17 May 2025
- bountymouse88
- May 19
- 8 min read
Division 1: Sprig + Fern Tahuna 1st XI Division 2: Sprig + Fern Tahuna 2nd XI
Division 3: Sprig + Fern Tahuna 3rd XI Division 4:
Women's Premiership: Sprig + Fern Tahuna Breakers Masters Football: Sprig + Fern Tahuna Masters
1st XI 4-3 Suburbs Reserves
Location: Ngawhatu Park
Goals: Seth, Luc, Mateo, J Barlow (OG)
Match MVP: Seth Watson
With Master Storyteller Mackenzie Tolkien off on holiday, you're stuck with me… but I’ll give it a nudge!
A Saturday arvo full of drama:
Birthday goals, yellow cards, a penalty save, and one dangerously good-looking bandana.
Tahuna First XI hit the road to Ngawhatu Park to take on the youthful energy of the SPL Reserves – the future stars knocking at the Suburbs' first-team door.
Rolling in with a confident lineup, Luc and Ethan returned from their Sydney salon tour looking sharp and ready to play. Tahuna started strong, dominating possession and creating early chances, but couldn't quite convert.
Suburbs, quick and skillful on the break, made us pay in the 16th minute – slicing through our defence and firing one past Joe. Frustration kicked in, but the boys rallied and kept peppering the goal, just missing the mark.
In the 25th, déjà vu struck – Suburbs doubled their lead with another clever break and finish, chipping the ball past an outstretched glove.
2-0 down approaching halftime... then, we clicked.
The pitch opened up. From back to front, we moved the ball with intent – playing through the middle, pushing down both flanks – the real Tahuna had entered the chat.
Finally, in the 42nd minute, our moment came. After our tenth long throw, the real Luc Gellatly ‘stood up’ above the chaos and buried it with his freshly trimmed lid – his first goal for the club and a momentum-changer.
Halftime: 2-1 down. No worries.
We came out swinging in the second half, charging uphill while Suburbs went into full-on clearance mode. After 20 relentless minutes, we found the equalizer – and what a moment it was.
Who scores the equalizer?
Who scores the equalizer on their 30th birthday??
El Capitano, of course! Seth Watson lashed one in from close range after another lethal long throw. Joy. Emotion. Pure release.
25 minutes left. Game on.
Our backline shut the gates – crunching tackles, sharp pickups, and calm distribution from Joe. Pressure up front earned us another dangerous throw. Unleash the trebuchet! Stan fired it in, chaos erupted in the box, and it was bundled in – an unfortunate own goal for Suburbs but a sweet 3-2 lead for us!
Then – bang! 4-2!
Joe launched a booming long ball that bounced over the Suburbs defence. Seth chested it down, teed up Mateo, who slotted home his first goal for the Mighty Blue Army. A classic one-knee machine gun celebration followed. Electric scenes.
With minutes to go, Suburbs were gifted a mystery (unseen) penalty. After a few hugs and kisses between the two teams, Joe saved the initial strike but couldn't stop the rebound. 4-3. Tense.
But that was all she wrote – final whistle, three points secured.
What a gift. What a day. What a team.
MOTM: Seth Watson – Captain, birthday boy, goalscorer.
Great comeback win, fellas – knew we had it in us. UPUP!! Match report by Seth Watson.
2nd XI 0-2 Subrubs
Location: Tahunanui S1
Goals:
Match MVP: Will Murphy
This week saw the 2nd XI take on Suburbs at home. The boys had high hopes going into this weeks game coming off an unbeaten start to the season. The first 15mins was true to form with some good movement with the ball and a well organised defense.
However Suburbs did what they do and built into the game with some good work in the midfield and were clinical in front of goal with the first chance they had.
The rest of the first half was a bit flat for Tahuna with a few half chances for both teams and a couple of top saves from Will keeping it close.
HT 0-1
The arm wrestle continued much the same in the 2nd half and when IT had his heals clipped working his way out of defense, Suburbs took advantage of the loose ball and confusion to extend their lead.
The game became a bit hectic from there as Tahuna chased the game. With plenty of effort to get numbers forward there were chances for both teams but it wasn't meant to be.
Another big week ahead with Motueka away on Tuesday night and FC 2nds away on Saturday.
Match report by James Munday.
3rd XI 0-1 Richmond FC Stags
Location: Jubilee Park
Goals:
Match MVP: Sobi A game of almosts is the best way to describe this game as Richmond Stags took on table toppers Tahuna 3rds at Jubilee Park this past weekend.
With a number of players sidelined due to sickness and injury Tahuna looked a little worse for wear in the opening 15mins. Not able to capitalize on Richmond's scrappy play. Numerous chances fell to Sayha, Binh and Dong but they just couldn't find a way to get the ball in the net.
In the center of the park Will and Sobi were pulling the strings with Diego setting the forward line up to break every time.
Richmond then got a lucky goal as the ball bounced off 2 players and eventually off the back of the Richmond striker who was on the ground at the time to give them their first goal of the season!
Tahuna undeterred came back and numerous more shots peppered the goal, Binh firing from range and the keeper having to go full stretch just to keep it out!
The rest of the first half was pretty much the same as Tahuna tried and tried but just couldn't find the goal they deserved.
Half time and a change of formation saw Tahuna come out the blocks with a mind of it was their game to lose. The passing across the team was phenomenal and cut Richmond to shreds on multiple occasions but again same as the first half Tahuna just could not put the ball in the back of the net.
