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Senior News - Division 2 Section Back to Seniors 2008 Homepage

Golden Boot Division 2 - 2008

Adam Green - 4
Ollie Haanen - 3
Gareth Preston - 2
Thor Jepperen - 2
Mirko Herzog - 2
Carl Smith - 2
Kynan Bleaken - 1
Jeremy Keneally - 1
Steve Healey - 1
Steve Basher - 1
Peter Grange - 1
Rhys Dobson - 1

Fitness Testing 2008
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Match Reports

Game 1 v Tech, Avonhead, 5 April, Result Tech withdraw from comp = Bye

Scorers: N/A

Game 2 v Burnside, Avonhead, 12 April, Result 4-0 loss

Another difficult week getting players with over half the squad away on Uni holidays or injured. We were always going to struggle playing a squad who haven't played together plus others out of position (as all 3 forwards away). The first 2 goals were messy defensive errors with little work needed by Burnside. We settled after this and were matching the opposition beore the break.
After the break we looked like we might come back and failed to finish chances, just like the first half. Then 2 well taken but offside goals meant we were quickly 4 down with 30 minutes to go. No complaints about the offsides as we had offside chances but failed to finish. Being as Mainland treat Division 2 down as cash cows and no longer give us refs it's something all sides in the comp will need to get used to.
All guys played well but with no natural strikers (I put Mirko and Ernie up front which isn't their best position) we were never going to win. James ran hard all the way and was player of the day. Thanks to Evan, Caleb, Liam, Brandon and Ross for filling in.

Scorers: None

Game 3 v Coastal Spirit, Bexley, 19 April, Result 5-0 win

Could have been 2 or 3 down as Coastal applied the early pressure, some great keeping by Jeremy and a clearance off the line by Evan allowed us to hold out while we got used to our new combinations. A good headed goal by Thor from a corner was what we needed to turn the game. Peter caused havoc with his running and long range shots from midfield. After hitting the post another of Petes shots came back off the keeper and Steve was there to follow up.
Second half and Peter was again causing havoc and he got the goal of the day with a superb top right hand corner finish from distance. Gareth Preston the got 2 from close range as Coastal ran out of subs (ending up with only 9 on the park).
The scoreline flattered us but we did defend well, controlled the midfield and generally applied pressure all day. Two players of the day, Jeremy for a fine performance in goal and Peter for his individual brilliance.

Scorers: Thor - 1, Steve - 1, Peter - 1, Gareth Preston - 2

Game 4 v Ferrymead, Avonhead, 26 April, Result 1-0 loss

Another difficult start to the day as another set of players unfamiliar with how each other play had to be organised (the student players were back after missing the first games on Uni Hols). We absorbed a fair bit of pressure in the first half and at half time I thought we had weathered the storm as we were stll even. In fact we could have been one up as Senil just chipped over the bar from close range.
Second half and we were in the game as the combinations started to work. Sadly our front players were still a bit ragged and we lacked the final sharpness. About 15 mins in they got a break down our left anf finished well, so one down. The guys lifted a notch and this plus an injection of new legs from our under 19's (Greg, Chris and Paul) saw us finish strongly, but we still couldn't score. Most guys played well but we just lacked some fitness and time playing together. James ran harder and further than I've ever seen before and was super effective in the middle. Peter was again superb and tormented Ferrmead and he beat man after man. Richard Vernimen in goal was great and the guys found his talk and general tidiness in goal confidece inspiring. It was tight between these 3 but Richard won the player of the day as his first up games for us in a much harder and faster grade than he is used to these days was amazing.
As an aside I sent Maros down the grades today so that he could get match fit without the risk of injury from the much faster football I expected today. Well it didn't work and Maros had to go to hospital in an Ambulance with a knee injury. I hope it's not too serious.

Scorers: None

Game 5 v Halswell, Avonhead, 10 May, Result 3-2 loss

We continued our run of having a different keeper for every game and went one better this week by playing 2 new keepers after eremy pulled out at the last minute. The new keeper thing did nothing to help us and we were 2 down early on after failing to clear scrappy ball in our box. After 20 mins keeper 1 was subbed due to inury and Keenan had his first game back after inury - in goal. We got back to 2-1 when Steves free kick was essentially missed by everyone and went in. We piled on the pressure and could have had 4 or 5 more by half time as we had shots and headers cleared off the line. However at half time we were 3-1 down.
Second half was much the same with us doing most of the attacking. Mirko went on a solo run in the box and got 1 back mid way through the half. We continued to attack and like the first half they always seemed to have someone on the line to clear the ball away. Ollie had a good chance to level it but missed the opportunity. And so it went and we never equalised. Disappointing to lose to a very average side and we now find ourselves close to the foot of the table.
I can't really fault anyone, everyone had a pretty good game. The lack of numbers at training and the lack of a full time keeper cost us this one. Hopefully numbers will pick up at training as I think the squad we played today will now settle for the rest of the season.
Players of the day, hard to pick, but Steve had a very good game as did Adam, Gareth (before he got altitude sickness in the opposition half and inured himself), James went well again, Mirko looked in a class of his own, Rhys was solid and talked well. Dick of the day goes to Adam who somehow lost 4 of our shirts and gained one of the resereve shirts when he washed the strip!

