2024 Men’s National League – Week 3
Wellington Olympic vs Eastern Suburbs
Of all the unexpected outcomes after the opening fortnight of MNL footy, seeing Wellington Olympic winless was high on the list... but not as high as the Greeks not even having scored a goal through their first 180 minutes. That was baffling – and remember it was an own goal in their favour in the Chatham Cup final so you had to go back to the last Central League game for an Olympic player on the scoresheet. They could easily have beaten Coastal Spirit (in what became the team’s first 0-0 draw since 2021 - bringing to an end a 112-game streak) and they should have beaten Auckland City. The performance was there except they botched some finishing. Now they hosted a defensively stout Eastern Suburbs side at Martin Luckie Park knowing that a third slip-up and their hopes of repeating as National League champions would be on the brink of tumbling into the Cook Strait.
Happily, Justin Gulley was good to go after his injury scare last week. Maybe just a niggle he’s been managing. That meant the Greeks only needed to change one thing from last week’s starting eleven and that was Gianni Bouzoukis in and Hamish Watson out. Watto’s on holiday this week, fair enough. Work hard, play hard. For Eastern Suburbs, Jackson Jarvie moved into the back three to accommodate Matt D’Hotman at wing-back. Thomas Golding and Ralph Rutherford also got starts for the Lilywhites having come off the bench last week in the 2-2 draw with Napier City Rovers.
It didn’t take long for Eddie Wilkinson to force a save with his usual bulldozing styles, but far from being an insight, that turned out to be an anomaly as Eastern Suburbs began a spell of hectic pressure with some rapid pace of play. Ralph Rutherford’s tricky feet were heavily involved. Next thing you knew, a corner kick was flicked on by Aaryan Raj and then who else but Jake Mechell was there to pop it over the line. Striker’s instincts. Around the same time, Gianni Bouzoukis limped off (replaced by Jonty Roubos) to add to the swelling sense of panic that Wellington Olympic supporters must have been feeling. Fans and perhaps even players and coaching staff. This is not how it’s supposed to go for the Greeks.
Panic? No, never. A team like Wellington Olympic doesn’t just forget how to score goals all of a sudden. Send the captain up for a corner kick and let him handle matters. Ben Mata missed a penalty last week but he scored a header from almost the same distance on 27’ to level things up (Mata has 15 goals this season: 7 penalties and 8 headers). Looked like Roubos with the tasty delivery. Then a few minutes later they won another corner kick and scored another goal. The ball went deep but Mata retrieved and chipped it back over for Tor Davenport-Petersen to put a head on that thing before Joseph Hopper bunted it over the line from up close. When it doubt, let the big fellas get busy in the air. Olympic are much better known for their flowing transitional attacks but they can put the hard hat on and go to work the old fashioned way too.
By this time, Olympic were in control with plenty of possession allowing their defensive line to hang nice and high. Good energy after a nervous start. Hopper, as well as scoring a goal, was doing fine work crowding out the passing lanes to Jake Mechell, while the Olympic wide men put the squeeze on the Suburbs midfield. The Lilywhites kept it steady into the break and beyond and, apart from Gavin Hoy being inches away from scoring a thumping half-volley, began to pull the arm-wrestle back in their favour in the second half. Dejuan Naidoo and Luke Mitchell came on to further that quest. Next goal was going to be crucial... and it was Gavin Hoy who scored it for Olympic in the 71st minute. Shortly after Hopper had powerfully headed a corner onto the woodwork. Unlike that chance and each of the three previous goals, Hoy’s one didn’t come from a corner. It was simply a smashing finish after a Jack-Henry Sinclair cut-back. Unleash the flares, boys.
