ASB National League
Dunedin, 2011-12

Settle for a 2-2 Draw ?
Rab Smith

Otago United and Manawatu had to settle for a battling 2-2 draw in the ASB Premiership match played yesterday at the Forsyth Barr stadium.

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Jose shows poise, Morgan battles...

Otago coach Richard Murray rang the changes and elevated Aajay Cunningham to the starting eleven, and the youngster obliged by scoring the equalizer after 55 minutes.

His strike at goal was all class and control, which were rare in a match that bustled and barged its way through 93 minutes.

Spectators must have enjoyed the end to end nature of the match, as it produced adrenalin pumping goalmouth incidents and both keepers were call on to make desperate saves.

It was predictable that there would be goals, since both teams lost 5-nil last week, and both coaches hoped for, and generally got more stability.

Otago’s Murray highlighted the errors that presented Manawatu with its two goals. ‘ Simple lack of concentration allowed diagonal runs by Seule Soromon and Jimmy Haidaikis that gave them their goals,’ he said.

Manawatu coach Stu Jacobs felt his defence let them down,’ but we are very much a Work in Progress, and overall this was a good point to earn, after our recent defensive form,’ he said.

“ And I was especially pleased with stand –in keeper Ben Wilkes who made several important saves.’

Otago’s Peter Evans was less busy, but when the action kicked in, he had to defend with alacrity as Soromon slid through gaps and squeezed tight angled shot at the Otago goal.

Yet it was Otago that opened the scoring after 14 minutes when left fullback Craig Ferguson pushed up and delivered a perfect cross for the flying Harley Rodeka to glance the ball into Manawatu’s net.

For a few moments Otago looked composed and in control, then fatal lack of concentration allowed Soromon the simplest of goals as he ran onto a simple long pass, controlled with his chest and volleyed a 19th minute equalizer.

Elation turned to dejection for Otago players and spectators, and the visitors played their best football to take control.

Cunningham’s classy control was swamped, Morgan Day slumped and both wingers Regan Coldicott and Rodeka while still generating attacking runs, lost their quality delivery.

No surprise then when Haidakis played a clever one-two through the middle and  stayed calm to slot a cool goal past keeper Evans and earn the lead after 34 minutes.

Otago grafted its way back into the match despite erratic play in midfield, and created pressure with corners and long throw ins that had the Manawato defence scrambling.

The hard working Ant Hancock had a good penalty call waved away by referee John Rowbury. Prattley launched a dangerous freekick, and centreback Matt Joy hurled a series of long throws but at halftime Manawatu still led 2-1.

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The second spell was similar cut and thrust, but the visitors and Haidakis especially had slowed down. After a spell of Otago pressure, a couple of half clearance gave young Cunningham a chance to flight his splendid equalizer.

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Fresh Otago legs almost paid off as Sam Mepham and Joel Stevens replaced Cunningham and Ryder, then James Govan came on for Hancock, and Otago turned the screw.

Steady pressure however brought no reward, and possibly Manawatu went closest to snatching the outright win when Soromon rounded keeper Evans and only superb covering pressure by Ferguson forced the Vanuatuan international into hitting Otago’s goalpost.

Haidakis Goal ... 2-1

Both teams face tough matches next week, with Otago away to Hawkes Bay and Manawatu plays Auckland. The Forsyth Barr stadium remains busy with four NZ Masters’ football finals taking place on Sunday.

ASB Prem.	P	W	D	L	For	Ag	GD	Pts
Auckland	9	7	2	0	27	6	21	23
Canterbury	10	7	0	3	31	9	22	21
Wellington	10	6	1	3	22	13	9	19*
Waitakere	10	6	0	4	30	13	17	18
H. Bay Utd.	8	3	1	4	13	20	-7	10
Otago Utd	10	3	1	6	9	24	-15	10*
Waikato FC	9	2	1	6	9	24	-15	7
Manawatu	10	0	2	8	10	42	-32	2

Waitakere United’s hopes of reaching next season’s O-League hang in the balance after they lost 1-3 to league leaders Auckland City and nearest rivals Canterbury United trounced Hawke’s Bay 7-0 in Christchurch in the ASB Premiership.

Canterbury’s ruthless performance was inspired by five goal hero George Slefendorfas, who equalled Benjamin Totori’s record for most individual goals in a regular season ASB Premiership fixture. The result means Canterbury and Team Wellington – who downed Waikato FC 3-2 -both leapfrog Waitakere into second and third spot respectively, while the West Aucklanders slip to fourth.

Waitakere United’s fourth defeat of the season - and their second to Auckland City in the league – may mean victory in the ASB Premiership Grand Final is the West Aucklanders only route to the O-League with the minor premiership ticket now a much slimmer mathematical possibility following round ten’s results.

One advantage in Waitakere United’s favour is that all four of their remaining regular season matches with Waikato FC, Team Wellington, Canterbury United and YoungHeart Manawatu are at home.

In the Super City derby at Kiwitea Street Luis Corrales gave a scintillating performance for Auckland and completed a sensational comeback from suspension when he opened the scoring on 29 minutes with a typically composed finish past goalkeeper Danny Robinson. Waitakere United bounced back when unmarked midfield dynamo Chris Bale headed home an equaliser from an Allan Pearce long throw-in on 56 minutes.

With the match finely balanced Auckland restored their lead under freakish circumstances when a Ryan de Vries clearance struck Daniel Koprivcic and spun wickedly over Robinson into the back of the visitor’s net with 20 minutes left. Manel Exposito put the result beyond doubt for Auckland when he slammed home an unstoppable third.

In Christchurch, Hawke’s Bay United coach Chris Greatholder was left scratching his head after his side’s two match winning run collapsed in a 7-0 defeat to Canterbury at ASB Football Park.

George Slefendorfas powered his way to four goals inside the first 45 minutes while midfielder Darren White chipped in with another as Canterbury led 5-0 at halftime. Aaron Clapham made it 6-0 from the penalty mark after Andy Barton was felled just after the restart with Barton involved in Canterbury’s seventh when he crossed for Slefendorfas to net his fifth of the afternoon on the hour mark. Hawke’s Bay has little time to recover as they face Auckland City in a round 5 catch-up match in Napier on Waitangi Day.

Team Wellington edged a brave Waikato FC in a five goal thriller in Hamilton today. Waikato FC skipper Adam Thomas netted his third goal of the campaign from the penalty mark on 9 minutes after James Musa had brought down Ryan Thomas. The lead lasted barely two minutes when Wellington’s Ricky Zucco levelled the scores with a superb curled effort over goalkeeper Mark Fulcher.

The home side bounced back in style when a slick attacking move started by Jesse Edge and Ryan Thomas ended with a crisp Tyler Boyd finish on 18 minutes and Musa then made amends for his earlier mistake when he headed home an equaliser from a corner on 34 minutes. But it was Louis Fenton who broke Waikato hearts with his fifth goal of the season with almost the last kick of the game to hand Team Wellington a 3-2 victory.