28 SEP 1998 , Edition 2, Page 14.
Ngaruawahia cap best year by knocking over Melville
By: ANDERSON Ian
Ngaruawahia United’s unbreakable team spirit pushed them to a fitting conclusion in the Northern League division one soccer competition.
Ngaruawahia came from a goal down at the break against Waikato rivals Melville United on Saturday to score a 2-1 victory which clinched fourth spot in the league.
Combined with a remarkable Chatham Cup run which culminated in a semifinal loss to Dunedin Technical, the season would have to rate as Ngaruawahia’s best in their history and it was achieved through a mixture of commitment and craft.
Melville had the better of the first spell at Hamilton’s Gower Park and led through a Graham Jones penalty, which was a debatable decision but probably due reward for the home team’s measured passing and slick footwork.
But the United players simply gritted their teeth again and grew stronger as the game progressed.
Marcus Traill was impeccable at the back, improving teenager Wayne Bates outstanding while Brian Hayes and Matty Williams began to relish the midfield battle raging with Jones.
Williams curled in the equaliser from a free-kick midway through the second half before Traill fittingly capped the season with a towering header from a perfectly delivered Hayes free-kick.
Melville’s young side faded against their more vigorous opponents but did show notable improvement in the second half of their campaign to finish ninth in the 12-team league.
Claudelands Rovers also ended a promising season well with a 2-0 home win in division two over Mt Albert Ponsonby.
With some sharper finishing and the elimination of some crucial defensive errors, Rovers could have improved on their third place finish and put pressure on the two promoted sides.
Cambridge would have won the league had they played the first half of the season as they did the latter.
A 5-4 away win over Manukau City on Saturday left them 10th in the 14-team league after suffering just one loss in the second round.
Tony McIsaac (2), Ramon Messam, Ian Bridges and Tony Dikmans were the scorers in an entertaining affair that Cambridge led 3-1 and 5-2 at different stages.
Waikato Unicol won the division three local derby at home against Te Awamutu 2-1 to finish sixth, one spot behind their vanquished opponents.