Precious Point Prised from Petone

Petone Chuggers 3- Wellington United Salmon 3
Halftime 3-3)
Petone Memorial #2

Scorers:
Matthew Fulton
Craig Ireson
Richard Morrison

MOM:
Richard Morrison- 3pts
Simon Healy- 2pts
Matthew Fulton- 1pt

Match report from John Dow, with help from Craig


PRECIOUS POINT PRISED OUT OF PETONE

The sometimes Mighty Salmon faced a motivated and focused Petone Chuggers team on a windswept park in Petone and came away with a meritorious draw on Saturday July 9.

After 2 weeks of cancelled games the team was keen to get its 2011 campaign back on track and to get some much needed points on the board as the end of the season is rapidly approaching and with it the very real threat of relegation to Division 10 for 2012 alongside the hapless Terrace who have yet to win a match.

The selectors went for a 4-5-1 formation with Squirt playing the attacking midfield role which seems suited to his style of play, providing a very useful and effective outlet for the rest of the team to play to in the elusive quest for creating goals.

The central defensive pairing of Kahu and Simon looked strong and the team settled well and was soon on attack.

However, the howling wind blowing straight across the park in inconsistent gusts and a slightly boggy pitch was making control of the ball difficult and a Chugger player on the edge of the area lashed a hopeful shot on target that moved sharply and the keeper was beaten. 1-0 Chuggers.

The Salmon were undaunted and went straight back on the attack, pushing players forward and stretching the Chuggers defence and when Wozza made a strong run into the penalty area and knocked the ball across the goal Fulton reacted quickest and guided the ball onto the inside of the post and the team’s were 1-1.

Adam who had been having a strong game at right back was switched for Danny who came into the midfield while Wozza moved into the defence.

Danny who has been like a fish out of water playing in a different side this season discovered his natural home in the Salmon midfield and his running game and close ball control put the Chuggers under pressure and the Salmon started to get on top. Squirt who had been working hard and looking dangerous put a great ball through to Craig which split the defence and created a one on one chance which was well taken and the Salmon were in front and dominating in many aspects of the game.

The Chuggers then rallied and pushed forward with real purpose and a speculative effort from out wide was picked up by the wind and flew into the back of the net and the team’s were again level.

Sensing they were getting some momentum the Chuggers pushed hard and another well taken shot from distance found the net and it was 3-2 to the home side.

As the first half was coming to an end the Salmon got forward in numbers and Ashby, with typical doggedness and speed, forced a freekick just outside the box and out wide. Craig spotting the Chuggers defence was disorganised knocked the ball in towards the near post for Squirt to dash in front of a fullback and slip the ball home for a well deserved goal and half time score of 3-3.

A half time call to arms put the team in the right head space for a second half battle that so very nearly produced a great away victory as a number of chances fell the Salmon’s way as the players all rose to the occasion determined to at least hold on to the draw and potentially snatch a winner.

Craig hit a couple of shots wide of the mark from good positions and the midfield worked tirelessly right across the park with Squirt, Danny and Jeremy constantly in the action, successfully supported by Kahu and Wozza getting forward on occassions, all trying to push the team goalwards and winning possession from a Chuggers team who were also keen to get 3 points themselves.

Fulton was full of his usual running and was rewarded for getting into an excellent goalscoring position with his first half goal and Ashby also showed some real pace out wide and also got into a great position to score the winning goal late in the game but an awkward pass stopped him producing the required killer finish. James showed some ability on the ball out wide in the second half and Dave’s strong defensive play on the left also included dangerous runs down the wing on attack. Adam also burst back onto the field in the second half and quickly rekindled his dominating play from early in the match. John Dow chipped in with his own goal saving scramble, showing the hunger and determination which personified the fighting fish.

The defence ably organised by Simon, despite being subject to regular changes of personnel through the intelligent use of rolling substitutes, never allowed the intensity or focus to drop, successfully forcing the Chuggers to shoot from long range, and keeping them scoreless in the second half.

However, not for the first time this season the team watched in awe as Keeper Richard pushed a top class long range strike over the bar. With about 10 minutes to go this great effort kept the side on track for a well deserved draw and in larger stadiums around the world would have produced a standing ovation from the visiting fans.

The Salmon adopted their tactics to suit the wind and were smart in never pushing up too much nor sitting too deep to invite attacks- tactically it was the most astute we have played this season. If the bounxe of the ball had gone our way and had Danny, Craig and Ashby all finished their half chances, or had their laissez-fair Ref pointed to the spot after a deliberate trip on Craig in the box late in the 2nd half then the full 3 points would have swum back across the harbour.

Overall though a well deserved hard fought away point that keeps the Salmon alive and within striking distance of the Legends who scraped a rare win against the bottom placed Terrace.

With 2 regular season matches against the Tawa Bears set to determine the Salmon’s fate for 2011 the team is starting to show the combinations, commitment, goal creating and scoring attributes of a side very capable of competing with any team in this division and getting results.

Can the Salmon build on this performance and prove they can play at another level and beat the Bears ??

Will the goalscoring chances keep being created and converted ( 5 goals scored in the last 2 games) ??

Can the defence continue to put attacks under severe pressure and deny them goal opportunities ??

Will the return of Lane "The White Kenyan' Nichols from his New York sojourn herald a Dom Post media frenzy in the plight of the Salmon?

& will Danny realise that he looks better in Orange than Green and White stripes and come back to his old school??