Manakau United maintained an unbeaten start to the season with a hard-fought 2-2 draw against KCU at Weka Park on Saturday.
KCU brought an experienced line-up into the game, and started well, knocking the passes about freely during the opening spell.
But Manakau have a good mix of veterans and youngsters in the side this season, and it was the pace of Manakau’s teenage striker Atain Halley that provided the opening goal, as Halley sped away from his marker and slotted a powerful shot to give the visitors the lead.
Fifteen minutes later it was 2-0 to Manakau when Halley ran onto a through-ball from Peter Rowe and fired in on goal – and although the KCU keeper was able to parry the shot - he was unable to prevent Jamie Allcock from scoring from the rebound.
Just before halftime, Manakau almost struck again as Halley and fellow student Gavin Saunders combined well to rip through the static KCU defence, but Saunders close range shot was a couple of inches too high - grazing the crossbar as it skimmed over the top.
The second half saw a more forceful KCU side stack the midfield with a 5-man combination, and the tactical change worked, with the hosts started to dominate possession and territory.
Despite some good defending from Manakau, the pressure applied by the hosts eventually paid off with KCU scoring two goals from set-pieces, a free-kick and a corner, to tie the game up at 2-2. Both sides had chances to win the game in the last 15 minutes, but it was KCU who came closest to the winner, hitting the crossbar with the last move of the game.
A 2-2 draw was a fair result overall, and the point sees Manakau join Waikanae at the top of the Division Two standings, setting up a top of the table clash next weekend – scheduled for Jim Cooke Park.
Monday, June 13, 2011
Division Three : Manakau Hotel 0-4 Otaki Combined
Manakau United took on a strong Otaki Combined side at Manakau Domain and found the task too tough with Otaki running out 4-0 winners.
The rain was pelting down at the Domain for much of the match, but both sides were still able to produce some good passing movements and both teams created goal chances, but it was Otaki who were sharper in front of goal, scoring four goals before halftime to seal the result.
The second half was a more even encounter, and Manakau’s man of the match Chris Henry in particular showed some good touches in midfield and working hard for the hosts.
The rain was pelting down at the Domain for much of the match, but both sides were still able to produce some good passing movements and both teams created goal chances, but it was Otaki who were sharper in front of goal, scoring four goals before halftime to seal the result.
The second half was a more even encounter, and Manakau’s man of the match Chris Henry in particular showed some good touches in midfield and working hard for the hosts.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Division Two : Manakau Hui Mai 5-3 Levin Sports
Jamie Allcock marked his return to the side with two goals as Manakau United beat Levin Sports 5-3 in a remarkable game at the Manakau Domain.
The hosts dominated the opening 45 minutes, and James Hoskins opened the scoring after 20 minutes with a solid shot from 12 yards out that the Levin keeper could only parry into the net.
Then Paul Kulhavy headered home a perfectly flighted corner from Peter Rowe to make it 2-0, and Allcock was on hand to make it 3-0 before halftime, providing a fierce stooping header to a cross from Hoskins.
When Allcock put Manakau 4-0 in front from the penalty spot on the hour mark it seemed the game was over, but Levin Sports roared back into the match and quickly scored twice in five minutes to throw the visitors a lifeline.
Chris Reed, (pictured below), then settled Manakau’s nerves and wrapped up a win, by latching onto a loose ball in the Levin penalty area and thumping the ball home to make the score 5-2, but it was Levin Sports who scored the final goal of the game with a well worked move and a bullet-like finish.
The hosts dominated the opening 45 minutes, and James Hoskins opened the scoring after 20 minutes with a solid shot from 12 yards out that the Levin keeper could only parry into the net.
Then Paul Kulhavy headered home a perfectly flighted corner from Peter Rowe to make it 2-0, and Allcock was on hand to make it 3-0 before halftime, providing a fierce stooping header to a cross from Hoskins.
When Allcock put Manakau 4-0 in front from the penalty spot on the hour mark it seemed the game was over, but Levin Sports roared back into the match and quickly scored twice in five minutes to throw the visitors a lifeline.
Chris Reed, (pictured below), then settled Manakau’s nerves and wrapped up a win, by latching onto a loose ball in the Levin penalty area and thumping the ball home to make the score 5-2, but it was Levin Sports who scored the final goal of the game with a well worked move and a bullet-like finish.
 |
| Chris Reed scores Manakau's final goal of the game |
Division Three : Levin Vets 2-2 Manakau Hotel
Manakau United were held to a 2-2 draw against Levin Vets after they conceded two second half goals at Donnelly Park.
Manakau looked to be heading for a victory for the first hour of the game as they took command of the match with a fine goal from Mike Urlich from 40 yards, and then a spectacular strike from Ben Henry from the edge of the penalty area.
