Jesse Kang get his first goal for United and the 5th on the day Photo Imray Snaps
ADVANTAGE UNITED
Monday 4 October, 2021
Words Dave Webster \ WUAFC Media
"A crazy game!" is how Havelock North Wanderers coach Chris Greatholder described the 1st leg of the Central League playoff between Wellington United and Havelock North at Newtown Park on Saturday. It was certainly an end to end game as eight goals were racked up with Wellington United coming out on top 5-3.
United opened the scoring with a cracking shot by Nacho Junca that found the top corner from about 30 meters out that gave Wanderers keeper, James McPeake no chance. The goal seemed to settle United and they started to assert some form of dominance, but this changed on the half hour mark when United keeper, Crawford Plenderleith, felt he was impeded in attempting to make a save, the referee saw it differently and Tomek Frooms picked up the loose ball and slotted it into the net to make it 1-1.
Three minutes later United had restored their lead when Amir Mandalawi hit a similar shot to Nacho Juncas and found the back of the net. Maladalawi who is not a player known for his goalscoring exploits now has three in three weeks. Five minutes later it was 3-1 when captain Cam Stephan hit a shot from outside the penalty area and was assisted by a bumpy pitch which saw the ball take a wicked bounce just before it reached McPeake and eluded the hands of the Wanderers keeper.
A minute into the second half Wanderers pulled a goal back when Luca Barclay took advantage of some uncharacteristic poor defending from United. This lead to a period of Wanderers becoming more dominant bu as they pushed for an equaliser, they were caught on a fast break and Mandalwi headed into the area and smartly crossed it to an unmarked Wynn Skinner on the edge of the penalty area to make it 4-2.
Skinner was then replaced by Jesse Kang, who ws making just his second start for United and his first at home. He celebrated this in the 75th minute with a cutting run into the box and sent a low shot into the far corner to make it 5-2.
Havelock North Wanderers didn't give up though and it was in referees time at the end of the game when they capitalised on United's failure to clear the ball and captain Jerome Groot snuck the ball in at the near post for a goal that will give Wanderers some hope for the return leg at Guthrie Park next weekend.
ENDS
Central League Playoff (Graeme Sole Trophy), 1st Leg
Saturday 2 October, 2021
Newtown Park, Wellington
Wellington United (3) 5 (Nacho Junca, Amir Manadalwi, Cam Stephan, Wynn Skinner, Jesse Kang)
Havelock North Wanderers (1) 3 (Tomek Frooms, Luca barclay, Jerome Groot)
United opened the scoring with a cracking shot by Nacho Junca that found the top corner from about 30 meters out that gave Wanderers keeper, James McPeake no chance. The goal seemed to settle United and they started to assert some form of dominance, but this changed on the half hour mark when United keeper, Crawford Plenderleith, felt he was impeded in attempting to make a save, the referee saw it differently and Tomek Frooms picked up the loose ball and slotted it into the net to make it 1-1.
Three minutes later United had restored their lead when Amir Mandalawi hit a similar shot to Nacho Juncas and found the back of the net. Maladalawi who is not a player known for his goalscoring exploits now has three in three weeks. Five minutes later it was 3-1 when captain Cam Stephan hit a shot from outside the penalty area and was assisted by a bumpy pitch which saw the ball take a wicked bounce just before it reached McPeake and eluded the hands of the Wanderers keeper.
A minute into the second half Wanderers pulled a goal back when Luca Barclay took advantage of some uncharacteristic poor defending from United. This lead to a period of Wanderers becoming more dominant bu as they pushed for an equaliser, they were caught on a fast break and Mandalwi headed into the area and smartly crossed it to an unmarked Wynn Skinner on the edge of the penalty area to make it 4-2.
Skinner was then replaced by Jesse Kang, who ws making just his second start for United and his first at home. He celebrated this in the 75th minute with a cutting run into the box and sent a low shot into the far corner to make it 5-2.
Havelock North Wanderers didn't give up though and it was in referees time at the end of the game when they capitalised on United's failure to clear the ball and captain Jerome Groot snuck the ball in at the near post for a goal that will give Wanderers some hope for the return leg at Guthrie Park next weekend.
ENDS
Central League Playoff (Graeme Sole Trophy), 1st Leg
Saturday 2 October, 2021
Newtown Park, Wellington
Wellington United (3) 5 (Nacho Junca, Amir Manadalwi, Cam Stephan, Wynn Skinner, Jesse Kang)
Havelock North Wanderers (1) 3 (Tomek Frooms, Luca barclay, Jerome Groot)
