Match Report: Mens First Team vs Island Bay First Team
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S. Minett (66min)
Match Statistics
Date: |
24/5/2008 |
Venue: |
Wakefield Park |
Result: |
Loss |
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Wharfies went down 3-1 in a top of the table clash with Island Bay on a heavy and wind affected Wakefield Park (another football ground in Wellington that caters to a large number of junior, youth and senior footballers, yet doesn’t receive the necessary turf maintenance by the Wellington City Council to provide a true football playing surface).
The day got of to a difficult start when Alex Lambert was ruled out with a rib/ lung complaint which left him struggling for breath five minutes into the warm up. A quick reshuffle allowed Mark “Pewee” McKeown to make his first start for the Premier Team this year in the midfield. Robbie Hunter dropped into Left Back and James Trotter started in place of Mal Impiombato who was supposed to arrive into Wellington Airport at 2.30, and be at the park for the start of the second half.
Both teams started well and despite the conditions played some good football creating chances at both ends. Within twenty minutes James Hill should have put Wharfies ahead two nil, but Island Bay took the lead with a well taken chance in the twentieth minute.
The goal rocked our confidence a little and for a time the Island Bay midfield dominated play without creating a lot. Wharfies did get back into the game in the closing stages of the first half, but were rocked three minutes from the break with a well taken headed goal from a dangerously delivered corner.
It could be argued that Island Bay were lucky to go into half time with a two nil lead but the game of football is about taking your chances and that’s exactly what they did. With two goals required to get back into the game we adopted a more attacking formation for the second half in an effort to create opportunities and get back into the game quickly.
Another dose of bad news - this time by phone. Mal’s flight was delayed and he was joining Customs Lines as the second half kicked off – no chance of making the game now.
Within four minutes of the restart Island Bay went further ahead with a top strike from player coach Steve Davey that effectively killed the game at 3-0. Wharfies players had been guilty of allowing the Island Bay players a little too much time on the ball in the first half, and Steve made sure we paid for holding off again in and around the danger zone.
To the credit of the lads they kept going in search of goals and repelled Island Bay counter attacks as the “Sharks” started to sit deeper and deeper. With 35 minutes left on the clock Wharfies were handed a lifeline when Flavio Souza-Campos was brought down in the box. However, Jimmy Hill failed to convert the spot kick rounding off a poor day in front of goal. Being fair to Jimmy he did create opportunities and worked hard off the ball all day.
Eleven minutes later Shannon Minett’s well struck free kick made it 3-1 and with 24 minutes to go there was definitely a sniff of a chance of getting another and putting some real heat on Island Bay in the dying stages of the game. Within ten minutes that scenario nearly presented itself but for a brilliant save from an equally well taken James Hill freekick. It just wasn’t going to be our day.
The Island Bay goalkeeper made a number of fine saves. On another day this may have been a 6,7,8,9 goal thriller in either teams favour. Again credit should go to both teams who made the most of difficult conditions and produced a good game of football.
Shannon Minett was the pick of the bunch for us and proved he can compete with a strong Island Bay midfield. The re-match at Karori Park in the second round shapes up as a big game in the league if we can get back the winning habit this weekend against table toppers Tawa.
Tawa beat Marist 2-1 to go three points clear of Wharfies who now sit in third narrowly behind Island Bay, but with a game in hand on both teams.
Next Home Games:
Vs Tawa. Saturday 31st May 2008. 2.30pm Kick Off
Vs Miramar (Chatham Cup). Moonday 2nd June 2008. 2.00pm Kick Off
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