2023 Men’s National League – Week 4
Auckland City vs Cashmere Technical
Here we go at the always immaculate Kiwitea Street for a game that… you know what? This one had some upset potential. Maybe not on the surface but Auckland City hadn’t been entirely convincing in their victories so far and Cashmere Tech had shown a real ability to get amongst it both in their defensive blocks but also as a funky goal-scoring team.
Auckland City were still without Ryan De Vries and Joe Lee, plus Mario Ilich got added to the list of absentees for this match. But they did have Emiliano Tade on the bench. Gerard Garriga jumped into the midfield with Mike Den Heijer a little deeper to cover Ilich’s spot. Nathan Lobo, NZ U23s rep, also returned at left back. Third starts of the season for teenagers Joe Wallis (goalie) and Rayan Tayeb (left wing). Cashy Tech also had a teenaged goalie with Matt Foord looking more and more like a serious prodigy with each passing week. Typically consistent from them. Sam Richards returned at left-back and that was the only change from their 3-3 draw against Wellington Olympic.
Cam Howieson got plenty of touches as this one got going – always an imperative for an in-form Auckland City. Even took a sighter at goal but Foord saved it easily enough. Garriga in midfield isn’t quite as controlled as Ilich but he does swing the balance further towards the attack... pretty handy while RDV is missing. But it wasn’t enough. Before long the pattern was obvious and it’s the one that we probably should have anticipated all along: massive possession for Auckland City with Cashmere Tech sitting deep without a press, yet City failing to take the necessary risks or to play at a tempo capable of breaking them down. At one stage ACFC defender Christian Gray had the heel of his boot slip off and he had time, with the ball at his feet, to bend down and fix it without anyone even trying to rush him. It was all so formulaic. Garbhan Coughlan did have one chance running onto a direct ball but Adam Mitchell got across to block him.
It is true that CT are capable of scoring the sorts of bangers that Napier City did to scoop up a 2-0 lead over City last week... and that CT are more likely to be able to hold onto such a lead. But you can’t counter attack without the ball and as they nested into a 4-4-1-1 shape it was blatantly obvious that they were going to leave it as the responsibility of the Navy Blues to raise the tempo. Interesting that Lobo was pushing much higher than Vale, giving them an imbalanced attacking formation that allowed Tayeb to drift and link up, especially with Howieson. Yet despite what felt like 75% of possession for the home side, young mate Wallis had as many saves to make as young mate Foord in an anaesthetised first half. Coughlan with a couple of pops in transition. Nothing special. This one was going to need some more herbs and spices in the second stanza.
It looked like we might get it when City won a corner and Foord had to make a double save off Kilkolly and then MDH. Instead we returned to the slow dance (apart from one Den Heijer shot that he fair thumped into a defender). Bad news for ACFC when Garriga landed hard after a challenge and seem to bust his elbow or perhaps shoulder, looking in a decent bit of pain. He’d need to be replaced by Tong Zhou. Liam Gillion finally got his entrance soon after and almost immediately he’d run in behind onto an unreal Howieson pass and probably should have scored except Foord made a great stop. Then came the sucker punch...
Yeah mate just Lyle Matthysen doing what he does. That was on his right foot too. All of that directionless possession and now Auckland City were trailing with only a quarter of the match left to play. Exactly what this game needed to make up for what’d come before... because let me tell ya the rest of it was a proper gas. On came Emiliano Tade, you’ve surely heard that story before. Oli Colloty joined him out there. Not sure why ACFC keep needing to go behind to shock them into action but the formula always works. Tech held on for long enough to start believing they might get there and then boom Tong Zhou said Not Today.
The equaliser came from a Gray chip over the top. Same pass that he’d tried about ten times already, usually to no avail, however this time Cam Howieson was there to make a dream of it. CH stepped inside and found Zhou, who let the ball run onto his right and then swung a foot through it. Great goal.
