Waikato FC

Team Wellington

2

3

Jeff Campbell 18

Shaun van Rooyen 41'

 Greg Draper 1
Andy Barron 24 

Michael Fifii 90'+3

byMatt Richens at Centennial Park
nzfc.co.nz

Thanks to a last second winner by Michael Fifii,  Team Wellington’s New Zealand Football Championship playoff hopes are still well and truly alive.

Fifii capitalised on a keeping error by Waikato FC debutant Scott Robinson to nod in in the 93rd minute and win 3-2 at Ngaruawahia.

It really was a game of two halves.

Team Wellington dominated the opening spell and opened their account after just 42 seconds when Greg Draper blasted in.

Waikato equalised twice before Fifii broke their hearts with the last play of the game.

Waikato’s two goals in the first half, through Jeff Campbell and captain Shaun van Rooyen were against the run of play and Wellington coach Stu Jacobs could have been forgiven for being frustrated his team were only level at 2-2 at the break.

“Myself and (assistant coach) Charlie (Howe) were frustrated on the sideline, so I guess the players would have duely felt that way too,” he said.

He said the team still had a tendency to give away sloppy goals as happened when van Rooyen leveled in the 41st minute.

“We needed someone commanding in the box to tell Cole not to head it, but they pounced and scored.”

Bunce and his team disappeared quicksmart after the game and were obviously frustrated to let yet another game slip away, to drop more points and tighten their grip on the wooden spoon.

Waikato had the better of the second half and created the most chances, but couldn’t put them away.

The same problem that always haunts them came to the fore; players were dinking around in the box with the ball and not shooting.

Jacobs was obviously relieved to get three points and said Waikato were unlucky not to take something from the game, “On the balance of the game, potentially a draw was a fair result, but just where we are, we can’t afford to draw.

“We’ve got a desire to go right until the final whistle.”
Wellington didn’t look overly dangerous, and their first two goals, and a handful of other chances, were created as much by poor Waikato defending and a good Wellington build-up.

Once that was sorted, the visitors had far fewer opportunities.

It was sadly ironic that Waikato debutant keeper Scott Robinson, who has been with the side all year and deserved a start, gave away the go-ahead goal.

Robinson, who had a busy first half as the defence was non-existent at times, conceded twice in the first spell, but pulled off half a dozen quality saves throughout the match.

But when he came half way for a bouncing ball, Fifii was only to happy to nod the ball over his head and give Team Wellington the win. 

Wellington have a final game, in a fortnight, against Canterbury, in Wellington, but will expect more from their experienced players than they got in Ngaruawahia.

“Give Che and his team credit they played well and deserved a point,” Jacobs said.

And he was right, they did deserve a point, but could have had more.

The feeling from the Waikato players was one of “another game we were in but let slip away” – the story of their season.

Jacobs said he was impressed with the quality of Waikato and said it was testament to the strength of the 2009/2010 competition that they were last and showed so much strength.

Waikato FC

V

Team Wellington

1 Scott Robinson (GK)

1 James Bannatyne (GK/C)

2 Che Bunce

3 Jamie Duncan

5 Joe Simpkins

5 Michael Winsauer

6 Jason Chewins

7 Cole Peverly

8 David Samson

8 Chris Davies

10 Michael Gwyther

9 Grep Draper

13 Shaun van Rooyen

13 Karl Whalen

17 Mark Jones (Stewart 63')

17 Gary McDermott (Keat 75')

19 Jeff Campbell

19 Andy Barron

23 Alex Barlow (Rattray 84')

21 Bryan Little (Cheriton 66')

24 Mauri Wasi (Hoyle 80')

26 Roddy Brown (Fifii 56')

Substitutes

Substitutes

RGK Alex Carr

4 Dan Keat (McDermott 75')

4 Charlie Hoyle (Wasi 80')

18 Darren Cheriton (Little 66')

11 Danny Rattray (Barlow 84')

22 Michael Fifii (Brown 56')

16 Paul Stewart (Jones 63')

24 James McPeake (RGK)

=goal

=yellow card

=2 yellow cards

= red card

Scorcher here at Ngaruawahia, very warm and humid, cerowd very poor, most of them expecting a 2pm start I guess. Team Wellington is cook in your skin black and Waikato in their burnt Orange away strip... at home... odd. Anyway, Waikato have the wooden spoon to jump away from while Wellington have a good shot at the playoffs, but need a win. Waikato FC giving Melville keeper Scott Robinson a debuty game, worked hard all season at training and finally gets a start. They're doing their huddles and hug things before they start and we're about to start

-2

I'm Matt Richens, if you have any burning questions, feel free to ask me at richens_chch@hotmail.com

1'

GOAL!!!!!! 1-0 to Team Wellington, 42 seconds before Greg Draper latches on toa pulled back cross and launches Wellington into the lead. Waikato looked to be waiting for an offside call that never came. Not a good start for the hosts

2'

Chris Davies was the provider for Draper there, down the right hand side and a werll pulled back cross along the ground. So it took Robinson 13 games to get on the park, then 42 seconsd to concede, clearly not his fault though

7'

Looks like Waikato have started now... that's nice for them. Such a bad opening five minutes for the hosts, only conceded once, but did nothing.

