Another close loss

After last weekends rest to allow for the Chatham Cup to continue Wainuiomata were back in league action today against Marist at Kilbirnie Park.  With a bitterly cold southerly wind blowing across the field both sides were looking to put some distance between themselves and the teams in the relegation zone.  Neil Barclay was back from injury allowing Mr versatile Shon McKechnie to resume his duties on the right wing for todays encounter.  I positioned myself on the terraces (it was like standing on The Kop) just as the game kicked off.

Shon causes problems for Marists' defence

Marist, however, took an early lead playing into the wind when a dngerous free kick floated into the Wainui area and into the back of the net off a Marist players head.  Wainui though had Marist under pressure for large periods of the half and thought they had won a penalty for handball after thirty minutes of play.  In the ensuing confusion around the decision the referee consulted his linesman who ruled there was no handball.  Shon McKechnie came close to levelling the game as half time approached but found the side netting after a clever run into the Marist area.

Wainuis bench watches intently

Wainui started brightly in the second half as the wind began to die away but Marist doubled their lead with a breakaway goal.  As with the first half Wainui dominated again but couldn't find a way past the resolute home defence.  However, as the game entered the final ten minutes Wainui were awarded a penalty for a trip in the box.  Shon McKechnie slotted the resulting penalty to give Wainui a glimmer of hope.  Andrew Oliver was sent off moments after the restart and even though Wainui were down to ten men they still created chances to level the game as Marist sought to run the clock down by running the ball into the corner.

The all elusive second goal never arrived as Marist ran out 2-1 winners to move above Wainui in the league standings, although they aren't too far ahead.  Hopefully the boys can regroup themselves for next weeks ginormous encounter  against high flying Island Bay. 

A century of appearances

Tough tackling, no nonsense central defender Josh Wilkie is the latest Wainuiomata player to reach the 100 game milestone.  The special achievement was made in the game against Miramr on the peninsula at Miramar park.

Josh made his debut for the club back in 2004 as a teenager and has given no less than 100 percent in every appearance since.

Now with his name on the honours board it's onwards and upwards towards the target of 200 games which only a handful of players have ever achieved.

Upper Hutt juggernaut keeps on rolling

The Upper Hutt  juggernaut rolled into the valley today just as the heavens opened for this afternoons Premier League encounter.  Unbeaten in ten league games so far this season would conditions very similar to last seasons encounter at Richard Prouse Park be enough to throw them off their stride? 

Cameron Blake about to get a shot away

Wainui made a bright start given the tough underfoot conditions and Michael Barnes had an early effort go just wide of Upper Hutts goal.  The league leaders took the lead soon after however when Michael Howells made a good save but was unable to hold onto the rebound effort.  As the wind and rain persisted chances were few and far between. Upper Hutt could have doubled their lead just before half time only for a timely intervention on the line to deny them a certain goal.

The second half sparked into life right from the whistle as the rain relented for a brief period.  Upper Hutt doubled their lead within two minutes of the restart but Wainui worked down field straight from the kick off and won a penalty.  Cam Blake put the keeper the wrong way from the resulting spot kick to bring Wainui back into the game.  There was a bit of confusion outside the clubrooms with people thinking the score was level such was the frantic start to the half.

Liam Bell battles hard

Upper Hutt then weathered the storm soon after as Wainui had some good chances to level the game and then increased their lead as the game entered the final twenty minutes.  With the deteriorating pitch and weather playing a big factor both teams found the going hard in the final quarter of the game with chances again hard to come by as Upper Hutt ran out 3-1 winners to extend their unbeaten run in the league to 11 games.

The speeches back in the clubrooms afterwards were good value as usual with Shon MacKechnie receiving the man of the match award for a composed performance at the unusual position of centre back.  Then with local hero Ralph Chenery in his club blazer, who earlier in the day helped the reserves to a point with another penalty save, presented Callum Patterson and Josh Wilkie their trophies for 100 league appearances for the club......great scenes.

Weekend Review

I still can't believe that Miramar stole the points in the dying moments of last weekends game but the beauty of Wellingtons Premier League is that there is always next weekend to make amends.  Although the upcoming fixture surely can't get any bigger than 2010 Wellington Premier League champions and last seasons runners up Upper Hutt City.  It should be a belter of a game, if you can't make it to the park on Saturday you can always log on here and follow the game live.

