Hawke's Bay United

Waitakere United

1

0

Conor TINNION 78'

by David Gearey at Park Island
asbpremiership.co.nz

NAPIER - Hawke’s Bay United coach Chris Greatholder picked up his first victory as head coach when his side beat  highflying Waitakere United 1-0 at Bluewater Stadium this afternoon.

It took a 78th minute strike from Conor Tinnion to break the deadlock and some heroic goal keeping from Shaun Peta to stop Waitakere in their tracks.

Hawke’s Bay United began the match under constant pressure from the visitors and had it not been for the impressive Peta then Waitakere could have opened the scoring on numerous occasions.

But Greatholder and his coaching staff had set a tactical game plan that would congest the middle of the park and this ultimately frustrated the champions.

Greatholder played his cards perfectly with his timely substitutions all influential in gaining Bay's first three points of 2012. His cries of “Lets have a go at them”, with 25 minutes left on the clock, was typical of the way this young coach is going about his business.

He said: “I’m delighted obviously! We needed a reaction from last weekend and we owed it to ourselves.It’s a big 3 points for us today and we will kick on from here. It was an outstanding defensive performance, but from now on in we need to be more consistent,” he added.

For Waitakere they leave the Bay rueing missed opportunities and the chance to close the gap on the league leaders Auckland City.

Head coach Neil Emblem was very frustrated with his sides performance and didn’t mix his words when offering up the after match speech.

“That was not a good performance, actually the worst we’ve played under my management and it’s unacceptable,” Emblen said.

Emblen, ever the sportsman, remained gracious in defeat and paid respect to Greatholder and his side.

“You worked us out today, and Chris, you and your side fully deserved your result," he said.

Victory is a breath of fresh air for Greatholder and downing the defending champions is some scalp to claim when notching your first ever ASB Premiership win.

Hawke’s Bay United travel to Manawatu next weekend to take the league cellar dwellers, in a game they will be targeting for all 3 points. 

Hawke's Bay United

Waitakere United

26. Shaun PETA

1. Danny ROBINSON

2. Fergus NEIL

4. Tim MYERS

4. Stu WILSON (Cowan, 62')

7. Martin BULLOCK

6. Stephen HINDMARCH (c)

8. Chris BALE

7. Matt HASTINGS

10. Allan PEARCE

10. Sam MARGETTS

11. Ross MCKENZIE

11. Conor TINNION

12. Roy KRISHNA

12. Dale HIGHAM (Watson, 62')

14. Andy BEVIN (Vale, 83')

14. Danny WILSON

15. Gegame FENI (Turner, 73')

17. Tom BISS

17. Jake BUTLER (c)

21. Josh MARGETTS (Barlow, 73')

25. Sean LOVERMORE(Holloway, 83')

Substitutes

Substitutes

1. Richard GILLESPIE (rgk)

22. Matt UPTON (rgk)

3. Alex BARLOW (on 73')

16. Neil EMBLEN

8. Adam COWAN (on 62')

18. Steven HOLLOWAY (on 83')

16. Reilly O'MEAGHER

29. Jordan VALE (on 83')

18. Hamish WATSON (on 62')

30. Rory TURNER (on 73')

=goal

=yellow card

=2 yellow cards

= red card

-15' Its a beaut day in the bay this afternoon.  A slight South Westerly blowing down the pitch.  Hawke's Bays coach Chris Greatholder has rung the changes this week with Matt Hastings making a suprise start at centre back in place of suspended skipper Bill Robertson and the most capped ASB Premiership player Adam Cowan making way for acadamy midfielder Tom Biss.

1'  We're underway here at Bluewater Stadium with the away side playing with the slight breeze at their backs.

3'  Waitakere applying the early pressure as Andy BEVIN'S cross is cut out by Danny WILSON

4'  BUTLER whips in an inviting cross but Fergus NEIL holds off BEVIN from getting his head to the ball.

6'  KRISHNA has the first real chance of the match after turning his marker on the edge of the box and firing straight at PETA in the Bay goal.

7'  Waitakere really putting the home side under pressure as they force the first corner of the game.  The corner is easily cleared at the near post.

12'  Hawke's Bays Stephen HINDMARCH has made a bright start to the game for the home side and looks most likely to be the player that will unlock this Waitakere defence.

15'  New signing Stu WILSON gets his first shot away for the day but unfortuantely for the bay crowd it flies high and wide.

16'  Thats the closest we've come to a goal!! Matt HASTINGS clearance can only find BUTLER in the midfield and he releases KRISHNA who toes it over the advancing PETA only to see it nestle onto the top of the net.

18'  Sam MARGETTS rifles a shot past ROBINSONS left hand post after earlier good work by BISS had put him through.

