Wellington United Salmon 2- Upper Hutt Saints 9
(HT- 1-1)
MacAlister Park
24/4/2010
Team:
............Kahu..........
Richard....Simon....Jeremy....Dave
Danny.......Nic..Warrick...Nigel
.........Ben....Craig
Subs:
Adam
John Hudson
Daniel Mitchener
Scorers:
Craig
Daniel M
MOM points:
Simon Healey-3
Danny Culling- 2
John Hudson/Richard Hallam- 1pt each
Once again I have not felt inspired to write up last weeks loss in a full match report- a summary follows.
Salmon started very strong, playing to an agreed plan of sticking close together and working the ball up as a team, through short passes or quick counter attacks. Upper Hutt were an older side but played a controlled, skilful style-they wetaher the Salmon storm and scored the first goal against the run of play. Salmon soon equalised after Danny played a through ball for himself which the skipper, in a marginally offside position poked past the keeper. 1-1 at half time.
Secopnd half was a bit of a shambles-we were down by 3 within very quick succession-John came on as a sub and injected some energy, setting up Dan M's first goal for the Salmon with a near post header. 5-2. Salmon were spurred on but all the good work was soon undone and Salmon capitulated, going down 9-2.
Lots of positivers in the first half, but a second half to forget. MOM goes to Simon, with 2 pts to Danny, and 1 pt each for Richard Hallam (1st half) and John Hudson (2nd half).
The mark of any team worth its salt, or player for that matter, is to brush off set backs and perservere.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Saturday, April 17, 2010
WU Legends v. WU Salmon -Match report
Wellington United Legends 6- Wellington United Salmon 0
(HT- 3-0)
Newtown Park
17/4/2010
Team:
............Sami..........
Dave....Nathan.....Simon.....Adam
Nigel......Danny...Kahu.....Sean
.........Lane....Craig
Subs:
Cam
Chris
Daniel Mitchener*
MOM points:
Danny Culling- 3
Simon Healey-2
Nathan Rattray-1
(*indicates Salmon debut)
(HT- 3-0)
Newtown Park
17/4/2010
Team:
............Sami..........
Dave....Nathan.....Simon.....Adam
Nigel......Danny...Kahu.....Sean
.........Lane....Craig
Subs:
Cam
Chris
Daniel Mitchener*
MOM points:
Danny Culling- 3
Simon Healey-2
Nathan Rattray-1
(*indicates Salmon debut)
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Wgtn Utd Salmon vs Stop Out-Match Report
Wgtn Utd Salmon vs Stop Out
MacAllister Park
10/4/2010
Wgtn Utd Salmon 2- Stop Out 4
(HT- 1-0)
Scorers:
Craig Ireson
Lane Nichols
Team:
.............Kahu..........
Richard....Nathan.....Warrick.....Dave
Chris.......Ben...Nic.....Nigel
.........Lane....Craig
Subs:
Cam*
MOM points:
Nic Preddle- 3
Lane Nichols-2
Nathan Rattray-1
(*indicates Salmon debut)
Match Report
Fresh Salmon Wilts in the Heat
Another week another close loss against classy opposition on a rock hard MacAllister. Salmon had one sub to Stop Out’s five and once again our friends from the North cannot spring for an away kit, forcing us to take to the field in our Wassabi Away kit. With Sami out again Kahu picked up the gloves, this time he had two of them after the captain made a mercy dash to the sports store one hour before the match. Simon was out with paternal duties so up stepped Nathan into a starting role at centre back alongside Warrick. Nic Preddle returned to the school in centre mid and Cam “No Last Name required” made his debut on the bench.
It was clear these guys were going to be a handful after they had brushed aside Petone Stewsmum 4 nil the week before. But Salmon rose to the task, the first 30 minutes or so was a real arm wrestle with neither side creating clear cut chances- The skipper tried to re-enact last week’s long distance heroics by chipping the keeper, and Lane was running like a Gazelle into the pockets, but the Stop Out defence was resolute, as was the Salmon.
The opening goal came from a swift counter attack, after Nic Preddle broke down the Stop Out advance with his typically aggressive tackling style; their striker objected to being buffeted about by Nic and tried to win the ball back by climbing over him, Nic made himself big and pushed him off to claim possession inside our half. While Stop Out stopped to complain to Danny the Ref, Nic sent a long through ball which split their back two, Craig ran onto to it looking to chip the oncoming keeper. The keeper came out smartly and Striker and Keeper arrived at the same moment, the keeper’s clearance hitting Craig on the shin and ricocheting into the far post for 1 nil. It wasn’t pretty, and it was against the run of play but it counted.
