Salmons Rise as Legends Falter

Div 9/10 'B' Cup- Round One
Wellington United Legends 3-Wellington United Salmon 3
(Halftime 1-3)

Te Whaea

Scorers:
Craig Ireson (2)
Richard 'Squirt' Morrison

MOM Points
Richard 'Squirt' Morrison - 3 pts
Simon Healy- 2 pts
Jeremy Norman/Warrick Jackson- 1 pt each

Match report by John Dow:

SALMON LEAP WHILE LEGENDS FALL, THEN RISE

A stunningly beautiful clear night welcomed the leaping Salmon to Te Whaea for the first round Cup clash with the Legends on Friday August 5.
The Salmon were in buoyant mood after the excellent last round victory over the Tawa Bears, the team’s first win in over 2 and 1/2 months, a result that had put the team level with the Legends on the final league table, but with an inferior goal difference.
With conditions perfect, the surface excellent, the Salmon willing and the Legends starting the match in a sluggish mode it was quickly one way traffic towards the Legends goal.
Within the first few minutes a well flighted freekick from Simon was knocked onwards by Fulton into the welcoming run of Captain Craig in the 6 yard box and it was 1-0.
The Salmon midfield were completely dominating and the team pushed forward at every opportunity with the Legends offering minimal resistance. Nic and Johny were well on top and Jeremy was getting plenty of ball going forward and often outpacing his opponents down the flank, while Fulton was proving a handful on the wide right.
Squirt was covering a huge amount of territory and looking very strong and creative on the ball in a top level all round performance.
It was his own excellent work just outside the penalty area that created space for an outstanding long range effort that left the keeper scrambling to no good effect and it was 2-0 to the Salmon.
The Salmon defence was holding firm with Richard and James blocking the flanks and Simon and Wazza despite a couple of mis communications generally having the better of the Legends attack.
Captain Craig was getting a plethora of ball in good positions and once hit the post and then saw another goal bound strike superbly pushed away by a keeper who was seeing plenty of the ball and feeling totally vulnerable and exposed by a fragile, disorganised defence.
Another goal finally came Craig’s way, and it was a good quality longer range effort from a difficult angle.
The Salmon were on fire and in complete control of the match having produced their best display this season for over 30 minutes leaving the Legends chasing shadows and at 3-0 it looked like a big score was beckoning.
However, the Legends made a few intelligent substitutions, reorganised their midfield and defence and started to push players forward and the game’s momentum started to shift.
A midfield scramble saw Squirt dispossessed in a dangerous position and the Legends player thrashed a shot from 30 metres into the top of the net and the Legends were getting back in the game.
The Salmon midfield were starting to lose their earlier control, players were tiring and balls forward slowed down and the game evened out as half time approached.
While the Legends rotated players regularly the Salmon stuck with the original eleven and intelligently battled it out till half time with the 3-1 lead preserved.
The second half saw a decidedly more motivated, aggressive and better organised Legends team take the field with winning the match firmly on their minds.
The Salmon were in for a massive battle to retain the lead and the defence ably led by Simon were under huge pressure as the Legends pushed forward at speed and in numbers.
A slick passing move saw an opportunity open up and suddenly the Legends scored and were right back in the match.
Despite the pressure and attacking determination of the Legends the Salmon also started to carve out a few opportunities of their own and the game swung from end to end.
However, it was the Legends who scored again to bring the teams level at 3-3 with 20 minutes to go and they started to look the more likely to go on and win the match.
The Salmon kept fighting hard and with some fresh legs added to the fray started to make some dangerous inroads into the Legends defence and a few genuine chances started to appear.
The Legends goalkeeper muffed a goal kick and Captain Craig nearly had a golden scoring opportunity and a corner from John D. was nearly met by Wazza who threw himself forward in the penalty area.
Johny Sneyd and Lane started to once again get some go forward in the midfield and Dave A. burst down the left like a man possessed while Squirt returned to his first half form in patches that clearly worried the Legends.
However, the Legends still fancied there chances of a come from behind win and the Salmon defence continued to be put under immense pressure which they handled very well, Adam and Dave as fullbacks tackled solidly while Simon and Wazza held firm in the middle ably supported by Richard in goal who had a solid match, while the midfield continuously tracked back and worked very hard defensively.
The Salmon constantly forced the Legends wide and quickly dispatched any loose ball forward or if required over the sideline which proved an effective approach and successfully kept the Legends at bay.
Some quick balls forward also had the Salmon looking dangerous and some late corners should have produced more scoring chances but it was not to be and the game ended as a 3-3 draw, the same score as the first match of the season between the same teams.

Can the Salmon now go on and put a bucketful of goals past the Karori Rovers and Petone teams and reach the Cup Final through a superior goal difference to the Legends who will be hoping to do the same themselves ?

Will the Rovers or Petone cause an upset and trip either the Salmon or Legends up by grabbing a result or successfully keeping the goals against down ?

Is Friday Night Football on the Artificial Pitch the primary reason for a large, keen squad or have some of the Salmon “part timers” sensed a late season Cup winning surge is now a distinct possibility and something they want to be part of ?

Will Captain Craig get another call up to Capital Division One just when the Salmon need him to maintain his goal scoring form that can take the team to a Cup Final ?