A draw might have been most appropriate, rewarding a dedicated defensive shift from the visitors, but since when have Auckland City cared about that kinda thing? They’re winners through and through. In the 87th minute Tade drew a foul from Jordan Spain. The Techies argued the decision and a couple of them got booked for it. Spain was more hurt than Tade was from the incident. It was one of those slippery ones where the striker just steps in front, anticipating the kick and catching the follow-through. Harsh but consistent. Nobody’s missed a penalty yet in the MNL and Tade wasn’t about to change that.
Then - because why not? - the Citizens went on and scored another in stoppage time as Tade whacked one into the corner from inside his own half and Liam Gillion’s pace was enough to mow down the distance between himself and Sam Richards to get there first, wriggle free of any attention, and whip a shot on target that Foord made a mess of. A rare error from Foord. An unrare goal from Liam Gillion (maybe that’ll be the one that finally gets him into the starting eleven this season!?). Auckland City were 1-0 down after 77 minutes and they won 3-1. That’s just what they do.
Note that all three ACFC goals were scored by substitutes. Even with players missing they still have so much quality in depth... to be honest the team they finished with was probably superior to the one they started with. It’s felt like Albert Riera has been mixing things up with his selections lately – which might well be to get their requisite U20s minutes out of the way with early so they can go hundies down the stretch. If that is the case then they’re 4/4 and only going to get stronger. That’s ominous. Auckland City are like Michael Myers wandering slowly but surely down the street with a bloody knife in hand... whatever they’re going to do, you can’t stop them, and it’s going to happen at their pace not yours.
Auckland City 3-1 Cashmere Technical
Goals (Assists)
67’ | CT | 0-1 | Matthysen
78’ | AC | 1-1 | Zhou (Howieson)
90’ | AC | 2-1 | Tade [pen]
90+3’ | AC | 3-1 | Gillion (Tade)
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Petone vs Auckland United
After draws against Eastern Suburbs and Christchurch United, it’s fair to say that Auckland United have been keeping themselves in the mix for the top two. Theirs have all been close games... and they’ve yet to lose any of them. Petone, on the other hand, are still searching for a National League win – however they did grab a late equaliser for their first point against Suburbs a week ago. Only one change for AU after their two-goal comeback against CU and that was Josh Redfearn in for Nico Zambrano up front. Several for Petone who seem to be rotating the MNL minutes around with socialist honour. Abdallah Khaled returned to the starters to make it four unique CB pairings in four games. Also had second starts for Sam Wall and Jack O’Connor. Isaac Snell captained the team after making his 100th club appearance – Petone have also been passing the armband around.
This may not have been the ideal week to have four games scheduled in Wellington across the two competitions. The Christchurch games weren’t much better either. We’re talking about wind here, folks. Furious, game-altering gusts that bent trees and rattled windows up and down the motu. Auckland United were attacking with the wind first half and they made the most of it with a few whirling forays that saw Ross Haviland head over from a corner before Daniel Atkinson fired past the far post with a shot from inside the area. Then in just the third minute of action Oliver Middleton picked up a poor pass from Amir Mandalawi and nudged it into the bottom corner for 1-0 to United.
Petone play some nice stuff when the passes are sticking and they were able to put on a few displays for the home crowd which got them into the contest. Not much going on past the halfway line though, not against the aggressive ball-winning of that Takahashi/Haviland/Fa’apoi back three. So it was that Petone would pass the ball around for a bit, then AU would take it off them and try to thread an early through ball, then that’d get shut down, often by Luca Barclay (Oscar Boyce had a few moments in goal too). Lather rinse repeat.
Snell did fizz a shot over the bar for Petone but then also we had Haviland trying a tricky volley that he put a little high, plus Xavier Green going on a run and stinging Boyce’s hands not only from the first shot but also gathering his own rebound. Boyce had it sorted. As he did again with a wonderful diving denial of Sione Fa’apoi whose shot from outside the area was curling and dipping and flying with that chunky wind. Hell of a stop from the bloke who led the Central League in clean sheets this year.
