Div 3 : Manakau Thirsties 1-1 Kapiti Coast United

It was a rare cold windswept day at the Manakau Domain as the Manakau Thirsites took on the KCU Fourths on a firm pitch.

Manakau came out with an attacking line up but Craig Vidulich lasted 2 min before limping off injured.

The game was very even with most of the play being held in the middle of the pitch. Half way into the first half the young forward Mana Governer-Charteris made a run down the right and sent the ball across the box to find Ben Henry open at the back post and he was able to force the ball inside the bottom corner.

Manakau tried to add to their lead but were held out by the expericed KCU forths defenders. First half ended 1-0.

The second half was played like the first with both teams trying to gain more of the ball. A strong mid-field with Ben Henry and Thomas Day were helping our forwards Gavin Lafrentz and Jamie Lamplough to create chances and find our wingers Josh Sannazzaro and Logan Vanhoof in space.

A good break from KCU and a well placed pass into the box enabled their attacker to guide the ball round our goalkeeper to even the score at 1-1.

KCU tried to press the advantage but Manakau held them out with a solid back line of Shawn Stout and Rob Pollock protecting the flanks while Alan Crosby and Andy Peita stopping anything down the middle.

A good even game ended with a fair result 1 - 1. Both teams matched up well. This is now 2 draws in a row for Manakau Thirsty 3rds who are picking up momentum

MAN OF THE MATCH POINTS :
3 - Rob Pollock - Left back
2 - Hamish Graham - Goalie
1 - Shawn Stout - Right Back

Div 1 : Manakau Hui Mai 2-1 KCU Seconds

MANAKAU UNITED grabbed their first victory in H-K Division One football with a solid 90 minute effort against Kapiti Coast United bringing a 2-1 win.

Manakau have an unbeaten record at the Manakau Domain stretching all the way back to the start of 2011, and the newly promoted Green and Whites showed no sign of letting that record go easily as they started strongly on Saturday.

The opening goal arrived on the quarter-hour mark when a Neil Harvey corner was headered firmly into the net by Paul Kulhavy, and 10 minutes later Jackson Murray made it 2-0 after working some clever passes with James Hoskins and slotting the ball past the stranded KCU keeper.

The second half was a more even affair, although the evergreen Mike Urlich and central midfielder Dan O'Neill both created good chances to extend the Manakau lead, before KCU were given a lifeline late on with an accidental handball resulting in a penalty which was converted.

However, the final five minutes were negotiated without incident and Manakau had a well deserved victory.

MAN OF THE MATCH POINTS :
3 = Dan O'Neill for a massive effort in midfield.
2 = Paul Kulhavy for a ball-winning display and a timely goal.
1 = Jackson Murray grabbed a goal and worked tirelessly upfront.

Div 3 : Waikanae Youth 0-0 Manakau Thirsties

MANAKAU THIRSTIES work hard to prove a point

After suffering a couple of defeats to start the season, the Manakau Thirsties started this match well passing the ball and holding possession. Waikanae Youth then started to get a bit more time on the ball and began to create chances using their older players to release the young fast guys who showed some great skills as well.

The second half started in a similar manner to the first half, but Manakau started adding pressure and creating the chances with a couple of chances at corners and playing the at Waikanae end of the pitch.

However, neither team could make the vital breakthrough and a draw was a fair result in an even encounter.

MAN OF THE MATCH POINTS :
3 = Hamish Graham for some great saves in goal.
2 = Thomas Day for a lot of hard work in midfield
1 = Gavin Lafrentz for creating some good chances upfront.

Manakau Domain - Let there be light !

After 12 months of planning, organising, digging and construction ... the lights were turned on for the first time on Sunday night.


The establishment of the lights at the "Stade de Manakau" is a huge step froward for the Manakau United Football Club, enabling the scheduling of outside training during the winter months of the football season.

The floodlights are turned on at Manakau Domain for the first time - 6th May 2012

A huge thank you needs to go out to all those club members who pitched in to get involved, and also to a large number of people from outside the club who donated time, effort and materials to get the project going.

Manakau Hui Mai to start league season away vs Paekakariki

Manakau Hui Mai open their Division One season with a game against defending champions Paekakariki at 2:30 at Pohutakawa Park (Paraparaumu) on Saturday 21st April.

Players should assemble at the Manakau Pub by 1:15 or arrive at Pohutakawa Park by 1:45

Link to online map for Pohutakawa Park

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The Thirsty 3rds have received a bye for the opening weekend, and will start their league season on April 28th.

Sat 14th April - Preseason football at Otaki Domain

Some pre-season football matches against Otaki have been organised for this Saturday.


It looks like we might have just one week to go before the season starts - although nothing has been confirmed yet by Capital football or posted on their website - so who knows? But best to be prepared.

Friendly games have been arranged on Saturday at the Otaki Domain - and kickoffs are @ 12:30 for Thirsty 3rds and @ 2:30 for Hui Mai.

So get down to the Otaki Domain (map link) at least 30 minutes before kickoff if you are playing.

Manakau Domain Floodlights one step closer

The earthworks for the floodlights at Manakau Domain are underway, with cables laid, and concrete boxing being constructed to take the footings for the floodlight steels.

There has been a steady stream of contractors and volunteer workers to the Manakau domain this week as the local football club prepare the foundations for the new training facility.

Nick Cudby, Ben McHugo and Jamie Lamplough have been front and centre doing the hard work with support from several other volunteers - who made themselves scare when the camera came out ;-)

Top work guys.