Probably shouldn’t have used them both up at once because, ten minutes later, Tor Davenport-Petersen crept into the area to finish off a fourth after Prins had squared the ball and it appears as though JHS might have flicked it back to TDP to prevent the defence from gobbling it up instead. That was the result all sorted but there was still time for a bicycle kick from Eastern Suburbs (on target but saved, didn’t see who it was) as well as a bit of drama in stoppage time. TDP jumped into a couple of rash challenges, the second of which led to some afters from Nikko Boxall, and both TDP and Boxall were given straight reds. Disappointing for both teams to lose a key player potentially for multiple weeks now, especially with the incident happening so late in a game that was already gone. Oh well. Flares on the sideline, flare-ups on the pitch.
A 4-1 win for Wellington Olympic gets them back on track. Not sure anyone should have doubted that they’d rally but to put four past this Eastern Suburbs team is really something. Joe Hopper played his midfield role to perfection. Justin Gulley was great. Davenport-Petersen was too up until the red. Olympic conceded early but used set pieces to get back into the match and picked their moments from there. That was much more like it. Suburbs gave it a good nudge, they had their spells of dominance, but outside of Jake Mechell (three goals already this MNL campaign) they perhaps just didn’t have enough consistent weapons to match a top quality side like this. Normal service resumes for the Greeks and the league is on notice.
Wellington Olympic 4-1 Eastern Suburbs
15’ | ES | 0-1 | Mechell (Raj)
27’ | WO | 1-1 | Mata (Roubos)
31’ | WO | 2-1 | Hopper (Davenport-Petersen)
71’ | WO | 3-1 | Hoy (Sinclair)
81’ | WO | 4-1 | Davenport-Petersen (Sinclair)
90+3’ | WO | RED CARD | Davenport-Petersen
90+3’ | ES | RED CARD | Boxall
Western Springs vs Birkenhead United
Seddon Fields was the place to be on Saturday as Western Springs hosted a triple header with the Girls National Youth League team losing 2-0 to Southern, the Women’s National League team winning 2-1 against Southern United, and then a bit of this as the Men’s National League side took on local rivals Birkenhead United, seeking to build on last week’s entertaining 6-2 victory against Coastal Spirit. Emiliano Tade and Dawson Straffon were still absent for the Swans, who therefore named an unchanged eleven for the third week in a row – the only team across either NL competition yet to alter their line-up at all.
Visitors Birkenhead were slightly different, with youngster Marcus Nevin back between the sticks and captain Luke Jorgensen returning to the midfield. That led to Ardri MacArthur dropping into the back three while Haris Zeb also got a start at left wing-back having been very sharp there as a sub in the 3-3 draw against Western Suburbs. Troy Putt also dropped a little deeper to accommodate a certain Monty Patterson who was fit enough to start after scoring off the bench against Wests.
The respective back three formations and active pressing meant that the first ten minutes had the sideline fans acting like they were at a tennis match with heads pivoting side to side as the ball moved quickly from one end to the other and back again. The space was in behind but neither could access it. The exception was a slick move up the left-wing which led to Matthew Ellis slipping a smart finish past the keeper but the pass had been a split-second late so he was clearly offside. The fouls were chippy enough that Jackson Manuel got himself a booking after only twenty minutes (Troy Putt and Reid Drake also got carded inside the first half). Need a bit of that in a rivalry game. But Dino Botica and Aidan Carey were running the show so most of the first half went by without hardly a chance to speak of. It was over thirty minutes deep before Marcus Nevin needed to put his gloves to work after another silky Ellis run, then Mason did similar to Daniel Bunch running through on a loose ball. That was about it.
Fortunately, the second stanza was much more exciting. After all that scrappiness for no reward in the first forty-five, the second block required a mere 80 seconds before Haris Zeb barged his way onto the ball and sent Daniel Bunch into the area. He faked the first shot, changed his angle, and drove it low past Oscar Mason for 1-0. This was pressure that they sustained too, putting Springs on the skids with their intensity, and Bunch should have made it two when he slammed a volley high from about eight yards. Those are the ones you really hope don’t come back to bite you... but in the 58th minute this one did, when a smart overlapping run from Patrick Tobin led to a low drilled cross which the keeper spilled thus Reid Drake slipped it over the line for 1-1.