Salmon looked to preserve the lead for the remaining 15 minutes as we started to flag in the heat. As Stop Out pushed to pick up a timely equaliser Chris and Nigel found more space on the wings and Salmon worked the best chance of the half as Ben and Craig combined in the box to force a point blank save from their keeper. The resultant corner was squandered by the skipper, and the half finished as it began with a midfield stalemate.
At the break the talk centred around remaining composed and in control of the tempo- Stop Out had to chase the game, we didn’t have to. However Stop Out blitzed us with two quick goals within ten minutes of the restart, knocking the wind out of us and threatening to race away with a cricket score. Their first was their best. Their goliath centre back had all the time in the world to place a 30 yard pin pint pass to their centre mid, who twirled and found the striker’s angled run. Beaten by the pace of the move Kahu was caught out as the shot found the vast gap at the far post. It was a very simple but well executed goal. 1-1. Within minutes Salmon had conceded the lead as a through ball was misjudged by the centre backs and fell as a gift at the feet of the onrushing striker who calmly placed it to the side of Kahu. 2-1.
Salmon battled to regain a foothold, but chances were few and far between. However with 20 to go Salmon managed to claw their way back into the game thanks to a bit of brilliance from Nic. A quick throw by Richie Hallam was met by Craig, who skidded on the cricket block but managed to push the ball across to Ben Norman, Ben centred to Nic who by now had Lane, Craig and Wazza running off him into the box. Nic ignored all their pleas for service, took one look up and rocketed a shot over the keeper and onto the underside of the bar. With a nod to Geoff Hurst in 1966 most people thought that the ball had gone over the line as it bounced back down, Stop Out themselves were stunned by accuracy and pace of the shot and momentarily paused-it was enough for Wazza and Lane to pounce, rushing though and pushing each other to reach the ball hovering on the line. It was goal poacher Nichols who made it to the ball first, deftly heading in from 2 yards for the equaliser. 2-2 and Salmon’s tails were up once more. Ben and Chris had great chances in the box after Dave Armstrong found his range with his throw-ins. But Stop Out were now using their fresh legs to beat their man every time and the glut of possession finally told. A quick throw in to their big and skilful target man had him tip toe past the defence on the edge of the box and swivel a reverse shot into the smallest of gaps past Kahu for 3-2. Salmon kept pushing but with 10 to go we were hardly creating much up front to worry Stop Out. Kahu and Wazza switched at a corner and Wazza’s first task as goalie was to parry a ball away which spun back into the goal, Nigel did his best to clear but Danny ruled that the ball had already crossed the line. 4-2 and game over.
Stop Out were deserved winners because they took their chances but Salmon also deserved to get something out of this game and a point would have been appropriate. After three rounds last season we had 3 points from a possible 9, and ended up finishing a respectable fourth. Therefore if we want to equal or better our performance last year we need to start converting our potential into points, and pronto.
MOM to Nic for setting up both goals, points to Lane and Nathan for solid performances.
Craig
MacAllister Park
10/4/2010
Wgtn Utd Salmon 2- Stop Out 4
(HT- 1-0)
Scorers:
Craig Ireson
Lane Nichols
Team:
.............Kahu..........
Richard....Nathan.....Warrick.....Dave
Chris.......Ben...Nic.....Nigel
.........Lane....Craig
Subs:
Cam*
MOM points:
Nic Preddle- 3
Lane Nichols-2
Nathan Rattray-1
(*indicates Salmon debut)
Match Report
Fresh Salmon Wilts in the Heat
Another week another close loss against classy opposition on a rock hard MacAllister. Salmon had one sub to Stop Out’s five and once again our friends from the North cannot spring for an away kit, forcing us to take to the field in our Wassabi Away kit. With Sami out again Kahu picked up the gloves, this time he had two of them after the captain made a mercy dash to the sports store one hour before the match. Simon was out with paternal duties so up stepped Nathan into a starting role at centre back alongside Warrick. Nic Preddle returned to the school in centre mid and Cam “No Last Name required” made his debut on the bench.
It was clear these guys were going to be a handful after they had brushed aside Petone Stewsmum 4 nil the week before. But Salmon rose to the task, the first 30 minutes or so was a real arm wrestle with neither side creating clear cut chances- The skipper tried to re-enact last week’s long distance heroics by chipping the keeper, and Lane was running like a Gazelle into the pockets, but the Stop Out defence was resolute, as was the Salmon.
