Waikato FC

Hawke's Bay United

4

2

Dan Peat 19, 29
Michael Gwyther 23
Joey Simpkins 71 (pen)

Leon Birnie 45+2
Andrew Abba 76

by Matt Richens at Centennial Park
nzfc.co.nz

A win for Waikato FC was obviously wanted and welcome, but most pleasing for player-coach Che Bunce was his team’s resolve and how they bounced back from last week’s 5-0 drubbing to Auckland City.

Waikato beat Hawke’s Bay United 4-2 at Ngaruawahia’s Centennial Park on Sunday and showed last week’s lapses will not be the norm for Waikato.

A Dan Peat double before halftime surrounding a handy diving header from Michael Gwyther almost ended the game as a contest as Waikato went from 0-0 to 3-0 up in 10 minutes.

They started well like they had last week, but the goals sparked Waikato’s confidence.

Waikato right back David Samson found Peat facing away from goal with a strong pass, Peat skinned his marker and shot past Hawke’s Bay keeper Richard Gillespie.

That was the 19th minute, four minutes later Gwyther met a free kick from Mikael Munday with a diving header to double the lead.

Hawke’s Bay claimed the goal was from Gwyther’s hand, Waikato still swear it was a goal.

Peat then grabbed his second six minutes later when Hawke’s Bay assumed he was offside. He went up with Gillespie for a 50-50 ball and it ricocheted back to him to tap in from close range as the Hawke’s Bay defence stood and watched.

Waikato stayed in control for most of the first half, but did concede late when Leon Birnie knocked in from close range when Waikato had failed to clear from a set piece.
The set piece defence was one of Bunce’s few concerns after the game.

“We weren’t good enough at set pieces, but their things that can be worked on,” he said.

“There’s certainly things to work on, but after that defeat last week, it certainly showed a bit of character from my boys. The pleasing thing for me is how many chances we’re creating.”

Hawke’s Bay coach Matt Chandler said his side took too long to get over the loss of defensive hardman Robertson, who left the pitch, then the ground after a eighth minute clash with Gwyther.

“I was disappointed with a couple of decisions, but that’s football. I think the defining moment was losing our losing our centre back… that’s a big loss for us and I don’t think we recovered from that,” he said.

Chandler later said he understood Robertson might have a broken leg.

Not making the most of early chances also hurt Hawke’s Bay United, Chandler said.

“If we’d scored one or two of the chances we created at the start it we might have been right back into it.

“A few of the boys hadn’t played NZFC before and now they know what’s it all about, we’ll benefit from that.”

Waikato put the game away in the 71st minute when Munday was brought down in the box and Joey Simpkins scored from the spot.

Four minutes later Hawke’s Bay scored, but it was only consolation for the hard working Andrew Abba, Hawke’s Bay will need to find away of strengthening up their defence which will be made extra hard  by the loss of Robertson.

 Waikato now have a tough away game in Christchurch next week, but, on today’s form, it’s one they should win.

Waikato FC

V

Hawke's Bay United

1. Sean Dowling (GK)

1. Richard Gillespie (GK)

Che Bunce

Sam Hammigan

Richard Beard

3. Phil Clarke

Joe Simpkins

4. Chris Greatholder

Jason Chewins (Hoyle)

7. Matt Hastings

David Samson

5. Bill Robertson

Mikael Munday

6. Jonathon Taylor

Michael Gwyther  (Holloway)

8. Leon Birnie

Shaun van Rooyen (C)

10. Joachim Rande

Daniel Peat  (Wasi)

11. Andrew Abba

Corey Hitchens

2. Sam Jacob

Substitutes

Substitutes

Charlie Hoyle

tbc

Scott Robinson

Steven Holloway

Tewi Te Pou

=goal

=yellow card

=2 yellow cards

= red card

0min

We're underway here at Centennial Park. Technology issues are playing their part but we'll be up and running very soo. Promise

12min 

sorry intweb issues so updates now coming via email and texts - sorry
Waikato and Hawke's Bay look very even so far, no quality shots yet. Very warm day at Ngaruawahia's Centennial Park.
HBU have already lost Bill Robertson who banged his head with Michael Gwyther's and went off after 10 minutes. Big loss for HB, Marama Thompson came on

19min

GOAL- Waikato score their first of the season through DAN PEAT. Peat latched on to a wel lplaced ball from the midfield and hit it across Gillespie in goal. First real quality shown by either side, first goal.

