Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Div 3 : Manakau Thirsties 1-2 Waikanae Youth

MANAKAU DOMAIN - 14th July 2012

Manakau Thirsty 3rds came up against Waikanae Youth playing in the wind and rain on a sticky Manakau Domain surface.

Manakau came out looking to attack them early and put them under pressure but Waikanae fought back strongly. Chances were plenty at both ends of the park with Jamie Lamplough and Josh Sannazzaro missing by only few inches and Waikanae attacking in counters getting the ball to their more experianced forwards.

The game was being played in the middle of the field and Chris Henry and Ben Henry getting good ball around and blocking off the attacks of Waikanae. Nearing the end of the first half Waikanae shot from distance making Clive Rankin punch the ball clear, and Waikanae were first to get to the loose ball and sneaked it inside the post to open the scoring and give the visitors a 1-0 lead at the break.

The second half played out in similar manner to the opening half with both teams getting close and Waikanae Youth grabbed another goal to extend the lead.

Manakau kept their heads up and continued to pass the ball around well. Shaun Stout was able to control the back line and find our midfielders open. Manakau upped the intensity and a good through ball to the running Craig Vidulich, who calmly assessed his one-on-one opportunity with the keeper before striking the ball into the net.

Manakau had a lifeline back into the game, and kept the pressure applied but were unable to get the equaliser and the visitors finished 2-1 winners.

Despite the loss, the Manakau players were happy with their effort on the day. It was hard going on the treacherous conditions, with minimal grip and unpredictable bounce.

Manakau will be playing away next week and will be striving to get a good result to ensure a good finish on the table. With a lot of teams fighting for places its getting interesting as the season nears the end.

MAN OF THE MATCH POINTS :
3 - Shaun Stout
2 - Josh Sannazzaro
1 - Craig Vidulich

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Div 1 : Manakau Hui Mai 1-5 Otaki Purutaitama

MANAKAU DOMAIN - Saturday 7th July 2012.

Manakau Hui Mai slipped to a heavy defeat at the hands of Otaki Purutaitama, with the home side having no answer in the opening 45 minutes.

The first half can probably be summed up as ... corner, header, scramble, GOAL, cross, volley, GOAL, slip, miscue, through the legs, ball dribbles slowly towards the GOAL, scramble, slip, push, penalty, GOAL and, slide, shot, slip, slip, slip ,slip, toe poke GOAL !!!

Unfortunately, all five goals happened at one end, and Otaki had jumped out to a 5-0 half-time lead against a  Manakau side that just made too many mistakes.

Spectators arriving at the break and watching the second half would never have realised as Manakau regrouped and re-organised at half-time and took the game to the visitors during the second spell - scoring through Jamie Allcock's well taken penalty and creating several other chances while keeping it clean at the back.

Mike Urlich, James Wylie, and Allcock were creating chances, but were unable to convert with the efficiency that Otaki had provided in the first half.

Otaki were clearly deserved winners on the day - effectively winning the match before halftime - but Manakau's second half performance was a determined effort the spoke volumes for the team spirit.

MAN OF THE MATCH POINTS :
3 - Mike Urlich
2 - Neil Harvey,
1 - Ben Harvey

Saturday, June 30, 2012

Div 3 : Manakau Thirties 0-3 Paekakariki

MANAKAU DOMAIN - 29 June 2012

The Manakau Thirsty 3rds were coming off a bye and facing the top of the division Paekakariki on Saturday. It was always going to be difficult but Manakau were ready to improve on the 6-0 loss they suffered at the begining of the season.


Manakau came out trying to play a passing game and were able to move the ball around well. Josh Sannazzaro and Logan Vanhooff were attacking down the wings and consistantly getting the ball to forwards Jamie Lamplough and Gavin Lafrentz. The experienced Paekakariki defenders were able to get the ball out but the hard working Alan Crosby in midfield kept the pressure on, winning the ball in all area's of the park and making his presents known.

Thirty minutes into the game a long ball from the Paekakariki backs found a gap in the Manakau defenders, the Paekak forward got on the end of the ball and placed it round goalie Hamish Graham. Manakau continued to pressure but were unable to find the goal. Just before the end of the first half another quick counter attack from Paekak set up a 1 on 1 opportunity, and Paekak made the most of the chance to score and take a 2-0 lead into the break.

In the 2nd half Manakau went out looking to get back to moving the ball around and creating the chances, but Manakau were kept out and the game turned into a hard fought battle at both ends.

Brian Butler and Rob Pollock were restricting any attacks round the sides while Ben Henry and Shaun Stout were closing down the middle and getting the ball to the vocal Ben McHugo to feed the forwards.

The back and forth playing was hard for both teams but a loose ball in the Manakau goal box fell to a Paekakariki forward who placed it well into the bottom corner. Searching for a goal to end with, Manakau were continued to be held out with Paekakariki winning 3-0.

This was one of Manakau's best performances of the season. The passing and team play was great through out the park. We were able to gain and maintain possession and close down the oppositions play.