The opening goal came from a swift counter attack, after Nic Preddle broke down the Stop Out advance with his typically aggressive tackling style; their striker objected to being buffeted about by Nic and tried to win the ball back by climbing over him, Nic made himself big and pushed him off to claim possession inside our half. While Stop Out stopped to complain to Danny the Ref, Nic sent a long through ball which split their back two, Craig ran onto to it looking to chip the oncoming keeper. The keeper came out smartly and Striker and Keeper arrived at the same moment, the keeper’s clearance hitting Craig on the shin and ricocheting into the far post for 1 nil. It wasn’t pretty, and it was against the run of play but it counted.
Salmon looked to preserve the lead for the remaining 15 minutes as we started to flag in the heat. As Stop Out pushed to pick up a timely equaliser Chris and Nigel found more space on the wings and Salmon worked the best chance of the half as Ben and Craig combined in the box to force a point blank save from their keeper. The resultant corner was squandered by the skipper, and the half finished as it began with a midfield stalemate.
At the break the talk centred around remaining composed and in control of the tempo- Stop Out had to chase the game, we didn’t have to. However Stop Out blitzed us with two quick goals within ten minutes of the restart, knocking the wind out of us and threatening to race away with a cricket score. Their first was their best. Their goliath centre back had all the time in the world to place a 30 yard pin pint pass to their centre mid, who twirled and found the striker’s angled run. Beaten by the pace of the move Kahu was caught out as the shot found the vast gap at the far post. It was a very simple but well executed goal. 1-1. Within minutes Salmon had conceded the lead as a through ball was misjudged by the centre backs and fell as a gift at the feet of the onrushing striker who calmly placed it to the side of Kahu. 2-1.
Salmon battled to regain a foothold, but chances were few and far between. However with 20 to go Salmon managed to claw their way back into the game thanks to a bit of brilliance from Nic. A quick throw by Richie Hallam was met by Craig, who skidded on the cricket block but managed to push the ball across to Ben Norman, Ben centred to Nic who by now had Lane, Craig and Wazza running off him into the box. Nic ignored all their pleas for service, took one look up and rocketed a shot over the keeper and onto the underside of the bar. With a nod to Geoff Hurst in 1966 most people thought that the ball had gone over the line as it bounced back down, Stop Out themselves were stunned by accuracy and pace of the shot and momentarily paused-it was enough for Wazza and Lane to pounce, rushing though and pushing each other to reach the ball hovering on the line. It was goal poacher Nichols who made it to the ball first, deftly heading in from 2 yards for the equaliser. 2-2 and Salmon’s tails were up once more. Ben and Chris had great chances in the box after Dave Armstrong found his range with his throw-ins. But Stop Out were now using their fresh legs to beat their man every time and the glut of possession finally told. A quick throw in to their big and skilful target man had him tip toe past the defence on the edge of the box and swivel a reverse shot into the smallest of gaps past Kahu for 3-2. Salmon kept pushing but with 10 to go we were hardly creating much up front to worry Stop Out. Kahu and Wazza switched at a corner and Wazza’s first task as goalie was to parry a ball away which spun back into the goal, Nigel did his best to clear but Danny ruled that the ball had already crossed the line. 4-2 and game over.
Stop Out were deserved winners because they took their chances but Salmon also deserved to get something out of this game and a point would have been appropriate. After three rounds last season we had 3 points from a possible 9, and ended up finishing a respectable fourth. Therefore if we want to equal or better our performance last year we need to start converting our potential into points, and pronto.
MOM to Nic for setting up both goals, points to Lane and Nathan for solid performances.
Craig
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Wgtn Utd Salmon vs Tawa AC-Match Report
Wgtn Utd Salmon vs Tawa AC
MacAllister Park
3/4/2010
Wgtn Utd Salmon 2- Tawa AC 3
(HT- 1-1)
Scorers:
Craig Ireson
Dave Armstrong
Team:
..............Kahu..........
Richard....Simon......Enrico*......Dave
Danny......Ben...Jonathon Hudson*....Sean Anderson*
..........Lane....Craig
Subs:
Nathan Rattray*
Chris Scott*
MOM points:
Ben Norman- 3
John Hudson-2
Dave Armstrong-1
(*indicates Salmon debut)
Match Report:
Deja Voodoo all over again for the Salmon as the firstchance of points go begging
Salmon turned up to the new season with 5 debutants in the line up, ready to take on Tawa Saintz at a rock hard MacAllister. The first sign of something awry was when the Tawa captain told us the draw was wrong and that were in fact Tawa AC. This was the same team we had played in a fierce storm at MacAllister in June last year.
