Waitakere United

Hawke's Bay United

1

2

Jason Rowley 85'

Jarrod Smith 47', 90+2'

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

WHENUAPAI - Hawke's Bay United forced their way into playoff contention with a stunning 2-1 victory over ASB Premiership leaders Waitakere United at Fred Taylor Park on Saturday.

Bay coach Matt Chandler was almost speechless with joy at the courageous effort of his injury-hampered team to survive a first-half dominated by Waitakere, snatch a goal soon after the break and then score the winner in time added on after Waitakere had grabbed a late equaliser.

"We didn't just snatch a result. We beat them fair and square," he said. "I'm so proud of the way the boys who came in for the game performed."

Hero of the hour was Jarrod Smith, who scored both goals, but Chandler would happily have struck medals for his whole squad.

The victory moves Hawke's Bay to fourth, one point ahead of Canterbury United and Waikato FC and marks the first time the Bay has ever beaten Waitakere United in Auckland, a record that has stood since the ASB Premiership kicked off nearly seven years ago.

The opening stanza at the Fred suggested that Waitakere had buried the disappointment of last weekend's O-League defeat in Tahiti as they put the Bay goal under severe pressure.

Dakota Lucas twice had the goal at his mercy only to be thwarted by goalie Richard Gillespie, who had an outstanding game. There were also opportunities for Ryan De Vries and Allan Pearce.
 
Jonathan Taylor may not be the fastest defender in the Premiership but he showed his class with a couple of timely tackles and left back Phil Doran was also effective.  At the other end young Andy Bevin was proving a handful.
 
The goal soon after the break followed a cross from the left by Bevin. Goalie Danny Robinson blocked the first attempt on goal but he couldn't grasp the loose ball and Smith was on hand to poke it into the net.
 
Waitakere poured on the pressure and they created chances but Gillespie and his defence stood firm. Bay had the chances to seal the win when Doran surged forward and hit the post with the goal yawning. Bevin also squandered a one-on-one with Robinson.
 
Finally, after referee Jamie Cross had retired hurt, in the 85th minute Waitakere were awarded a freekick on the edge of the area when substitute Mike Gwyther was fouled. Chris Bale delivered a pinpoint cross which Tim Myers headed against the bar and Jason Rowley was on hand to prod home.
 
Neither side was prepared to settle for a draw. Tom Biss should have won it for the Bay when he headed over from an open goal. But two minutes into time added Smith made no mistake when he headed a similar cross from Bevin into the net for a famous Bay victory.

"We came in with a game plan and we stuck with it," said Chandler. "We always try to play football and sometimes it's cost us. But this time it paid off.
 
"What was specially pleasing for me was that we had four players from our academy on the field: Tom Biss, Andy Bevin, Fergus Neil and Marama Thompson."
 
Waitakere coach Neil Emblen regretted the early missed chances but was still pleased with the way some of his young players performed.
 
"We had three or four chances in the first five minutes, but we either made bad decisions or there were some good saves. They took their chances and at the end it was anybody's game.
 
"We're still in pole position in the league and it's time to move on."

Waitakere United

V

Hawke's Bay United

1 Danny Robinson (GK)

1 Richard Gillespie (GK)

2 Jason Rowley

18 Jonathan Taylor

3 Aaron Scott (Gwyther 70')

11 Jarrod Smith

4 Tim Myers

2 Phil Doran

8 Chris Bale

14 Marama Thompson

10 Allan Pearce

13 Danny Wilson

14 Tim Payne

4 Chris Greatholder (Eakins 75')

17 Jake Butler

12 Andy Bevin

19 Dakota Lucas (Bullock 79')

19 Tom Biss

20 Ryan De Vries

7 Scott Gunnon

24 Luke Adams (Pelter 88')

15 Fergus Neil (Geary 88')

Substitutes

Substitutes

6 Jack Pelter (in 88')

17 David Geary (in 88')

7 Martin Bullock (in 79')

3 Marvin Eakins (in 75')

13 Michael Gwyther (in 70')

10 Matt Hastings

18 Zane Sole

5 Lucas Da Silva

28 Andy Ralph (RGK)

25 Shaun Peta (RGK)

=goal

=yellow card

=2 yellow cards

= red card

0 mins

Cloudy and humid but with a cooling breeze to temper the heat

0 also mins

Young Tim Payne and Luke Adams get starts for Waitakere in the absence of Roy Krishna and Sean Lovemore. Neil Emblen not even on bench.

