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