Oli Creed who had been commanding at the back, then suffered a possible season ending injury and was quickly subbed off for Matt Knight. Fraser who had been a menace throughout looked gassed as Giambi who he himself had been dealing with an injury came on and immediately made an impact by mugging off the Richmond winger and right back and setting Dong through who was unfortunate not to score. As time went by Richmond started to falter and again Tahuna capitalized but again could not find the net.
With minutes to go Sobi was then given a yellow card for some cheeky scuffling with the Richmond number 8 Davey (These 2 always seem to wind each other up).
Then with 1 minute left on the clock Diego was fouled on the edge of the box. Seconds ticked by as the referee organized the Richmond wall. Diego took the free kick straight into the top bins and Tahuna thought they had snatched a draw at the death, how wrong they were as the ref adjudged that he had not blown his whistle. Celebrations turned to groans as the freekick was set up again with Binh sending the ball over the top of the bar.
Whistle blew and Tahuna knew this was a game they realistically should have won. 11 shots, 8 on target, 0 goals.....
Tahuna still occupy the top spot of 3rd div and welcome Mapua to KFC Arena (Tahuna S1) in a game Tahuna will want to bounce back and win.
4th XI 1-5 FC Nelson 4th XI
Location: Victory square
Goals: Jonny
Match MVP: Wayne
To Victory square the lads went on Saturday all dolled up and intimidating in pink, rumor has it some of them may have been wearing womans shorts... No judgement.
Knowing they were coming up against a squad previously playing in the 2nd division 2 years prior the guys pulled up their pretty pink socks and got stuck in. With 2025 season record breaking player attendance the guys had fresh legs waiting on the bench.
A valiant effort from the boys in pink saw them go into oranges only 2-nil down. Having a giant in goal definitely helps, who shook off a minor head knock early in the game and kept on playing.
Jonny managed to put one away for the lads in the second half, keeping a level head as a loose ball found it's way to his feet - he tucked it past the keeper.
Justin making sure his presence was known on the pitch (unable to play but still hobbling his way onto the field with a whistle and some pretty cards) brandished a yellow at poor tired Adam who was just trying to stop the pressing FC Nelson team. No bias refereeing here.
Waynes 90minutes of running and pressure earned him the man of the match pint
Not a bad result up against the top of the table squad.
Back in blue next Saturday playing at home against Suburbs who currently sit 2nd to top.
TFC Breakers 5-3 Mapua Cougars
Location: Tahunanui S2
Goals: Hannah 2, Ruby 2, Liv
Match MVP: Hannah Crosby
The Tahuna Breakers pulled off a thrilling 5–3 comeback win over Mapua in a match packed with drama, flair, and resilience on Saturday afternoon.
Mapua struck early, opening the scoring in the 10th minute with a sharp finish that stunned the home side. But just five minutes later, Hannah produced a moment of brilliance — weaving past three defenders before launching a long-range strike to the left of the goalkeeper to level the match at 1–1.
Momentum shifted firmly in Tahuna’s favor in the 30th minute when Ruby latched onto a precise pass from Hannah and made no mistake in putting the Breakers ahead, 2–1.
But Mapua weren’t done. Ten minutes before the break, they were able to slot home their second and even the score again at 2–2.
Just before halftime, the Breakers rallied again. Liv was in the right place at the right time, reacting quickest to a dropped catch from the Mapua keeper to put Tahuna back in the lead. Only three minutes later, a smooth Hannah–Liv combination carved open the defense, with Hannah finishing confidently to make it 4–2 going into the break.
Second Half Surge and Setbacks
The Breakers started the second half strong. In the 52nd minute, Ruby burst down the right wing and executed a perfect chip over the onrushing keeper to notch her second goal of the game and extend Tahuna’s lead to 5–2.
Despite their dominance, the Breakers were dealt some tough blows. Ruby was forced off with cramps, and Janelle suffered a badly sprained ankle, putting a dent in Tahuna's momentum and depth.
Mapua managed to claw one goal back in the 70th minute, bringing the score to 5–3, but Tahuna held firm under pressure as the clock wound down. Their defensive resilience and teamwork saw them through the final 20 minutes, securing a hard-fought victory.
Player of the Match: Hannah – instrumental in both scoring and assisting, her creativity and work rate lifted the Breakers throughout.
Match report by Cris Phelan.
TFC Masters 3-0 Richmond FC Bogans
Location: Tahunanui S2
Goals: Gaz 2, Kev
Match MVP:
Great game, we looked a lot more solid today. Our midfield had a lot of the play and linked well with the back and front lines. Our defense broke up all their attacks. OK there were a few twitchy bits, like when I lost the ball then caught it behind my head, but apart from that we were solid. Great reaction from Zane putting a wall out when they had their free kick in the first half. Good coms throughout the back line. The forwards were on form too, 2 for Gaz and 1 for Kev (don't know the assists so please put them in the comments).
Out of possession we worked hard to get back into a defensive shape. When we won the ball back 9 times out of 10 there was an easy pass on.
I thought we played at a nice pace and we were a lot less rushed than last week....and the Bogans looked more physical and maybe a bit quicker than Suburbs. So great job playing our game on our terms.
Dare I say it......it looked like we were having fun out there
Great to see the return of Daz biggin it up in the midfield.
Match Report by Colin Chapman.
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