They were a handy side, but then again so were the Saintz, so whoever we were playing it was going to be a tough start to the season.
The other glitch in the Matrix was that Sami, so often late but always reliable, decided not to turn up and not to let us know. Worse still he has our only pair of keepers gloves. Luckily Kahu had opted in, and he was happy to go in goal, albeit with one very shabby keeper’s glove.
Salmon started much the stronger, building attacks up the flanks and competing well in the middle thanks to the determination of Ben Norman. Despite the possession we failed to penetrate deep into Tawa territory- our first real foray came after ten minutes, when a Danny through ball had Craig twisting and turning past his man, but the cross-shot to Lane’s head held up in the wind and was easy pickings for the Tawa keeper. In another Matrix-esque déjà vu the Tawa keeper was another B. Norman, our Ben’s brother in fact. Brad Norman had in fact played one game in goal for the salmon a few seasons back, breaking his leg in the dying minutes. The Salmon had bought Brad a guitar to aid his recovery, but he was not to be so charitable to us, denying Salmon goals with an extroverted keeping style.
Tawa started to find some rhythm but Simon had put his impending fatherhood to the back of his mind and was leading the Salmon defence well. The back four was disrupted as Enrico, debuting at centre back, pulled up lame on the cricket pitch and was replaced by fellow debutant Chris Scott. Another newbie, Nathan, who has joined us from Petone AFC, spent most of the first half doing a great job with the whistle.
However after 20 minutes a sweeping cross field move from the ACs was finished sweetly and despite a fairly even share of possession Tawa had the lead.
Salmon were now in danger of going off the boil but the counterattacking breakthrough came from the foot of Kahu in goal, who was launching 50 metre howitzers into the wind. One such clearance went as high as it did long, and seemed to mesmerize the Tawa defence. Craig took advantage of their indecision and ran through onto the kick as it landed ten metres into their half. The skipper stunned the ball with the outside of his left boot, looked up to see the keeper back pedalling and launched a dipping left foot half volley from 30 yards out. The ball swayed from right to left as it traced an arc into the top left hand corner-from almost nothing the Salmon were back in the match with a quality goal poach. Salmon consolidated to go into the break with honours even.
The second half saw Salmon running with the wind, and Salmon were making good yards down the left through Dave Armstrong, and two other debutants John Hudson and Sean Anderson.
However an errant back pass had Tawa take the lead again after only 15 minutes, as their striker stole the ball from the last man and calmly finish past Kahu.
Tawa now looked to grab a further advantage, and some rather dubious referring form their lot saw them have three free kicks within five minutes- one for a fine tackle by Dave Armstrong that left their striker grounded after he tried to push the ball through Dave.
Dave was to make amends when a John Hudson corner was flicked on by Lane Nichols, it landed at the far post where Dave reacted quickest, kneeing the ball into the net. Dave scored one of his backside last year, and one with his knee this year- he has taken over the mantle from Jol Bates as the appendage goalscorer.
Salmon pushed for a winner, but to be honest we were running out of puff- Tawa finished stronger and fitter- a series of three corners in the last five minutes proved s too much for the Salmon to defend- A failed overhead kick from Tawa on the edge of the area had the ball fall at a midfielders boot- he drilled it low and hard-surely a routine save for Kahu? It was not to be, Nathan and Kahu got mixed up on the line and the ball rolled under Kahu’s body. Tawa celebrated like they’d just scored a 40 yard left footed half volley that had hit the top left corner- to be honest they were lucky, albeit fitter and more determined in the end. Salmon pushed again with some good running from Danny, but it was fruitless and Salmon ended the match pointless, but upbeat about the battle.
Just like in 2009 salmon had spurned a chance to take points from the first game. The difference? In 2009 Salmon had squandered a 3 goal lead to lose 4-3 to a team that was clearly no better than us. In 2010 we battled toe to toe against a team that was on the whole younger, quicker and very hard to break down.
If we battle like that in matches to come, and manage to raise our fitness then the luck will start to swing our way. Oh, And we need to get the keepers gloves back from Sami!
Craig
MacAllister Park
3/4/2010
Wgtn Utd Salmon 2- Tawa AC 3
(HT- 1-1)
Scorers:
Craig Ireson
Dave Armstrong
Team:
..............Kahu..........
