Wanaka V Roslyn Wakari.

Wanakas  coach Ian Bell was forced to  change his game day squad with goal keeper  Britton Dowling and striker Steve Pleskun picking up what could be long term injuries during the week.

The Experienced duo of  Al Carmichael and Barry Grehan camec back into the team  and Rory Hannon donned the gloves.

A bright first 20 minutes by Wanaka had them playing a new formation from the previous 2 games and as they looked to take advantage of their domination of possession they were guilty of switching off from a set piece which allowed Roslyn’s best player on the day Harley Rodeka  time and space from a throw in and he curled a delightful cross to the far post where it was  headed home by Josh Lucas to give Roslyn  a 1-0 lead.

Roslyn confidence grew  however  Wanaka  continued to dominate the game. Wanaka levelled  in the 25th minute when a shot from outside Roslyn’s penalty box  hit the hand of a Roslyn player in the box and a penalty was given.

Barry Grehan stepped up and  audaciously beat keeper  Zane Green  with a calm finish to make the score 1-1.

Wanaka started to apply constant pressure on Roslyn’s goal and  Adam Hewson  was denied 3 times in quick succession by keeper Green  in the final minute of the first half.

The 2nd half continued with Wanaka creating some free flowing moves and they  went close to scoring in the 55th minute, Levi Fletcher cut inside on the right wing and found Michael Gealogo in midfield, He beat a player and curled a delicious left foot shot just over the bar from 20 yards out.

Wanaka were in the ascendancy and Hewson was again  denied by Green  however   minutes later  Hewson did score.

Van Hees started a move from deep in    Wanaka’s half finding Gealogo who played  Weston Bell on the left, he drove inside and played Grehan who then passed to Gelaogo who was now in space wide left. Gealogo delivered   and inch perfect cross to Hewson in the penalty box, Hewson received on his  chest and then hit  a  left foot  volley high in to the roof of the net  past a helpless Green in goal for  Roslyn. A great team move and a top class finish from the young striker.

Wanaka  deservedly took the lead 2-1.

2-1 is a precarious scoreline and Roslyn were not about to lie down and with 5 minutes left in the game it was Roslyn who had the opportunity to level the game up at 2-2.

Roslyn’s Left midfielder Yun San Chang drove into Wanaka’s penalty box and  his cross struck the trailing hand of a retreating defender and the referee blew for a penalty kick.

Nathan Wilkie  had the pressure of converting the spot kick in the dying moments to give them a valuable away point  but there was one man standing in his way. Rory Hannon in goal for Wanaka became the hero has he dived well to his left and parried the penalty kick  away to secure a valuable 3 pts for a Wanaka team who deserved the victory.

Coach Bell was pleased with his squads response and the ability of his pleyers to stick to the game plan and structure  , however theres still a need for improvement in a number of areas .

On a day when all players contributed  well for Wanaka , man of the match went to Michael Gealogo  who along with Barry Grehan dominated

Northern v Mosgiel

Mosgiel had the staticians dusting off  almanacks in their 20.0 win over Northern .Cody Brook beat Techs  Aaron Burgess record of 7 goals when he bagged 8 including a hat  trick in 6 devastating minutes in the first half. Cam Anderson grabbed 5 ,Matt Kelly and Rahan Ali both got braces with Alex Cox ,Aidan Barbour Ryan and Lewis Wall also scoring. 11 of the goals came in a 30 minute burst in the first half and 17 in a devasting 59  minute blitz.

Caversham v Green Island.

Green Island showed their credentials in a thrilling  5-3 victory over Caversham. Green Islands Aaron Allan brought the ball  out of defence and just over half way looked up and Beckhamesque spotted Sean Van Dyk off his line and floated in a long range effort with 5 minutes gone.  

Caversham slowly found some form through the creativity of Ben Wade, who equalised  after 26 minutes when he shaped to cross but found the net from an acute angle. With the half time break approaching Green Island were awarded a penalty when referee Calvin Berg pointed to the spot and Tom Milton made no mistake. Into the 2nd half andc Green Island controversially had a goal disallowed following a long discussion with the officals  and Caversham took advantage and levelled through a Connor Neil penalty with 25 minutes left.

Caleb Williams who was industrious in the midfield restored Green Islands lead in the 70th minute and a Matt Mitchell own goal in the 78th minute made it 4-2.

Wade curled in a sublime free kick past Christian Firth  to narrow the gap to a single goal in the 90th minute.

Green Islands attacking midfielder Eddie Wilkinson capped a wonderful individual performance with a spectacular lofted goal deep into stoppage time-   seeing Sean van Dyk had come out of his goal  box as Caversham chased a late equaliser, he looked up after gaining possession and calmly curled the ball into the net from distance.

Otago University v Queenstown

The students belatedly got their season underway and hosted the free scoring Queenstown at Logan Park. University showed no signs of rustiness and secured a valuable 1.0 victory.

Queenstowns keeper Daniel Bicatios was busy in the first half saving  a penalty and pulling off a  top draw save to keep out a long range effort.

Into the decond half and its Stu Catto universties custodian who produces a good save with his legs following a one on one

The key moment comes with 14 minutes left when University are awarded another penalty and this time Ben Deeley does not miss.

 

 

- Neville Watson ODT