19'  Right down the other end and this time PETA is called into action as he saves well from KRISHNA'S shot after he had beaten Danny WILSON to get his shot away.

26'  Josh MARGETT'S gives away a foul in a dangerous position resulting in Alan PEARCE and Ross MCKENZIE standing over the ball for the visitors.

27'  PEARCE takes but his shot is headed away by HASTINGS 6 yards out.

30'  YELLOW CARD HINDMARCH gives a welcome back to Park Island to BEVIN as he crunches through the back of the former Hawke's Bay striker.

35'  Waitakere force yet another corner as the apply the pressure to Hawke's Bay.

37'  LOVEMORE whos been quiet for the first half shoots high and wide from 30 yards.

39'  HINDMARCH dives in late on FENI but fortunately for him he dosn't make contact otherwise he may have been down the tunnel for an early shower.

41'  Hawke's Bay nearly break the deadlock.  TINNION beats his man and drives in a low cross that Sam MARGETTS can't get his toe too but HIGHAM is sniffing around at the far post but his shot is agonisingly close as it is cleared off the line.

45'  HALF TIME  Hawkes Bay 0 Waitakere 0

Halftime here a Bluewater Stadium in Napier. The home side have really frustrated the former champions after taking the game too them.  Stephen Hindmarch has been a real warrior in the centre of the park for the Bay and although the vistors have had the better chances, Hawke's Bay could feel unlucky they havn't gone into the break a goal ahead.  Join us in 15 minutes for the 2nd half action.

46'  Back underway here at Bluewater Stadium with no changes to either team at the break.

49'  KRISHNA finds himself through on goal but PETA does well and forces the corner.

52'  From the resulting corner KRISHNA weaves a turn on the penalty spot and slips in FENI. He rounds PETA but his shot flys into the side netting. Wasted chance there from the visitors.

55'  PETA again called into action and again its from that man KRISHNA.  PETA makes himself big and the fijian International can only see his shot cleared after the intial save.

60'  As we hit the hour mark this game could go either way.  Hawke's Bay are getting bodies behind the ball and look like they could sneak a goal on the counter attack.

61'  PETA makes a superb "BULBUS" like save as he throws an arm out and deflects the ball wide.

62'  Substitute  Hawkes Bay Stu WILSON and Dale HIGHAM are replaced by Adam COWAN and Hamish WATSON

63'  PETA is having his best match of the season.  Another superb save and this time to deny FENI as he burst towards goal. 

65'  YELLOW CARD MYERS finds himself in the referees note book after a blatant tug on Hamish WATSON'S shirt.

67'   YELLOW CARD  LOVEMORE this time finds himself booked after leaving the foot in on a challenge with the impressive makeshift centre back HASTINGS.

73' Substitute  Waitakere Gagame FENI is replaced by Rory TURNER & Hawke's Bay Josh MARGETTS is replaced by Alex BARLOW

75'  WATSON drops a ball off to TINNION and his shot from 20 yards goes agonisingly close.

77'  Frustration seaping into the away sides lockers as BULLOK launches a ball out of the stadium when the ball was already 3 yards over the side line.  Could be an interesting final 15 minutes.

78'  GOAL Hawke's Bay having been knocking at the door and finally they break the deadlock.  Conor TINNION is the man after Hamish WATSON put pressure on ROBINSON in the Waitakere goal and after he spilled TINNION was on hand to tap home from 4 yards.

80'  LOVEMORE tries to bend a shot around the defenders from 20 yards but an't beat the impressive PETA and the Hawke's Bay keeper palms the shot away.  Great save!!!

83' Substitute  Waitakere  Andy BEVIN and Sean LOVEMORE are replaced by Steven HOLLOWAY and Jordan VALE

85'  5 to go here at Bluewater Staduim.  The home side a desperate for the points and continue to throw everything at the vistors.

90'  The fourth official has indicated there will be a minimum of 4 minutes of additional time to be played.

90'+2' YELLOW CARD BULLOCK finally gets that deserved Yellow as he flies in late on BARLOW.

90'+3'  MARGETTS has a late chance to seal it after TINNION releases him but ROBINSON saves well to deny him.  Hawke's Bay corner.

90'+4'  Time up here as everyone has eyes on the referee.

90'+4' One last chance for Waitakere as KRISHNA only has PETA to beat but the big man swats his shot away and the referee blows for fulltime.

FULLTIME  HAWKE'S BAY 1 WAITAKERE 0

A well deserved victory for the home side here.  They wanted it more!!! and they got it.  Coach Chris Greatholder will be over the moon with his troops and contender for the man of the match will be a very interesting one.  For me you can't go past Peta in goal as he denied chance after chance from the vistors.  C'mon the BAY!!