Waikato FC

Waitakere United

1

4

Harryy EDGE 89'

Own goal (Josh GREENE) 26'
Roy KRISHNA 39'
Ryan DE VRIES 51'
Jake BUTLER 84'

by Bruce Holloway at Porritt Stadium
asbpremiership.co.nz

HAMILTON - If anyone bothered to construct a scoreboard at Porritt Stadium, it would seem assured of huge use in the ASB Premiership this summer.

The goal tally from just two matches at Porritt soared into double figures as Waitakere United beat hosts Waikato FC 4-1, following on from Auckland City’s 5-1 victory here in the opening round.

For Waitakere it was a confident, assured performance from a strong squad with a formidable strike force which underlined that while they are three points off the league lead, they are still very much in contention to retain the minor premiership.

For Waikato, it was a patchwork performance, in which they made some horrible stumbles at times, but also showed glimpses of slick, skilful football which finally resulted in their first goal of the season from open play.

In the 89th minute substitute Harry Edge broke from midfield, played a dapper one-two with 16-year-old Ryan Thomas, beat the offside trap, ran through and clinically finished with a nice shuffle of feet.

Unfortunately by then the game was effectively over, with Waitakere already 4-0 up.

But it will have given Waikato – the only team apart from Auckland to have scored against Waitakere this season – great heart.

Particularly Harry Edge – the coach’s son - who has taken fearful stick from anonymous Waikato haters on internet forums.

Waikato almost took the lead against the run of play when striker Daniel Frischknecht forced a fine save from Waitakere keeper Danny Robinson in the 10th minute.

But after 26 minutes Waitakere took charge in slightly fortuitous circumstances. Tim Myers got his head to a Waitakere free kick and while centreback Josh Greene cleared the bouncing ball from the goalmouth, assistant referee Nick Van Der Selm signalled the ball had crossed the line and the goal was awarded.

To this writer it would seem harsh to award it as an own goal, but if the powers decide that is indeed the case, it would at least keep "OG" in with a half decent shout of winning Waitakere’s Golden Boot this season.

There could be no dispute about Waitakere’s second goal. Aaron Scott played a pinpoint ball forward from right back for Roy Krishna, who glided forward and smashed it high into the net from about 12 metres.

Six minutes into the second spell Ryan De Vries sweetly finished from a tight angle after Krishna did the leg work down the right.

Waikato keeper Mark Fulcher then made the save of the day, if not the season, with a miracle parry of a point blank shot from Allan Pearce.

Waitakere added a fourth when left back Ross McKenzie mugged Waikato fullback Mike Kramer played the ball square to substitute Steven Holloway, who laid it off for Jake Butler to slightly mishit into the net.

It was good reward for Butler who had a strong midfield game, though Waitakere coach Neil Emblen singled out Chris Bale as the pick of his crop.

Bale turned in energetic midfield performance before showing his versatility with a 20-minute spell at centre back.

Elsewhere Emblen was more restrained in his praise.
"Roy (Krisha) and Ryan (de Vries) and Allan (Pearce) always look dangerous but they weren’t at their best today, which is pretty ominous for some teams," he said.

"They still had okay games and we scored four goals.
"I was confident before the game that we could come and win but it is never easy and you never want to take things for granted, and we didn’t today.

"We were lucky with a couple of goals – a couple of deflections – but I felt we could always go again if the scoreline got a little bit closer."

Emblen was generous in his comments about Waikato.

"I thought they deserved a goal, and it was a very good goal," he said.

"The Waikato team will grow, and I think that goal will give them a bit of confidence. They are going to be a good little team.

"Supporters tend to look for results straight away but it does take time, and they are certainly trying to play football the right way."

For Waikato, Jesse Edge had a good trot in midfield, while Jason Hicks was lively in patches.

But shifting Kramer from centreback to fullback to nullify Waitakere’s pace merchants was perhaps less successful, though Greene gave a manful display in the heart of defence alongside Tyler Lissette.

Waikato’s three teenage subs – Ryan Thomas, Tyler Boyd and Harry Edge all gave good little cameos and added fluidity their team lacked in the first half.

But Waikato probably needed a little more pep from skipper Adam Thomas and definitely missed the striking presence Mike Thompson could have supplied had he not been dropped from the squad after arriving late to the game.

In his programme notes Waikato coach Declan Edge staunchly defended his players and style of play from "the 3am radio talkback crowd" arguing his young players were not the problem for Waikato, but part of the long term solution for the region.

And he remained unbowed after a fourth successive loss which has his team propping up the table.

"I thought we were okay for long periods," he said. "What I am trying to do here is going to take time.

"We’re not in Cairo. There are not live bullets being shot to our head. We are not going to die.

"So let’s put this in perspective, We have lost 4-1 to the reigning champions, who have just beaten Fijian champions Ba 4-0."

Waikato FC

V

Waitakere United

1. Mark FULCHER (GK)

1.Danny ROBINSON (gk)

2. Tyler LISSETTE

3. Aaron SCOTT  (HAVILAND 75')

3. Jesse SMITH

4. Timothy MYERS (HOLLOWAY 64')

6. Mike KRAMER

7. Martin BULLOCK

7. Jason HICKS

8. Chris BALE

8. Matteo BALLAN (H. EDGE 64')

10. Allan PEARCE (FENI 81')

9. Daniel FRISCHKNECHT (R. THOMAS 46')

11. Ross MCKENZIE

10. Adam THOMAS (c)

12. Roy KRISHNA

13. Mark JONES (BOYD 56')

17. Jake BUTLER

14. Josh GREENE

20. Ryan DE VRIES

15. Jesse EDGE

24. Luke ADAMS

Substitutes

Substitutes

19. Harry EDGE (in 64')

15. Gagame FENI (in 81')

21. Tyler BOYD (in 56')

18. Steven HOLLOWAY (in 64')

22. Adam WALLIS

25. Sean LOVEMORE

24. Ryan THOMAS (in 46') 

27. Ross HAVILAND (in 75')

25. Neil MOUCHER (rgk)

28. Adam MCDONALD

=goal

=yellow card

=2 yellow cards

= red card

1'

Waitakere kick off and are attacking the Tremer road end.