23min

GOAL 2-0 to Waikato. Matt Hastings  - formerly of Waikato FC, gave away a free kick and got a yellow card for his tackle on Shaun Van Rooyen. Mikael Munday dinked in an annoying little ball which was (stupidly) let to bounce. Michael Gwyther dived into it from close range to bury the header. Update on Robertson... he did hurt his head, but has gone to A and E for his ankle... work that one out.

27min 

Waikato playing well now, a lot more confidence. Very different from when they dropped their bundle last week

29 mins

GOAL - Dan Peat gets a double and Waikato are 3-0 up. Bizarre goal. Richard Gillespie made a great save from a Munday freekick, but the ball weas never cleared. Waikato got the ball back into the box and Peat and Gillespie went for it while the toher HB defenders stood and did nought. Gillespie got a touch ans Peat bounced away. Gillespie went down and Peat had an open net to tap into from six yeards, the goal was closer than a HB defender. as i said Bizzare

40min

Hastings got a yellow card, we've found out the last one I reported was just a foul and a finger waggle, no yellow. On the edge of the box, Mundy delivers, but flicked out for a corner. HB need some luck, or some sklill, or something. they really are battling. Gillespie punches clear, another corner. Richard Beard meets that one, unopposed and straight at Gillespie.

45+2

GOAL - Hawke's Bay grab one back. WSoft goal, well tapped in by I'm Not Sure, will check at halftime. HB needed that big time. Waikato failed to clear and an HB midfielder gently rolled it in.
I was about to say how much Waikato were dominating and how well they'd done after being very, very poor in patches a week ago. They were poor there, but that may help give the game a bit of spark in the second spell.

Halftime

Interesting half. Slow start, Waikato scored three quickly and were right on top, but left the door slightly ajar for HB by conceding what Che Bunce will no doubt call a soft goal, well, even if he doesn't call it that, I will.
HB missing Bill Robertson and keeper Gillespie has done a good job. I will go have a beer, oops, I mean find out who scored.

50min

Still 3-1 here, HB showing some goot signs here, Matt Hastings curled in three quality corners and crosses, but Waikato eventually cleatred, once off the line. Update on the first half, the HB goal was scored by Leon Birnie and the yellow cards in the first spell went to Hastings and Waikato's Joey Simpkins.

59min

HB's strikers continue to be called offside. As I say that, Abba finally gets the ball properly and fires a good low, 15m shot at Dowling, but it was stright at Dowling, who bobbled it before keeping control.

63min

not a lot happening. A yummy mummy walked by my commentary position, but that's not football. HB need to string some attacking play together here. Whenever they create something, they're giving it away.

65min

Yellow card to Phil Clarke, JUST on the edge of the box, very cynical shirt pull that could have got a red to Waikato yunder the never fail last man rule (cough). Gillespie jumps on a ball bouncing about. Cleared. Still 3-1

70min

Yellow card to David Samson, Samson made a run down the right, but a bal lthrough was only ever going to be 50-50 with HB's Marama Thompson and Samson went in a rough.

71min

Penalty Waikato. Munday bought down roughly by ? (not sure sorry) and a definite pen

71min

GOAL 4-1 Joey Simpkins, who scored against HB from the spot in a preseason 1-1 draw, drills it low and to his left, Gillespie goes right. 4-1.

76min

GOAL 4-2, Hawke's Bay United score through Andrew Abba. Long corner, he was left unmarked and stroked home a well placed volley, not too hard, just well done past Dowling

77min

sub, Holloway had already come on for Gwyther and now Maurie Wasi has come on for two goal scorer Dan Peat.

79min

Waikato nearly score from a van Rooyen corner. Gillespie eventually gets the ball, only for Wasi to boot him. Hardly seems fair. Ref agrees, free kick HB.

84min

sub Charlie Hoyle for Jason Chewis.

87min

indirect freekick inside the box to HB - Dowling held the ball too long I think, I guiess it is a hard rule to remember 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6, oops. Anyway, over the top with the freekick. Dowling hasn;t exactly covered himself in glory today, a handful of fumbles and he's still trying to find his feet in this grade.

88min

Still 4-2. Waikato should easily hold on here. Wasi scores, but is offside

90+1

bit of biff, Jonathan Taylor took acception to Joey Simpkins tackle, few words, a baby shove, but close to the dugouts so a few words and MAYBE a push from a Waikato sub, that'll cost him if that's the case... I will look into that for you... just for you.

90+3

Full Time - Waikato 4-2, and get their season off to a start and go a long way to forgetting last week's 5-0 thrashing. Comments, mine and theirs, and photos to follow.