Div 1 : Otaki Off-Target 4-0 Manakau Hui Mai

Manakau just could not get to grips with Otaki Off-Target on Saturday, and Manakau took a heavy 0-4 defeat at the hands of the league leaders.


Otaki scored early in the game when a long distance shot was deflected and turned into an perfect cross for an an marked player to open the scoring - and the advantage was doubled on the 20 minute mark when a 25 yard shot found it's way into the net.

Jackson Murray almost pulled a goal back for Manakau before halftime, latching onto a through ball and chipping the Otaki goalkeeper but the shot bounced off the crossbar and was scrambled clear.

Otaki took a stranglehold on the match just minutes into the second half when a pass across the penalty area was missed by two defenders and an Otaki striker stepped through to score from six yards out. Otaki made it 4-0 in the 80th minute when an angled shot was saved well by Paddy Sannazzaro, but Otaki reacted quicker to the bouncing rebound to slot it home.

Manakau almost grabbed a consolation goal in the final minute when Mike Urlich played in Brixton Cowie to the edge of the penalty area and Cowie rifled the ball home, but the referee ruled that the move was offside to chalk off the goal.

MAN OF THE MATCH POINTS :
3 = Daniel O'Neill
2 = Paddy Sannazzaro
1 = Nick Cudby

Div 3 : Manakau Thirsties 1-0 Waikanae Jets

Thomas Day celebrates the win

Manakau expected a tough game from the table-topping Waikanae side so took to the pitch with a very solid starting line-up. From the kick off Waikanae went on the attack and putting Manakau under pressure.

Manakau were able to move the ball round well and find some momentum to start a few attacking plays of our own as the game progressed, with Andy Peita and Ben McHugo winning the ball in the middle of the park. The game was still scoreless at the halftime break.

In the second half, Manakau picked up their attack with Logan Vanhooff running down the left wing, crossing the ball in and also getting back to help the defenders when needed. Another strong game from Josh Sannazzaro as he maintained his high work rate.

The only goal of the game arrived when a cross from from Josh into the box found James Wylie who flicked the ball towards goal, forcing a good save from the Jets Goal keeper could only deflect the ball to the cross bar, and the ball fell for Thirsty's forward Gavin Lafrentz who drilled the ball into the back of the net.

Waikanae came back with a constant attack, but Thomas Day took charge of the Manakau back line and was able to hold strong, guiding Shaun Stout, Rob Pollock and Alan Crosby and keeping the Jets out. For his first game in charge of the defenders and facing one of the best attacking sides in our division Thomas grew in confidence and earned the man of the match.

At the final whistle Manakau had held on to win 1-0.

Only conceding 1 goal in 3 games, the Thirsty 3rds are proving to be one of the best defensive teams in the division. Team moral is at a new high with everyone looking forward to next weeks game.

MAN OF THE MATCH POINTS :
3 = Thomas Day
2 = Logan Vanhooff
1 = Gavin Lafrentz

Div 1 : Otaki Purutaitama 2-0 Manakau Hui Mai

Paddy Sannazzaro in action

Technically I think that this was meant to be a home game for us - but as Capital Football decided in midweek to change the venue Otaki's home ground of Haruatai - that was debatable.

The first half was a fairly even affair, with Otaki starting fast, but midway through the half Manakau had a dominant spell and forced 4-5 corners and Paul Kulhavy had a goal bound header kicked off the line. Late in the first half it took the defensive magic of Chris Temperton and Paddy Sannazzaro to combine with a double block and save in order to keep Otaki out and keep the match scoreless at the break.

Otaki got the breakthrough 10 minutes into the second half when defensive indecision saw Manakau hesitate in the six-yard box instead of hoofing it clear, and Otaki pounced to smash the ball home. Otaki upped the tempo for the next 10 minutes and it took some very good defensive work from Kimbal McHugo and Ben Harvey and some fine saves from goalkeeper Paddy to keep them out.

With about 20 minutes left Mike Urlich and Jackson Murray combined well to set up a chance for Brixton Cowie but his shot was well saved by the Otaki keeper. Murray and Urlich also had pot-shots from around the edge of the penalty area, but were finding the Otaki defence a hard group to crack.

Otaki grabbed their second goal with 10 minutes remaining, with an intricate midfield move resulting in a precision pass into the penalty area and the striker pounded in a flash to steer the ball into the goal.

A fair result overall, with Otaki showing the better footballing moves, but on another day Manakau could easily have claimed a point that their dogged display warranted.

MAN OF THE MATCH POINTS : 
3 - Paddy Sannazzaro
2 - Paul Kulhavy
1 - Chris Temperton

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.