Round 12, Vs Tawa Bears, Newtown Park 2

Elite 2 - 8 Tawa

Write-up by Jason

​Four days back in the country and I return to find the team had succeeded in being promoted whilst struggling to find 11 each week. Way to go guys! Looking around I saw a lot of new faces, some new and some ring ins. Ok, we'd done well so far, so today should be no different.

On to the game and as is usual the first 5 minutes was a tussle, each side sounding the other out. A simple through ball by the opposition had their striker baring down on goal, only a last minute lunge prevented a shot, but calls went up for a penalty that was not given, probably cause the ref had worn his sunglasses rather than his spectacles. It wasn't long before the opening goal was scored. A clean shot from the edge of the 18 yard box curved round the keeper and gave Tawa the early lead. 

We tried to put it behind us by making a couple great runs down the left and found some good touches, but alas Tawa had the ball again and was on an attack. Again from just inside the 18 yard box they had another strike and scored again. 2-0 down in a matter of minutes. Don't hold your breath waiting for the miraculous comeback because within a few more minutes it was 3-0. All hope of it being early game jitters was gone. We were looking down the barrel of flogging. We still fought to make it a game but heads were certainly dropping. 

I'll be honest and say I don't remember the sequences but I think the fourth goal came from a strike out on the corner of the box and into the top of the net, actually a pretty good goal. The fifth might have been one of Tawa strikers getting a lucky deflection fall to his feet and calmly side foot it into goal. Our goalie Rori did make a couple of good saves, tipping a goal bound corner over the cross bar at full stretch.  The luck we were having was on full display when trying to clear a ball from near our goal mouth, an attempted clearance ricochet off a few players and unkindly was deflected into our own net. Such was the way the game was going. So we are 6-0 down, bring on half time. No wait one second, we still had to endure a bit more suffering. An unfortunate kick struck the arm of our player and harshly the ref saw this one and awarded a penalty. And is typical 6-0 up in the first half fashion they let their keeper take it. The penalty struck the arm of our goalie but unfortunately still went in. 

So with a 7-0 half time score line our mid game chat was actually quite positive. Not that we'd win but that there was still some enjoyment to be had on the rather nice day. A personnel adjustment, saw Rori move to the outfield and myself go goalie, Rolf hung onto his temporary promotion to centre back and Shano took the winger roll from Lucas.

The second half started much better we were composed and enjoying some much needed time on the ball. We made some great combinations, some quick passing of the ball and looked like we'd make a game of it... well at least one half of it. Tim and shane were working well down the right and making great gains. Stu was busting up their midfield plays and Rolf was solid in defence. 

The first break through came with some nice passing down the left, Stu to Paul to Steve, who calmly passed the ball into the back of the net. We were off the mark and starting to enjoy some football. Our second goal came from a run by Shane down the right, he managed to get one on one with the keeper and clinically dispatched it.

We were on a roll and Tawa started to get really nervous. We were creating chance after chance and it was only either a really good or lucky goalie who was keeping our score to 2. A run down the left saw the ball go over the side line and a tussle between their player and Rori. A throw in from Rori into the Tawa player erupted into some pushing and shoving. The cool head of the ref gave each player a 5 minute stint on the sideline. 

Our opportunities kept coming, a close header, a looping shot from distance, an another one on one, it felt like we were only moments from our third. Tawa were making some breaks and found themselves with the ball on the edge of the box. A swinging shot from them left the keeper at full stretch but unable to prevent the Tawa 8th goal. 

An that is how it ended. Our worst loss (I think) for the season. With what felt like a makeshift team and people playing out of position. Lets hope we can recover for the next week.

MVP points,
3 – Stu, Usual class football even when we were under the pump
2 - Tim, A work horse from start to finish, plenty of full field length runs
1 – Rolf, Solid in defence when called upon, didn't complain and just got the job done.