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Jon Waller posted on July 12, 2009 09:18
On Saturday, the Thirds took on Metro, trying to keep their rise up the table going, following on to the winning of the last 3 games. To be honest I thought we started a little flat and didn't seem to have the passion we had over the last few weeks, we played on their no 1 pitch and enjoyable it was.
The defence strengthened this week by the return of Richie Sharples, helping out Brian Mac, Pete and Tom Sutcliffe, all having great games. This Metro team was full of young lads with great pace, skill and fitness and about 20 minutes into it, we weren't able to shut them down quickly enough in midfield and the opposition hit a shot from 25 yards, that Colin could only parry into the top of the net, 1 - 0 Metro.
Metro then had a couple of golden opportunities to go 2 up, but after some great defensive work, good keeping and poor finishing, we managed to keep them at bay.
The lads held firm and started to believe in themselves and through some good midfield work by Adam Moorhouse and Jamie Rumbold we were able to create some pressure. Towards the end of the first-half we had a succession of corners and finally the ball broke to Adam who with great skill set up Nick Rowe to score the equaliser, 1 - 1.
The half-time team talk was to lift it, with more commitment and passion and no reason why we can't get a result out of this, we started the second- half strongly, Liam Macdonald came on to play wide on the left and after some great work from Nick Rowe, the rebound fell to Liam but he mis-cued the chance and skied it over the bar.
We had many great chances the second-half, Imran rounded the keeper and scored, but was flagged for marginally off-side. Nick chased a couple of nothing balls to win some great possession and took the ball off the defender, turned him inside out and shot over just over the bar with only the keeper to beat.
Nick also made another chance for himself, again turned the defender inside out as he took him on, but Nick had the strength to carry on and I think if you'd gone down we could have had a just reward.
We had plenty of chances, Ali and Cameron having good games in the midfield, Cameron if you just start backing yourself, you're able to skin so many players, but look to pass it instead of just putting your head down and getting us deep into the opposition's half.
Only seconds to go and it looked like a 1 - 1 draw and to be perfectly honest probably would have been a fitting result and would have been quite happy with that. But Metro were awarded a free-kick 10 metres into the Puke half and their defender struck it well and Colin Pegg could only parry it into the top of the net, last kick of the game, absolutely gutted.
Would also like to thank Martin Mercer for coming along and for his efforts from the sideline, certainly makes my life a little easier and for some sound advice, thanks mate!
From a coaches perspective, we were a bit flat the first half and fortunate to go into the break 1 - 1. I thought the 2nd half was a much more committed and polished performace, Ali gave 110% again with some great effort and tackling in the heart of the midfield, good skill and chasing from Imraan and a great effort from Nick Rowe, who had a much better 2nd- half. Brian and Pete, what can I say you were both superb and kept their attack very quiet in the 2nd-half. Richie great tackling and ball control gave us that edge to be able to play the ball out of defence and create what we did. To be perfectly honest if Colin had been 4 inches taller we'd have won that game 1 - 0. Great effort lads!!
Player of the Day was Richie Sharples, great to have you back Richie, you dealt admirably with everything that was thrown at you and commitment and passion was second to none.
Goal Scorer: Nick Rowe
Next week we are home to Onehunga Sports 1.00pm kick off.