Division 1:
Sprig + Fern Tahuna 1st XI vs Nelson Suburbs Southern Premier League Reserves
Division 2:
Sprig + Fern Tahuna 2nd XI vs Golden Bay Mountain Goats
Division 4: Sprig + Fern Tahuna 3rd XI vs FC Athletico Suburbia
Women's Premiership: Sprig + Fern Tahuna Breakers vs Nelson Suburbs FC Reserves
1st XI 2-3 Nelson Suburbs Southern Premier League Reserves
Location: Tahunanui S1
Goals: Isaac Taylor (1), Jake Paige (1)
Match MVP: Isaac Taylor
The Men’s’ First XI welcomed Nelson Suburbs Reserves in Round 2, looking to bounce back from their Round 1 defeat over in Motueka.
A good week of preparation was put to the test before a ball had been kicked with the team losing 2 of last weeks starting XI to illness the night before kick-off.
A big thanks to Justin from the seconds, who despite playing a full 90 beforehand, stepped up to provide bench cover for the depleted squad.
The game got underway in the sun and long grass at Tahuna, with the home side making 3 changes from Round 1. Gary, Mackenzie and Dan switched for Jamie, Ash and Jack.
Tahuna started well, taking control early on. Some smart build up play down the left flank between Joseph, Jamie and IT teed up the latter for an early snapshot. This was followed by a break down the right, Josh battled to win possession in the centre circle, playing a neat one-two with Jake before releasing Ash down the right, who after beating a man on the edge of the box, got a low shot away.
After the early pressure from the home team, the game settled into a pattern. Suburbs started to dominate the possession statistics, without really troubling Joe or the Tahuna back line, whilst the home side continued to threaten on the counter.
The game also featured a number of crunching tackles as both teams fought for an upper hand and a scoreboard advantage.
It was the home side that broke the deadlock, IT this time finishing over the top of an onrushing GK. IT continued to trouble the Suburbs back line, breaking free within minutes of opening the scoring, cutting across the box only to be felled by a sandwich tackle between two defenders and the goalkeeper. Despite appeals, the collision was deemed legal and the game continued. No penalty.
The home side wouldn’t have to wait long for a chance to extend their lead though. A well executed press saw Jake pinch the ball from the Suburbs GK, and finish from distance into an empty net. 2-0 Tahuna.
With the pattern of the game now set, Suburbs looking for a route back into the game kept probing. A couple of long shots stinging Joe’s palms, and a few tricky corner routines causing some chaos in the box - but all ultimately repelled by some dogged defence.
As halftime approached, it looked like Tahuna would take a two goal lead into the sheds. This was undone when a cheap give away on the edge of the box resulted in the visitors left winger being slid in and drilling a low cross square, which was turned home from 5 yards. 2-1, and halftime.
The second half saw a raft of changes from the away side, emptying their bench of mainland representative players, and in the process creating a shift in the tone of the game.
Suburbs starved the home side of the ball for the next 20 minutes without really creating any chances.
The game really kicked back into life halfway through the second period, when a quick fire double from the away side reversed the score line in the space of 5 minutes. Two corners found their way to an unmarked player on the edge of the box, both times he was able to whip a curling effort into the bottom car corner across a crowded box.
Going 3-2 down kick started Tahuna, who despite losing Clem to injury, started to threaten again. Jake, IT and Seth all going close, before a free kick was well saved late on. Despite pushing hard, the boys couldn’t find an equaliser, and although an improved performance from last week, will be disappointed not to have taken something from the game.
2nd XI 0-6 Golden Bay Mountain Goats
Location: Tahunanui S1
Goals: 0
Match MVP: Will Murphy
It was a beautiful day for football as Tahuna took on Golden Bay in what promised to be an exciting encounter. Despite concerns about the game being cancelled due to heavy rain during the week, the weather held up, and both teams were ready to battle it out on the pitch.
Tahuna was looking to bounce back from their opening day defeat against Karenni, while Golden Bay was high on confidence following their 5-1 win over Wakefield in the first week. The first 15 minutes of the game saw both teams play solidly, with chances for both sides. Unfortunately for Tahuna, they were unable to convert their opportunities and trouble the Golden Bay goalkeeper.
Golden Bay took the lead soon after, taking advantage of a poor pass out from Tahuna's defence. A great through ball found its way to the Golden Bay striker, who finished it off with a clinical strike. The second goal came shortly after, with another defence-splitting through ball that was collected and finished passed Tahuna's keeper Will. Golden Bay scored their third goal just before halftime with yet another through ball, and the striker cleverly lifted it over Will to give his team a comfortable lead.
At halftime, Golden Bay was three goals clear, despite not being much better than Tahuna. Sloppy passing caused most of Tahuna's problems, and they needed to regroup and come out fighting in the second half. The start of the second half saw Tahuna playing much better, with lots of nice passing, solidarity in defence, and general calmness. However, the fourth goal from Golden Bay was a killer blow, coming from a long throw-in that was missed by everyone and then volleyed in to the roof of the net from just outside the 6-yard box.
The final 30 minutes of the game saw Tahuna tire and begin to panic on the ball, hoofing clearances to no one in particular. Golden Bay took advantage of this and created many chances, scoring a well worked one-on-one and another tap in to complete the rout. The final score was Tahuna 0 - Golden Bay 6, and the Tahuna lads would be disappointed with their performance on the day.
Next week, Tahuna takes on the Suburbs U17 team, who suffered a heavy defeat against FC Nelson Karenni in their previous game. Tahuna will be hoping to bounce back with a solid performance and get their season back on track. Up up Tahuna!
