HK Cup : Manakau United 1-0 Paekakariki Harlequins

Manakau United kept their seasons unbeaten streak at the Manakau Domain going with a 1-0 victory over Paekakariki Harlequins in the second round of Horowhenua Kapiti Cup action on Saturday afternoon.

The Harlequins came into the game on the back of an 1-0 victory over 1st division Levin reserves last weekend and had their own 10-match unbeaten streak, but found the going tough against Manakau.

Manakau totally dominated the first half of the match, using the breeze to good advantage to play almost all of the opening 45 minutes in Paekakariki’s half, however the visitors were very solid in defence, and the match remained scoreless at halftime.

It was more of the same in the second half, with Manakau dominant throughout, and eventually the experienced Mike Urlich found a way through the tenacious Paekak defence to score the only goal of the game on the hour mark with a 10 yard shot that sped past the goalkeeper.

James Hoskins picked up the man of the match award for Manakau with an energetic display in the centre of the park, with Urlich and Chris Temperton also influential.

HK Cup : First Round Grading Games

The Manakau United football club did not meet with the best of success in the opening grading round of the Horowhenua-Kapiti Cup over the weekend – coming up short against higher ranked opposition in both matches.

Playing at the Manakau Domain, the 3rd Division Manakau Hotel team faced 2nd Division Levin Sports and found the going tough against the visitors who were fitter and faster to the loose ball. James Wylie and Craig Vidulich got on the score sheet for Manakau, but Levin were always in control and ran out 6-2 winners.

In the other match, Manakau Hui Mai travelled to Otaki’s Haruatai Park to face 1st Division Otaki and the match turned out to be a hard-fought affair with goal scoring chances at a premium at both ends of the pitch.

Otaki grabbed the lead midway through the first half, pouncing on a loose ball in the penalty area and smashing it home but there was little to choose between the sides. Manakau pressed hard in the second half with Jackson Murray and Jamie Allcock standing out but the Otaki defence stood firm to claim a narrow 1-0 win.

The Cup continues with two more rounds of grading games before the knockout phase begins on September 10th.

Division Three : Otaki Combined 5-3 Manakau Hotel

Manakau Hotel played an entertaining 90 minutes of football against unbeaten Otaki, but were not quite able to pull off the shock result, going down 3-5.

Otaki started very well, and scored freely in the first half running out to a 4-1 lead by the time the teams turned around. However, Manakau gave as good as they got in the second period, scoring two good goals and giving Otaki a solid challenge.

(End of season celebrations at the Manakau Bowls and Sports Club prevented your correspondent getting a more detailed report of this game - and Simon Ryding and Josh Sannazzaro failed to deliver on their promise of a match report)

Division Two : Manakau United 5-0 Paekakariki

Manakau United closed out their division two league season with a comfortable 5-0 win over Paekakariki at the Manakau Domain on Saturday.

Manakau’s striker Atain Halley was dominant in the first half, grabbing a hat-trick before halftime with a combination of pace and skill in the opening 45 minutes.

Halley opened the scoring the 8th minute, collecting a through ball and sidefooting it past the keeper, and made it 2-0 after 25 minutes when he curled in a clever free-kick from the edge of the penalty area that left the Paekak goalkeeper standing rooted to the spot.

Gavin Saunders provided the assist for the 3rd goal, slipping a pass into the box and Halley weaved past two defenders before calmly shooting into the net just before the break.

Saunders was instrumental in the 4th Manakau goal as well, delivering a well flighted corner that Paul Kulhavy nodded past the static visitors defence and into the goal – while Mike Urlich wrapped up the scoring late on running past his defender and then drilling the ball into the net.

Chris Reed put in an energetic display up front getting involved in a lot of play, while Willie West and Mark Tiumalu-Faleseuga were outstanding in defence, and took opportunities to get forward and use their pace on several occasions.

The Manakau Hui Mai side just missed out on winning the league – ending with a 12-2-2 record for second spot and possible promotion to Division One - a very good effort after winning promotion to Division Two last season.

Last league fixtures for the season

The last league game of the Horowhenua-Kapiti football season is here - although we will then go straight into HK cup action next weekend.

In division two, Manakau Hui Mai will host Paekakariki at the Manakau Domain at 2:30pm, and we might see a strengthened Paekakariki side visiting as the first division team is not playing this weekend.

In Division Three, Manakau Hotel travel to face Otaki Combined at 2:30, and the game has been transferred to Haruatai S2 - meet up at the Manakau pub at 1:40pm for travel.

Division Two : Levin Sports 2-0 Manakau United

Levin Sports took their chances to beat Manakau United 2-0 at Donnelly Park in a Division Two Horowhenua-Kapiti football match.

Manakau made most of the running in the first half, but could not break through a solid Levin rearguard and Levin Sports made the visitors pay by scoring just before halftime when an angled shot squirmed through the Manakau keepers legs to score.

The pattern was repeated in the second half, with Manakau pressing but unable to get the equalising goal, and Levin scoring again on a quick counter attack and a long-range shot that took a deflection off a Manakau defender and looped into the net.

There was no way back for Manakau after that despite a huge effort and Levin finished as well deserved winners on the day.

Chris Temperton picked up the player of the day award for another full-on effort.

Division Three : Manakau Hotel 2-1 Levin Vets

A 90th minute goal from Ben McHugo gave Manakau Hotel a 2-1 victory over the Levin Vets at the Manakau Domain on Saturday afternoon.

Manakau took the lead midway through the first half when Craig Vidulich ran onto an angled pass and drilled the ball past the Levin goalkeeper to open the scoring – but Levin fought back and equalised to make the score 1-1 just before halftime.

The second half was an end-to-end affair, but despite chances at both ends it looked like the teams would have to split the points until Josh Sannazzaro chipped a pass through to McHugo who smashed a shot that sped into the goal from outside the penalty area to claim a well-celebrated winner.

McHugo picked up the player of the day award for his solid efforts in midfield – and that last minute goal.

Texas Holdem Night - Saturday 6th August.

Josh Sannazzaro and Paddy Sannazzaro have organised a social night this Saturday after speeches at the Bowler.

Texas Holdem Poker Nite - $15 includes poker chips and a meal and if you are knocked out early more chips can be purchased and another table started.

Yes, partners more than welcome, where would we be without them.

Rugby - All Blacks v Wallabies will be on the TV too.

Transport home provided by Kylie via the school van.