top of page
Search

1 August 2026

  • Aug 5
  • 10 min read




Women's Premiership: Sprig + Fern Tahuna Womens XI Masters Football: Sprig + Fern Tahuna Masters

1st XI 1 - 5 FC Nelson

Location: Tahunanui S1

Goals: Thangaa

Match MVP:

Early pressure, a penalty miss, followed by a great cross from Seth and headed goal by Thngaa Vanuk was all Tahuna could manage in a 5-1 loss to the league champions.


A yet again weekend squad held out to half time at 1-1 but weary legs and lack of division one experience took its toll, with the young FC lads dominating the second half.


Poor discipline also raised its ugly head with two Tahuna players being told to leave the field after being issued Red cards.


On a brighter note, young Paul Lehman from the youth side deputies well, coming on in the last 20 minutes with good energy, also a mention to Iggy who went in goal after playing for the 4ths. Match report by Dave

2nd XI 1 - 4 Nelson Suburbs 2nd XI

Location: Saxton Fields

Goals: Pedro

Match MVP: Fletcher

First of all, a huge thanks to everyone who came along to watch us on Saturday. And big thanks to Cam and the kids helping out. You guys are absolute legends.


Anyway, back to the game. Not the result we wanted, but that score does not tell the story of what actually happened out there. Like Ross said at the start, they came out flying, pushing hard for the lead. But we held our shape and gave them plenty of trouble too. Then, off a rebound, they got their first. Pure luck, I reckon. But as we say in Brazil: if you don't score, you get punished. And this time wasn't different.


We stayed in it though, missed a couple we really should have buried, and sure enough they scored again. We could've pulled one back before half time too, with a big penalty shout after a challenge right in front of goal, but it wasn't given. All good though. We came out strong in the second half, created a few chances, and guess what happened? They scored again. Come on Tahuna. But it is what it is.


We were dropping bodies too. Paul had to come off, and the keeper got done in a collision. Then, 3-0 down, we finally got our goal. And I have to be honest with you: that was the weakest shot I have ever seen in my life, but who cares. A goal is a goal, right? Game back on, baby! We're alive!


Except... we forgot one small detail. We're alive, but we're OLD. And the legs sent us the bill. We just didn't have the gas left to press like we had all game, and they punished us one more time. We went up with more than half the team, nearly scored, and of course they did on the counter and finished it off.


But heads up, boys. We played well. It just wasn't our day.


Match report by Pedro

3rd XI 0 - 4 FC Nelson Karenni

Location: Tahunanui S2 Goals:

Match MVP: Wayne Ah the magic of the cup. Sometimes miracles happen, sometimes they don't, this would be classed as miracle believe it or not.


Tahuna knew this would be a tough game from the off against a very good Karenni side that seems to have scored goals for fun this season. Today was not what they were expecting. With Tom Dunn unavailable it fell to Stu who willingly donned the gloves in goal. The 3rds went in with the mindset of defend defend defend and make Karenni work for it. And they certainly had to as the first 20mins Karenni could not find a way through.


At the back, big Lukey donned the captains armband and was backed up by Fraser, Matty, Oli and Rhys in a back 5 that would strike fear into most teams, apart from Karenni of course. The visitors finally found a way through and broke the line after some neat passing, this time they found the back of the net with 26mins on the clock.


Tahuna though went straight back at them with Panith and Wayne combining to release Sayha, unfortunately Karenni were on the case and snuffed the attack out quickly. The visitors then broke down the right but before the winger could get a shot in Rhys did an incredible homage to the late great Franco Baresi, slid in, stole the ball and quickly released it up to Juan.


In the middle of the park Sobi, Juan, Wayne and Panith where doing a great job of causing Karenni a great deal of issues, Panith especially going toe to toe with every Karenni player and coming off the better on multiple occasions.


But then Karenni got a break down the right and what looked like a cross initially had Stu scrambling to get it out, unfortunately it drifted over and off the post, 2-0.


Undeterred Tahuna kept their heads up and continued to make Karenni wish they were playing at Victory as they just carried on defending with tenacity and grit. A few more times Karenni broke and again the combination of the strong backline and Stu's erratic goalkeeping kept Karenni from scoring again.


2-0 as the half time whistle went, Tahuna though were all smiles as in previous games the scoreline had been a lot more unkind.