Scorers: Steve B - 1, Mirko - 1

Game 6 v Nomads, Tullet Park, 17 May, Result 5-1 loss

One nil up, from a good cross finished by Ollie, after 2 minutes, seemed like a good sign. Sadly a lapse in concentration mid first half left us 2-1 down at half time.
Second half we ran out of energy and subs and got cut up badly as they attacked us stright down the middle. Jeremy had no chance with any of the goals. Best of the bunch were Steve B, James and Tom. Tom got my POD for keeping their bald striker (who always scores against us) scoreless until mid second half. James got the players player of the day. Basically we were beaten by a far better team. Individually we are OK, but as a team unit we were poor.

Scorer: Ollie - 1

Game 7 v Cashmere, Avonhead Park, 24 May, Result 3-2 win

Went 1 up early when Thor attacked the ball from a good corner taken by Steve B, good headed goal. After blasting one high Adam took his next chance well and we were 2 up. Four mins from half time we let them back in, so 2-1 up at half time.
The second half went quite well and we played some good football. Ollie was going great with some good running and was rewarded when he knocked the ball in from a long way out after keeper and defender were beaten by him. We then got a 4th by James, another great hassling play by James, but to his credit James admitted he thought the ball may have gone out for a goal kick, so it was disallowed. Late on we conceded our second to make an exciting finish.
Player of the day was Ollie with James and Adam tied second and Thomas close behind them.

Scorers: Thor - 1, Adam - 1, Ollie - 1

Game 8 v Western, Walter Park, 31 May, Result 4-0 loss

We played quite well for 35 minutes and then a poor back pass into the path of their attacker left Kynan with no chance and we were 1 down.
Second half we were on the back foot a fair bit of the time and the lack of a full time keeper exposed us. I thought we played well enough but didn't have quite what it takes to really threaten, a 1 or 2 goal loss would have been a fairer reflection of the game.
Player of the day was Mirko who always looked in control, unfortunately we couldn't give him enough ball and when we did our running to space wasn't good enough.
End of the first round and 2 wins from 7 games.

Scorers: N/A

Game 9 The Bye

Scorers: N/A

Game 10 v Burnside, Burnside Park, 13 June, Result 4-1 loss

Scorer: Adam

Game 11 v Coastal Spirit, Avonhead Park, 21 June, Result 2-0 win

Battle of the Wooden Spoon. It was always going to be a tight game. The first half was a pretty tight affair with both sides getting the ball in the box but neither able to convert their half chances. A couple of good corners by Scott gave us some opportunities but we couldn't get onto them. At our end Chris was keeping well which gave us some confidence. Ernie got over a good cross but again we couldn't quite get on it (Thor was close). So 0-0 at half time.
The second half was also a close affair we had the early chances but Ollie, Ernie and Scott couldn't finish any of them off. It was starting to look like a draw midway through the half but then they started to pull our tiring defence apart. At this stage Gareth made his comeback and we pushed Carl into a holding midfeild roll and move Ollie out wide. This seemed to suit us well and from then on we made repeated attacks down both flanks. One of these moves produced a scrambled ball in the box which Mirko skillfully lobbed over the keeper to give us the lead. Gareth mopped up everything coming towards us and then late in the game Adam ended up on his own with the ball in their half. While Coastal stood shouting for offside Adam ran the whole half and beat the keeper one on one, not easy when there is a bunch of guys yelling offside. We went close to a 3rd but were happy with our win.
In the excitement I forgot to give out the POD voting forms so I have to make the decision this week. POD goes to Chris, with Mirko and Rhys close behind. An honourable mention for Scott who is now fit enough to still be chasing hard at the hour mark!

