Wellington United's Amir Mandalawai heads the ball (TJF Photos)
FRUSTRATION AS FIRST TEAMS DRAW BLANKS
Wednesday 15th July 2020
Words Dave Webster \ WUAFC Media
Photo TJF Photos
It was a frustrating day for both Wellington United first teams on Saturday as they both went down 1-0, the Women in a surprise upset loss to Waterside Karori and the Men to a youthful Western Suburbs reserve side.
The Women's team dominated possession and territory but were just unable to break down a well organised and solid Waterside Karori defence, while the Men's team didn't have it all their way with possession and territory they more than held their own and stuck to their defensive shape and will feel hard done by that they didn't get at least a point.
Women's coach Maika Ruyter-Hooley stuck with some of the changes she had made the previous week due to injury and leading goalscorer, Jemma Robertson, started at right back with Dani Ohlsson joined up front by Olivia Browne and ex Waterside player Courtney Stone. Playing down the Karori Park slope, United created some chances but their usual clinical finishing in the final third let them down and Waterside Karori would have been happy to go into the break at 0-0.
It was 26 minutes into the second half when Waterside Karori got a rare corner, the corner was held up on the near post by the wind and Kaley Ward headed to on to the post, the ball rebounded on to United keeper Molly Simons who could do nothing but watch it go over the line. Ruyter-Hooley made a couple of changes after this pushing Robertson up front and bringing on Emma Main and another ex Karori player in Katie Barrott, but it was too little too late and United were chasing the game. Waterside Karori closed up shop and held out to record their first win over Wellington United since 2014.
At Ole Academy, coach Guillermo Schiltenwolf was banging his head against the dugouts wondering where the goals were going to come from. The 1-0 defeat to Wests is the fifth one goal defeat of the season out of seven games! A different formation with five at the back played well and kept their shape with plenty of talking. The game became alot more like chess than football with the team in possession moving the ball forward before sending it back recycling it and trying again. As a result neither team had many chances in the first half. The second half was very similar with the main difference coming in the 65th minute when Wests substitute, Digger Iqbal, shrugged off his marker and made a nice turn in the penalty area and slotted the ball into the bottom corner.
Captain Chas Lawerence said after the game, "it was very frustrating we played some of the best football we've played this season in the first half but we just aren't getting the luck in the final third"
It's back to Newtown Park on Saturday for both teams as the Women take on bottom placed North Wellington (KO 12:30), while the men host Tawa (KO 2:30)
Ends
MATCH DETAILS
Women's W-League
Saturday 11 July, 2020
Karori Park
Waterside Karori 1 (OG)
Wellington United 0
Men's Capital Premier Division
Saturday 11 July, 2020
Ole Academy
Western Suburbs Reserves 1 (Digger Iqbal)
Wellington United 0
The Women's team dominated possession and territory but were just unable to break down a well organised and solid Waterside Karori defence, while the Men's team didn't have it all their way with possession and territory they more than held their own and stuck to their defensive shape and will feel hard done by that they didn't get at least a point.
Women's coach Maika Ruyter-Hooley stuck with some of the changes she had made the previous week due to injury and leading goalscorer, Jemma Robertson, started at right back with Dani Ohlsson joined up front by Olivia Browne and ex Waterside player Courtney Stone. Playing down the Karori Park slope, United created some chances but their usual clinical finishing in the final third let them down and Waterside Karori would have been happy to go into the break at 0-0.
It was 26 minutes into the second half when Waterside Karori got a rare corner, the corner was held up on the near post by the wind and Kaley Ward headed to on to the post, the ball rebounded on to United keeper Molly Simons who could do nothing but watch it go over the line. Ruyter-Hooley made a couple of changes after this pushing Robertson up front and bringing on Emma Main and another ex Karori player in Katie Barrott, but it was too little too late and United were chasing the game. Waterside Karori closed up shop and held out to record their first win over Wellington United since 2014.
At Ole Academy, coach Guillermo Schiltenwolf was banging his head against the dugouts wondering where the goals were going to come from. The 1-0 defeat to Wests is the fifth one goal defeat of the season out of seven games! A different formation with five at the back played well and kept their shape with plenty of talking. The game became alot more like chess than football with the team in possession moving the ball forward before sending it back recycling it and trying again. As a result neither team had many chances in the first half. The second half was very similar with the main difference coming in the 65th minute when Wests substitute, Digger Iqbal, shrugged off his marker and made a nice turn in the penalty area and slotted the ball into the bottom corner.
Captain Chas Lawerence said after the game, "it was very frustrating we played some of the best football we've played this season in the first half but we just aren't getting the luck in the final third"
It's back to Newtown Park on Saturday for both teams as the Women take on bottom placed North Wellington (KO 12:30), while the men host Tawa (KO 2:30)
Ends
MATCH DETAILS
Women's W-League
Saturday 11 July, 2020
Karori Park
Waterside Karori 1 (OG)
Wellington United 0
Men's Capital Premier Division
Saturday 11 July, 2020
Ole Academy
Western Suburbs Reserves 1 (Digger Iqbal)
Wellington United 0
