Point a piece after epic showdown

After a long, long week at work it was great to get to the artificial turf at Wakefield Park and witness Wainuiomata pick up another point after a ding dong battle with Island Bay United. 

Having failed to score in both of last seasons encounters Wainui made a bright start and striker Cameron Blake gave the team the perfect start with a superb 20 yard strike, after drifting past three players effortlessly, that gave Island Bays goalkeeper no chance at all.

Things were looking even better for Wainui as half time approached as Josh Wilkie bundled home a goal after Ewan Barclays header was blocked on the line to put them 2-0 up with what was looking like an unassailable lead.

Island Bay come very close to scoring

Island Bay came out fighting in the second half and two minutes in and an unstoppable thunder bolt of a strike had Michael Howells beaten all ends up to halve Wainuis lead.  It looked like they could hang onto the lead as the back four, led by centre half Neil Barclay, kept Island Bay at bay (no pun intended) but everything turned around during a crazy five minute spell with 15 minutes remaining.

First a penalty was conceded an dispatched to make it all square, then a goal from a corner suddenly put Island Bay into the lead late in the game.  There were a couple of chances for the home side to improve on their lead but again Michael Howells was in top form to keep Wainui in the game.

Dee Singh sends the keeper the wrong way

Wainui never gave up and entering into the final minute a long ball over the top caught the home defence napping and Wainui earned themselves a penalty.  Up stepped substitute Dee Singh and he put the keeper the wrong way to rescue a point for Wainui.  Super stuff from the boys and some great determination not to have left Wakefield Park empty handed having led the game for so long.  Next up is a trip to Eastbourne on ANZAC Day for a Chatham Cup encounter and maybe a plum first round tie against 2009 champions Wellington Olympic.

Local hero Ralph Chenery was in action straight after the game ended for the reserves as they came away with a 4-2.  Unfortunately though I couldn't hang around as I wasn't dressed appropriately to watch football in a t-shirt as the sun had gone down and the temperature was dropping, maybe next time Ralphie!!