Waitakere United

Otago United

3

1

Allan Pearce 2'
Mike Gwyther 58'
Neil Emblen 90'

Phil Ruggles 12'

by Bob Pearce at Fred Taylor Park
asbpremiership.co.nz 

AUCKLAND - By beating Otago United 3-1 in their game at Fred Taylor Park, Waitakere United have set a new record for the ASB Premiership.

It is the first time a team have won eight games in a row to start the season and Waitakere's winning streak extends even further because they won a semifinal and the Grand Final to end last season.

But in the blistering heat of a West Auckland summer afternoon there were times when that proud record looked a little shaky.
 
They were gifted a goal in the second minute when a left-wing corner by Allan Pearce eluded the grasp of goalkeeper Adam Highfield and ended up in the Otago net without anyone else getting a touch.
 
Waitakere fans probably smelt a rout in the offing. But Otago are a much tougher proposition these days. Nathan Knox bustled the Waitakere defence and three times Phil Ruggles flirted with the offside flag to pounce on the through ball.
 
In the 12th minute it was third time lucky and as the flag stayed down he made no mistake with a clinical finish.
 
Waitakere created plenty of chances but they were kept scoreless until the break by a combination of some poor finishing and brave defending, particularly by Highfield, who pulled off a series of first-class saves.
 
Mike Gwyther, who had been thwarted by Highfield on two occasions, finally provided the go-ahead goal in the 58th minute when he fastened on to a cross from Pearce and hammered the ball home.
 
The heat clearly told on the players and Otago had used all their substitutes when Paul Seaman limped off in the closing minutes.

Waitakere coach Neil Emblen, who had just come on as a substitute, took advantage of a miskick in the Otago defence to add the third goal in the last minute of regular time.
 
It was a brave effort by Otago, who came into the game without one of their most experienced players, the suspended Andy Coburn.
 
Coach Malcolm Fleming was disappointed but pleased with the way his team responded.
 
"Without Coburn we were on a hiding to nothing," he said.

"I think we deserved to lose 2-1 but not 3-1. Still if they'd converted their half chances it could have been a lot more. I'd hate to be here when they have a really good game.

  "Nathan Knox as always was a real force for us and Phil Ruggles did well until he was injured. He may have a broken jaw after a collision."

Alistair Rickerby, who came on as a substitute, left after a short time with a possible broken collarbone.
 
Emblen was happy to have won eight but not getting too excited at this stage of the season.
 
"We'll just tick them off one by one," he said. "The next two weeks will be pivotal. We've got Auckland at home and then Wellington away. This will give us confidence for those.

"Our finishing wasn't good. But I think that comes from being rusty and getting into habits training. After the break we've been concentrating on the basics and we haven't worked on our shooting."

Waitakere United

V

Otago United

1 Danny Robinson (GK)

1 Adam Highfield (GK)

3 Aaron Scott

6 Tom Sadd

4 Tim Myers

7 Nathan Knox

6 Jack Pelter (Rowley 76)

8 Paul Seaman

8 Chris Bale (Sole 65)

10 Phil Ruggles (Day 72)

10 Allan Pearce

12 James Reichwien

12 Roy Krishna

18 Harley Rodeka

13 Michael Gwyther

21 Liam Lockhart

17 Jake Butler 

23 Ant Hancock

19 Dakota Lucas (Emblen 85)

25 Tom Connor (Rickerby 46 / Burgess 65)

23 Ashton Pett

26 Tristian Prattley

Substitutes

Substitutes

2 Jason Rowley (in 76)

9 Aaron Burgess (in 65)

16 Neil Emblen (in 85)

13 Cam Burns (RGK)

18 Zane Sole (in 65)

14 Alistair Rickerby (in 46)

27 Ross Haviland

24 Curtis Day

28 Andy Ralph (RGK)

27 Morgan Day (in 72)

=goal

=yellow card

=2 yellow cards

= red card

0 mins

Very hot and sunny with not much wind. Ref take note the players need to hydrate

0mins also

The Fred is in outstanding order, except for one rabbit scrape where Sherriff Rex Dawkins failed to get the bunny before it had a litter.

0 mins still

Pride of place on the sideline is the cup Waitakere won for winning the national youth league. The thoughts of everyone here are with Jonno Ross, the goalkeeper in that team, who was badly injured in a car crash on New Year's Day.

0 mins last

Nathan Knox presented with ASB Player of the Month before kickoff

1 min

Early attack by Waitakere offside.

2 mins

Ball in by Pearce headed away by Connor as krishna waits

GOAL! Left wing corner by Pearce, Highfield goes for it but it ends in the net 

4 mins

Another corner for Waitakere, off Waitakere head but wide

6 mins

Ruggles clear but ruled offside. Tight call.

8 mins

Ruggles again clear but foiled by good tackle by Myers.

11 mins

Left wing corner for Waitakere. Cleared this time.

12 mins

GOAL! Ruggles through again and this time he's not offside and he buries it.

14 mins

Highfield saves well from Bale at close range

16 mins

Ruggles down in a heap after head clash with Pelter, up again but groggy

19 mins

Krishna breaks well on left but nobody gets on the end of it.

20 mins

Great ball by Bale, Gwyther runs on to it but scrambled clear. Should have done better.

22 mins

Two saves in succession from Highfield, thwarting Gwyther on both occasiions.

23 mins

Waitakere are finding the gaps but their finishing hasn't been great.

25 mins

Krishna watzes through two defenders but shoots wide.

27 mins

Yellow card for Seaman ,pulling Bale's shiirt

29 mins

Gwyther header from corner well saved by Highfield

30 mins

Waitakere's pace up front surely must pay dividends soon.

34 mins

Great defending by Connor to foil Pearce.

36 mins

Connor down with injury allows everybody to get a drink.

38 mins

Connor back on, favouring an ankle.

42 mins

Freekick to Waitakere on edge of area, Pearce's efforts twice cleared.

45 mins

Three minutes to be added.

45 plus three

Halftime all square, but Waitakere have squandered a lot of good chances.

46 mins

Injured Connor off, Rickeby comes into midfield.

47 mins

Ruggles chips ball into box but Seaman can't convert.

48 mins

yet another corner for Waitakere, Otago have yet to have one. Cleared this time.

50 mins

Krishna through thwarted by Highfield's oustretched right boot.

52 mins

Ruggles breaks free and shoots just over on the run.

54 mins

Pearce dispossessed in shooting position by Lockhart

58 mins

GOAL! Pearce crosses from left and Gwyther finally gets reward.

61 mins

Krishna finds Gwyther and Highfield fends ball away.

64 mins

Burgess on for Rickerby, Sole on for Bale

66 mins

Some very hot and tired players out there.

70 mins

High cross by Otago but easily dealt with by Robinson

71 mins

Krishna shoots but foiled by Highfield. Corner cleared but behind.

72 mins

Morgan Day on for Ruggles

76 mins

Jason Rowley on for Pelter.

80 mins

Gwyther weaves through but shoots when a pass might have been better.

85 mins

Sweeping move by Otago but last pass goes astray

90 mins

GOAL! Neil Emblen produces the final touch after good work Pearce by Gwyther.

Three minutes to be played but ref cuts short after two. Final score 3-1 to Waitakere.