Hawke's Bay United

Waikato FC

3

0

Scorers

Scorers

Birnie (9', 84')
Rande (77')   

by Ryan Majstrovic at Park Island
nzfc.co.nz

Hawke's Bay United kept its NZFC play-off hopes alive as they saw off Waikato FC in treacherous conditions at Park Island today.

It is to the credit of the ground staff of Hawke's Bay's spiritual home that the surface held up, though free-flowing football was not in abundance thanks to the soft ground and slippery conditions under-foot.

Both sides struggled to piece together meaningful play in the opening stages with a stop-start theme prevailing.

Though heavy rain over the previous day had produced conditions that were far from summer, it perhaps in reality saved a battling Waikato FC side from complete destruction.

After losing influential striker Steven Holloway to work commitments earlier in the season, Waikato have struggled and can only now look to pull a rabbit out of the hat for any play-off aspirations to come to fruition.

In fairness, they gave as good as they got – and even after losing Daniel Peat to a red card mid-way through the first half proved difficult to break down.

Though an early goal down thanks to a well-taken finish from Leon Birnie, Waikato proved tough to penetrate for their hosts, with 16 year-old goalkeeper Alex Carr producing several key interventions as Hawke's Bay piled on the pressure.

Parity on the scoresheet was literally a kick away almost immediately following the first red card, when man-of-the-match Richard Gillespie was adjudged to have brought down Michael Gwyther when through on goal – despite seeming to get two clear hands to the ball at full stretch in front.

Predictably, both sides surrounded the officials in protest and plea. From the ensuing penalty, Gillespie read correct to save and hold Gwyther’s effort.

The Hawkes Bay lynchpin was coy in receiving unanimous praise for his efforts, simply stating –

“Given the circumstances surrounding the penalty, and the odd word spoken following it…I really had to save it, didn’t I?," Gillespie said.

Even after the disappointment of an opportunity missed, the experience of Che Bunce and ex-professional Jason Chewins maintained a sense of belief for the visitors.

This hope evaporated when they were reduced by another player as past Melville United team-mates David Samson and Matt Hastings clashed mid-way into the second half.

Though noticeably lacking in possession or opportunity to attack, Waikato deserve credit for not folding completely.

Carr was vital in keeping the score respectable until late in the second half, as Hawkes Bay enjoyed the vast majority of possession in opposition territory.

Post-match, Waikato Coach Che Bunce lamented two red cards for tackles that would be better forgotten.

“I thought with ten we were doing okay – but when you go down to nine…what can you do?”

Bunce perhaps summised the Waikato situation to a tee, recognising the need something major has to change if the Ngaruawahia-based franchise is to take anything from their remaining matches.

“It’s a good thing the transfer window’s open, because we’re two players short now!”

He also acknowledged the impact conditions had on the fixture – something that somewhat ironically the hosts seemed to adjust to better.

“I think it’s the first time in about 15 years of coming here it’s been raining, including the winter.”

In response, Hawke's Bay counterpart Matt Chandler was gracious in victory, though clearly relieved to have got the result his side desperatly needed.

Chandler made special mention of Waikato’s Carr, highlighting the bright future he has ahead.

 “I worked with Alex when he was 12 years old. The kid broke his leg, and to think 4 years later he’s playing National League football – and doing well to boot is just fantastic.”

“What was also really pleasing about today is that we had three Academy products out there. Andrew Bevin, Fergus Neil, and Marama Thompson were all outstanding and it’s so encouraging for the future of this franchise.”

And it wasn’t until Neil’s introduction that Hawke's Bay really finished Waikato off, with the fresh legs he brought – along with crowd favourite Andrew Abba and young Australian Sam Jacob – finally breaking down and eventually overcoming the Waikato defence.

Abba’s Solomon Island compatriot Joachim Rande got on the scoresheet with an unstoppable drive from the edge of the area, and Leon Birnie completed the scoring with Abba this time the provider of a pinpoint cross to the near post.

Chandler was also keen to focus on the ‘how’ rather than the ‘what’ when it came to evaluating his own side’s performance.

“Of course the three points is vital, but it was more about our attitude and performance than the result today.”

He will have been well-pleased when in the dying stages Gwyther managed to evade three defenders to be clear on goal a matter of yards out, only for the ever-alert Gillespie to produce another top-drawer save and secure Hawkes Bay’s first clean-sheet of the season.

Chandler’s men are away next Saturday to Otago United – who will be smarting after being well beaten at the hands of Auckland City by 5-0 – while Waikato can look forward to a hosting Canterbury United, who provided a depleted Waitakere United with a long return trip north after beating them 4-0 at English Park this afternoon.