Unfortunately the result didn't show how close the game was but Paekakariki made the most of their chances on goal. Despite the defeat, all players left the field proud of the game.

MAN OF THE MATCH POINTS :
3 - Ben McHugo (midfield)
2 - Alan Crosby (midfield)
1 - Shaun Stout (center back)

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Div 3 : KCU Barbarians 4-0 Manakau Thirties

MAZENGARB PARK - 16 June 2012 :

Manakau Thirsty 3rds took on KCU Barbarians at Mazengarb. In the cold wind and rain it was hard to warm up and even harder to stay warm. With 6 players away Manakau only had the bare 11 players to run on the park, some of them with injures.

KCU came out and attacked from the start but the 3rds were able to keep them shooting from distance with Andy Pieta and Thomas Day closing off the middle and Ben Henry with Brian Butler stopping and thing on the sides.

Josh Sannazzaro playing on a injured ankle played well with fellow midfielder Andy Cooper and by sending the ball long we were trying to link up with Gavin Lafrentz and Wayne Gratten up front with quick counters but with the wet ball skidding the KCU keeper was able to come out and collect the ball.

A cross from the KCU winger found their forward at the back post and let KCU take the lead. Manakau tried attacking down the wings with Logan Vanhooff and Mana Governer-Charteris dribbling the ball round the KCU flanks but were unable to find the strikers as the experienced KCU back line held strong and putting 3rds back on defending. Half ended 1- 0.

The 2nd half started as the 1st had ended with KCU applying pressure. Manakau were again left to attack in spots. KCU managed to get couple of quick goals from good pressure and following up on shots from outside the box.

Manakau were able to piece some nice plays together through the park but before the final whistle KCU found their forward again at the back post putting the game to an end. Final score 4 - 0.

In a game that was dictated by the weather and player unavailability, Manakau showed heart by fighting the whole 90mins of a hard game. This was the last game of the round leaving Manakau on a record of W-3, D-2, L-3.

Everyone is looking forward to starting the next round, with extra confidence coming off a good performance in the first half of the season.

MAN OF THE MATCH POINTS : 
3 - Hamish Graham (Goalie)
2 - Josh Sannazzaro (mid field)
1 - Thomas Day (center back)

Div 1 : Manakau Hui Mai 2-2 Paekakariki

MANAKAU DOMAIN - 9th June 2012 :


Ben McHugo scored an equaliser with 10 minutes to go to earn Manakau Hui Mai a 2-2 draw with defending champions Paekakariki at the Manakau Domain.

A strong westerly wind greeted both sides and blew straight down the ground making the match definitely a "game of two halves" with very contrasting conditions.

Manakau kicked off with the wind at their backs in the first half, but Paekakariki were playing the more composed football and dominated possession while the home side played on the counter attack.

That fast breaking tactic paid dividends for Manakau just before halftime when Neil Harvey got on the end of a cross from Nick Cudby and knocked the ball back in to the centre for James Wylie to control and then drill a shot of the only goal of the first half.

However, Paekakariki quickly redressed the balance in the second period, using the wind to good effect with two goals in the first 10 minutes of the half to take a 2-1 lead and a potential rout looked possible.

But Manakau dug in and kept defending stoutly, and as the match progressed Neil Harvey, and Brixton Cowie started to create breaks enabling Manakau to get a couple of chances - one of which was converted by the determined Ben McHugo.

MAN OF THE MATCH POINTS :
3 = Ben McHugo
2 = Logan Vanhooff, Thomas DAy, the referee (for doing two games back to back)
1 = the rest of the team

Div 3 : Manakau Thirsties 1-0 Otaki Youth

MANAKAU DOMAIN - 9th June 2012 : 


Jamie Lamplough scored the only goal of the game, curling in a shot direct from a corner to give the Manakau Thirsties a 1-0 victory over Otaki at the Manakau Domain.

Friday, June 8, 2012

Div 1 : Manakau Hui Mai 0-4 Waikanae Geezers

Waikanae's first goalscorer
seemed familiar to us ... ?
Manakau Hui Mai had no answer to Waikanae's swift counter-attacking play and slid to a 0-4 defeat in greasy conditions at the Manakau Domain.

Three goals in the space of 5 minutes midway through the first-half put Waikanae firmly in control, with most of the damage being done by the young pacey pair up front - who were definitely not "Geezers".

The second half was a more even affair, although Waikanae did grab a fourth goal, but Manakau did not give-up and kept striving to get back into the game competing well for possession and territory.

However, the Manakau club are finding that the promotion to the top division is a tough task, and probably need to find a couple more experienced football players in order to be able to compete on a level footing in this grade.

The league season is halfway through now - and Manakau have a 1-1-5 record providing 4 points from seven games - so the season target has to be to achieve a better points return from the second half of the league ...

 ... and perhaps to spring a surprise or two in the knock-out Cup competition that follows.

MAN OF THE MATCH POINTS :
3 - Paul Kulhavy
2 - Rob Pollock (referee)
1 - Hamish Graham