Waitakere playing towards Kumeu end with breeze at their backs

1 min

We're off. First action goal kick to Waitakere

2 mins

Bale earns corner after run by De Vries.

3 mins

Adams heads just wide from corner

4 mins

Cross from left by Doran plucked out of air by goalie

6 mins

Freekick by Pearce hit too low and easily cleared.

7 mins

Andy Bevin fouled, freekick by Gunnon weakly to goalie.

8 mins

Mixup in defence leaves Lucas unmarked in front of goal but Gillespie saves at point blank range

8 mins

Lucas clear again on dodgy offside call, earns corner, easily saved.

9 mins

Wilson fields clearance, presses on and tests goalie with bouncing shot.

10 mins

Gunnon shoots wide after fortunate bounce beats defence.

13 mins

Payne crosses but defender clears behind for corner by Pearce

14 mins

Taylor clears for another corner. Pearce again from other side. partially cleared and riposte snaffled by goalie.

15 mins

Bevin crosses from left but nobody connects

16 mins

De Vries clear but goalie does enough to thwart him and defence clears

18 mins

Waitakere have had the chances but haven't taken advantage.

24 mins

Pearce and Bale combine, Pearce cross saved by Gillespie

25 mins

Bevin on break fires just wide

28 mins

Bevin crosses from left but Smith's header has no power

32 mins

Shot by Doran hits his own man and bounces clear

33 mins

Taylor tackle thwarts De Vries in front of goal

35 mins

Yellow card for Biss for tackle two mins ago

37 mins

Pearce dwells too long on the ball and the chance is lost

38 mins

Lucas clear, interchange with Payne, Pearce final shot blocked, another golden chance

39 mins

De Vries in acres (hectares ) of space but shoots wide

43 mins

Bevin beats defender on right but his cross well defended.

45 mins

No time added. No goals but plenty of action in first half

No changes at the break

46 mins

Butler shoots from 30 m and Gillespie tips over bar

47 mins

GOAL! Bevin crosses from left, blocked by Robinson, Smith forces home.

48 mins

Robinson hurt in goal scramble but recovers

49 mins

Snap shot by Neil flies just wide.

53 mins

Bale earns right wing corner, pearce delivers but cleared

58 mins

Smith crosses, Bevin shoots from point blank range but Robinson saves.That could have sealed it!

60 mins

Lucas breaks but well defended by Doran, who then makes long run and hits post.

62 mins

bale and Lucas combine to bring good save from Gillespie.

65 mins

Bevin gets yellow for kicking ball away

70 mins

Bale and Butler both have shots blocked.

73 mins

Sub Waitakere, Gwyther replaces Scott. Also fourth official Waugh replaces ref!!

75 mins

Pearce falls in area, penalty appeal denied goalkick

75 mins

Eakins on for Greatholder

76 mins

Bevin to Smith, left foot shot tipped over bar. Corner cleared

80 mins

Smith down injured away from play, drinks break for everyone. Sub Waitakere Bullock on for Lucas

84 mins

Concerted Waitakere attack but final shot over bar

85 mins

GOAL! Gwyther brought down on edge of area. Bale  freekick nodded on to bar by Myers and rebound banged in by Rowley.

86 mins

Pelter on for Adams, Geary on for Neil

89 mins

Five minutes to be added.

90 plus one

Brilliant run by Doran finds Biss in front of empty goal and he heads over

90 plus three

GOAL! Bevin breaks on left crosses and Smith heads home

90 plus five

Final whistle goes. Great win for the Bay.