Birko threw on Curtis Hughes for some more attacking spark, though it was Leon van den Hoven who drew a good diving save out of Mason with a long shot, while Zeb’s deep curling attempt very nearly dipped under the crossbar. Soon it was LVDH at it again with a bursting run which drew a foul right on the edge of the box, although the Seddon Fields balcony thought otherwise and the ref did too once he’d had a chat with his assistant. Still 1-1 with fifteen to go, everything to play for. Definitely some frustration from the home contingent about some of the physicality, which goes to show that Birko were still hustling away deep into the game. As was Jackson Manuel in midfield for Springs except that he went a little too hard and earned a second booking for a red card.
Doubt you need to be told that was a pivotal moment. Ten minutes to go with ten men against a berko Birko side that’d already been on top for most of the second half. Dino Botica was the bloke who put Birkenhead back into the lead when he popped a scrambling corner kick into the net on 82’ and then they added a third for good measure in stoppage time after Springs left room on the break, risking it in the hope of a leveller, that led to Patterson spinning into space and setting up Daniel Bunch for his second. 3-1 was how it ended.
Birkenhead might have won this anyway even without the red card. They were so good without the ball, limiting Springs in the first half and then really annoying them in the second. Monty Patterson hasn’t had much of a mention here. He didn’t get a heap of touches but when he did he was class and of course he was part of that front three with Bunch and Putt/Hughes who did all that pressing. Dino Botica’s goal was hugely deserved for a commanding performance. Ardri MacArthur continues to be an energiser for this team no matter what his role is. Haris Zeb was involved in a lot of their best attacks too. Great win from Birkenhead, their first of the term. Western Springs didn’t play poorly, they were right there with them prior to half-time and found a timely equaliser when they needed one (well, the first time they needed one). Aidan Carey backed up his superb performance last week. Matt Ellis is a rapid danger to any team. But the red card tipped the scales and now not having Jackson Manuel against Eastern Suburbs next week will be a tough.
Western Springs 1-3 Birkenhead United
47’ | BU | 0-1 | Bunch (Zeb)
58’ | WS | 1-1 | Drake
78’ | WS | RED CARD | J.Manuel
82’ | BU | 1-2 | Botica
90+4’ | BU | 1-3 | Bunch (Patterson)
Coastal Spirit vs Western Suburbs
Coastal Spirit’s week one game was a special occasion, first game in the National League and all that, and they celebrated accordingly with a 0-0 draw against defending champs Wellington Olympic. But they were dealt a brutal lesson in week two as they shipped six goals in a defeat away to Western Springs. Peaks and valleys. This week they were back at home (their actual home of Linfield Park this time) to face Western Suburbs, who were pretty poor in week one (losing 4-0 to Birko) but much more competitive in a drenched but entertaining 3-3 draw away to Birkenhead United.
Coastal were happy to welcome Weston Bell back into the side after a slight injury. They also gave Kenshin Hayashi a start on the wing to signal a change in shape, going with a back four after the wobbles they suffered last week (meaning Alex Meaclem dropped to the bench). Wests were without usual goalie Quillan Roberts because he was busy wearing the gloves for Guyana’s national team, earning another cap in a 3-1 defeat against Guatemala in Concacaf Nations League action (they’ve another match against Suriname on Weds at 1pm). That meant a start for Jack De Groot, a 20yo keeper who has come across from Miramar Rangers... and who did previously make a MNL debut for that lot back in the 2022 season. That was in a 4-0 loss to Cashmere Tech in which he got injured and missed the rest of it (Miramar Rangers signed Joe Knowles as a replacement, then of Eastern Suburbs but now of Auckland FC). Apart from that enforced change, Alan Koch’s side was the same as the group that drew against Birko.