Hawke's Bay United

V

Waikato FC

23. Richard GILLESPIE [gk]

1. Alex CARR [gk]

2. Sam HALLIGAN

2. Che BUNCE

4. Chris GREATHOLDER (off 72')

3. Richard BEARD

6. Jonathon TAYLOR (c)

4. Charlie HOYLE

7. Matt HASTINGS (off 66')

6. Jason CHEWINS (off 79')

8. Leon BIRNIE  

8. David SAMSON

10. Joachim RANDE

10. Michael GWYTHER

16. Marama THOMPSON

13. Shaun VAN ROOYEN (c)

17. George BARBAROUSES

14. Daniel PEAT

18. Andrew BEVIN (off 65')

17. Mark JONES  (off 84')

21. Stuart FERGUSON

23. Alex BARLOW (off 59')

Substitutes

Substitutes

1. Shaun PETA [rgk]

26. Scott ROBINSON [rgk]

3. Phil CLARKE

5. Joe SIMPKINS

11. Andrew ABBA (on 65')

7. Tewi TE POU

12. Sam JACOB (on 72')

16. Paul STEWART (on 79')

24. Fergus NEIL (on 66')

18. Corey HITCHENS (on 84')

24. Maurie WASI (on 59')

=goal

=yellow card

=2 yellow cards

= red card

1'

we're underway here at Park Island, after a good day's valuable rain preceding

Hawkes Bay with the kick-off, George BARBAROUSES putting Joachim RANDE through but he is called offside

4'

both teams are taking time in adjusting to the slippery conditions, with small fouls creeping in

Matt HASTINGS finds RANDE with a free-kick, who turns quickly and forces a save from Alex CARR. Stu FERGUSON is on hand for the deflection, but hits the crossbar from only metres out 

9'

GOAL!

Chris GREATHOLDER disposesses Shaun van Rooyen at the half-way line, and fires a slide-rule pass through to #8. Leon BIRNIE - whose angled-run evades Richard Beard - and he rolls his finish past Carr's right hand and into the net

12'

Jonathan TAYLOR strikes a loose ball at Carr's top-left corner, for the young 'keeper to athletically tip around the post

15'

Richard GILLESPIE acts quick to collect a loose ball at the other end

HASTINGS gets to the bye-line to find BIRNIE's stooping header at the near post, which goes narrowly over the crossbar

Hawkes Bay are enjoying the bulk of possession, but Waikato threatening to break on the counter

17'

FERGUSON defends well to prevent Mark JONES having a sight on goal

20'

Andrew BEVIN finds HASTINGS with a switched-ball, who releases a strike that is blocked by BEARD

BIRNIE controls well under close attention from Beard, finds RANDE, and Hawkes Bay earn another corner from a deflection

25'

David SAMSON releases an angled-drive from 30 yards that GILLESPIE has to scramble to reach, but evetually collects despite a strong challenge from Daniel PEAT

27'

#6. Jonathan TAYLOR receives a yellow card for bringing down Alex BARLOW when threatening goal

30'

RED CARD!

Waikato #14. Daniel PEAT sees red for an agricultural challenge on Chris Greatholder

33'

PENALTY!

The referee points to the spot after GILLESPIE seems to save at Michael GWYTHERS's feet - and players from both teams surround the officials

GWYTHER's penalty is under-hit to GILLESPIE's left - which the 'keeper gladly receives, and proceeds to offer the Waikato striker a few pieces of advice

40'

#17. Mark JONES receives a yellow card for pulling down Andy Bevin

42'

CARR rises well through traffic to palm a dangerous corner clear

#2. Sam HALLIGAN receives a yellow card for a sliding challenge on Gwyther

-- 3 minutes added time --

HALF TIME: HBU 1 WFC 0

46'

we're underway again, with no changes to either side

the pitch has softened considerably along with the tempo of the fixture

48'

Jason CHEWINS has a sight of goal from the edge of the area, but fires well wide

Chewins is again in the thick of it, this time putting in a sliding challenge on RANDE for BIRNIE to eventually win a corner

55'

GWYTHER finds space on the left edge of the area, and his shot sprays across the face off goal

59'

Waikato replace #23. Alex BARLOW with #24. Maurie WASI

63'

BIRNIE finds RANDE around the penalty spot, but BEARD and Che BUNCE combine to dispossess him

64'

RED CARD!

#8. David SAMSON goes in hard on Matt HASTINGS, and wins an early shower

65'

#11. Andrew ABBA comes on for #18. Andrew BEVIN

66'

#24. Fergus NEIL enters the match, for #7. Matt HASTINGS

69'

Hawkes Bay have Waikato under predictable but nonetheless constant pressure, thus far for no significant reward

72'

#4. Chris GREATHOLDER is replaced by #12. Sam JACOB

Waikato enjoy a brief foray into Hawkes Bay's half, which results in a counter-attack and Marama THOMPSON attempting to chip Carr who was forced into a desperate sliding clearance

74'

NEIL puts BIRNIE through on goal, but the angle is tight and CARR holds well down to his left

77'

GOAL!

#10. Joachim RANDE turns sharp from inside the D to finish in Carr's bottom-left corner

79'

#6. Jason CHEWINS makes way for #16. Paul STEWART

81'

the Waikato players are understandably quiet, though Hawkes Bay are not capitalising on almost complete possession

BARBAROUSES hits a low drive from 40 yards, for BIRNIE to flick over with his back to goal

84'

GOAL!

#8. Leon BIRNIE gets his forehead to an Andrew ABBA cross, and surely now Hawkes Bay will push on

#17. Mark JONES is replaced by #18. Corey HITCHENS

87'

GWYTHER sets off on a mazy dribble beating three defenders, but GILLESPIE produces a point-blank save to his right

88'

Waikato have the ball in the net, but the goal is disallowed for hand-ball

-- 3 minutes added time --

FULL TIME: HBU 3 WFC 0