Local Legends appearance steals the show

The season came to an end last Saturday with the final game of the season against Wellington Olympic.  It was a fairly anti-climatic day as the game was shifted from the familiar surroundings of Richard Prouse Park #1 pitch to the depths of pitch #3.  There was a full team for Wainu to pick from this week which meant there was no need for Scott MacLeod Snr to offer his services to the team as a substitute for the second week running.

Both teams had goals ruled out for offside in the opening exchanges before Olympic took a somewhat deserved lead on the half hour mark.  Pitch #3 isn't renowned for being the greatest of pitches and it was somewhat of a battle for both teams to come to grips with the underfoot conditions.  Wainui did have a couple of half chances before the break but just couldn't find the killer touch that would have drawn the game level.

Joel Evans shields the ball

The home team began brightly in the second half and were awarded a penalty for handball in the box.  Up stepped Mr. Versatile Shon McKechnie to put another penalty away to add to his goal tally for the season.  Olympic stepped up another gear from the kick off and restored their lead five minutes later.  It was real end to end stuff after Olympics second and Matt Faulkner almost leveled again for Wainui but his effort was just off target.  Olympic then increased their lead when a dangerous ball was floated in to the back post and sent flying past Howells in goal to all but end the game as a contest.

An early goal mouth scramble

As the game entered its' final stages the biggest roar of the season went up as local legend and everybodys hero Ralph Chenery made a late appearance as a substitute.  His impact was immediate though as he delivered an inch perfect cross from the right to Joel Evans who controlled the ball, spun and powered the ball in to the bottom corner of the net.  The RCSC were in raptures at this point as the game was alive as a contest again and Wainui had a sniff of maybe a draw with five minutes remaining.

Ralph watches from the sidelines

Olympic hadn't read the script and scored two late goals in the remaining minutes to silence the home crowd.  They left the valley with a 5-2 victory, their first win over Wainui since returning to Wellingtons Premier League.  Safety was secured a while ago for the boys so the result today was for pride more than anything else.  A mid table finish definitely an improvement on last season.

Ralph then acted as compere for the speeches back in the clubrooms (is there anything he can't do?) where it was announced that Division 6 team The Undertakers had avoided relegation with a huge 5-0 win at Awakairangi Park.  And with that the season is over, well all over bar the shouting.  Next up is the annual end of season prize giving where player of the year is awarded.  Neil Barclay was last years recipient, who will it be this year??

Half Baked Heroes

Curts Half Baked team were short a couple of players so I dusted off the old boots and headed out to Mirimar Park to lend a hand.  It was the final game of the season for Curts team and with only pride left to play for could the Half Baked boys match the speed and power of Miramar?? 

Half Baked were an equal match for the home side and proved that with two goals of pure quality from open play.  The first fell to Craig Auty who first controlled the ball, then unleasehed a 40 yard scorcher past the statue like keeper.  Not to be outdone, team captain Richard Armstrong hit a venomnous drive from all of 25 yards that nestled in the bottom corner of the net (not sure if it took a bit of an extra touch from Marshy to help it over the line though).

The two goals, however, were bookends from six of the best from a Miramar team who were only too happy to play a slick passing game all day.  There could have been more goals for Miramar save for some good goalkeeping from Curt and some woeful finishing from their forwards.

The muddy conditions were too much for me and I was glad for my 40 minute cameo.  Incidently Half Baked scored both goals with me off the pitch.  That is probably why the boots have been buried deep under the vegetable patch!!

Venimus Vidimus Vicimus (We Came, We Saw, We Conquered)

The boys in Wellingtons Premier League had a day to forget by the looks of it, a 7-0 thrashing by Wellington.  That result can be put behind the team though with the final game of the season this Saturday at Richard Prouse Park against Wellington Olympic.

It was, however, much better news for the club as the reserves clinched a thouroughly deserved Division 4 title last Saturday.  Just thought I would post up a few pictures from the game.  I'm sure the celebrations are ongoing as I write!!!