One thing we’re yet to see from Spirit is an Alex Steinwascher goal. Bundles and bundles in the Southern League, 19 of the things, but nothing so far in the Nats... though he should have scored three minutes into this one following some great set-up work from David Yoo down the right wing. Alas, Steiny scooped the square cross over the bar from about eight yards. The Steinwascher vs Lucas Meek duel between the American strikers was one of the most fascinating aspects of this match – Meek hasn’t scored in the Nats either, though he did get a couple assists in round two. But regardless of those two, it was David Yoo bringing the magic. He sent Hayashi through on goal, rounding the keeper only for De Groot’s long arms to tip the ball out for a corner. Great goalkeeping.
Meek did flick a shot on target after 20 mins, which Riley Grover hacked off the line. First time Wests had properly threatened. They’d keep up the pressure with some set pieces and some more sneaky Meek touches. Seb Barton-Ginger dinked the ball onto the crossbar, possibly from an attempted pass but it almost came up trumps for him. Meanwhile Coastal were always busy with their very direct counter attacks and nearly scored a remarkable effort when Steinwascher gently lifted the ball into the run of Dan MacLennan only for the big man to volley it straight at De Groot was made the save.
Rarely has a game ever inhabited the “first goal will be crucial” rule more... and that first goal arrived in the 44th minute when Joe Hoole sent Steinwascher through on the move and he slid the ball gently for Dan MacLennan to steer into the open net. Clever work from Steiny. Unselfish too. Take the keeper out of the equation. MacLennan was all too happy to accept the gift.
Curiously, Wests made a double change a mere two minutes into the second half. Not during the half but two minutes after it. Strange. Alifeleti Peini had taken a knock earlier so they may have wanted to see how he held up after the break but Bruce Izumi was also subbed with Malcolm Young and Lewis Miller brought o on in their places. Meek glanced a header over the top from a corner... but that was a false flag because a smooth combination move from the Coastal forwards led to David Yoo picking his spot on 51’ and then within thirty seconds of the kickoff he’d dashed through to add another one. Nor was that all of it. In the 55th, a Hayashi cross was partially diverted by Steinwascher and landed at the feet of David Yoo who smacked it home for the five-minute hat-trick. That, as the saying goes, escalated quickly.
All three of those goals came from Coastal winning contested ball in the midfield (usually aerials) and then launching swiftly into attack. The same thing happened ten minutes later, when MacLennan rolled off his marker to get onto a Stearn header forward and he pocketed it bottom corner. Way too easy. Wests were known through the winter as a team that does concede a fair few goals but the National League has exposed that without their goal-scoring being able to keep up. The only relief is that Coastal let it lie at five goals. The first half was close, Coastal did have the better of the chances but not by too much. Yet once they scored they went nuts with it. 5-0 final score.
Amazing from Coastal Spirit – three goals for David Yoo, two goals and an assist for Daniel MacLennan, two assists each for Mason Stearn and Alex Steinwascher (Stearn and Steinwascher went to the University of Indianapolis together, so Stearn is the man to thank for bringing Steiny to Aotearoa). Coastal now have a positive goal difference even after losing 6-2 last week. Despite the outcome, Jack de Groot played quite well in goal for Wests, making plenty of saves in that first forty-five before eventually conceding the five goals. Both goalies were courageous in getting at the ball so credit to Ellis Hare-Reid too. This was his second clean sheet of the season – the only keeper with multiple (so far he’s gone: clean sheet, six conceded, clean sheet). In contrast, Western Suburbs have now allowed 12 goals in three matches. 10 of them have come in second halves. That’s going to need some fixing.
Coastal Spirit 5-0 Western Suburbs
44’ | CS | 1-0 | MacLennan (Steinwascher)
51’ | CS | 2-0 | Yoo (Stearn)
52’ | CS | 3-0 | Yoo (MacLennan)
55’ | CS | 4-0 | Yoo (Steinwascher)
66’ | CS | 5-0 | MacLennan (Stearn)
Auckland City vs Cashmere Technical
Game of the round without a doubt over here. Wellington Olympic vs Eastern Suburbs shaped to be a doozy but not like this one at Kiwitea Street. Auckland City had been far from flawless but they don’t need to be flawless in order to win games, they usually find a way. Case and point was last week with a 1-0 win away to Wellington Olympic in which they scored early and spent a decent amount of the second half hanging on but still emerged victorious.
