Otago United

Hawke's Bay United

1

0

Scorers

Scorers

39' Stu Kelly             

by Rab Smith at Carisbrook
nzfc.co.nz

Nervous Otago United snatched a precious 1-0 win over Hawke's Bay at Carisbrook stadium this afternoon thus ending a six year wait for a home win over the visitors from Park Island.
 
Spectators perched on the edge of their seats were treated to 90 minutes of excitement as the sides created plenty og scoring chances and bone chilling errors at either end.
 
Hawke's Bay dominated the first 20 minutes with some talented individual play from Leon Birnie, Joachim Rande and George Barbarouses sliced through gaps when give time and space by the home side.
 
Less obvious was the positional nous and leadership of Tim Horner who with his fellow centreback Tom Sadd missed nothing in the air, and led Bay attacks into a cul-de-sac where crunching tackles lay in wait like a bear trap.

Otago’s attacks were infrequent due to some poor passing that broke down their attacking play, but winning games is all about scoring goals and the home side stitched one splendid move together that would later prove decisive.

A clever pass from Andy Coburn for Stu Kelly allowed the former Rangers man to deliver a hip shaking shimmy that fooled the defence and allowed him to strike past Richard Gillespie from an acute angle on 39 minutes.
 
There is nothing like a goal to boost confidence, and Otago started to look likely as Ryan Faichnie meandered through the Bay defence and James Reichwein battled to win the high balls from Bays giant centrebacks Chris Greatholder and Stuart Ferguson.
 
It was great entertainment as the Bay continued to create chances and on a better day Matt Hastings might have scored a couple as he created himself opportunities but the former Waikato FC and Melville United player was off target.

Dave Dugdale and Kelly also hit shots and Otago’s best chance was a first time effort by Kelly that fizzed over the Bays crossbar after a quality cross by Faichnie left the Bay defence helpless.
 
At halftime Otago’s lead looked slender and when Hawkes Bay’s Rande broke clear and forced a double save from Otago keeper James Waggett it appeared only a matter of time before the visitors were level.
 
On the break, Bays looked fragile and they nearly paid for losing possession on the attack when running onto a raking cross from Faichnie,  Stu Kelly should have scored after a close range skirmish mere metres from keeper Gillespie’s goal line.
 
Otago coach Malcolm Fleming brought on fresh legs in Tom Connor, Morgan Day and Rhys Henderson but as time ticked away this pressure cooker match threatened to explode.
 
Otago tried to run the clock down near the corner flags, and with play stretched, Hawkes Bay made a couple of searing breakaways that need bootlace saves from keeper Waggett.
 
As late as the 92nd minute, Andrew Abba beat Waggett but steered the ball wide, then on another super-charged run Abba was nailed by Horner in a last ditch tackle that earned a yellow card from referee Kevin Stoltenkamp.
 
That final free kick by Hawke's Bay was willed to safety by twitching Otago supporters despite flailing attempts by 20 players in a congested penalty area melee.
 
At the final whistle, a delighted Fleming agreed with a passing spectator who just muttered ‘ Nervewracking ‘
 
Fleming said,’ It was a ‘must win’ match for us, and we earned it with lots of spirit, and with  some  composure when we most needed it.’
 
‘ No Knox, Ede, or Jenkinson, and Robbie Deeley still ran his heart out despite playing with the broken toe he got last weekend. All our youngsters made the step up.’
 
‘ Prattley and Abbott dug in, as did the subs when they came on. Andy Coburn was our anchor, and in front of Horner and Sadd everyone put in big mileage,’ Fleming said.
 
Fleming also paid tribute to Hawke's Bay. They are a very good side and really showed how tight this year’s NZFC is.’
 
Bays coach Matt Chandler was frustrated. ‘It’s the old story. We made the chances, but didn’t put them away. If you don’t score, you don’t win.’

With YoungHeart Manawatu beaten 3-2 by Waitakere United at Whenuapai this afternoon, results could not have gone better for Otago United today.

YoungHeart Manawatu slipped further down the NZFC table while Waitakere United's win does little to affect positions in the table likely to be of immediate concern to Malcolm Fleming's men.

Otago United's victory propels them into the heady heights of third place but their stay may only be temporary with Canterbury United and Team Wellington both in action away from home tomorrow against Waikato FC at Ngaruawahia and Auckland City's Kiwitea Street respectively.

The best outcome from an Otago perspective would be for Waikato FC and Auckland City to produce wins. The latter is perhaps a better bet than the former, although the addition of Jeff Campbell to the Waikato ranks offers Che Bunce's team a glimmer of hope. Auckland City will be tested by a resurgent Team Wellington and picking a winner may prove more difficult.