1-0 to the visitors at half-time... if it hadn’t been for that rotten first five minutes adjusting to the wind then we’d be talking about an excellent defensive stint from Petone. Sam Pickering tried to get them back level with a flicked header early in the half but that was tipped over by Mack Waite. Matt Brazier was charging around trying to make things happen. Snell absolutely crunched a long one towards the top corner but Waite got there first.
Few teams are as good as Auckland United at managing a game. They’ve got such an experienced backline and they’re all capable passers. They have forwards who can win fouls and wind down the clock. AU’s most sustained possession came in the last twenty or so minutes and it caused Petone to lose their steam (and also empty their bench) at a decisive time. There was one rising header for Brazier after 85 mins but it landed in the bread basket for Waite. The early early goal was enough as Auckland United won a very tense game, one which was largely spoiled by the blustery weather... but it wasn’t a coincidence that AU were able to own the most important moments. They started fast and caught Petone short. They finished calmly to see things out. In between it was dead even so that extra National League experience really was the difference.
Probably should’ve expected a close one from two of the lowest-scoring teams in the comp so far. Petone are learning. This game wasn’t much different from last week against Eastern Suburbs only this time there was no late equaliser against the run of play. Gotta figure out more ways to score than just Matt Brazier. However there were really impressive games here from Boyce and Barclay and the Pickering lads always turn up. That first National League win is coming. Sooner or later.
Petone FC 0-1 Auckland United
3’ | AU | 0-1 | Middleton
Wellington Olympic vs Eastern Suburbs
It seems dumb to say that this was a must-win game for both sides a mere four weeks into the season... but four weeks is almost halfway through the damn thing. With Auckland City managing to win ugly or late every bloody week that leaves the rest of the league scrapping it out for the other grand final spot. Wellington Olympic only drew last week so more dropped points would open the door for Christchurch United and Auckland United (as well as allowing Auckland City to pull away), while Suburbs... well they hadn’t won any of their three games which is already probably too much to overcome but a win here might just keep them on the fringes of contention. This was also a case of the free-scoring Greeks playing against the best defence that they’ve come across all season (and also the team that knocked them out of the Chatham Cup at the quarter-final stage).
Olympic were without Jack Cawley so Tam Dimairo filled in on the left side of the back three. Otherwise it was all the usuals – the Greeks have nine players who have started all four games. In contrast Kane Wintersgill was full of changes for his Eastern Suburbs side. Necessary changes, with Kelvin Kalua, Luis Toomey, and Adam Thurston all promoted to start after commanding efforts off the bench last week. Jirayu Twigg also made his second start of the MNL, with Tyler Lissette only on the bench. No obvious centre-forward in there but plenty of dudes capable of giving them a sum-of-all-parts striking approach. Wakefield Park was the venue (the fourth different venue in the last four MNL home games for Olympic), effectively a double-header after the Wellington United vs Southern United women’s game that finished about an hour before this one began. That game served up something beautiful: two cameras. Same set up here, obviously, giving the National League coverage just a hint more credibility.
You may find this hard to believe but it was pretty windy in Wellington. That wind was heavily favouring the direction that Olympic were attacking in the first half so Scott Basalaj’s clearances were clearing the opposition defensive line whereas Joe Knowles would be lucky to get his near halfway. That did make it tricky for WO with long passes, especially with the added kick-on from the artificial surface. Then again you don’t really need the wings when you can simply go from penalty area to penalty area like this...
That’s the second goalie assist of the season after Scott Morris got one for Christchurch United earlier in the season... also against Eastern Suburbs. His was a throw towards halfway leading to a solo spectacle from Eddie Wilkinson. This was a direct pump down the middle where the striker only needed one touch. Sheer perfection. Football has never been more efficient.