Match Report by Will.
3rd XI 3-3 FC Athletico Suburbia
Location: Saxtons S5
Goals: Colin (1), Sayha (1), Kyle (1)
Match MVP: Stephen Irish
Mixed emotions about this one. I think we should have won it had we not made some silly mistakes, but we didn't give up and kept fighting and got the point.
So we started OK and went 1-0 up (Sayha), the usual getting lots of chances but not cleaning up. they equalised and then we went 2-1 up. We were doing OK but we weren't owning the game like we did last week. A bit of hesitation going in for tackles and 1 on 1s and a bit of sloppy passing. We were also 5 first team guys down, so you get that. They then equalised and went 3-2 up with about 15-20 to go. But we worked through it and got a corner with about 5 to go.......hell yeah mate I put it in the far corner....booooyah saved a point and the potential for an unbeaten season......coz I'd love that to happen.
As I said silly mistakes cost us but we didn't let the drama become a crisis and ground out a point.
Great job.
Big thanks to Steve and Justin for helping us out. Both outstanding, Steve because he was sick as a dog and turned out and did a great job. Justin for being our Swiss Army knife and playing well where ever I put him.....(sorry about lying about the game time). Also bit of a mention to Kody and Wayne who played their first game with us.....good to have you on board. Finally big shout to Jack for keeping goal.
So all in all I'm happy with the point.
Match Report by Colin.
4th XI 6-2 Wakefield 3rd XI
Location: Tahuna S2
Goals: Jacob (1), Keris (1), Tomas (1), Jonny (3)
Match MVP: Jonny Lewis
A beautiful Saturday morning and the first home game of the season had arrived. The Pink
Knights we eager to do the huge turnout of homes fans proud. And let’s just say that all three
of them left far from disappointed.
Although the result last week was nothing to scoff at, the first 15 minutes weren’t our finest
work. However early into the game it was clear that Macca and Glenn were making sure that
it wouldn’t be the same this Saturday. The boys started calm, dominating possession in the
midfield, and letting the ball beat the man. It was hard to tell if Wakefield had touched the
ball before Jonny was away and down their wing. He calmly beat his man and played the ball
right to Keris’ feet at the back post and was tapped in to make it 1-0 within the first 5
minutes.
The Wakefield team, eager to get level, started putting on the pressure and dominants the
next few minutes with dangerous through balls to their pacey front three. However, the
Tahuna back four held their own and stopped the pressure from turning into goals. Sadly, for
Wakefield their all-out attack meant there was gaps in the armour. The Tahuna boys turned
defence into counterattack and were rewarded with two goals in quick succession finished
beautifully by Tomas and Jacob. 3-0 Tahuna
At 3-0 up and with twenty minutes gone in the half some teams would take their foot off the
gas and coast to the halftime whistle. But not this Tahuna team. There were genuine worries
for local native life as Jonny became an absolute pest up front. His constant pressure paid
dividends and unsurprisingly Jonny added to his goal count with two well-earned and well
finished goals with Zach earning an assist from goal for one of them.
Credit where it’s due the Wakefield team didn’t roll over, and just before the halftime whistle
blew Wakefield managed to reduce their deficit by one with a well-earned goal. 5-1 and
halftime.
Wakefield stepped up big time in the second half and the boys started to do a bit too much
with the ball. It wasn’t long into the half Wakefield had scored another well-deserved goal to
make it 5-2. Our opposition took the term rolling subs; quite literally with the referee having
to blow his whistle every few minutes so Wakefield could make changes. At least it wasn't
for offside calls this time....
However, before the half could end Jonny was given permission to score another goal,
completing another Hat-Trick and earning his MOTM
Final Score 6-2 Tahuna and a well-earned place at the top of the league table!!
Match report by Daniel. Editing and grammar by Zach
TFC Breakers 0-10 Nelson Suburbs FC Reserves
Location: Saxton S2
Goals: 0
Match MVP: Emily
Walking onto the field the TFC Breakers knew this would be a tough game. A bunch of over 18 Sprig and Fern lovers coming up against the quick, young and talented Suburbs Womens Reserves plus quite a few of the Mainland Womens players themselves.
Half our age but twice our speed from the first whistle we gave it our all and went out guns blazing in one of the hottest days we have ever played a winter sport on. It wasn’t long until we realised how hard this game would be with 90% of the first 45 being played on our half of the pitch and faster legs running rings around us. On this day our all was not good enough and by half time we had already let five goals in the net and their keeper had made a great save from Emily's powerful shot.
We went off, fueled ourselves to go back out there and have another shot could we turn this game around?
In short answer. No. On came their five enthusiastic bench warmers to add salt to the wounds and despite many great saves from the Breakers defence line the Suburbs squad decided to match their first time score making their final score double digits of a final 10 to our rounded total of 0.
At the end of the day it is fair to say that their win was well deserved with some incredible shots on goal from a fast, well trained team that are the future of football.
Although it was a hard score to swallow the pizza they put on back at the clubrooms went down a lot easier and was much appreciated by the team - cheers Suburbs.
Despite the score there were lots of positives to take from the game today including; not getting our heads down, giving it our all until the end and getting to play a game of football with our friends. It was great to have more newbies (Michelle H, Marama S and Emily) there this week, welcome to the team ladies.
Lots to work on for the Breakers but unfortunately this is the result of merging the women's divisions.
Onwards and upwards bring on the Mapua Cougars game next week. Let’s go Breakers!
Player of the day goes Emily for being an absolute weapon out there today especially in the back line in second half.
Match Report by Jenna.
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