Weekend of firsts

It was a day of firsts last Satrurday.  The first time I have seen Wainui win this season and Wainuiomatas first home win since returning to Wellingtons Football Premier League, which was well worth the wait.  It's now time to see how the clubs other teams fared in their respective divisions......

Some of The Undertakers lend their support

Div 4 : Wainuiomata 2 2 Island Bay HHH *The unbeaten run is stretched to 6 games for Robs boys after a hard fought 2 all draw in a game where HHH scored all the goals.

Div 6 : North Wellington Clarets 5 1 The Undertakers * Oooh disappointing loss there for The Undertakers who played under lights at Wellington College on Monday night.

Div 14 : Wellington Utd Hone Badgers 5 3 Half Baked

Div 16 : Wainuiomata 1 3 Stokes Valley Destroyers * Not content with seeing his team extend their unbeaten run in Div 4 Rob Bennet donned the gloves for the third team but unfortunately ended up on the losing side. 

Masters 4 : Wainui Pacifica 0 2 Island Bay United

And then on Sunday it was the ladies turn but in the wild weather that hit the valley Adam Smiths charges fell to a 4-1 loss to league leaders Lower Hutt.  This Sunday sees the girls head to third placed Seatoun for a tricky away encounter.

This coming Saturday sees Wainui make their second trip of the season to the artificial turf at Wakefield Park.  Wellington Olympic provide the opposition this time and hopefully the boys can go one better this time around.  Incidentally if you can't make the game but would like to keep up to date with how the game is going then click here for live coverage.

Wainui deliver victory for home faithful

It was a classic cold winters day at Richard Prouse Park this afternoon as Wellington United made the trip over the hill into the valley.  There was a lot riding on todays game for both teams with only one point separating them before kick off, a loss for Wainui would see them drop below Wellington into the relegation zone.

Andrew Oliver lends a hand in defense

It was a real ding dong battle between the sides right from the kick off and a combination of some good defending and Wainuis crossbar prevented Wellington from claiming an early lead.  Callum Patterson came close to breaking the deadlock on two occasions before Joel Evans set the game alight.

Joel picked up a pass on the halfway line, slipped pass his marker and set off on a run towards goal.  With a defender bearing down on him he unleashed an unstoppable low shot past Wellingtons despairing keeper that cannoned in off the post.  Cameron Blake was then denied by the visitors keeper moments later and the score remained 1-0 heading in to the half time break.



Michael Howells kept Wellington at bay

Wainui pushed hard for the killer second goal and again Wellingtons keeper kept the game alive as he made two great saves from Cameron Blake leaving us with the feeling that Wellington could sneak an equaliser.  Just as the thought entered our heads Andrew Oliver raced through and buried the ball past the keeper to double the lead and allow Wainui to breath a little easier.

Callum Patterson almost added a third late on but Wellingtons goalkeeper, who bagged the player of the day award for his team, pulled off another fine save.  The game wound down to its conclusion and Wainui gained their second win of the season to move four points clear of Wellington. 

100 games and counting

Last Saturday Callum Patterson notched up his 100th  appearance for Wainuiomata in a hard fought game against Stop Out.  It's been a six year journey (I think I was there for the first one) with lots of ups and downs and a league winners medal thrown in for good measure back in 2010 when promotion to Wellingtons Premier League was secured.

He now joins his dad Kevin on the honours board at the clubrooms.  With youth on his side he still has time to maybe overtake local hero Ralph Chenery in the appearance stakes, here's to the next 100 Callum!!!

Wellingtons wind brings the blues

The short trip over the hill to the Hutt Park Raceway proved to be a challenge with its exposed conditions for Wainuiomata.  There was a strong cold southerly breeze blowing through Wellington today which made for a very hard days work. 

It was a cagey opening from both teams with Wainui playing with the wind but Stop Out drew first blood with a header from the back post that found its way into the back of the net.  Stop Out doubled their lead soon after with a crisp finish from just outside the eighteen yard box.

Callum Patterson came on for the injured Paul Wood, marking his 100th appearance for Wainuiomata.  He soon made an impact with a superb cross field ball that found the unmarked Cameron Blake who weaved his way into the box and was brought to ground by the Stop Out defender. 

Cam picked himself up from the ground and fired the resulting penalty low to the goalkeepers left to bring Wainui back into the contest just before the half time whistle.

The wind continued to frustrate both teams in the second half and Wainui defended well into the wind but any hopes of a comeback were dashed as Stop Out powered in a third to restore their two goal advantage.  A lucky escape followed as it looked like the referee had blown for a penalty after Stop Out had a player brought down in the box but the loud blast of the whistle was actually for an off side infringement.

The wind continued to frustrate as Wainui went looking for another  goal as the clock ticked down.  Joel Evans came close from a free kick at the end but the Stop Out keeper made the save. 

Stop Out now move above Wainui in Wellingtons Football Premier League and next week sees a huge game against Wellington United at Richard Prouse Park which will be covered live from the ground itself so look for that one!!