The wind wasn’t helping Suburbs. You could see as much when Luis Toomey leapt for a header that hovered above him like a balloon, resulting in minimal power/accuracy. But along with Toomey’s head they also had Toomey’s feet which were doing lovely things. Tooms was drifting around and making things happen. He dropped a shoulder past Theo Ettema at one stage then smacked a shot on target which Basalaj did well to save, as well as an effort deflected over by Ettema on the stretch after a heel-flick set-up from Aaryan Raj. Wasn’t long before those two were combining in reverse for an equaliser. Toomey collecting the scraps after his own corner kick and picking out his NZ U23s teammate with a tasty cross. Raj made no mistake. With his strength in the air he was never going to. Didn’t even have to jump.
There were some tempestuous afters when Thurston and Dimairo clashed, with Thurston leaning his head towards TD who hit the deck with face in hands. Might be a bit much to call that a headbutt though. Both players ended up getting bookings and we carried onwards... with Jirayu Twigg whipping a shot off the post before Kingsley Sinclair appealed for a penalty (or at least a free kick on the edge of the box). The 20-odd minutes after conceding that goal were probably the best that the Lilywhites have played since the National League phase began. And right as Olympic seemed to have swung things back their way, including a wonderful chance for Jack-Henry Sinclair that he sliced wide, plus a couple of through balls that Stephen Hoyle read well and intercepted, Eastern Suburbs hit back to take the lead into the break. Luis Toomey picking out Kingsley Sinclair. Clever stuff all around.
Wellington Olympic are not afraid of playing from a deficit. When you score as many goals as they do there’s always a chance. They came from 2-0 down last week to draw with Cashmere Tech... and they also came from 2-0 down to force extra time against Suburbs in the Chatham Cup (before ultimately losing 3-2). Here they were only one behind... but chances were not flowing freely as the second half settled into a windy groove of defensive solidity. Not a pleasant sight for ES to see Adam Thurston need to be carried off after 65 mins, unable to put weight on his left leg. Olympic simultaneously threw Nati Hailemariam into the midfield to try and find some extra progression. Very impressive how well Subs were swarming from top to bottom, their forward putting in as much effort off the ball as on it. Finally we were seeing the Lilywhites as advertised.
The Greeks were stuck too far away from the Suburbs goal to cause enough of a threat so on came Gavin Hoy to help matters. There was one corner kick flicked on towards a diving Ben Mata at the back post but he couldn’t reach it to put a header on target. That corner kick was followed by a couple more corner kicks but still no dice. Thus they went back to the well that was Scotty Bas. Big pumping kick out of his hands, majestically chested down on the run by Sinclair, whose cross was unsuccessful but Bouzoukis kept it alive and Hoy’s shot... snuck under the goalie. A mistake from Joe Knowles who is a fantastic young goalkeeper but maybe not as good of a cricketer because his long barrier wasn’t up to scratch. He also had Hoyle potentially obstructing his view. It’s a rough one. It was also an 87th minute equaliser.
There were seven minutes of stoppage time so more water passed under this bridge. Dan Bunch pinged a shot past the post for Subs. JH Sinclair thought he shoulda had a penalty, then also forced a good save out of Knowles. But just like in the Chatham Cup it ended 2-2 after ninety minutes except this time there was no extra time.
Eastern Suburbs are still without a win after four weeks despite some excellent footy from the likes of Toomey and Hoyle and Raj and also Campbell Strong as the deepest midfielder. It was a goalkeeping mistake that cost them but regardless that’s the second game in a row that they’ve allowed an equaliser after the 85th minute (having scored an 84th min leveller the week before). With only four goals in four games, they’re simply not scoring enough. Restricting Olympic to two is the best anyone’s managed yet but yeah too many draws on the board.
It’s also two draws in a row for Welly Oly. Two comeback draws. Cool to see Bouzoukis involved with a goal and an assist. Gavin Hoy earned his luck with an energetic bench appearance. Ben Mata was pretty good out there. It remains to be seen whether these last two results will feel like crucial points saved or crucial points lost when all is said and done... next week’s meeting with Auckland United is looking like a blockbuster already. That’s what we want from the National League, right? Big games every weekend.