Even the seagulls flock to see Wainuiomata play

Here's how the rest of the teams fared last weekend........

Div 4 : Wairarapa 1 1 Wainuiomata *Crucial result for Rob Bennets boys over the hill and far away in Carterton, great to see them come back with a point and stay hot on the heels of Waterside Karori in second place.

Div 6 : The Undertakers 3 3 Victoria University Raiders *High scoring score draw for the boys on pitch number 3 at Richard Prouse Park, never an easy pitch to play on for anybody!!

Div 14 : Half Baked 5 0 Miramar Moose *Crushing victory for Half Baked and a clean sheet for the main man Kurt puts them 3rd on the table.

Div 16 : Naenae Pace 0 1 Wainuiomata *Another win puts Wainuis third team second on the table and pushing hard for promotion. 

Masters 4 : Western Siuburbs 3 3 Wainui Pacifica

And then it was on to Sunday and the turn of the womens teams who both had away trips to make......

Womens Div 1 : Kapiti Coast United 2 1 Wainuiomata *It's never nice to start the second round of matches for  the season with a loss but there is still a long way to go for Adam Smiths team.

Womens Div 3 : Naenae 10 0 Wainuiomata

So another weekend of mixed results but it is great to see the reserves are pushing hard for promotion.  This weekend they can put more pressure on Wharfies if they can beat Upper Hutt in the curtain raiser to Saturdays Premier League fixture.  It's safe to say that I am looking forward to the games this Saturday but I am not too keen on this fixture to say the least......don't ask!!!

Last minute heartbreak

Wainui made the trip to Miramar to begin the second round of games in Wellingtons Premier League.  Coming into the game Wainui were on a two game winning streak but could they break the stubborn resistance shown by Miramar in the seasons opener.

It didn't take long for Wainui to breach the Miramar defence.  Cameron Blake ghosted past the defence and fired home another stunner from twenty yards to give his team the lead.  Miramar missed some chances of their own before they levelled matters just before half time.


Wainui came out fighting in the second half and almost took the lead with chances from Joel Evans and Liam Bell but the keeper made two fine saves to keep the tie level.  Michael Howells was called into action as the game wound down on two seperate occassions and did well to keep Miramar out.  However with time almost up Miramar launched one final attack and managed to squeeze home a winner from just inside the penalty area to delight of the home support.

A cruel way to lose any game especially so as both teams were very evenly matched all day.  Next week sees a return to Richard Prouse Park for a game against Premier League heavyweights Upper Hutt who are unbeaten in the league so far this season.   


 

Thirty yard cracker seals entertaining game

It was another trip to the fine artificial pitch at Wakefield Park this afternoon to take on Wellington Olympic.  Having lost to Olympics Central League side last month in The Chatham Cup Wainui were out for redemption today and they duly delivered.

Olympic came out all guns blazing and full of running and took an early lead after a sweeping attack that began with their goalkeeper resulted in a fine finish.  Wainui didn't drop the heads and worked their way back into the game and eventually the equaliser came in quite stunning fashion.

Ewan Barclay takes on his man

Jordan Blake managed to stop another Olympic attack and the ball was worked up field to his brother Cameron who brilliantly controlled the ball on his chest, turned and hit a dipping volley from thirty yards out that beat the keeper all ends up.  Cam very nearly made it two nil soon after but Olympics keeper pulled off a superb stop to keep the game all square as the half time break approached.

Josh Wilkie took over as captain for the second half when Neil Barclay departed with an injury to be replaced by coach Scott MacLeod Jr.  Michael Howells made some great saves after the restart to keep Wainui in the game before Shon McKechnie turned the game on its head when he was tripped in the penalty area after a mazy run down the left wing.

Shon McKechnie slots home the penalty

Shon Picked himself up and casually put the keeper the wrong way to give Wainui a 2-1 lead.  Olympic fought back and thought they had an equaliser having forced the ball into the net but luckily for Wainui the whistle had blown for offside.  The game itself was finished as a contest, well it seemed to, when Callum Patterson finished calmly having been put through on goal by Joel Evans.

Olympic to their credit didn't roll over and fought back to nick a second goal and set up a very tense finish to the game.  Wainui held on however to claim their third win of the season and second win in a row to move them to fifth in the table.  It was great to see the team take four points from six on both their visits to Wakefield Park this year, the artificial turf by the way is excellent, and sets them up nicely for next weeks visit to Miramar Rangers on the peninsula.