But a two-goal lead can be a hard lead to hold, and as Manakau legs began to tire the Levin Vets climbed back into the match and were rewarded with a pair of goals that earned the hosts a point.
Simon Ryding continues his great run of form in the Manakau side, picking up his 3rd consecutive man of the match award at the Manakau Bowls and Sports clubrooms after the game.
Manakau looked to be heading for a victory for the first hour of the game as they took command of the match with a fine goal from Mike Urlich from 40 yards, and then a spectacular strike from Ben Henry from the edge of the penalty area.
But a two-goal lead can be a hard lead to hold, and as Manakau legs began to tire the Levin Vets climbed back into the match and were rewarded with a pair of goals that earned the hosts a point.
Simon Ryding continues his great run of form in the Manakau side, picking up his 3rd consecutive man of the match award at the Manakau Bowls and Sports clubrooms after the game.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Brixton Cowie leads Manakau to 5-0 victory over Paekakariki
Manakau United travelled to HK’s southernmost reaches and put on a solid display of passing football at Campbell Park to beat Paekakariki 5-0 and keep their league challenge going strong in division two.
The goals were spread around the team this weekend with five different players getting onto the scoresheet. It was the right hand side of the Manakau United side that was the dominant facet early on in the game with Gavin Saunders and Chris Temperton getting heavily involved in the play and creating plenty of moves.
Temperton stood out in the opening half hour with solid defensive work, while also getting forward to create assists for each of the first two goals, both expertly finished by Atain Halley and Kimbal McHugo.
Then it was youngster Brixton Cowie who scored the 3rd goal, demonstrating his range of footballing skills with a mazy run down the right flank and a quality chip over the Paekakariki goalkeeper from an oblique angle to cap a “man of the match” performance and hand Manakau a 3-0 halftime lead.
Unfortunately, the game was marred in the second half by a brutish incident, with an awful tackle on Cowie leaving the teenage midfielder writhing on the ground with a broken leg. A lengthy stoppage period ensured and both Paekakariki and Manakau had a player dismissed by the referee.
The match stuttered to conclusion thereafter, with Manakau goalkeeper Jamie Allcock stepping up with some fine saves to ensure a defensive clean sheet as Paekakariki looked to try and take advantage of the resulting re-organisation in the visitors line-up.
The subdued end to the game was livened by two more Manakau goals, with a well flighted cross- shot from Jackson Murray deceiving the defence to score , and a fierce drive from James Hoskins right before the end wrapping up the scoring.
A 5-0 win for Manakau then – the biggest victory of the season so far, but at the final whistle all thoughts were with the young Cowie who was taken to Wellington hospital by ambulance to have his leg reset.
The goals were spread around the team this weekend with five different players getting onto the scoresheet. It was the right hand side of the Manakau United side that was the dominant facet early on in the game with Gavin Saunders and Chris Temperton getting heavily involved in the play and creating plenty of moves.
Temperton stood out in the opening half hour with solid defensive work, while also getting forward to create assists for each of the first two goals, both expertly finished by Atain Halley and Kimbal McHugo.
Then it was youngster Brixton Cowie who scored the 3rd goal, demonstrating his range of footballing skills with a mazy run down the right flank and a quality chip over the Paekakariki goalkeeper from an oblique angle to cap a “man of the match” performance and hand Manakau a 3-0 halftime lead.
Unfortunately, the game was marred in the second half by a brutish incident, with an awful tackle on Cowie leaving the teenage midfielder writhing on the ground with a broken leg. A lengthy stoppage period ensured and both Paekakariki and Manakau had a player dismissed by the referee.
The match stuttered to conclusion thereafter, with Manakau goalkeeper Jamie Allcock stepping up with some fine saves to ensure a defensive clean sheet as Paekakariki looked to try and take advantage of the resulting re-organisation in the visitors line-up.
The subdued end to the game was livened by two more Manakau goals, with a well flighted cross- shot from Jackson Murray deceiving the defence to score , and a fierce drive from James Hoskins right before the end wrapping up the scoring.