Wellington Olympic 2-2 Eastern Suburbs
10’ | WO | 1-0 | Bouzoukis (Basalaj)
22’ | ES | 1-1 | Raj (Toomey)
42’ | ES | 1-2 | K.Sinclair (Toomey)
87’ | WO | 2-2 | Hoy (Bouzoukis)
Christchurch United vs Manurewa AFC
The equal best defence in the competition against the worst defence. Christchurch United were undefeated, Manurewa yet to claim a point after three straight losses. Yet Rewa had also scored more goals than the Rams so there was plenty of potential funk if they could drag that CU team out of their comfort zone. Paul Ifill made no changes to his Rams XI, choosing to focus on the fact that his team built a 2-0 lead against Auckland United a week ago rather than the fact that they blew that lead to draw 2-2. Eddie Wilkinson was back on the bench alongside Riley Bidois so plenty of attacking power in reserve.
On the other hand, Manurewa made several changes following their bonkers 6-4 loss to the WeeNix. Not only to their personnel but also to their shape, with Paul Marshall flipping to a back four (4-4-1-1) as an attempt to stop his team from conceding so many bloody goals. Several of which have been self-inflicted wounds as well. Dylan Morris shifted to right back with Mohammed Muzzakir-Nabeel coming into the team at left-back. His first start after a couple of bench cameos. James Hoyt and Ronaldo Munoz on the wings with Boon Ozawa joining Connor Probert in midfield. Nico Bobadilla doing his thing behind Monty Patterson up front.
Before things began, there was a short tribute to the great Steve Sumner who played for both of these clubs during his illustrious career. Cool to see the connection with history there, always important to remind ourselves that we’re part of a much larger tale than just our own...
The formation switch had an instant effect for Rewa. The home side did have more of the ball but the South Aucklanders looked settled at the back and overcame their sacrifice in attacking numbers through fluid movement and busyness on the ball. Great tempo to their possessions, almost frantic tempo, leading to a few half chances before Chch had anything of their own to speak of. Most notable attacking moment for CU in the first 25-odd mins was when Sam Philip was booked for diving (to be fair, it was so windy that he might’ve just been caught in a draught).
So although it had been a game of few chances when CU keeper Scott Morris made an uncharacteristic mistake, passing out across his body and straight to a lurking Nicolas Bobadilla who slotted home into an empty net, it didn’t completely happen out of thin air. That Running Rewa stuff had been threatening an error. They’d been harrying and hounding and putting doubt into Christchurch Utd’s play.
Another stink one for CU followed when Eoghan Stokes landed roughly after an aerial duel and would need to be replaced in the 30th minute... though at least they had Ed Wilkinson ready to go as an adequate replacement for their number ten. Meanwhile Rewa were buzzing. Hoyt turned down a shot after a stunner through ball from Ozawa but still won a corner, after which Munoz only just missed the frame with a curling effort. The home side’s frustrations then boiled over when Ben Lapslie lashed out at Boon Ozawa with a swinging arm and a shove after getting absolutely hounded in possession. Both men got booked for the fracas. Honestly, Lapslie can count his lucky starts that he avoided a red for that. A bit more niggle followed after that when O’Driscoll and Patterson got scrappy so the ref called in the captains and told everyone to calm the farm. Wilkinson was booked for a heavy tackle about two minutes later.
It was 1-0 to Manurewa at half-time... but only after Morris made amends with a blinder of a 1v1 save against Bobadilla in stoppage time. Morris did repeated the dose thirty seconds into half rua as Patterson ripped an effort on target that he slapped to safety. The Rams made a swap at HT with Mason Stearn brought on in midfield for Matt Tod-Smith...presumably an injury if the captain was being hooked at the break - two of Christchurch Utd’s very best players hadn’t made it into the second half. Yet aside from that dodgy first minute, the Rams did spent a lot more quality time in the Rewa half from there... including a few tidy low crosses that the Manurewa defenders did well to deal with.
How windy was it at United Sports Centre? It was so windy that when Ben Lapslie tried to line up a free kick he needed Stearn to crouch there with his finger on the ball Charlie Brown styles in order to stop the bloody thing from rolling away.