Richard....Simon......Enrico*......Dave
Danny......Ben...Jonathon Hudson*....Sean Anderson*
..........Lane....Craig
Subs:
Nathan Rattray*
Chris Scott*
MOM points:
Ben Norman- 3
John Hudson-2
Dave Armstrong-1
(*indicates Salmon debut)
Match Report:
Deja Voodoo all over again for the Salmon as the firstchance of points go begging
Salmon turned up to the new season with 5 debutants in the line up, ready to take on Tawa Saintz at a rock hard MacAllister. The first sign of something awry was when the Tawa captain told us the draw was wrong and that were in fact Tawa AC. This was the same team we had played in a fierce storm at MacAllister in June last year.
They were a handy side, but then again so were the Saintz, so whoever we were playing it was going to be a tough start to the season.
The other glitch in the Matrix was that Sami, so often late but always reliable, decided not to turn up and not to let us know. Worse still he has our only pair of keepers gloves. Luckily Kahu had opted in, and he was happy to go in goal, albeit with one very shabby keeper’s glove.
Salmon started much the stronger, building attacks up the flanks and competing well in the middle thanks to the determination of Ben Norman. Despite the possession we failed to penetrate deep into Tawa territory- our first real foray came after ten minutes, when a Danny through ball had Craig twisting and turning past his man, but the cross-shot to Lane’s head held up in the wind and was easy pickings for the Tawa keeper. In another Matrix-esque déjà vu the Tawa keeper was another B. Norman, our Ben’s brother in fact. Brad Norman had in fact played one game in goal for the salmon a few seasons back, breaking his leg in the dying minutes. The Salmon had bought Brad a guitar to aid his recovery, but he was not to be so charitable to us, denying Salmon goals with an extroverted keeping style.
Tawa started to find some rhythm but Simon had put his impending fatherhood to the back of his mind and was leading the Salmon defence well. The back four was disrupted as Enrico, debuting at centre back, pulled up lame on the cricket pitch and was replaced by fellow debutant Chris Scott. Another newbie, Nathan, who has joined us from Petone AFC, spent most of the first half doing a great job with the whistle.
However after 20 minutes a sweeping cross field move from the ACs was finished sweetly and despite a fairly even share of possession Tawa had the lead.
Salmon were now in danger of going off the boil but the counterattacking breakthrough came from the foot of Kahu in goal, who was launching 50 metre howitzers into the wind. One such clearance went as high as it did long, and seemed to mesmerize the Tawa defence. Craig took advantage of their indecision and ran through onto the kick as it landed ten metres into their half. The skipper stunned the ball with the outside of his left boot, looked up to see the keeper back pedalling and launched a dipping left foot half volley from 30 yards out. The ball swayed from right to left as it traced an arc into the top left hand corner-from almost nothing the Salmon were back in the match with a quality goal poach. Salmon consolidated to go into the break with honours even.
The second half saw Salmon running with the wind, and Salmon were making good yards down the left through Dave Armstrong, and two other debutants John Hudson and Sean Anderson.
However an errant back pass had Tawa take the lead again after only 15 minutes, as their striker stole the ball from the last man and calmly finish past Kahu.
Tawa now looked to grab a further advantage, and some rather dubious referring form their lot saw them have three free kicks within five minutes- one for a fine tackle by Dave Armstrong that left their striker grounded after he tried to push the ball through Dave.
Dave was to make amends when a John Hudson corner was flicked on by Lane Nichols, it landed at the far post where Dave reacted quickest, kneeing the ball into the net. Dave scored one of his backside last year, and one with his knee this year- he has taken over the mantle from Jol Bates as the appendage goalscorer.
Salmon pushed for a winner, but to be honest we were running out of puff- Tawa finished stronger and fitter- a series of three corners in the last five minutes proved s too much for the Salmon to defend- A failed overhead kick from Tawa on the edge of the area had the ball fall at a midfielders boot- he drilled it low and hard-surely a routine save for Kahu? It was not to be, Nathan and Kahu got mixed up on the line and the ball rolled under Kahu’s body. Tawa celebrated like they’d just scored a 40 yard left footed half volley that had hit the top left corner- to be honest they were lucky, albeit fitter and more determined in the end. Salmon pushed again with some good running from Danny, but it was fruitless and Salmon ended the match pointless, but upbeat about the battle.
Just like in 2009 salmon had spurned a chance to take points from the first game. The difference? In 2009 Salmon had squandered a 3 goal lead to lose 4-3 to a team that was clearly no better than us. In 2010 we battled toe to toe against a team that was on the whole younger, quicker and very hard to break down.
If we battle like that in matches to come, and manage to raise our fitness then the luck will start to swing our way. Oh, And we need to get the keepers gloves back from Sami!
Craig
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
