Waitakere United

Waikato FC

6

1

Dakota Lucas 36'
Allan Pearce 41', 52'
Jason Rowley 50'
Ryan De Vries 57'
Mike Gwyther 74'

Milos Nikolic 77'

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

WHENUAPAI - Waitakere United all-but sealed the ASB Minor Premiership with a dominant 6-1 victory over Waikato FC at Fred Taylor Park on Saturday.

With one game to play the West Aucklanders lead Auckland City by six points. Auckland, who have two to play, could draw level on points but they trail by nine in the goal difference, a margin difficult to overcome.
 
After a couple of weeks of missed chances and defeats in the O-League and the Premiership, the Waitakere strikers found their form again and converted the host of chances created.
 
Allan Pearce with two goals now leads the league's Golden Boot contest with 11 ahead of Waikato's Milos Nikolic, who took his tally to eight with the visitors' one goal.
 
It took Waitakere 36 minutes to open the scoring and in that time there were two potentially game-changing incidents. In the ninth minute a partial clearance fell to Nikolic and his shot on the turn hit the inside of the right upright but bounced clear.
 
Nine minutes later experienced centre back Phil Edginton collapsed with a knee injury and limped off to be replaced by Nick Branch.
 
When the goal drought was broken, it was a combined effort by Ryan De Vries, who laid on the centre, Chris Bale, who chipped over the defence, and Dakota Lucas, who headed home. Waikato appealed unsuccessfully for offside.
 
Five minutes later Pearce was allowed far too much room as he lined up a shot from 27m that rifled into the top corner as he picked his spot.
 
Two down at halftime, Waikato needed an early response, but it was Waitakere who put the game beyond them with three goals in quick time. Jason Rowley followed in his own blocked shot for the first, Pearce drove a freekick round the wall for the second and De Vries hammered home a partial clearance from a corner.
 
Mike Gwyther came on with 20 minutes to go and with his first and second touches of the game collected the sixth goal. Nikolic's consolation was a screamer of a freekick in the 77th minute.
 
Waitakere coach Neil Emblen was thrilled by the display and particularly the finishing after a period of frustration in front of goal.
 
"It gives us impetus for the O-League game against Auckland next weekend," he said. "That's the biggest game of the season for us and we know we've got to beat them. This will give us a lot of confidence.
 
"Today we had Martin Bullock back and he had major influence, dictating play and making us more patient. He allowed Chris Bale and Jake Butler to push further forward."
 
Waikato assistant coach Rod Grove admitted to huge disappointment, particularly after the good win last week and the promising start today.
 
"It's amazing how games can change," he said. "If that shot of Nikolic's had gone in they might have got the speed wobbles. And there was an element of offside in their first goal.
 
"Two down we knew we had to start well in the second half but we gave away two goals in the first 10 minutes."
 
Waikato will be eliminated from the playoffs if either Hawke's Bay or Canterbury win tomorrow.

Waitakere United

V

Waikato FC

28 Andy Ralph (GK)

1 Alex Carr (GK)

2 Jason Rowley

4 Ryan Zoghby

3 Aaron Scott

5 Nathan Strom

4 Tim Myers

7 Jason Hicks

7 Martin Bullock (Payne 65)

8 Jason McKeown

8 Chris Bale

10 Daniel Peat (Margetts 57)

10 Allan Pearce

11 Nathan Palmer

17 Jake Butler

12 Jack Beguley

19 Dakota Lucas (Gwyther 73)

17 Milos Nikolic

20 Ryan De Vries (Sole 65)

18 Phil Edginton (Branch 18)

24 Luke Adams

23 Matteo Ballan (Manko 57)

Substitutes

Substitutes

1 Danny Robinson (RGK)

22 John Fletcher

6 Jack Pelter

2 Maksim Manko (in 57)

13 Michael Gwyther (in 73)

6 Nick Branch (in 18)

14 Tim Payne (in 66)

9 Mark Jones

18 Zane Sole (in 65)

20 Sam Margetts (in 57)

=goal

=yellow card

=2 yellow cards

= red card

0 mins

Hot and humid with a slightly delayed start after Waikato were delayed on the motorway

0 more mins

Andy Ralph returns in goal for Waitakere after injury.

0 even more mins

Martin Bullock has first start for a while after injury.

0 mins

We're off Ballan brings down Butler on edge of area.

1 min

Freekick hits wall and cleared

4 mins

plenty of interpassing but not a lot of progress

5 mins

Palmer just offside as he breaks on left

9 mins

Swerving shot by Pearce, knocked down by Carr.

9 mins

Bouncing ball in area not cleared, strike by Nikoloc hits post and stays out

11 mins

Yellow card Strom for foul on Pearce. Freekick on edge of area.

12 mins

Freekick flies wide and high from Bale

13 mins

Right wing corner to Waitakere, cleared easily

18 mins

Edginton down on edge of area with knee injury, carried off. Replaced by Branch

21 mins

Hicks fires hopeful shot from 40 m,no danger

23 mins

De Vries fires amost as wide at the other end.

27 mins

Strom just robs De Vries as he lines up shot

29 mins

Good buildup by Waikato but Zoghby cross eludes attack and defence.

32 mins

Palmer through but shot feeble.

33 mins

Two long throws by Waikato but well defended.

35 mins

Bullock freekick, punched clear by goalie

35 mins

GOAL! De Vries centres from right, Bale chips on, Lucas heads in.

41 mins

GOAL! Pearce left to run, fires in from 27m as goalie watches it fly by

45 mins

Three minutes to be added. Freekick to Waikato 30m out.

45 plus one

Nikolic freekick hits wall and cleared

45 plus three

Halftime and Waikato have a mountain to climb to get back into this.

46 mins

We're off again no changes at the break

47 mins

Long cross headed over top by Butler

49 mins

Carr and Pearce collide, corner to Waitakere.

50 mins

Ball in net, Pearce offside

50 mins

GOAL!Bale corner, Rowley shot blocked but follows up to score

52 mins

GOAL! Pearce freekick through wall into goal

57 mins

 GOAL! De Vries fields clearnce from corner and blasts ball in.

60 mins

Waitakere goal fest has probably clinched the minor premiership. Chairman Rex is beaming.

66 mins

Sole on for De Vries, Payne for Bullock

69 mins

Cross from McKeown from left and Nikolic dives but just fails to connect

73 mins

Gwyther on for Lucas

74 mins

GOAL! Gwyther's first and second touch lead to net.

77 mins

 GOAL! Nikolic fires freekick through goalie's hands

82 mins

Hicks fires left foot shot just wide.

85 mins

McKeown cross, but Branch header flies wide.

88 mins

Nikolic has chance but miskicks with goal at his mercy

90 mins

One min to be added. Gwyther shoots wide but life has gone out of game.

90 plus one mins

Final whistle. Waitakere have effectively clinched minor premiership, Waikato's playoff hopes take a blow.