That was the second to last thing that Lapslie did in this game, because moments later he got tangled trying to body check his marker and out came a controversial second yellow. Not sure there was anything more in that particular instance than there was in a hundred other ones across this game... although the Rams couldn’t really complain because he probably shoulda been sent off in the first half. It happens. Bottom line is that just as the home side seemed to be getting themselves some control they suddenly had to do it with ten men.
Aaaaand then they were 2-0 down. Monty The Python Patterson delivering an Olimpico from the left side. Set pieces had been rancid all afternoon due to the swirling breeze but finally someone used that to their advantage, with Patterson giving it all sorts of swing on the way into the top far corner. Trent Boult would be proud of that much swing. Twenty minutes remained.
Christchurch United got one back pretty quickly. A mint pass from Riley Grover to find Dan MacLennan in the area led to the import forward sliding one in for 2-1 after 75 minutes. On they trekked. Rewa did some nice things wasting time in the corner, as you do, and Patterson nearly clinched it on 90+6’ stealing the ball on the press but whizzing his shot off target. But that didn’t end up mattering because that gale was like an extra defender out there keeping the ball away from their goal. Manurewa held on for the 2-1 victory. Bit of a turn up but there ya go.
How did Rewa get that done against the Chatham Cup champs? Through a huge workrate and quick tempo of passing. Through keeping things niggly and winding their opponents up. Through using the heavy wind more effectively. Through the strong midfield work of Connor Probert and the defensive courage of Tino Contratti. Through Monty Patterson’s constant outlet. Also through some slick tactical adjustments from coach Paul Marshall. They were the only team without a point... now they’ve got three.
It’s a worry for Christchurch United’s title hopes for sure. They’re now outside the top two and likely need to beat Wellington Olympic when they play them in a couple of weeks. Things change fast in a nine-week league. The red card was a killer just as they were building momentum but their discipline was on the edge all game against a team that were trying to make them crack. The wind and an injury or two made things even harder. It wasn’t their day. The gods were unfavourable. They’ll be slim margins from here on out.
Christchurch United 1-2 Manurewa AFC
26’ | M | 0-1 | Bobadilla
66’ | CU | Red Card for Lapslie
70’ | M | 0-2 | Patterson
75’ | CU | 1-2 | MacLennan (Grover)
Wellington Phoenix Reserves vs Napier City Rovers
All five MNL games took place on Saturday this week, with this 7pm kickoff at Fraser Park rounding out the festivities for another week. The WeeNix vs Napier City Rovers. WeeNix having scored zero, zero, then six. Chris Greenacre picked a fascinating line-up. The Women’s Reserves got boosted by the leftovers from the ALW matchday squad but the blokes won’t get that clarity until next week so no Luke Supyk after his double against Manurewa... although Isaac Hughes did pop up for his first ressies showing of the MNL, wearing the captain’s armband as he’s done many times before. This despite the men’s first team currently being over in Australia for preseason action. Hughes joined Dan McKay, again playing central defence, while Jackson Manuel got a run at left-back and Hayden Thomas returned in midfield. Ben Wallace played on the left wing to allow Josh Rudland, who also scored twice last week, to operate up top alongside Gabriel Sloane-Rodrigues.
Napier City won 3-0 against Petone last week then have lost twice conceding 11 combined goals with a red card in each game against last year’s grand finalists (Auckland City and Wellington Olympic). Granted, they were leading against City with twenty mins remaining. Last year they beat the WeeNix in round one then never won another game so this was an opportunity to repeat one act of history to ensure that another didn’t happen again. Always a stable group that Bill Robertson selects at NCR. They didn’t have Fergus Neil for this one so that caused a defensive reshuffle with George Andrew making his first appearance. GA played centre-back while Kaeden Atkins moved to the right and Jack Albertini to the left. Alex Mort came in up front with Cam Emerson joining Jonny McNamara on the suspended list. The rest of the team was untouched – that Andrew/Neil switch was the first they’ve made across these four games which wasn’t forced upon them by a red card. Apparently Neil sat this one out because he doesn’t play on artificial surfaces due to past injuries... yet another reason to stop playing National League games on plastic-covered concrete but let’s not digress.
