any opportunity he could, the ringmaster, the puppeteer, the conductor. With his presence, City had genuine layers to their attack and that allowed them to keep on playing that sexy flowing stuff. Tade hit Rogerson in behind but the cut-back wasn’t deep enough for Manickum. Would have been a few more like that but for the offside flag too.
By now City were beginning to look more comfortable on the ball... yet that Lilywhites press still had its moments. Leading to situations like when Kelvin Kalua hit a super cross in for Dowling who slid his way into a volley that thwacked off the crossbar. Could have been all even just as easy as that. Josh Rogerson flicked a header over from a free kick too. Then Adam Mitchell had to step in with a quality diving block against Ryan Feutz. It was exhausting just watching it all.
But the worries of that ball in behind/over the defence weren’t going anywhere. Tade hit Manickum with one of them later in the half, Manny holding off Christian Gray but being unable to beat Danyon Drake 1v1, Drake getting a long trailing leg out to the shot when Manickum probably coulda just passed it square to Awad who would have had an open goal. Surprised he didn’t, tbh. Manickum often tends to err too much on the unselfish side so not sure whether to criticise him or congratulate him for that moment.
Defs no congratulations for Reid Drake’s ridiculous attempted scorpion kick clearance though, which he missed to allow the ball to fall to Brian Kaltack. His volley from just outside looked for a split-second like it was destined for the bottom corner only to drift wide for a goal kick. Phew.
Kalua, meanwhile, was clearly Suburbs’ best outlet and he put in another killer cross right at the end of the half but again ‘twas to no avail. 1-0 when the oranges were served. On the one hand Suburbs would have been chuffed to get back in at only a goal down yet on the other hand they threw quite a lot of City and got nothing to show for it which is obviously not ideal. Gotta hope they had more in the tank. Neither team made any changes at half-time.
The hosts were instantly back on the same buzz with Tade looking over the top to Awad a couple times. The Argentine could’ve been hitting those passes with his eyes closed by this point, he just knew instinctively where his runners would be. Then Kaltack must have thought he’d scored for sure with a strong header into the dirt that Danyon Drake rather incredibly managed to push onto the crossbar on the bounce without it crossing the line, then he got back up and punched away the leftovers with Rogerson lurking.
But, same as in the first half, City still bagged that early goal. Logan Rogerson zipping around and behind from the left wing and Christian Gray couldn’t get out of the way of his cross to the back stick. Put that one in the books as an own goal. 2-0 to Auckland City and this one was going about as the form table would have suggested.
Except for one little problem. If you thought Auckland City were wasteful before the second goal then mate you had to see them afterwards. Rogerson had the chance to set up a third soon after but chose to shoot instead and missed the target. Then Campbell Strong made a wonderful challenge to stop Rogerson after Howieson had won the ball high up (pressing the pressers, aye?). Stephen Hoyle was subbed on with more than half an hour remaining, Josh Rogerson sacrificed as Suburbs changed the balance of their midfield with their season on the line. Jake Mechell was on soon after as well. But those changes came with necessary defensive risks and honestly this game should have been dead and buried in the 62nd min when City worked their way into the penalty area only Rogerson passed instead of shooting and Tade scooped it over the top. Logan obviously heard Emiliano complaining about the previous one and tried to make amends only to turn down a gaping shooting zone at the near post for a worse chance that was missed terribly by the bloke who had been the best dude on the park up until that point.
A few injuries to go with those substitutions let some air out of the tyres of this game... but then drama! 74th minute and Ryan Feutz jinked and jived his way across the penalty area like the floor was lava before shooting back across Cam Brown to score. Brown looked like he picked it up late with players obscuring his eyeline. All those wasted chances by the home side and now Eastern Suburbs had scored out of seemingly nothing and it was game on with the momentum-meter pointing the other way. How quickly this sport can change.
Alfie Rogers lost the ball up the left but then won it back off Danyon Drake before the keeper could clear it. But Dylan Manickum could only hit the post with Drake out of position. Gray was recovering so it wasn’t quite an open goal but no excuses, bro, gotta score that. City’s most wasteful moment yet coming immediately after they’d conceded. If they blew it from here, seriously...
Kalua fed Hoyle in the box but Mitchell, who was having a blinder at the back, closed him down to kill the threat. Then Mechell had a header just wide that glanced off of Kaltack’s head and soon after the same bloke took a cheeky pop from wide on the right which curled and dipped onto the crossbar. Brown had left it only for the ball to end up closer than he anticipated. This was frisky football. City reverted to trying to slow things down and keep possession, making a point of not overcommitting. They did that nicely for a little while but couldn’t avoid the chaos in the six minutes of stoppage time that were added on. Swirling deliveries into the area. Suburbs with the ball seeking that equaliser... yet Auckland City were able to hold on. Probably wrecked the old fingernails in the process but they held on all the same.
By rights it should not have been that close. ACFC were their own worst enemies in failing to take the many chances that they created, Awad was about the only one of the front four who didn’t miss a clear one. Still, missing chances is a problem but the harder thing is creating chances in the first place and City made heaps. For all the profligate shooting the creativity on show was breathtaking at times. Tade was immense, the way he settled into such a high level after the best part of four months out is astounding. His range of passing... there was no containing him. But also gotta shout out Adam Mitchell and Cam Howieson because big players step up in big games and those big games aren’t always won prettily. Both of them were outstanding and that included a large haul of the dirty work as well. Putting the body on the line. Sprinting that extra bit harder to get back in support. That kinda thing. That is how semi-finals are won.
Not sure you can be too critical of Suburbs though. For the third time this season they gave Auckland City a really tough contest. They rode their luck more than a couple times but the energy of their press was troublesome and they kept it up for most of the game too. Gotta rate the conditioning after having played away in Napier midweek (technically it’s preseason for the winter leagues, s’pose). Maybe just a bit too much inexperience in the forward line where Feutz (19yo), Dowling (22yo), and Sinclair (20yo) all missed chances... though Feutz did eventually score and the work-rate from all three was huge.
The big What Might Have Been for Suburbs was the injury to Adam Thurston that robbed them of a genuine MVP candidate a third of the way through the campaign. But Kelvin Kalua, Campbell Strong, Reid Drake, Christian Gray (OG aside) & Danyon Drake all had really solid games. Danyon Drake really kept them in it for a while there. It’s tough because they performed above expectations which you have to applaud but then because they did that they gave themselves a chance to take this thing into extra time or beyond and they failed to do so which thus feels like a missed opportunity. Knockout footy, man. To paraphrase Jack-Henry Sinclair: there’s nothing quite like it.
Which sets up a classic farewell for the ISPS Handa Premiership, as the two giants of the past decade pick up arms in combat for one last bout. Auckland City versus Team Wellington. Fifth time in the last seven finals (eight years) that these two will meet with the trophy on the line and just for a little extra juice it’s 2-2 in those games. But let’s save the previews for later in the week.
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