Div 3 : Manakau 3-2 Waikanae Jets

J. Sannazzaro about to score

April 13th 2013 :

The drought seems to have broken in Horowhenua, and it was certainly raining goals at the Manakau Domain as Manakau fought back to beat the Waikanae Jets in a five-goal thriller.

Manakau started out well and dominated the early stages of the game, but were having trouble penetrating the back line of a solid Waikanae back four, and creating a real goal chance.

Against the run of play, Waikanae won a corner, and a mix-up at the near post saw the in-swinging corner go directly into the net to put the visitors 1-up after about 25 minutes.

However, that just seemed to spur Manakau forward, and five minutes later the home side had found a reply when James Wylie threaded the ball into the penalty area for Josh Sannazzaro, and Sannazzaro cut back past one defender before smashing the ball past the stationary Waikanae Jets keeper.

However, just before half time, Waikanae found a way to get back into the lead, when a well-placed long range shot from 30 yards found it's way over the Manakau keeper and just under the crossbar to give Waikanae a 2-1 lead at the break.

Manakau came out rejuvenated after the half time team-talk, and set out to get back into the game. PK and Dan ONeill started to win ball in midfield, while Josh, Nick Cudby and Willy West began to provide some useful wide options to get in behind Waikanae.

But the equaliser came from a set-piece. With Jamie Lamplough swinging in a well-weighted corner, and Wylie had made a well-timed run to powerfully head the ball home to tie the scores up at 2-2.

Both sides we looking for a winning goal, with Andy Peita and Chris Temperton doing well at the back for Manakau to close play down, although Waikanae did come come close fro a corner themselves when a loose ball bounced around.

However, Manakau were not to be denied, and with 10 minutes to go the "Green and Whites"  forced a corner that was half cleared to Gavin Lafrentz, and the midfielder passed a clever ball into Wylie who controlled and made no mistake with the finish from 6 yards out.

Lafrentz almost wrapped up the game a couple of minutes later when he hit a powerful shot from 12-yards away but the young Waikane keeper made a good save to palm the ball over the crossbar for a corner.

A couple of minutes later the final whistle blew - and Manakau had their second victory of the season.

(Six photos from the game are online at the Manakau United facebook page)

FT : Manakau 3-2 Waikanae Jets

Scorers : James Wylie (2), Josh Sannazzaro
Assists : James Wylie, Jamie Lamplough, Gavin Lafrentz

Div 3 : Waikanae Masters 1-2 Manakau

April 6th 2013 : 
Manakau United started the 2013 football season with a battling 2-1 win over Waikanae Masters at Waikanae Park.

After a decision to consolidate the two teams into one squad for 2013, Manakau have a deep squad to pick from this year and 16 players were named on the card for the season opening game.

And it didn't take long for the Green and Whites to get going, with PK hitting the crossbar from distance, and  Jamie Allcock going close, before a clever through ball from James Wylie found Josh Sannazzaro in space on the edge of the penalty area, and he drilled the ball home to pen the scoring.

Manakau made it two-nil just before half time when a Jamie Lamplough corner was powerfully met by Wylie to send the ball into the net, despite the strong efforts of the Waikanae keeper.

In the second half, Waikanae had the advantage of a slight breeze and managed to get onto the score-board with a long throughball that was not dealt with, and was bundled into the goal in a scramble.

Shaun Stout and Andy Peita were holding firm at the back, but in the last minute Waikanae broke through with a 1-on-1 chance to score, but a fine sprawling save from Manakau keeper Clive Rankin kept the shot out and Manakau had their first three points of the season.

FT : Waikanae Masters 1-2 Manakau

Scorers : Josh Sannazzaro, James Wylie
Assists : James Wylie, Jampie Lamplough