Needless to say the wind was as much of a factor in this game as in all the others and six minutes into it Oscar Mason learned that out the hard way as a floated bomb of a cross swirled all around and he wasn’t able to claim. The ball then headed across goal by Hughes who picked out Fergus Gillion... who lifted it over the bar from so close that it was actually an achievement to miss from there. Bouncing balls are always awkward but that’s going to be the miss of the season. We won’t clip it here out of respect to his family (of which there are multiple other National League players) but yeah you kinda had to see it to believe it.
Otherwise it was as you’d expect with Napier holding a physical advantage but the Nix having the technical edge. A stunner of a ball over the top from McKay put GSR into some room to shoot but the connection was soft and Mason made the save. Deri Corfe had the sniper out for one long attempt back the other way but nah bro. Also Liam Schofield, not content with his 40 metre goal last week, thought he’d try one from the other side of half-way but he didn’t get the lift on it to beat Alby Kelly-Heald.
Other than that... maybe the late kickoff had folks a bit sleepy, dunno. It did look pretty gloomy with the dusk lighting and the overcast skies. NCR had clearly worked on their defensive shape and the Nix, with the breeze at their backs, couldn’t break them down with any level of consistency. However the Nix were good on the ball and played well enough to the conditions that it was only in the last few minutes of the first half that Rovers had anything like a sustained attack. This was a midfield duel without solution. 0-0 at the break.
Not for much longer though. Rovers got back underway with a burst of energy and a Liam Schofield shot struck the hand of Isaac Hughes for a penalty kick. Wasn’t much Hughes could do to get out of the way but the shot was heading goalwards so if an arm was dangling then them’s the breaks. Hughes was booked for arguing his case. Deri Corfe converted from the spot, meaning he’s now scored in all four games. He was the only men’s player to have scored in the first three rounds. Now he’s extended that.
This WeeNix line-up had some serious creative forwards out there but there’s only so much you can do from outside the attacking third. Same old story that we often see from this team: progress confidently from the back, competently through the midfield, but no further. Playing into the wind with a deficit is no enviable quest, to be fair. NCR were very good at swarming the ball all evening and with a lead to protect that wasn’t about to stop. There was a comical moment when Rudland bumped into the ref and they both tumbled over. That was a laugh. Came about because wind + turf = wild bouncing football.
Rudland was the most likely candidate for a Nix goal. He did sneak in behind on 57’, choosing to round the keeper rather than shoot 1v1. He got past Mason but narrowed his angle in the process and his shot hit the post. That was a rare opening. Meanwhile AKH had to make very good stops against both Christian Leopard and Deri Corfe to keep his side within range. Desperation saw the Nix creep a bit closer in the latter stages, with Ben Wallace curling a free kick onto the upright.
But the penalty areas belonged to defenders at both ends. When Josh Tollervey seemed to have an opening in stoppage time there was not one but two NCR defenders that slid in to block him. Andrew and Hoyle. There never any space. The organisation, the commitment, the courage (and also the wind)... it was too much. Rovers kept their second clean sheet of the season with that lone penalty giving them the edge, which was probably fair because NCR did apply more sustained pressure overall. Thanks in large part to the tireless midfield work of Liam Schofield and Ta Eh Doe.
Because, let’s be fair, the WeeNix were equally as good defensively. Isaac Hughes showed his pedigree and Alby Kelly-Heald was superb in goal considering the conditions. Tze Xoan Loke is emerging as a genuine dude within this team, a fullback who’s fully adept on either side. The WeeNix should be able to count on a few more first-teamers from here on out and that should help the cause. Hey and don’t look now but Napier City Rovers are only two points off second place having already checked that Welly Olympic/Auckland City double-header off their fixture list.
Wellington Phoenix Reserves 0-1 Napier City Rovers
49’ | NCR | 0-1 | Corfe [pen]
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