Division Two : Waikanae Geezers 1-2 Manakau United

Manakau United won this top-of-the-table clash at Jim Cooke Park, beating Waikanae Geezers 2-1 to open up a three point lead in Horowhenua Football’s Division Two standings.

The game was a closely fought affair throughout, and despite the heavy pitch both teams were moving the ball around well as they probed for additional scoring opportunities.

Manakau dominated the early minutes of the match, creating several half-chances but it wasn’t until the half-hour mark that Jamie Allcock broke into the penalty area and worked his way to the bye-line before cutting the ball back to where Mike Urlich was on hand to force the ball home to open the scoring for the visitors.

It was Manakau who made the next breakthrough as well, when Atain Halley latched onto the through ball from halfway, and shook off the desperate challenge of the last defender before taking the ball into the goal area and slotting the ball past the stranded Waikanae goalkeeper to make the score 2-0 to Manakau.

Peter Rowe in action

With twenty minutes to go, Waikanae were handed a lifeline, literally, when a loose ball struck the hand of Manakau sweeper Kimball McHugo and the referee pointed to the spot for a penalty kick which Waikanae converted to close the score line to 2-1.

But Manakau held firm during the closing minutes, and earned three vital points.

Midfielder Peter Rowe, who was playing his final game for Manakau before heading off to Perth, picked up man of the match honours with a cultured display of passing.