Derby Day High

Stop Out were the opposition for Wainui today as they made the short journey over the hill and into the valley. Since returning to Wellingtons Premier League Wainuiomata have failed to beat their local rivals, gaining only a solitary point at the back end of last season. Was today to be any different, or did Wainuiomata have a surprise in store for the Stop Out boys??

Stop Out dominated the early exchanges and almost took the lead after five minutes. Michael Howells showed his class though as he tipped the powerful strike onto the crossbar and out for a corner. Having weathered the early storm Wainui then took the initiative when a free kick from within their own half entered the Stop Out box. The visitors defence failed to clear and in a crowded penalty area Josh Wilkie and Matt Faulkner combined to give the home side the lead (clarification is needed for the goal as it really was a crowded penalty area).

It was a real midfield battle today

It was more of the same at the start of the second half as the visitors again dominated the opening moments and had two narrow misses as they chased for the equaliser.  However, Wainui crept back into the game as they went looking for the all important second. It almost arrived when first Cameron Blake then his brother Jordan had great chances saved by Stop Outs keeper. You felt, however, that the second was always on its' way.

Cam Blake celebrates Wainuis second goal

The goal was delivered in some style with the game in the final ten minutes. Jordan Blake released his brother Cam who beat his man, rounded the keeper and slotted the ball home from an acute angle. Cue the celebrations from the home fans outside the clubrooms, the roars I'm sure were heard all around Wainuiomata!! The gloss was put on the performance in the final moments of the match when player – coach Scott MacLeod Jr, on as a late replacement, scored from close range to more screams of delight from the home faithful.

The final whistle was greeted with probably the loudest cheer of the season as Wainui earned their first win over Stop Out since returning to the Premier League. Back in the clubrooms there was a great atmosphere with AJ from Half Baked telling us about the greatest goal ever scored in the valley in their 5-1 victory. And man of the match in the Premier League game was awarded to Matt Faulkner for a sterling performance up front after impressing with the reserves last week. What a day for Wainui though, certainly one to remember.

Promotion still within reserves grasp

The reserves still have promotion from Division 4 in their sights after Saturdays dramatic encounter against Kapiti Coast United.  For the second time this year at Richard Prouse Park I was on hand to witness the team concede a late late equaliser to the away team. 

Arriving with a half hour of play remaining the score was tight with Wainui leading 2-1.  They had led by two goals early in the second half.  The reserves were dominating KCU up front and were also defending well as the minutes ticked by.  Suddenly Wainui created a chance out of nothing, when a cross from the right floated in and over the goalkeeper only to rebound off the crossbar and away to safety. 

With time running out, local hero Ralph Chenery showed us all he still has some pace left in those legendary legs as he had to rush off his line and clear to safety.  With KCUs' striker bearing down on goal it was a timely intervention from Ralphie. 

It looked like as though danger had been averted but KCU had one last ace up their sleeve.  A long ball into the box found the head of an attacker whose well placed header beat Ralph with only seconds remaining and rescued a point against the run of play.

So unfortunately for the reserves it was another two points dropped, it seems maybe I could be a bad luck omen for the team (I really hope not).  However other results have gone their way to keep them within a stones throw of winning a coveted promotion spot.  Can Rob Bennet lift the team this weekend against Tawa Devilz and keep the push for promotion alive??  There's only one way to find out, get down to Richard Prouse Park at 12.30 this coming Saturday to cheer the boys on.

A Hard Days Work

After missing last weeks loss to Waterside Karori I was back in Wainuiomata for the much anticipated clash against Petone at Richard Prouse Park.  By all accounts it was as well I missed last weeks encounter as the rain poured down out in Karori.

Wainui started well and Josh Wilkie had their first and ultimately only chance of the first half as headed over from a Joel Evans corner kick.  Petone soon took a strangle hold on the game as their left winger, pictured above outfoxing Michael Barnes and Neil Barclay, made his way into the Wainui box and opened the scoring inside the first ten minutes.

Petone dominated for large periods of the game and Wainui just couldn't get going in the opening half as Petone looked for a killer second.  It almost came as the half time whistle approached when a powerful shot whized past an onlooking Michael Howells, rebounded off the post and, luckily, out for a corner off the unsuspecting Howells.

