Otago United

Waitakere United

0

6

Ryan de VRIES 31'
Roy KRISHNA 45'
Own goal (Jude FITZPATRICK () 45'+4
Allan PEARCE 65', 69'
Sean LOVEMORE 84'

by Rab Smith at Forsyth Barr Stadium
asbpremiership.co.nz

DUNEDIN - "We are pretty good at wearing teams down," said Waitakere coach Neil Emblen, and on a perfect pitch at the Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin – that is exactly what happened.
 
Brave defiance was good enough to keep the game scoreless for half an hour, but Waitakere was just too good, and had pace to spare that carved holes in the Dunedin defence to net six goals without reply.
 
Regardless which team Richard Murray picked, it was always going to be tough for Otago to compete with Emblen’s polished product of 30 quality players competing for a first team place.
 
But, Murray lost two key defenders before a ball was kicked, Tristan Prattley and Craig Ferguson were spectators. Striker Donnie MacGregor didn’t last the pre-match warm up as his hammy went.
 
Could things get worse? After half an hour of spirited defiance and a nil-all scoreline, it certainly got worse for Otago striker Ant Hancock who clashed heads and was stretchered off to hospital.
 
Then another high speed flailing helicopter tackle left Morgan Day flattened with blood gushing from a cut in his upper eyelid that would make a boxer wince.
 
To his gutsy credit, Day returned to play looking like a pint sized Terry Butcher swathed in head bandages, the wee Mosgiel midfielder played a main role in Otago’s despairing attempts to "keep the ball."
 
With less blood showing, but as much class, Darren Overton and Mike Cunningham showed poise and decent ball retention for Otago, and Tom Connor aggressively won ball and used it well.
 
But where Otago was making sporadic attacks, Waitakere resembled the Charge of the Light Brigade as steady control dispatched penetrating passes that linked up with the teams mercurial attack.
 
Playing three frontrunners, Roy Krishna, Ryan De Vries and Allan Pearce all had pace to burn, and were like Gatling guns held to the heads of Otago’s defence.
 
All scored quality goals, Pearce got two, Sean Lovemore also got on the scoresheet, and both centreback Fitzpatrick and keeper Peter Evans slumped in common despair when an Own Goal was also slewed into the Otago goal.
 
Coach Murray rang the changes as legs gave out, but the depth of his squad hardly compared with Waitakere’s  and while willing legs raced around, inexperience lost the ball, and more waves of Waitakere attacks were mounted.
 
Yet Otago still created a few chances that might have salved its hurt. Overton found space and hit a couple of decent shots, Harley Rodeka carved past tackles in the Watak box, and Cunningham also got on target.
 
But this hardly compared with Ross McKenzie romping up the left  delivering a parade of telling passes. Another former Otago player Tim Myers had his usual elegant prompting, passing game, and looking up the barrel, Otago keeper Peter Evans repeatedly repelled boarders as well as he could.
 
Then Emblen took off Ryan De Vries to sporting applause from the home crowd, but replaced him with more deadly pace in Gagame Feni, then did it again resting Krishna, and introducing Sean Lovemore who went on to leave scorch marks on the artifical grass as he carved past tackles and score the final goal.
 
Tough day at the office for Otago, but coach Murray has a week off to patch up his wounded, and is confident that his team has the mental toughness to bounce back.
 
The rare sight of a happy Dutchman lit up Dunedin’s Stadium as general manager Barry Van Gorp revealed that almost a thousand spectators had turned up, and he expects more in future.
 

Otago United

V

Waitakere United

22. Peter Evans (GK)

1. Danny ROBINSON

4. Jude FITZPATRICK

2. Jason ROWLEY (Tulioma 83')

5. Matt JOY

4. Tim MYERS

8. Seamus RYDER

7. Martin BULLOCK

2. Liam LOCKHART (Hindson 71')

8. Chris BALE

10. Ant HANCOCK (Mepham 35')

10. Allan PEARCE

15. Darren OVERTON

11. Ross McKENZIE

18. Harley RODEKA (COLDICOTT 81')

12. Roy KRISHNA  (Lovemore 77')

21. Mike CUNNINGHAM

17. Jake BUTLER (c)

27. TOM CONNOR (c)

20. Ryan DeVRIES  (Feni 68')

6. Morgan DAY

24. Luke ADAMS

Substitutes

Substitutes

14. Sam MEPHAM (35')

16. Neil EMBLEN

19. Zac RATHBONE

22. Matt UPTON

23. Jackson MITCHELL

26. Bill Tulioma (83')

1. Oswaldo RODRIGuES

25. Sean LOVEMORE (77')

7. Regan COLDICOTT (81')

15. Gagame Feni (68')

28. Nick HINDSON (71')

=goal

=yellow card

=2 yellow cards

= red card

Hello and Welcome to the Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin for the first ever ASB Premiership match at this new indoor venue. While few expect the crowd to be as big as Football's debut here, where the Wellington Phoenix took on Brisbane back in August in front of 15,037, there is hope of drawing a good size crowd for this historic fixture. The visitors, the very impressive, defending champion Waitakere United team are coming of a 10-0 victory in the O-League. Otago are not helped by the absence of thier talismatic skipper Tristan Prattley, who played a key role in thier opening day 2-2 draw away to Wellington. Approximately 5 minutes away from kickoff, pitch is in good condition, weather warm with a nice breeze.