The path was cleared for Myer Bevan to start up front after getting his release from his Canadian club Cavalry FC (where Jay Herdman is currently on loan, coincidentally). Other than that, Nathan Garrow came back for his second start in goal, replacing last week’s hero Conor Tracey, and the rest of the side was the same as last week... although they did move Jerson Lagos to left-back, the Navy Blues going with that lopsided back four again so that they can operate as a three in their build-up. No Ryan De Vries. Michael den Heijer was able to do his thing with a big ol’ bandage on his forehead after the headknock he suffered a week ago. What a trooper.
Cashmere Technical were also without their star striker because Garbhan Coughlan did not make the trip. Huge blow. Especially after they were turned over 4-0 by the Phoenix Reserves in round two. That game was closer than it sounds but they got sauced in the second half. Jack Hallahan moved to striker to replace his compatriot, while Lyle Matthysen was back in the side. Finn Caughey started in the midfield and Pieter-Taco Bierema, the Selwyn loanee, got the start in goal having been brought in as cover for Danny Knight who has been playing through a shoulder knock. So neither team had their main striker or preferred goalie.
To the shock of nobody, Auckland City put their footprints all over that ball with instant possession. They did muster a couple of chances out of it, most notably a long shot from Dylan Manickum and a deflected effort from Lagos, though mostly it was that back three set trying to stretch out the notoriously compact Technical defence in search of space through the middle. They must not have found it because in the 22nd minute, out of nothing, Jack Hallahan pounced on a loose ball and charged into the ACFC half, sliding a pass in behind for Yuya Taguchi who laced it past Garrow for a magnificent counter-attacking goal. That’s how they do it, Coughlan or no Coughlan.
The response from ACFC was to lift their defensive line even higher and otherwise keep doing what they were doing. Little half-chances emerged but nothing to take Cashy Tech out of their shape. The one exception was whenever Lagos could get forward and load up that left edge. He had an acrobatic effort after 41 mins, a scissor kick that bounced onto the crossbar after Lorenz had swung in a fine cross. So close to something magical. But Auckland City, despite the overwhelming portion of possession, remained 1-0 down as the sliced oranges were served in the sheds.
Dark skies and drizzle matched the mood in the stands as Auckland City picked up where they left off. Whenever they’re in this mode, it’s hard not to wish they’d pick up the tempo. The exception to that rule was Lagos who was always keen to bring things to a sizzle with his dribbling. But Albert Riera must have been feeling more than just a chill in the air because he did bring on Derek Tieku (for midfielder Joe Lee) only ten mins into the second half. Marco Lorenz nearly scored a beauty jumping on a half clearance but fizzing a shot slightly off target. Cashy Tech’s second half was a bit of a mess last week so they had to be careful. They made it to the 60-min mark. Bevan finally had a sighter when Mario Ilich picked a smart pass into the area, taking it smoothly with his first touch but then hooking it across goal. Some more lovely Lagos/Ukich crosses to no avail. Past the 70-minute mark. Aaaaand then some sweet passing in and around the area saw Bierema clip Tong Zhou to concede a penalty kick which Myer Bevan had zero issues with. There it was. 1-1, finally.
Auckland City stayed on the prowl with Cashmere happy to pivot into playing for a draw (although they did win a couple of attacking corners) with Bierema grabbing loose ball after loose ball and hoofing it miles downfield each time. Auckland City had a bunch of games through the winter where they scored crucial late goals to earn points... but it didn’t happen this time. Tell you what, they very nearly didn’t get anything at all because right in the last seconds of the game Sam Richards had a chance on the break which was brilliantly blocked by Adam Mitchell. Gotta say brilliantly because the Tech players were absolutely convinced it was a handball but the ref thought otherwise. Big drama. It hit his elbow but the arm was tucked so frankly you could argue it either way. That was the final whistle for a 1-1 draw.