Wainui clear their lines again

Petone found the killer second soon after the restart when another long range effort found the back of the net, although there was still plenty of time for Wainui to mount a comeback.  The comeback almost began when Cameron Blake found himself in possesion of the ball on the Petone byline inside the penalty area.  With two players surrounding him he made the space for a shot by flicking the ball up and away from the defenders then tried to beat Simon Rippon, in goal for Petone this season, with a delicate chip.  The Gods were with Rippon and Petone as the effort sailed just inches wide.

The game was well and truly ended as a contest with another Petone ripper from outside the area to make it three nil.  Wainui pushed on and earned a late consolation goal when Joel Evans sent a free kick past the seven man wall into the back of the net to give the home fans someting to cheer about.  It also enabled them to give last seasons goalkeeper Simon Rippon a bit of ribbing!!

So a hard days work in the end for the boys, Joel Evans was awarded man of the match for Wainui in the after game speeches for a tireless display of football.  Next week sees local rivals Stop Out come over the hill for another dose of Premier League Football.

Band of Brothers #2

The Blakes, Cameron and Jordan, make up the second set of brothers that have been pulling on the Wainuiomata shirt alongside Neil and Ewan Barclay this season. Both are new additions to the team in Wellingtons Premier League this year and have become regular starters as the season has progressed.

The two lads have shown some great Messi like touches that have left opposition defenders flabergasted at times. Cameron, who started the season playing with a broken arm, scored what could be goal of the season with a thirty yard screamer against Wellington Olympic at Wakefield Park.

Cameron Blake shows his class

Not to be outdone Jordan went and scored his first goal of the season last Saturday as Wainui overcame a strong Island Bay team. His solid midfield performances and box to box work rate make him one to watch out for each week.

Jordan shows us his silky skills

The question you might ask is who is the best between the two?? Well again I shall sit on the fence and let the siblings sort that out between themselves, although maybe a penalty competiton could be the way to go!!

Another Game of Two Halves

It was the turn of Island Bay United to make the long trip from Wellington over the hill and into Wainuiomata today. After both sides played out a thrilling 3-3 draw back inApril would we see more of the same today?? The odds however were stacked against Wainui having lost their last three games and Island Bay coming off the back of a 6-0 win against Karori.

An early chance for Island Bay

Island Bay came roaring out of the blocks and had some good chances in the opening quarter of an hour. Some wayward finishing helped keep Wainui in the game though. The muddy underfoot conditions were making life hard for the home team and Island Bay took full advantage when a sweeping move through midfield brought about the opening goal of the game. It was almost two a minute later as the ball rebounded off the post to keep the game alive. Wainui survived the rest of the half and made it to the interval within touching distance, a goal could change everything.

The home side came out after the break and stifled the aways team attack from the opening whistle. Liam Bell then sparked the game into life with his first goal of the season to level the game and send the home crowd into raptures. His celebration was a fancy one too as he slid on both knees in front of the home support pumping his fists in delight.

Jubilant players celebrate Joel Evans goal

Five minutes later and the game had been turned on its' head as Mr Versitle Shon McKechnie, playing left wing today, made inroads into Island Bays penalty area. He beat his marker neatly, pulled the ball back to Joel Evans who beat the keeper with ease to give Wainui the lead. It was soon three for the home team when Jordan Blake slammed home from close range as the support from the home crowd got louder and louder.

As the game entered it's final stages Michael Howells made a string of fine saves to deny the away team a way back into the game. There was little he could do about the close range header that gave Island Bay a glimmer of hope as the game went in to injury time. Wainui held on though to record their first victory over Island Bay since returning to Wellingtons Football Premier League.

Band of Brothers #1

This season there are two sets of brothers playing an integral part in the teams performances on the pitch week in and week out.  I myself had the pleasure of playing with yet another set, the Cutters, Karl and Dean when I last played for the team.  First up we give you The Barclay Brothers, Neil and Ewan.  The brothers are Wainuiomata born and bred with over 100 appearances for the club.

Ewan Barclay on the ball

I have had some trouble in the past trying to figure out which one was Neil and which one was Ewan as they are quite alike on the pitch.  Although Neil with his no nonsense defending at the heart of the back four (he was also last years player of the year) and Ewans barnstorming performances game after game in central midfield make it fairly easy for me these days.

Neil Barclay disrupts another attack

It's fair to say that the Brothers Barclay have been at the heart of Wainuis rise to Wellingtons Football Premier League having helped the team to the Division 1 title back in 2010.  Although I'm not here to say who is the best between the two of them, I think that's best left to sort out between themselves!!