A 5-0 win for Manakau then – the biggest victory of the season so far, but at the final whistle all thoughts were with the young Cowie who was taken to Wellington hospital by ambulance to have his leg reset.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Division 2 Standings 27/05/2011
Team GP W L D GF GA Points
4 Waikanae Masters 6 5 1 0 16 13 16
1 Waikanae Geezers 6 4 0 2 23 8 14
2 Manakau Hui Mai 5 4 0 1 13 7 13
3 KCU Thirds 5 4 1 0 13 8 12
5 Waikanae 3rds 5 2 2 1 14 10 7
6 Waikanae Leaders 6 2 4 0 13 14 6
7 Levin AFC Masters 6 1 4 0 14 17 3
8 Levin AFC Sports 5 1 4 0 7 16 3
9 Paekakariki A 5 0 5 0 6 25 0
4 Waikanae Masters 6 5 1 0 16 13 16
1 Waikanae Geezers 6 4 0 2 23 8 14
2 Manakau Hui Mai 5 4 0 1 13 7 13
3 KCU Thirds 5 4 1 0 13 8 12
5 Waikanae 3rds 5 2 2 1 14 10 7
6 Waikanae Leaders 6 2 4 0 13 14 6
7 Levin AFC Masters 6 1 4 0 14 17 3
8 Levin AFC Sports 5 1 4 0 7 16 3
9 Paekakariki A 5 0 5 0 6 25 0
Monday, May 23, 2011
Manakau Hui Mai edge to victory at the Domain
Manakau Hui Mai edge to victory at the Domain
Manakau United grabbed the only goal of the game at the Manakau Domain on Saturday afternoon to edge out a competitive Waikanae Leaders side and keep their unbeaten streak going. It was not a hugely entertaining game, with both teams closely matched throughout, and neither side able to maintain possession for long.
The first half was full of effort and endeavour, and the few chances that were created at either end were caused by pressuring and creating defensive lapses, rather than genuine creative play.
However, the Manakau team management did have a couple of aces up their sleeves on the substitutes roster, with Otaki College players Atain Halley and Jackson Murray starting on the bench after having already played a competitive game for their school earlier in the day.
The introduction of the students paid dividends just after halftime when a through ball from midfielder Paul Kulhavy reached Murray on the edge of the Waikanae area. Murray jinked inside his marker and although his shot was partially blocked it only fell as far as the lurking Halley, and the teenage striker made no mistake ramming his shot home from 12 yards.
Waikanae raised the tempo in an attempt to find an equaliser, but solid defensive work from Kimbal McHugo, Mark Tiumalu-Faleseuga and Chris Temperton generally kept a lid on Waikanae attackers and goalkeeper Paddy Sannazzaro handled the longer range shots and crosses quite comfortably.
At the attacking end for Manakau, Peter Rowe delivered a number of good crosses from set-pieces, and with time almost up Halley nearly made it 2-0 with a ferocious volley that was only kept out by a quality reflex save by the Waikanae goalkeeper.
But the score line stayed 1-0, a narrow win for the home side that keeps Manakau challenging near the top of Division Two.
In Division Three, the Manakau Hotel side faced a tough test against the top of the table Waikanae Youth side, and it proved to be a long hard afternoon as Waikanae ran out well deserved 5-0 winners.
Manakau did play with a lot of spirit however, with Simon Ryding putting in a man-of-the-match performance in the centre of defence, and note worthy efforts also coming from Chris Georgetti, and goalkeeper Chris Humpheys.
Manakau United grabbed the only goal of the game at the Manakau Domain on Saturday afternoon to edge out a competitive Waikanae Leaders side and keep their unbeaten streak going. It was not a hugely entertaining game, with both teams closely matched throughout, and neither side able to maintain possession for long.
The first half was full of effort and endeavour, and the few chances that were created at either end were caused by pressuring and creating defensive lapses, rather than genuine creative play.
However, the Manakau team management did have a couple of aces up their sleeves on the substitutes roster, with Otaki College players Atain Halley and Jackson Murray starting on the bench after having already played a competitive game for their school earlier in the day.
The introduction of the students paid dividends just after halftime when a through ball from midfielder Paul Kulhavy reached Murray on the edge of the Waikanae area. Murray jinked inside his marker and although his shot was partially blocked it only fell as far as the lurking Halley, and the teenage striker made no mistake ramming his shot home from 12 yards.
Waikanae raised the tempo in an attempt to find an equaliser, but solid defensive work from Kimbal McHugo, Mark Tiumalu-Faleseuga and Chris Temperton generally kept a lid on Waikanae attackers and goalkeeper Paddy Sannazzaro handled the longer range shots and crosses quite comfortably.
At the attacking end for Manakau, Peter Rowe delivered a number of good crosses from set-pieces, and with time almost up Halley nearly made it 2-0 with a ferocious volley that was only kept out by a quality reflex save by the Waikanae goalkeeper.
But the score line stayed 1-0, a narrow win for the home side that keeps Manakau challenging near the top of Division Two.
In Division Three, the Manakau Hotel side faced a tough test against the top of the table Waikanae Youth side, and it proved to be a long hard afternoon as Waikanae ran out well deserved 5-0 winners.
Manakau did play with a lot of spirit however, with Simon Ryding putting in a man-of-the-match performance in the centre of defence, and note worthy efforts also coming from Chris Georgetti, and goalkeeper Chris Humpheys.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)