1'

Otago win the toss and play to the West. Waitakere kick off.

Apologies for delay, issues with wireless internet.

10'

Game fairly even, chances at both ends early, Waitakere looking the sharper team at this stage.

12'

KRISHNA shot deflected over by EVANS. Corner easily cleared

13'

Foul near edge of the box by OVERTON, receives talking to from referee Kirk-Waugh. Free Kick punched clear.

15'

Waitakere camped in Otago half but can't connect the final pass. Otago defence is only just holding on.

18'

Long shot from PEARCE deflected out for a corner by LOCKHART.

21'

Rare Otago chance saw HANCOCK's header easily saved by keeper ROBINSON.

24'

Seamus RYDER loses posession, Waitakere counter attack comes to nothing 

26'

RODEKA makes a quick run into the box, bought down, but penalty appeal goes unanswered.

29'

OVERTON with a quick dash down the left hand flank, cross deflected out for a corner, appeals for a handball penalty turned down.

31'

 GOAL! Breakaway from Waitakere down the right, and Ryan deVRIES tucks it away in the bottom right corner. Waitakere lead 1-0.

35'

Head clash, in the area, and Ant HANCOCK goes down. Stretcher is on, and HANCOCK doesn't look like he'll play any further part.

36'

SUB OTAGO
ON: 14. Sam MEPHAM
OFF: 10. Ant HANCOCK

40'

RYDER corner for Otago is dealt with easily by Waitakere and they break out with BALE missing narrowly.

43'

DAY leaves temporaily with a blood injury.

45'

 GOAL! Waitakere long shot deflected by Evans. KRISHNA with the tap in. 2-0 Waitakere 

45+1'

4th Official signals 5 minutes to be added on

45+4'

Goalmouth scramble, sees FITZPATRICK put it in his own net. 3-0 Waitakere.

45+5'

And thats halftime.

46'

Second half underway, Otago needing something special to get anything out of this one.

49'

Waitakere on top early, Luke ADAMS' header skimming the top of the bar.

52'

Fast break from Waitakere sees Liam LOCKHART deflect it back to keeper EVANS. Appeals for a passback denied.

55'

Darren OVERTON with Otago's first real chance, skimming the right hand upright.

57'

Crowd getting noisey, as Otago try and get some momentum.

59'

Roy KRISHNA falls just outside the box. Referee Kirk-Waugh decides it was a push. Free kick Waitakere. Otago not happy.

60'

Allan PEARCE's free kick is deflected wide. Corner causes Otago defence no trouble.

63'

Otago's Mike CUNNINGHAM shot is deflected then saved by keeper ROBINSON.

64'

 GOAL! A cross from a left wing break gives an easy tap in for Allan PEARCE. Otago really stuggling to keep up with Waitakere's fitness. 4-0 Waitakere

66'

Yellow Card for Otago's Mike CUNNINGHAM for a reckless tackle.

68'

SUB Waitakere
ON: 15. Gagame FENI
OFF: 20. Ryan DeVries

69'

 GOAL! Another goal mouth scramble sees the ball in the roof of the Otago net. Potenially an own goal, the ground announcer is giving it to Allan PEARCE.

71'

SUB Otago
ON: 28. Nick HINDSON
OFF: 2. Liam LOCKHART

77'

SUB Waitakere
ON: 25. Sean LOVEMORE
OFF: 12. Roy KRISHNA

81'

SUB Otago
ON: 7. Regan COLDICOTT
OFF: 18. Harley RODEKA.

82'

Yellow card for Otago's Sam Mepham.

83'

Sub Waitakere
ON: 26. Bill TULIOMA
OFF: 2. Jason ROWLEY

84'

GOAL! Waitakeres Sean LOVEMORE beat 3 defenders and slotted it away. 6-0 Waitakere. A complete performance by a Waitakere team who have enjoyed the vast width of the pitch

87'

Gagame FENI hits the post for Waitakere 

89'

Waitakere more than happy to use the full width of the field to hold onto the ball in a passing display similar to that of the Brisbane Roar on this pitch back in August.

90'

And thats time. Waitakere United far to good and clinical today. Otago were never in it and they have alot of work to do. Waitakere United 6, Otago United 0. Rab Smith will follow with his match report.