This is as close a freeze frame as could be gathered, so don’t take it as perfectly accurate, but it does give you an idea...
When Cashmere Tech played at Kiwitea Street last year, they scored first (on that occasion Matthysen after 67 mins) but ended up losing 3-1. This time the goal came much earlier and this time they managed to at least hold on for a very valiant point. To be honest, Technical never came very close to scoring again between Taguchi’s strike and the Richards handball claim. The only time there were even hints were when Garrow came sweeping outside his area but the young keeper did well each time. Hallahan did also lead another counter but he shot himself and missed the target, that was just before the equaliser. But they defended like champions. Bierema conceded the penalty but was otherwise a forcefield. The tackling was immense and Danny Kane and Tom Schwarz competed for everything. This is a result that fully reasserts their credentials despite the shocker last week. Damn, with Coughlan in tow they might have even won.
Auckland City got gold out of Jerson Lagos on the wing, who deserved a couple of assists for his mahi, while Stipe Ukich was quiet but did have a few glittering moments. The control of Mitchell, Den Heijer, and Ilich from deep was spotless. Just needed to get a few more bodies in the box for those crosses and maybe let a few more shots fly. But they were up against a wall of yellow so they won’t be shedding tears over a draw. Every team in both the Men’s and Women’s NL has now dropped points. Auckland City remain clear in first.
Auckland City 1-1 Cashmere Technical
22’ | CT | 0-1 | Taguchi (Hallahan)
71’ | AU | 1-1 | Bevan [p] (Zhou)
Napier City Rovers vs Wellington Phoenix Reserves
The Wellington Phoenix Women’s Reserves have had an awful start to the National League, largely because the timing of the first team preseason has kept them from being able to pick hardly any those players (and an U17 World Cup doesn’t help either). The Wellington Phoenix Men’s Reserves... they’ve had no such dramas. Men’s preseason’s been going for ages so everyone knows where they stand in the squad and the coaching staff will be clear on who’ll be featuring in next week’s A-League opener and who might otherwise need minutes over here.
First couple games they had five guys with first-team contracts (of both the scholarship and full variety). This week... actually, this week they only had one. Alby Kelly-Heald got a crack in goal but none of the scholars were there and nor were any full contractees. They did have some MNL experience with Tze Xuan Loke captaining from left-back, while Fergus Gillion, Lewis Partridge, and Dylan Gardiner became the only WeeNixers to have started all three games. There was a start for Joseph Cornille in central defence, while Anaru Cassidy and Ryan Watson got starts out wide, Hayden Thomas joined the midfield action, and Oliver Grosso made a MNL debut up front alongside Luke Flowerdew, who was rewarded with a start after his goal off the bench last week.
Napier City Rovers made a few switches after their 2-2 draw with Eastern Suburbs but didn’t need to bring in any new faces. Jack Albertini moved into the back three with no Stephen Hoyle (he’s an assistant with the NZ Women’s U17s). Kieran Richards replaced his brother in midfield to allow for Max Chretien to remain up top. That was it. Consistent side for Bill Robertson, who would have been very pleased with how many chances his team created in the first few minutes... and very unpleased with the decision not to award a penalty when Cornille clipped Faulds from behind with the Kiwi-Swede running through on goal having only the keeper left to beat. Deadset pen but okay, nevermind. Rovers almost conceded immediately afterwards when Loke pounced on a loose touch and flipped a shot into the post. Seconds later, AKH made a sharp save off Hewson. Then another a minute later, so yeah this one was rather intense.
Adam Hewson was possessed out there, driving with the ball and getting good shots away. He pinged another one slightly wide, then sparked a move that ended with Richards firing slightly over. Something had to give, surely, and in the 25th minute it did as one of the numerous corner kicks that NCR had been winning was flicked in at the near post by - guess who - Oscar Faulds.