Full and live text coverage of both matches is available at this website www.nzfc.co.nz
 

Otago United

V

Hawke's Bay United

1- James Waggett (GK)

23- Richard Gillespie

2- Mike Abbot

2- Sam Halligan

3- Tristan Prattley

7- Matt Hastings

6- Tom Sadd

5- Chris Greatholder

7- Robbie Deeley

8- Leon Birnie

8- Stu Kelly

10- Joachim Rande

9- Ryan Faichnie

12- Sam Jacob

10- Dave Dugdale

16- Marama Thompson

11- Andy Coburn

17- George Barbarouses

12- James Reichwin

18- Andy Bevin

17- Tim Horner

21- Stuart Ferguson

Substitutes

Substitutes

13- Brian Brown (GK)

24- Fergus Neil

4- Dave Shaw

14- Willie Stanger

5- Rhys Henderson

1- Shaun Peta (GK)

15- Tom Connor

11- Andrew Abba

16- Morgan Day

3- Phil Clarke

21- Harley Rodeka

=goal

=yellow card

=2 yellow cards

= red card

0'

Welcome to Dunedin for this NZFC showdown between Otago United and Hawke's Bay United - not off to a great start here with a technical failure causing the laptop to have a breakdown. We're working on a solution and will endeavour to bring you updates as frequently as possible.

1'

Kevin Stoltenkamp gets the match underway on a fine day here at Carisbrook. Approximately 200 strong crowd here for this one. The pitch is in immaculate condition - no excuses for wayward passes this afternoon!

4'

Kelly takes a shot directly at goal from the edge of the 18, only to have a defender in the way blocking

5'

Rande gets close with a shot a few meters out from goal line only to have Horner's leg knocking it out for corner

7'

Abbott gets knocked to the ground as Hawkes Bay midfielder closes in to block a pass, play is stopped as medical aids and Abbott is walked off the pitch

9'

Abbott returns to the field of play

12'

Reichwein goes in with well timed slide tackle to remove the ball from Bevin and stop Hawkes Bay's push up the far side

14'

Missed time run causes Hastings to strugle to get the ball and sends it flying way over the crossbar

18'

Play has returned to end to end style, Flemming tells his team to keep the ball down

22'

Hawkes Bays is keeping the ball in the air on the edge of Otago's 18 but are unable to put foot to ball

24'

Otago are pushing their chances by short passing out side Hawkes Bay's goal mouth, unable to make a clean shot they put out wide but are closed down

25'

Chip into goals with Gillespie making short work with a quick jump as Dugdale puts on the pressure

28'

Hawkes Bay's paying safe with a clean pass back to Gillespie allowing him enough time to clear it up field for another attack

31'

Fancy Work by Dugdale gives a cross to Faichnie who strikes it with some power but disapointed it goes wide of the right upright

33'

Bad passing in the center of the pitch makes moving forward hard for both teams

35'

Hastings puts a ball into Otago's box, Sadd puts his head to it and clears it up field

39'

Stu Kelly puts on a quick outside turn and hits it low to Gillespie's lower left hand corner putting it past and back of the net, GOAL!!! 1 - 0

42'

Ferguson is given a warning by the ref

43'

YELLOW CARD  Barbarouses is pulled up for hand ball and given the card

45'+1

1' is displayed by 4th Offical
Half time is called shortly after

46'

Hawkes Bay Kick off for the second half

47'

Trip on Barbarouses gives Hawkes Bay a good position to score from, Otago defender gets head to it and helps clear the ball

49'

Double save from Waggett Keeps Otago ahead, Rande disapointed with his effort

51'

Reichwein goes down in Hawkes bay's box, ref calls play on

52'

long kick into Otago's box, Waggett calls as he runs up pushing through attackers to punch it away

53'

Bad back pass gives Dugdale a chance as he runs pass, Gillespie only just making it to the ball and clearing as Dugdale moves to his left to dodge hitting the keeper

57'

SUB Hawkes Bay
ON: 11 Andrew Abba
OFF: 7 Matt Hastings

58'

A tackle takes Kelly down, after medic looks at him he is carred off thanks to Gillespie and Ferguson from Hawkes Bay

60'

Rande trys his turn and shoot but it goes wide of right upright

61'

Otago push in Hawkes Bay's goal mouth but offside flag goes
Stu Kelly Returns to the feild of play

62'

SUB Otago
ON: 15 Tom Connor
OFF: 9 Ryan Faichnie

66'

Both team making good use of long high balls working the defence to clear or control it

70'

Abbott misses a clearing kick as pressure from Hawkes Bay's striker causes him to rush

71'

Faichnie takes a shot at goal troubling Gillespie but not on target enough to put into the back of the net.

73'

Thompson makes run down near side crossing it, Coburn controls and clears

74'

Otago are under pressure as Hawkes bay hold ball in Otago's half

75'

Another run from Dugdale as the ball is clear of the last defender, Gillespie making it in time to clear it once more

77'

Sadd doing his part to break down Hawkes Bay's attack

78'

Waggett gets his body behind a corner ball holding onto it

80'

SUB Otago
ON: 16 Morgan Day
OFF: 7 Robbie Deeley

81'

Kelly unable to put another away as defenders closed in on him in Hawkes Bay's 18

85'

SUB Otago
ON: 20 Rhys Henderson
OFF: 9 Ryan Faichnie

86'

Prattley takes a run up the near side with the ball holding it into the corner as time counts down

89'

Ofside called as Otago make their way up the field
YELLOW CARD Coburn for bad tackle

90'+1

Speedy close down by Waggett helps stear Abba's ball off to the side of the goal for goal kick
4th Offical singles 3 mins added time

90'+2

Waggett gets hands on a cross stopping it

90'+3

Horner tackles from behind, taking him down and getting him a YELLOW CARD at the same time

90'+5

Ref calls full time and everyone goes wild
FINAL SCORE 1 - 0 to Otago