Ngaruawahia v Papatoetoe

With five games to complete a long and challenging season this weekend’s encounter against South Auckland presents another opportunity to lace the boots and enjoy a game footy. I guess it could be said that victory is sweet and I certainly won’t argue that, however the mere opportunity to play on a fantastic home pitch with a bunch of good blokes is equally pleasing.

Last weekend’s fixtures against long time foe, Papatoetoe were a disappointing returns for differing reasons – no less the losses that they were.

For the A’s it promised an opportunity to press claims for title consideration, against a team composed largely of Otahuhu’s 2006 Northern league division 2 side and a good crop of fringe first team players.

Having arrived a little later than normal for kick off, we began positively and were largely the dominant team for the first 15 minutes. A couple of half chances were not taken and the game evened up somewhat there after. Papatoetoe took the lead midway through the first spell, which they would not relinquish for the remainder of the match, despite the determined efforts from Narras.

Byron Harris

The First team game will leave a memory of controversy. Even acknowledging the fact that Papatoetoe were better drilled in terms of structure and footballing development, we contained them well and accepted a 1-0 advantage early in the second half thanks to the instinctive dispossession of the defense by AC and calm finish.

Then to attempt to even the scores, the sideline official and referee conspired to produce a red card for young Alex Barlow. The red card was for a late tackle (which it probably was, but to suggest it was dangerous and in a goal scoring position is unfathomable!!).

Papatoetoe promptly re-arranged their configuration which we did not switch on to and equalised with a blistering shot and rebound from JK’s nose? From here on weight of possession and territory threats loomed large.

With less than ten to play the winner was duly converted from goal mouth scrabble – JK now in cuckoo land and only dressed as a goal keeper of little protection to the goal. To ram home the indifferent display from the officials Mark Phillips was sent off posting an out of character finger towards his group of ‘supporters’ beyond the sideline official. All in all a disappointing afternoon.

We will view this weekend as a must win fixture. South Auckland have endured a difficult season, yet I am sure the 11 players that front for each of the fixtures this afternoon will be desperate to perform well – harsh as it might sound we must put them to the sword and not let them get up off the canvas. Nothing less than six points is acceptable.