Western Springs got shredded by the Rovers press and even Eastern Suburbs had their issues. The WeeNix were pretty good with it though. They got hurt in other ways, to be fair, but the build up was decent and when they were able to advance that they did make things happen. Luke Flowerdew got William Tønning contorting himself in the air to make a save... although that was followed by Alby Kelly-Heald making an even better save to stop Faulds from adding another headed goal.
One guy who had a fascinating role was Tze Xuan Loke. Left-back but with a licence to go drifting – think Zoe McMeeken for the women, only way more attacking because he was often hanging out in the frontline. Loke was an impressive, reliable fullback last year. Since then he’s spent plenty of time around the ALM squad, including a debut in the Aussie Cup recently, and the level up is obvious. He arrived at to Bluewater Stadium seeking to dominate. His close control was superb. The dribbling was a huge threat. And soon before the break he drew a foul out of Jack Albertini which allowed Luke Flowerdew to tie the game up from the penalty spot. NCR coach Bill Robertson was booked in amongst that, probably less annoyed at the Loke decision than he was the Faulds one that never got called earlier.
All even at the big pause. The start of the second half was then sprinkled with fouls (with the weather having turned damp and dark), though Rovers did launch a bunch more shots with Faulds unleashing a couple and Liam Schofield hitting the target with a free kick that AKH dealt with. Good from Napier City, although Tønning did need to be sharp against a Gillion effort and Jim Hoyle made a super sliding challenge in the box against Flowerdew, then Albertini did incredible work to block a Flowerdew effort on the lunge.
The Phoenix subbed off Loke and Watson in the 65th minute, their job was done, and that did alter things a bit for the Nix (although Nick Murphy was bright coming on at fullback). From there they were more compact, probably happy to settle for a draw unless something cool emerged on the break. Joe Cornille had shown some early jitters but he grew strongly into the game as it went along, exhibiting plenty of robustness (that volatility between good moments and bad moments was very reminiscent of a young(er) Finn Surman). The midfielders Gillion and Thomas ripped in as well.
Oscar Faulds flicked a header narrowly wide from a Hewson delivery. Hewson also put one on a platter for Max Chretien but Cornille took care of that with a stretching block from within the six-yard box. Fair play to the WeeNix, their scramble defence was awesome. Kelly-Heald rushed out to beat Faulds to a through ball. He used his long limbs to flip away a Sam Lack shot and to hoover up a few aerials. NCR were all over them in the last 20-30 minutes. Liam Schofield had earlier lashed one across the goal. Deep in stoppage time he had a curling shot deflected wide. So close, so often. But it ended as a 1-1 draw.
Sometimes in basketball they talk about there being an invisible lid on the hoop when folks just cannot seem to score. Napier City Rovers have probably been feeling a similar way since this match. There was an invisible wall in the Nix goal... and also a visible one named Alby Kelly-Heald. He’s likely to be the Nix’s A-League back-up and this heroic performance continues the rise. Tze Xuan Loke is also getting an ALM debut this season if this match was anything to go by, while Dylan Gardiner and Joseph Cornille seem like they can keep the production line going in central defence. This was a significantly weaker (or maybe “less experienced” is the better phrase) WeeNix side than in the previous two weeks so to get a draw away to this Rovers side is top work. Rovers do remain undefeated with a win and two draws. Second on the ladder with Auckland City being the only other team still without a loss. They’re in a good place. Adam Hewson has been great in all three games but this was his peak and he deserved a goal or a couple assists. Oscar Faulds continues to score, even if he’ll feel he should have had more than just one goal. Next week’s match away against Birkenhead Utd should be a belter.
Napier City Rovers 1-1 Wellington Phoenix Reserves
25’ | NCR | 1-0 | Faulds (K.Richards)
44’ | WP | 1-1 | Flowerdew [p] (Loke)
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