New Zealand Football Championship
Otago Knox loud and Clear in Manawatu
Rab Smith
Three goals, three points and after a stirring 3-nil result in Manawatu, Otago 
United shot up to third top of the New Zealand Football Championship on Saturday.
The final whistle had coach Malcolm Fleming rubbing his hands in glee after Otago registered its first ever win against Manawatu in Palmerston North.
Goals to Nathan Knox (2 ) and jack-in-the-box Dan Ede demoralised Manawatu, which was lucky not to concede another couple in the final limp moments when Otago repeatedly carved through with flowing multi-passing moments.
One slick movement saw Stu Kelly feint and pass to Ede who did the same, and Ryan Faichnie joined in, beating a defender and slipping the ball to Knox who shot wide.
Scots midfielder Kelly said,’ Its was too easy at that stage. We had too much time and should have scored several more.’
It must have been pleasing for Fleming to see his players swarming forward punishing Manawatu. Often better odds than 4 v 3 were created - a long way from some previous Otago teams that used a solo striker silhuetted on the far skyline.
But the Coach had to survive some early sweats as his Otago side stalled at 
the start of an erratic first half which featured last ditch tackles and nerve tingling saves by Otago keeper James Waggett.
Vanuatuan striker Seule Soromon’s pace was like a gun held to Otago’s head. Initially he sliced through at will but his finishing was poor, and anything on target, was collected by Waggett who held his nerve in several one on ones. 
And its worth remembering that earlier in the seasom Soromon scored four goals in one match, when Manawatu thrashed Wellington.
The crowd sunbathing in warm conditions got its moneysworth at both ends as James Reichwein tested Ross Nicholson in the Manawatu goal, and Knox headed a right wing cross just over the bar.
Waggett produced a fingertip save to a Soromon chip, then the keeper incredibly spun and dropped the ball at Cambell Banks feet – but the lanky striker missed an open goal.
Heartstopping stuff for the Otago bench, but after a stirring halftime team 
talk by Fleming, and a masterly match by centreback Tim Horner in the second spell, Otago dominated play.
Horner and Tom Sadd in central defence read Manawatu’s one dimensional attack, and notwithstanding Sadd racing back to scoop a certain goal off Otago’s untended goal line – the visitors took over.
Andy Coburn and Kelly broke up attacks and probed forward. Ede and Faichnie collected a series of quality passes from Tristan Pr
attley and Mike Abbott.
Robbie Deeley and Tom Connor came on to further spark Otago’s drive, and Manawatu floundered then flopped.
Ede with bloodied face after a careless elbow, showed tight control and explosive pace in some carving runs along the bye line and took his goal really well.
Knox worked a calm one-two before scoring his first goal, and made the 
second look easy with a simple pass into Manawatu’s net. The big guys style is more elusive than frantic and resembles a latter day Mark Gribben.
Coach Fleming praised his side’s fighting spirit, and eventual quality passing game which earned the result.
‘ Manawatu had their chances, and might have scored a couple, but Otago ‘might’ have scored five or six, and to come away with three points, three goals and a clean sheet from a venue we have never won at, was a classic 
performance by the lads.’
Otago faces another “mission impossible’ next week when the team travels to play unbeaten Auckland City in the far north.
Otago United is now on third place in the table on goal difference and will remain there unless Canterbury United defeat Team Wellington in Christchurch on Sunday.
Canterbury could finish the weekend as high as second but will need 
Hawke’s Bay United to cause an upset at Auckland City.
On Sunday top of the table Waitakere United travel to Ngaruawahia to face eighth placed Waikato FC while defending champions Auckland City hosts seventh placed Hawke’s Bay United at Kiwitea Street.
NZFC |
P |
W |
D |
L |
For |
Ag |
GD |
Pts |
Waitakere |
6 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
9 |
6 |
3 |
13 |
Auckland |
4 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
8 |
1 |
7 |
10 |
Otago Utd |
7 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
9 |
7 |
2 |
10 |
Manawatu |
6 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
7 |
5 |
2 |
10 |
Canterbury |
5 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
6 |
3 |
3 |
8 |
Wellington |
6 |
2 |
0 |
4 |
5 |
10 |
-5 |
6 |
Hawke’s Bay |
6 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
7 |
11 |
-4 |
5 |
Waikato FC |
6 |
1 |
0 |
5 |
6 |
14 |
-8 |
3 |