Scorers: Adam - 1, Mirko - 1

Game 12 v Ferrymead Bays, Barnett Park, 28 June, Result 4-2 loss

A big effort to get a team on the park with 4 students away and Ernie gone walkabout, also no keeper. We welcomed back former first team captain Jeremy Keneally and Evan made his first appearance since last time we played Bays. James made his debut in goal and Nick played his first game since breaking his collar bone before the season started.
The game was played in attrocious conditions with freezing rain. We started quite brightly and were rewarded for some good chasing by Scott and Adam with Kynan finishing off. The lead didn't last too long as we failed to pick up a runner at a corner and were punished. 1-1 at half time was pretty good.
Second half the wind was blowing quite strong against us and we had problems getting the ball down the park. Bays attacked us down the flank and we all watched them cut in and we were 2-1 down. That became 3 a bit later when a shot took a wicked deflection off one of their players leaving James going the wrong way. We steadied and won a corner, Jeremy Keneally was there to tap a loose ball in. We defended again for quite a while. However their 4th goal came when an attack broke down leaving their centre mid to flight a beautiful ball over our back line for their winger to cut in on. A bit of a sucker punch really. In the end we were glad when it was over as it was bitterly cold.
I thought we played very well in tough conditions and pushed the Bays team quite hard at times. The back line looked good with Evan and Jeremy doing well under the high balls and Gareth and Rhys cleaning up on the deck. Mirko played a very good last game and was the source for most of our best moves through the middle of the park. Carl battled away hard to win the ball in the air and on the deck and Kynan showeed a lot of heart to last the game after injuring himself very early on. I was pretty rusty but filled a spot and didn't break myself so that was good. Up front Adam ran really well and Scott applied a lot of pressure to help us win posession.
Player of the day is hard as everyone played a big part and there were many good performances. My top 2 were Mirko in the middle and Jeremy for his class at the back.

Scorers: Kynan - 1, Jeremy - 1

Game 13 v Halswell, Warren Park, 12 July, Result 3-2 loss

Down early on to some lucky goals. Went further down in the second half. Late substitutions Glenn on up front and then Nick later in centre mid saw us fight back to 3-2 and if the game had gone a bit longer we would have taken at least a point.
Disappointing result against a rubbish team

Scorers: Adam - 1, Carl - 1

Game 14 v Nomads, Avonhead Park, 19 July, Result 4-1 loss

Another loss to our bogey team, we still can't figure how to stop them counter attacking.

Scorer: ? - 1

Game 15 v Chch Utd, Spreydon, 9 August, Result 5-2 win

Reasonable win.

Scorers: ?

Game 16 v Chch Utd, Ferrier, 16 August, Result 1-0 win

Struggled for a result against a team which had about 8 fit players at the end of the game.

Scorer: Rhys - 1

Game 17 v Cashmere, Centennial, 23 August, Result 4-1 loss

Got what we deserved, didn't even look like we knew how to play. Lost the midfield early on and Cashmere just played the ball behind us which was the right thing to do on a bumpy pitch. First goal against us was OK when they put a high ball over which Gareth could only Parry away and they were first to the loose ball. Next two came from uncontested ball at corners and Nick finished our misery off with an OG.
We were slow, unfit and spent most of the time kicking away posession. The loss takes us from a flattering 5th to 7th in the table.

Scorer: Ollie - 1

Game 18 v Western, Avonhead S5, 30 August, Result 4-1 loss

When a loss is still quite rewarding!

We swapped round positions for the last game of the year. Only Gareth and James were exempt from possible goal duty as they had played there during the season. Our start was pretty good and we had the better of the early play. From a long ball forward some good work by Noah and Carl saw us one up. Westerns dodgey discipline saw them getting more anguished. Mid way through the half they got back level when they finally got one past Ernie. Nick's turn in goal... This resulted in a penalty which Nick remarkably saved. However just before half time Nick only got a little finger to a ball coming across and they got to the scraps first. Nick exited with a damaged finger (later found to be both broken and dislocated). So half time 2-1 down and feeling pretty good.
Second half no subs left as Caleb and Nick H hadn't showed and we'd taken Tom off injured on the 30 min mark, so Nick back on with a taped finger, playing as a forward. After about 15 mins Morgan found himself facing the second penalty of the game, same Western guy stepped up and muffed it straight to Morgan who was smart enough not to have dived. So that was pretty good as we watched them get even crosser with each other. A while later they got one past Morgan. Carls turn which lasted until 10 to go. 4-1 down and Scotts turn. Actually Scott proved himself to have a good pair of hands (though we had seen that at indoor when we played basketball). We had a few shots and half chances but didn't get anything.
So final score 4-1 loss. All the guys played well, including Rhys at right mid, Gareth left mid, Glenn backing up from a reserve game in the middle of the park, Noah up front (just a pity we couldn't give him enough good ball). Down to my players of the day now. Evan had his best game yet at left back playing very strongly and even outjumping the very tall Eugene. James also had a blinder and could have a great career as centre back as he ran down their forwards most of the day.
Final Position for the season 7th of 9, probably close to right though with the smallest bit of luck we could have been 5th.

Scorer: Carl - 1

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