  

Weekend shakedown

This coming Saturday Wainui get to put their Chatham Cup disappointment behind them and focus on the league with a trip over the hill to face another of their local rivals Stop Out.  If last years encounter at the same ground is anything to go by it should be a very interesting encounter. 

This weekends game against Stop Out will also mark Callum Pattersons 100th league appearance for Wainuiomata, best of luck to Callum on a super achievement!! 

Here is a bit of a run down on how the other teams at the club faired last weekend.........

Even the officials deserve a rest

Division 4 : Wainuomata 2 0 Waterside Karori Magpies * A fourth win on the trot for Rob Bennets boys puts them top of the table.

Division 6 : Brooklyn Northern United Pilsner 2 0 Undertakers *A loss for Adrian and The Undertakers, no news on weather Pom was man of the match or not after picking up the accolade at the post match speeches last Saturday.....

Division 14 : Half Baked 3 2 Porirua City * Half Baked rallied to grind out the win after Kurt conceded a goal from the halfway line!!

Division 16 : BNU Pterodactyls 5 0 Wainuiomata

Masters Division 4 : Wainui Pacifica 2 3 Victoria Uni Bombers

And then onto Sunday when both first and second teams had home games at Richard Prouse Park.......

Womens Division 1 : Wainuiomata 0 2 North Wellington

Womens Division 3 : Wainuiomata 4 6 BNU Pretenders * It's not everyday that you get to witness a 10 goal classic just a shame that Wainui came out the wrong side of the scoreline!!

Cup run finished for another year

Wainui took a break from league action this afternoon and after last weeks big win against cross town rivals Petone headed into todays first round Chatham Cup game at Richard Prouse Park in high spirits.  However Wellington Olympic from The Central League would be no pushovers and Wainui would certainly have their work cut out for them.

Olympic signalled their intent within the first two minutes when right winger Andrew Abba beat Paul Wood with some amazing footwork then sent in a low cross that was finished expertly.  Olympics strong start continued when a short while later Michale Howells made a fine save but when the cross came back in from the rebound Wainui failed to clear and  a clinical finish from Olympics striker saw the lead doubled.

Andrew Abba (2) was a constant thorn in Wainuis side all day

The home team began to claw their way back into the game but on the half hour mark a cross come shot sneaked its way past Howells in goal and Olympic found themselves three goals up and cruising.  You could have been forgiven for thinking that the floodgates were about to open but Wainui at Richard Prouse very rarely roll over and die. 

Shon McKechnie is hustled off the ball in attack

Joel Evans came to life after Wainui had fallen three behind and very nearly pulled one back but his effort just before half time drifted narrowly wide.  Just after half time another chance fell to Joel but Olympics goalkeeper was alert and the score remained at three.  Soon it was four as Olympic broke down field and another neat finish heaped more misery on the home team and its band of supporters.

Josh Wilkie is put under pressure

Paul Wood kept Olympics danger man quiet for the majority of the second half with some great defending and Wainui kind of finished in the ascendancy by creating a couple of half chances late in the game.  Unfortunately though Joel Evans didn't get the goal he thoroughly deserved as the match wound down to its conclusion and a four nil loss to Central League opposition.  So Wainuis involvement in The Chatham Cup ends for another year but next week sees a return to league action and another derby game against Stop Out.

Local hero Ralphie was in action for the reserves again today, unfortunately I missed the game as he kept his multitude of fans happy with another clean sheet helping the team to another victory.  Back in the clubrooms Joel picked up his award for player of the day along with POM from The Undertakers who hadn't even kicked off their game (The Undertakers were due to kick off at 7.30pm, hopefully Pom does this award some justice!!).

Weekend Round Up

It's hard to believe that we are five games into the league season already and Wainui have a massive fixture against Petone this coming weekend in Wellingtons Premier League which should be a cracker of a game.  Here is a bit of a rundown on how the other teams in the club fared over the weekend just gone........

Keep your eyes on the action

Division 4 : Wainuomata 1 0 Lower Hutt Ancient Ones * A clean sheet for everyones favourite hero Ralphie and a second win in a row for Rob Bennets charges puts them 3rd on the table.

Division 6 : Marist Inter 2 2 Undertakers

Division 14 : Half Baked 2 2 Lower Hutt Roundballs * It was somewhat of a Wainui Cricket Club v Wainui Cricket Club grudge match here in a 'spirited' game which saw Kurts Half Baked team fight back to claim a draw against the unbeaten Roundballs.

Division 16 : Island Bay United 1 3 Wainuiomata

Masters Division 4 : Western Suburbs 3 2 Wainui Pacifica

Womens Division 1 : Tawa 1 1 Wainuiomata * Looks like the womens first team are adjusting well to life in division one this season with a win, a draw and two losses to kick start their season.

Womens Division 3 : North Wellington 10 0 Wainuiomata