Some great chat and banter at halftime and Tahuna came out ready to go again. Karenni then decided to push everyone up the pitch including their goalkeeper and it could have been 2-1 very early on after a probing run from Fraser released Sayha who decided to take one to many touches and was dispossessed, best chance of the game for Tahuna and a deserved DOD nomination for Sayha.


Karenni pressed again and again, some last ditch tackles from Matty, Rhys and Luke kept the score at 2-0. A quick change at the back as Sobi dropped into CB and Oli Creed decided to go for a wander into midfield which actually changed the dynamic rather well as Oli was by far the biggest lad in the midfield now and was holding the ball up well to flick off to Juan and Wayne. 


Karenni then got a dubious goal after they managed to beat the offside call, even with Stu launching full stretch to get a hand on it it wasn't enough. 3-0.


Heads still high and all smiles Tahuna kept on and actually dominated for the next 10mins with multiple chances spurned. Wayne saw his name in lights as the ball came in from Panith, instead of taking a touch the lad decided to hit it first time, no one around, open goal, sailed into the trees by the train station. Then it was Ollie's turn to do exactly the same only he did have 2 Karenni players around him (I think we'll work on shooting in training this week).


Karenni then came back and got a corner and in the build up everyone was left howling with laughter as a Karenni player pushed Matty and his response of "GET YOUR HANDS OFF MEEEEE" sounded incredibly similar to the "Succulent chinese meal guy". The corner came in and Stu's erratic goalkeeping again proved the winner as Tahuna reset.


Karenni then scored again from the right as the shot bounced off Stu's thigh and into the back of the net. 4-0.


And that was the way the score stayed for the rest of the game. Tahuna defended incredibly well and even after the final whistle the Karenni lads congratulated the boys on a brilliant game. All smiles from both sides and Tahuna can have their heads held up high with that defensive display.


Next up FC Nelson Locomotive at Botanics for the bragging rights! 1-1 on aggregate so expect this game to be a cracker. There are rumblings of a certain Tom Dunn back in goal for this game but we shall wait and see..

Best club in the club



Match report by Stu

4th XI 2 - 1 Nelson Suburbs Athletico

Location: Tahunanui S1

Goals: Ryan, Zach

Match MVP: Mike

There are 3 things sure in life. Death, taxes and playing our last league game of the season against Athletico on S1. Been this way since 2024, It's almost like the draw is just copy pasted from the previous year.


Anyway our first game on S1 this year so of course we didn't know where anything was kept, and after mere minutes looking for the nets we sent out a desperate message to find out where everything was kept (At least no one forgot their boots this time). Once that issue was rectified we got kitted up and went about setting up the pitch and warming up.


The tactic of the day was to roll all 4 of our subs every 15 minutes like a past-their-prime Sunday league team so give everyone as many minutes as possible since our league position was secure. And of course as always, play with a smile . Admittedly we didn't find our rhythm in the first half hour of the game and barely strung a few passes together before turning over possession. Lots of desperate clearances followed. Athletico capitalised on that with constant pressure, eventually leading to them taking the lead with a well placed shot.


Turns out going behind was the kick in the pants we needed and kept the pressure on our opponents, highlighting with Ralph hitting the post on the post in the dying minutes of the half. Half time discussion was simple, keep the ball and score some goals. Tahuna went back onto the pitch looking like a completely different team to the first and the results spoke for themselves with Ryan putting a screaming equalizer into the top of the net 10 minutes into the half.


From here it could have been anyone's game, Athletico could have put the game to bed a few times but resilient defending and a bit of luck kept them from scoring again. At the other end Tahuna had many chances but many cases of tunnel vision resulted in wild shots rather than a final pass to a better positioned player.


With minutes left on the clock and what looked like one final attack, Gabe found Ryan just outside their 18 yard box. A quick look saw Zach out to the left unmarked and yelling for the ball. A quick tap put the ball into the box for him to run onto. A quick controlling touch, a left footed shoot, the stress and panic from the team and the sidelines knowing he isn't left footed . Thankfully stress and panic turned to celebration as the ball sailed past the opposition keeper into the back of the net.