Cliffhanger Finale for Robs Reserves

It was hard to stay away from Awakairangi Park today where the reserves took on Upper Hutt for a chance to win the league and secure promotion to Division 3.   Having been held to a draw earlier in the season at a rain soaked Richard Prouse Park it was going to be a nail biter of an afternoon.  With a loss or a draw the team could be doomed to another season of Division 4 football.  Having worked so hard all year it certainly was not the place to be for the faint of heart.

It certainly wasn't the place to be for the faint of heart when Upper Hutt took an early lead with a penalty.  Wainui composed themselves to equalise soon after but nerves were high around the ground as other results were unkown to us.  Josh Wilkie, down from the first team, settled everbodys nerves with an explosive effort just outside the penalty area that, to borrow a phrase, bulged the 'auld onion bag.  Wainui now had the lead and their destiny was still in their own hands.  They made it to half time with the lead intact, they had to score the next goal.

Ryan makes a move as the ball is put through

Upper Hutt came out after the restart and showed some real urgency creating the first chance with a close range bullet header on that was on target.  Local hero Ralph Chenery showed us his agiltity as he tipped the ball expertly over the bar to the relief of the travelling support.  The home team then went close for a second time with another header as they searched for the leveller. 

Striker Ryan Harvey then struck a neat finish in a crowded box, after some tremendous lead up work from captain Brandon Dickson, to give Wainui a two goal buffer as the visiting bench erupted with joy.  Callum Patterson then scored his seventh goal in two games as he beat the keeper at his near post with a powerful strike.  Surely now the league title was on its' way over the hill and into the valley.

Upper Hutt get a dangerous ball into Wainuis area

Upper Hutt though refused to yield.  Ralphie had to act quick and keep out an amazing effort from the home teams striker who tried a lob from the kick off.  Moments later a dangerous ball into the box beat Wainuis defence and Upper Hutt took the chance to reduce the margin to two goals.  With twenty minutes to play could the impossible happen??  The game continued to ebb and flow but Wainui composed themselves and began to take control again.  Late chances fell to Callum Patterson and Brandon Dickson but they couldn't add to the score.

The final whistle was greeted with whoops and hollers as Rob Bennet ended up on the reciving end of a Gatorade shower of sorts (water bottles with the lids off were used in the place of actual Gatorade).   The win also gave Rob his second league title as coach of the team having won Division 5 back in 2008.  As I left Awakairangi the celebrations were in full swing in the dressing room with the club song blaring out the door, I'm sure you could have heard it all the way to Wainuiomata.

Ten Star Performance

The reserves set Richard Park Prouse alight last weekend with a 'ten' star performance against Tawa Devilz to leave them on the brink of promotion.  Having arrived at half time for the game I wasn't expecting a scoreline of 7-0, with Callum Patterson grabbing four of the goals and local hero Ralph Chenery seeing very little action as the score suggested.

Craig Preston in full flight with the ball

The second half became a cagey affair as Tawa looked to keep the score down and Wainui pushed forward looking to bag more goals and try to improve their goal difference.  Callum Patterson was on hand to put two more goals past Tawas keeper to bring his tally of goals to six for the game. Brandon Dickson kept the best for last though with a superb solo effort.  Still full of running and with time almost up Brandon beat four players with ease and, faced with a tight angle inside the eighteen yard area, rifled a shot passed the goalkeepers near post.  A tremendous goal to end the game for sure.

Wainui clear their lines

Other results later in the day have now left Wainuiomata Reserves masters of their own destiny as they look to end an eight year absence from Capital Soccers Division 3.  And so it's on to Awakairangi Park and a meeting against Upper Hutt who managed to hold Wainui to a 3-3 draw in their previous encounter.  Although with Callum in fine scoring form who knows what could happen?? 






*Just to put Callums scoring feat at the weekend into perspective here, I finished top scorer for the reserves a few years back with 3 (yes 3) goals.  Six goals in one game is some achievement!! *