2'

Attacking cross, cleared over the bar by Ballen.

3'

Krishna crosses but too far, over everybody.

4'

Ballen picks up ball in midfield but loses tackle to Butler.

5'

Low cross, saved by Fulcher.

6'

Waitakere controlling the game early on. Waikato still looking to string a set of passes together.

9'

Waikato passing the ball round the defence. Long through ball to Frishknecht who fires a shot, and forces Robinson into a fine save.

11'

Edge wins the ball in midfield and puts Frischknecht through, but Myers beats him to the ball. Passback cleared by Robinson.

12'

Teams starting to share the possession.

13'

Mix up at the back for Waikato, allows De Vries to snap up the ball. Fulcher saves but drops ball at Krishnas feet who shoots, tamely and is cleared off the line by Lissette.

17'

Waikato struggling to get out of their own half. But still no real chances for Waitakere.

18'

Nice crossover between Krishna and Pearce, but Pearce runs the ball out for a goal kick.

20'

Waikatos Edge goes flying into a late tackle on Scott. Free kick Waitakere on half way.

21' 

Another free kick to Waitakere. Bullock shoots and hits the post. Leads to a corner.

22'

Waitakere keeping Waikato pinned in their own half.

25'

Free kick Waitakere.

26

GOAL- Own goal. Free kick lobbed into box creates confusion amongst Waikato defence, as Greene miss kicks ball just over his own line. Linesman signals own goal. 1v0 Waitakere.

30'

Pearce attacks down the Right wing, sends cross in but cleared by Lissette.

32'

Krishna shows off a few skills, as Waikato payers try to nick the ball off the Fijiian. Leads to a corner.

34'

Pass back from Thomas is miss calculated by Fulcher. Almost an embarrasing moment for the Waikato keeper.

36'

Waitakere looking good at the back.

37'

Hicks gets a rare run at the Waitakere defence, rash tackle from Scott. Free kick.

38'

Yellow Card- Scott.

38'

Edge blazes the ball over the bar. Waikatos only chance in the last 20 mins.

39'

GOAL- Krishna recieves a pass from Bale, skips around Lissette and puts the ball in the top left corner of the goal. 2v0 Waitakere.

41'

Waitakere putting a lot of pressure on the young Waikato team. Forcing them into errors, and get out of jail balls.

43'

De vries looks to bend one pass Fulcher, out for a goal kick.

44'

Scrambling defence from Waikato leads to a corner to Waitakere. Waste of a corner. Goal kick.

45'+1

Butler having a great game for Waitakere, controlling the midfield.

HALF TIME

Both teams walking back out onto field.

46'

Waikato Kick off. Thomas gets on the ball early.

Ryan Thomas on for FrischKencht.

48'

De Vries picks up on a loose ball, but fails to find a Waitakere player.

49'

Ballen plays a long cross field ball, easily intercepted by Scott.

50'

Thomas puts pressure on Robinson as a rushs a kick out for a throw in.

51'

GOAL- Krishna races away, puts a perfect through ball and De Vries takes it around Fulcher and superbly puts the ball away from a tight angle. 3v0 Waitakere.

53'

Waikato looking very disorganised.

55'

Mark Jones makes a darting run with the ball, only to be stopped by Adams.

56'

Ryan Thomas picks up a lose pass from Scott, but loses balance as he tries to shoot.

57'

SUBSTITUTION- 13.Mark jones off for 21.Tyler Boyd

58'

Krishna scoots down the left wing and whips in a low cross which is met by pearce. Fulcher up to the challange pulls of a fantastic save.

61'

Thomas and Bullock come together and exchange a few shoves. Refree settles the dispute.

63'

throw in Waikato in Waitakere half.

64'

De Vries races away with the ball, heavy touch leads him to foul Thomas.

65'

SUBSTITUTION- Waikatos 8. Matteo Ballen off for 19. Harry Edge

65'

SUBSTITUITION- Waitakere 4. Tim Myers off for 18. Steve Holloway

69'

Game has lost a bit of spark. The sun is very hot today must be having a big effect.

70'

Superb cross from Scott, cleared for a corner by Kramer.

71'

Krishna has too much room and races away for a shot. Much to much power and blazes it over the bar.

74'

Great through ball from Ryan Thomas sends Hicks into space down the wing, bad cross. robinson sees it out for a goal kick.

76'

SUBSTITUTION- 3.Aaron Scott off for 27. Ross Haviland

77'

lobbed ball forces Fulcher to come out of boz and head a clearance.

78'

Waikato still looking disorganised, but Ryan Thomas has added a little bit of flair up front.

80'

Route one ball from Luke Adams, easily gathered by Fulcher.

82'

Waitakere looking to get De Vries more involved by playing long balls down the left.

83'

both Waitakere centre midfielders looking very comfortable on the ball.

84'

GOAL- Hesitation from Kramer allows Mckenzie to sneak around him. Scrappy cross and defending leads to a jake Butler finish. 4-0 Waiktakere.

SUBSTITUTION- 10. Allan Pearce off for 15. Gagme FENI

86'

GOAL- Harry edge recieves a fantastic ball from Ryan Thomas, and places it around Robinson. Great finish.

89'

Game heads into its final stages. pretty open play

90'

Thats the game. Pretty convincing win for Waitakere. Waikato suffer yet another loss. All in all a fair result from a clinical Waitakere united.