Celebrations done, the game restarted and a minute later the full time whistle went and all 3 points were ours. Thus ended this year's 4th division league. With a 2nd equal position in the league as a whole secured (3rd place on goal difference) and 2nd place for the top 6 split, the team has recorded its best ever league finish. Well done lads, well deserved. MOTM went to Mike for working bloody hard in CB in his brother Brads absence and did a great job only conceding one in the end. Our focus now shifts towards the 4th division cup, a first round bye means we get a week off before getting stuck into the 1/4 finals. See you all at training UP UP


Match report by Zach

TFC Womens XI 3 - 0 Default

Location:

Goals:

Match MVP:

Match report by

TFC Masters 5 - 2 Nelson Suburbs Phoenix

Location: Saxton Oval

Goals: Paddy, Pete, Diego, Cunny, Kev

Match MVP: Bernie


The Tahuna early birds took on the part-time role of Saxton Fields tourist information guides when they arrived today. “Is this S6?” Queried many a lost Bogan. “No this is S5, S6 is by the hockey grounds,” kindly guided Gaz. “Oh okay,” thanks for that. Gaz must have a reputation across the Masters’ league as every Tom, Dick and Harry repeated the same question to anyone else but Gaz. “Hi, is this S6?” Not Garry Clarke would have come in handy here, but he’d been farmed out to the second team. And whom I kidding, the Camster’s never early enough to help!

The athletics track pitch looked short and green from afar. Up close however it bogged along like Waimea Inlet. Mouldies? Studs? Gumboots? It was hard to know. The anti-aging qualities of mineral-rich mud are well documented in New Zealand. It’d certainly played its magic on the Suburbs Phoenix team. The Phoenix Young Boys jumped on an early mis-pass and broke through to get an early shot in against Ollie. “Concentrate!” Shouted Kev… But it was like playing on treacle out there. Mudded ruts and sticky boots led to bobbles and skewed, short, soft-one passes that missed the mark repeatedly.


We kept up the mud wrestle however and when Kev found himself on the edge of the box he decided to launch one. Their keeper watched Kev’s shot loop to the side of him, 0-1 Tahuna.


Paddy’s always busy and he was running up and down the left line when he got clattered as a thank you. Diego placed the ball and our attacking line crept into the box ready for the cross. Whether it was an over hit or a piece of a genius, I don’t know… Either way it swept over us all and past their keeper for a second coiler, 0-2 Tahuna. Diego waddled off shortly after. We’re all crossing our fingers he’s back for the next one.


In defence Ollie blocked out a one on one. But the Phoenix’s game was rising and when they packed numbers outside our box a hopeful punt shot shipped one back to their boys in return, 1-2 Tahuna. The Phoenix youth was stretching our team as half time neared and we were happy to go off, one to the good by the break. The Phoenix boys came off the athletic track sprinting blocks in the second half. Seconds after the restart they overloaded our left side, Ollie parried superbly at a close range shot but the deflected effort spilled to a Phoenix kid at the back post and he slotted in an equaliser, 2-2.


The match was in the balance now and we pushed and they counter pressed as both fought for a lead. Our wing play was relentless however and I managed to finally clip past their left back to find myself in acres of space. I dashed to the by line and as a defender shifted across swept it back with Cunny volleying it in, Lineker style, past their keeper, 2-3 Tahuna!


Paddy was put in the box shortly after but just missed. Cunny was also played in. He was pulled down as his shot fizzled out. The ref correctly pointed to the penalty spot. Kev shuffled forward but as the flashbacks of last weekend came back, he squeaked out, “Pete” “Pete,” “Pete Hampson!” Fresh from his Chelsea FC medical, Pete H, penalty specialist, slipped a toe-poke past the misdirected keeper, the ball dribbling over the goal line to make it 2-4 Tahuna.


Tomas was controlling the midfield at this moment, the tearing rips of his Velcro braces could be heard across the field. Also any sniff of danger was being sniffed out and dealt with by Bernie, determined to spend the last minutes of his season on full charge. Going forward, Kev found himself open with just the goalie to beat. It wasn’t his finest shot as one of our players congratulated his attempt with, “just like your penalty last week Kev!”


The Phoenix back line was burning now. They may be young, but they didn’t look 90 minutes match fit. The burbs kept giving it away and slopping it off to the wrong stripped player. A mis-hit pass was gifted back to Paddy who glued the ball to his muddy boots, pirouetting around their keeper and passing it into an empty goal, 2-5 Tahuna. Match Report by Pete B


 
 
 

Comments

bottom of page