8'

Draper has a left foot volley from long range, but it goes wide

11'

Campbell corner is met by Gwyther for Waikato, but the powerful header goes over

18'

 GOAL 1-1 Jeff Campbell scores, great finish from in front, 20 out, a good one two from van Rooyen and well finished first touch goal... interesting now

22'

Cole Peverly is given too much space and shoots from right in front, 25 out, but goes wide past Robinson's outstretched arm

24'

Fantastic save from Robinson, perfect dipping cross from Duncan and Roddy Brown flicks on and gets a reaction save from Robinson

24'

GOAL 2-1 Wellington, from the resulting corner, the ball is delfected and Andy Barron blasts it in on the half volley, good shot in traffic.

25'

Barron nearly scores again, great ball from Draper and Barron hits it sliding, but Robinson makes another very good save. I bet he'd love it if he had a back four in front of him He's way too busy

29'

Bannatyne claims a dangerous David Samson cross in traffic, came a long way, but did well. Wellington counter quickly, but it poeters out

33'

no stoppage for a drink today, it's plenty hotter today than it was afortnight ago when we stopped twice, interesting.

34'

Waikato using to much width and missing opportunities to play down the middle as they did in their first goal. TW look the better team by some way here

39'

Samson cross find Gwyther, but in traffic and can onlyhead upwards and his powerless shot is easily sorted out by Bannentyne, corner to TW at the other end

40'

Barron takes, cleared by Barlow for another, Winsauer flicks on header for this one, but goes over

41'

GOAL!!!! van Rooyen scores, 2-2 confusion in the box and a tap in to the skipper

44'

Scott Robinson makes another great save for Waikato FC

45'+1

Team Wellington will think themsleves unlucky to only be level, but Waikato have been lucky, no question. They've done some things well, but  are defensively average at best - it's 2-2 here at Centennial Park at halftime.

48'

Waikato pushing forward and have started the second half witha bit of uumph

50'

Injured Waikato striker Tewi Te Pou, who hasn;t seen nearly enough game time this year is on the sideline trying to start a mexican wave and the crowd of 291 is paying him more attention than the football, but they can'treally be blamed

56'

SUBSTITUTION - Brown for Fifii Both teams spending some time on attack, but struggling to convert, a bit more desperate in defence and Wellington obvuiously searching for amuch needed winner by bring on Fifii
 

58'

Wasi is found in space, but choses to dance with the ball at his feet rather than shoot fro Waikato... eventually gets a shot away, but is weak and Bannatyne saves

60'

Waikato getting frustrated out there and it looks likely Hester will need to get his first card out soon

63'

SUBSTITUTION Jones for Stewart for Waikato

66'

SUBSTITUTION Little off for Cheriton Team Wellington - Waikato looking better in the last five minutes, not just better as in improved, but better than Team Wellington per se

68'

Waikato have a handful of opportunities in a row, as they have a heap of possession in the Team Wellington penalty box, but no one pulls the trigger..!

72'

Waikato still look more likely here. Just the same they have no attacking weapon on the bench. Might have to bring on another defender and push Bunce forward

75'

SUBSTITUTION - Dan Keat on for McDermott

78'

Golden opportunity butchered by Wasi. Samson intercepted, put Gwyther away and his cross found Wasi only for the Papua New Guniean international to smear it wide. He was under pressure, but should have done better!

80'

Bunce heads narrowly side, after the ball was cleared from a Waikato corner only to be dinked back in by Barlow - SUBSTITUTION Wasi (finally) off for Hoyle and Bunce to push to join Gwyther up front
 

82'

Whalen makes a huge diving block to save TW, Waikato still hot on attack. Stewart's shot very well blocked by Whalen on the corner of the 6y box

83'

At the other end Robinson makes a sprawling save of his own to keep Waikato FC in the game

84'

SUBSTITUTION Rattray gets his first NZFC appearance this season for the injured Alex Barlow

87'

Fifii makes a good run, but is shut ddown by Rattray. Draper gets free, but he too is shut down, Waikato's counter breaks down too

89'

Waikato corner...an additional three minutes time to be added on...

90'+2

glancing header wide by Wellington

90'+3

GOAL!!!!! Michale Fifii nabs a late winner for Wellington to keep their playoff hopes alive. Fifii headed over the charging Robinson to grab the win. Robinson stuck halfway. And that's the ;last play of the game. Waikato deserved something out of that game

FULLTIME

Waikato go down 3-2 to Team Wellington. The visitors had the better of the first halfand should have been well up but Waikato were better inthe second half. More from me and the coaches' thoughts soon. Ciao